Enamelware may sound like something your grandma had hanging around her house, but no matter how old-school it feels, it’s still around and remains a steadfast and reliable item in serving ware and table settings.
We’re pretty abusive to the items we place on our table. Hot food, scraping forks, tossing it in the dishwasher — it has to stand up to a lot and still look good. Enamelware can provide that durability we crave.
It’s also a material that we can experience throughout our kitchen, from enamel-coated Dutch Oven to dinner plates, and all of it will clean up quickly and stay nonstick. Try to say that about some of the stained glassware hanging around in your kitchen.
What Is Enamelware?
Enamelware was the first mass-produced American kitchenware dating back to the 1870s. Enamelware is a term that can encompass a lot of ground. Still, it is typically made of lightweight metal, most often aluminum, but can also be comprised of porcelain-coated cast iron, making it durable and easy to clean. Here are some easy ways to incorporate the cool kitchenware into your rotation.
- Camping — The majority of enamelware is lightweight, so it’s easy to carry, and it distributes heat evenly and quickly, so it’s perfect for over-the-fire cooking.
- Picnics — You can have the ease of flat, easy packing like paper plates, without the waste. The surface is easy to clean off and put back in your basket.
- By the Pool — Plastic cups won’t shatter like glass, so they are suitable for the pool but bad for the environment. Enamelware comes in so many colors there is bound to be something that will match your outdoor decor.
- Everyday — Dishwasher safe and suitable for all ages, using enamelware as your everyday dinnerware is easy and stylish.
Some of the best enamelware on the market come from a handful of brands. Opting for a new set is always great, but don’t worry as it starts to show its age. Dents, dings and chips only add to the authentic character of classic enamelware. Keep reading for our picks of the best enamelware.
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1. Falcon
BEST ENAMELWARE OVERALL
Their funky blue-rimmed enamelware collection comes in a convenient starter set which includes four dinner plates, four salad plates, four cereal bowls and four mugs. Known initially for the white and blue trim, Falcon now offers such a variety of on-trend colors it’s hard to keep up. Lightweight, and shatterproof, this is a set that’s easy to clean and will last whatever you throw at it.
2. Dansk
RUNNER-UP
A solid piece of bakeware can last generations, and the Kobenstyle Teal Large Baker is not only a beautiful shade of teal but it’s built to last. It’s made of nearly unbreakable steel and then coated in hard enamel, so it’ll be solid but beautiful and be easy to clean. If only we could say that about our whole kitchen. An added benefit is the easy-to-hold handles, which will help avoid messes and spills as your beautiful baked masterpiece leaves the oven and enters the table.
3. Le Creuset
BEST ENAMEL CAST IRON
We can’t have a conversation about enamelware without discussing Le Creuset, which time and again is on the top of every list. Their 5-Piece Signature Set is the ideal way to get a taste of this brand (actually, more of a buffet) and includes a 10-inch fry pan, a classic round Dutch oven, and a lidded saucepan. It comes in tons of colors, too, so it’s easy to fit it into your style and decor. Plus, there are always new colors and revivals of old favorites. Once in use, you’ll soon discover that thanks to incredible construction, heat retention and even cooking, and timeless durability, you’ll be so obsessed you’ll be building everything in your home around these pieces and not the other way around.
4. Golden Rabbit
BEST DESIGNS
Golden Rabbit is as durable and timeless as a collection as you can get, and it keeps on coming out with fun new styles and designs in a way to stay as modern as it is classic. We’re obsessed with the Old Bay pattern on the porcelain enamel finish. It’s fun, festive and offers a nod to summers at the beach. This set of four dinner plates is part of a more extensive collection that includes everything you could possibly need to set the table, even serving ware. This collection has stainless steel rims to be more durable and is both dishwasher and oven safe.
5. Gentlemen’s Hardware
RUNNER UP
This enamelware is meant to be rugged while still stylish, and their Great Outdoors Deer Enamel Mug is just that. Perfect for that morning cup of coffee around the campfire, it’s constructed of lightweight, durable steel that is then coated with enamel for a feel that is sturdy, durable, and undeniably ready for the trail.
6. Cinsa
BEST EVERYDAY
We give our enamelware a lot of abuse, but this line can take it. It’s scratch-resistant and corrosion-resistant, and you can use it in ovens, on stovetops or even direct flames. This 16-piece set from Cinsa includes four 12.5-inch serving platters, four 10-inch dinner plates, four 19.5-ounce bowls, and four 12-ounce mugs, all lightweight and easy to stack, and can be used everywhere from the home dinner table to your next cookout.
7. Bornn
BEST BY THE POOL
This Multi-Color enamel dinnerware is just pretty. But don’t let the dainty look fool you — this can take a beating, thanks to heavy-gauge steel that is then hand-dipped in bight, cheerful enamel. It’s both dishwasher-safe and oven-friendly (up to 518 degrees Fahrenheit). The pop of color is fun and unique and uses a marbling method that dates back to the 15th century. How’s that for a conversation piece?
8. Crow Canyon
BEST ICONIC DESIGN
This Enamelware Lasagna Pan is a gorgeous blend of cream and cranberry color splatter and will add a festive touch to your family’s time-honored lasagna recipe. Generally, a lasagna pan is rather hard to clean, but this one is dishwasher safe, and because it’s enamel, you can use it on grill, oven, stovetop, or even a campfire — campfire lasagna? Yes, please.
9. GSI Outdoors
BEST FOR CAMPING
Whether going camping or just needing a durable set of everything you need for a backyard cookout at your own home, this Pioneer Enamelware Camp Set is an enamelware set that has it all. Four 12-ounce cups, four 10-inch plates, four 5.75-inch bowls, an 8-cup coffee percolator, a 3-quart kettle with a lid and an 8.75-inch frying pan. It’s compact and convenient, but don’t think that means it’s flimsy. It’s relatively durable, made from heavy-gauge steel, and covered in a porcelain glaze and stainless steel rim, which offers even more strength.
10. Caistore
BEST FOR THE CABIN
Whether steaming milk for your coffee or hot cocoa on a cold winter’s night, this Practical Durable Enamel Spouted Milk pot is just sweet and homey — and as perfect for porridge or soup as that steamy mugged beverage. This enamel milk pot is spouted, making pouring without a mess easier, which is always appreciated. It’s made with a large handle with a generous hole at the end for easy hanging storage.