The T-fal Initiatives is a ceramic nonstick cookware design with a ‘thermospot’ temperature indicator that tells you when the pan is ready for you to cook with.
Reasonably light, easy to clean and store, the T fal Initiatives design has a ceramic interior, that’s PTFE and PFOA free, making it a healthy nonstick cookware option.
T-fal Initiatives ceramic cookware design
This cookware is best for…
…Fast efficient heating. It has a heavy gauge aluminum base for even heat distribution. The interior surface has a ceramic coating and can be heated to 570 °F on the stove top.
…No fuss preheating. The spot indicator tells you when the pan is preheated and ready to use.
Base is heavy gauge aluminum
The Tfal ceramic cookware pieces have a base made of heavy gauge aluminum and this gives the cookware the ability to distribute heat fast and evenly.
Handles are ergonomically designed
The cookware contains riveted, phenolic (Bakelite) handles that are ergonomically designed and heat-resistant. This means they will be comfortable and cool to touch when cooking. They are also designed with holes for hanging. The are only safe to use in a moderate oven, up to 350ºF.
Exterior finish
The exterior is enamel. The exterior surface may discolor if used on a gas flame cooking element.
Lids allow viewing of food while cooking
The lids are glass with vents for releasing steam so pressure does not build up. You can view your food while it cooks. The lids are well fitting.
Safe for use in moderate oven
This cookware is oven safe to 350°F. The handles, which are made of Bakelite, are not oven safe beyond this heat.
All cooktop types except induction
The cookware is suitable for all types of cooktops apart from induction cooking. The Initiatives ceramic cookware design does not have the magnetic metal base needed for induction cooking – see my article on ceramic cookware for induction cooking.
Other features and specs
The pans nest inside each other, but it is best to use separators that protect the ceramic coating, like this collection shown.
Recommended pan protectors for stacking pots and pans
Pan Protectors for Stacking Pots and Pans available at Amazon
T fal Initiatives nonstick ceramic cookware review
These nonstick pots and pans have a ceramic interior coating that resists scratching and staining. This coating does not require seasoning and is PTFE-free, PFOA-free, and cadmium-free.
The manufacturer covers this product with a limited lifetime warranty for manufacturing defects for life from the date of purchase.
The cookware is stovetop safe to 570 °F (300 °C). As the handles are Bakelite, the pans are safe up to 350ºF in the oven. See my article on putting stovetop pans in the oven for the oven safe designs.
Pros
- Economically priced
- PFTE, PFOA, and cadmium free
- Includes a griddle pan
- Comes with 6 nylon utensils
- Lifetime Limited Warranty
- Stovetop safe to 570 °F (300 °C)
Cons
- Handles may loosen with use over time but can be tightened
- Riveted areas need care in cleaning to avoid wear
- Not for oven cooking above 350 ºF
Price
This is a budget set with a good assortment of ceramic nonstick pots and pans for family meal preparation.
For what you get in this set, it’s a good buy in nonstick ceramic cookware.
Check price: See details of Initiatives nonstick at Amazon.
Care and cleaning of the T Fal Initiatives Ceramic nonstick
Gentle hand washing is recommended for this T fal cookware — no harsh scourers. This will lengthen the life of the ceramic coating.
This is a nonstick dishwasher safe product, meaning the ceramic coating will not be affected by dishwashing cleaning. Just be aware that the pots and pans may incur damage from being hit by the water jet arms inside or other knocks within the dishwasher.
Ceramic pots and pans are easy to clean, so having to handwash them will not be a chore for you.
Always store your ceramic cookware with care to avoid chipping and other damage. Bottoms are grooved. Try not to stack them unless you are going to invest in pan separators.
Choose cooking utensils suited for non-stick pans and pots, like the nylon set that comes with the cookware. Other suitable types are wood, bamboo, and silicone.
If handles loosen use a Torx bit to tighten.
Try to avoid aerosol cooking spray products that contain lecithin, which reacts with the nonstick surface and will affect it over time. A better option for a light spray is to put your cooking oil in a spray bottle.
Use low to moderate heat setting when cooking.
Bottom line on the Initiatives ceramic nonstick
Like all good T fal cookware reviews, I mention the obvious about this brand, that it’s a brand of Tefal. Its parent company is Tefal, a French cookware manufacturer, well known for the traditional non-stick cookware with Teflon coating.
The T-fal Initiatives is a healthy choice with the ceramic nonstick coating in place of Teflon. Unlike the traditional nonstick cookware, it is free of PTFE.
This T fal cookware set comes at an economical price, suited for most families. It is designed to save time cooking and the nonstick interior surface means less time spent cleaning.
My T fal ceramic cookware review lists the pros and cons of T fal Initiatives pots and pans. The benefits are that this set have an enamel exterior finish that is stain and scratch resistant. The 11-inch T fal frying pan comes with a lid which makes it great for poaching or braising. The ceramic nonstick surface lessens the need for fats and oils in preparing foods, which is perfect for low-fat diets.
T-fal C921SG Initiatives Ceramic Available at Amazon