Question from nicolette
Hi there. Are Debra and anyone else still recommending “ManPans” for cookware? I need a saucepan quickly. I burnt up my old Reverware pan, and I read reviews on amazon that the new Reverware is just not of good quality anymore. ManPans sound just what I’m looking for. Just so it is safe! Thank you all!
Debra’s Answer
I have a Man Pan skillet that I’ve been using for a couple of years now and it works very well. The only thing about it–and this is my personal preference, not something “wrong”–it the pan is very lightweight, and I prefer a thicker layer on the bottom. Otherwise I’m totally happy with it.
Readers? Any other comments on Man Pans?
Hi Debra, Do you still feel that the Man Pan is a non-toxic product? I’d like to find something that is suitable for a child learning to help prepare food; other options I own or have looked into (think Staub and Le Creuset) are quite heavy for a child, have to be handled gently (no metal utentils), etc. I came across the Man Pan and thought perhaps this is a viable option. I am considering having something lightweight and non-toxic for my child to use on one of the induction burners like you have. And it would be nice to use the Man Pan skillet myself as well, assuming it’s toxic-free. I’d prefer to avoid aluminum in general, just from an environmental perspective, but it seems that in order to find a lightweight option, one might have to sacrifice something in order to gain something else (in this case, lighter weight than the enameled cast iron pans). And if I understand correctly, the aluminum is not in contact with the food; I do wonder if the exterior is also covered in the water-based coating (and I don’t know what the water-based coating is, but they claim it’s not toxic). [Well never mind about the induction burner; I just saw the FAQ which mentions it isn’t induction capable because it’s made from aluminum.] I see that your recommendation above is 4 years old, and I don’t know whether the product is exactly the same as it was then. Do you still deem it a safe product? I see that their website now indicates that they are reverting back to the brand name Lloyd Pans – they say it is the same product, just a different name. That seems fine. But I’m just curious whether the product today is the same as when you recommended it 4 yrs ago and whether you still think it’s a good option. And since this won’t work on induction burners, I’d love to know if there is a lighter-weight, non-fragile, non-toxic option for a skillet or multi-use pan that will work on an induction burner.
All good questions. I love my induction burner and would like to have more options for cookware I can use on it.
I took a new look at Man Pans. But first let me say that even though I said I liked it four years ago, I ended up not using it and eventually gave it away because of the very concern I mentioned: I prefer a heavier bottom on a skillet. But at the time I didn’t see any problem with it from a toxic viewpoint. I don’t know if the current pans are the same.
On their current website their “green” claim is all about how they save energy in manufacturing.
They say their non-stick finish is Gem-X2, “a two layer sapphire/quartz-like natural mineral finish permanently bonded to our tough aluminum pans. It will not flake, chip or rub off and is metal utensil safe. In fact the finish is so tough that you can rub a coin on the surface and not only will you not scratch the finish, the coin will get worn down!”
However, their new website Lloyd Pans says they have developed their own “water-based, nontoxic” finish, with no further information and a different name than before.