Ballarini Cookware Review – Ultimate Buyer’s Guide
Ballarini is a popular Italian cookware brand that is known for outstanding quality and its non-stick properties. This line of cookware reigns from an Italian family that has been upholding this brand for more than 130 years.
When it comes to cookware, you will always hear mixed reviews and information. The truth of the matter is that what is perfect for one person might not be for another.
This makes it really challenging to find good cookware and really know if you will like the qualities about it in the end.
Is Ballarini cookware really worth the money? Is it as good as they say it is? These are questions we are here to answer.
We’ve taken a deep look into the inner details of this brand and we’re here to share our findings with you in a detailed and comprehensive review.
In this guide, we will take a close-up look at Ballarini cookware as a whole and also break down a review on one of their cookware sets as well.
We’ve got a lot of great information to share so that you can make an educated decision as to whether or not this might be a good option for you.
Stick with us to learn everything there is to know about Ballarini cookware.
Ballarini Cookware – A Complete Review
One of the first things we notice when we do a search for the official site of Ballarini is that finding their official site is not as simple as it would seem.
Of course, this could just be the algorithms of the search engine but it’s just something to be familiar with. Just scroll down a short bit and it’s right there!
The Ballarini story is a beautiful Italian story that of success. This brand has been around for more than a century, beginning in 1889.
It all started in a small craft workshop that led to a family business that has been passed down for generations.
Through the years, they have overcome changes and challenges and they still stand strong today.
They’ve adapted to changes like non-stick and upgrading to industrial solutions, as well as weathering the different changes in technology and periods of war as well.
Now, this company employs 300+ people and they produce more than 12 million pans each year as well. The brand is internationally known. They stand behind their products, demanding excellence from their production qualities.
The brand is covered by multiple certifications, including the following.
- HACCP approved, guaranteed safety for food contact
- Quality system certification
- Certified on the basis of environmental management
When you take a look at the long-standing background and the quality and certifications of Ballarini, they certainly appear to be an outstanding company overall. Let’s dive a little deeper into their products.
The best way to gauge the quality of the brand is to look at specific products and see what the quality and overall features of those products are. We are reviewing a 10-piece set to really check out those details.
Ballarini Parma Forged Aluminum Nonstick Cookware Set
We aren’t going to compare multiple items from the brand.
Instead, we chose one of their most popular cookware sets.
We’re really going to break down every little detail of the set to get a feel for the brand.
Once we look at this set, we will also break down different points specifically related to the brand and tie the two together.
This particular set from Ballarini comes from their Parma forged line. This 10-piece set is made with aluminum and has a non-stick coating as well.
The aluminum body is cold-forged, which lends to better quality aluminum that will provide uniform heating solutions while you cook.
This specific set includes an 8-inch fry pan, 10-inch fry pan, 1.5-quart saucepan with lid, 2.8-quart saucepan with lid, 2.9-quart sauté pan with lid, and a 4.8-quart Dutch oven with lid.
This gives you a pan of some sort for just about any need that you might need, and the Dutch oven addition is really nice as well.
The nonstick coating is a material called Granitum. This coating is reinforced with ceramic particles that give the pans a speckled look. This makes them unique but those speckles are more than just looks.
They actually add to the overall quality of the pan. This pan with this coating is much less likely to scratch and is more suitable to more utensils than most non-stick coatings.
In addition, these pans are made with thermos-point technology unique to Ballarini. This is their way of providing a pan that can withstand extreme heat while also controlling the temperature throughout the pan.
Your pan won’t overheat or damage or discolor from heat easily. It’s much more likely to stand up for years to come.
Coming from an Italian family, these pans were designed to hold up against the demands of Italian cooking. They are great for everyday use and they are really easy to use and clean as well.
We really appreciate that they hold up better than a lot of non-stick pans out there and you can even use forks and metal without scratching the surface.
The aluminum is lightweight and yet the pans are sturdy and reliable. You get comfort, control, and excellent quality all in this simple package.
Pros:
- Easy to use and easy to clean
- Lightweight but sturdy and durable
- Non-stick coating with ceramic speckles allows for less scratching and more versatility
- Cold-forged aluminum helps the pans to cook evenly
- 10-piece set with a good variety, including a Dutch oven
- Created and produced by a family-owned business since 1889
Cons:
- Some users had issues with the pans discoloring over time
- Some users received pieces that were warped initially. Know that if this happens to you, the brand does stand behind their quality.
Brand Quality
We’ve talked about the quality and features of this specific product what about the brand as a whole? Do other pots and pans in their lineups conform to these same standards?
We won’t be breaking down the details of other lines like we did for the review above but we think it’s important to look at the quality of the brand as a whole.
Here are some of the different product lines for Ballarini:
- Aluminum
- Non-stick coating aluminum
- Copper
- Stainless Steel
- Gastronorm
- Iron
- Servin Tavola
Within each of these series, they have quite a few different options and of course, you can also purchase sets like what we reviewed above.
When we look at the overall brand quality, there are some things that stand out to us. Their pans use professional non-stick coatings rather than those simple coatings that never seem to hold up.
This makes the pans more reliable and durable as a whole. Their non-stick quality sets them apart and they have even been recognized in the industry for innovative quality.
Their lines use Kerastone coatings, which have 5 different options. All of these coatings are known for being metal-safe, which is highly unusual for non-stick coatings.
Forging Process
Ballarini is innovative and they’ve had a lot of years to determine what works and what doesn’t work. The brand takes quality seriously so when something doesn’t work, they find new ways to perfect their items.
One thing that they do with all of their lines is use a cold forge process. This cold process gives their pans high, thick bottoms that are compatible with most cooking surfaces.
In addition, the cold forging process is also known for even heat distribution and heat control. This is another area in which the company has received a certificate.
Finally, after forging, the rims of all pots and pans are reinforced to help prevent issues with deforming products. We know from our review above that this might still need some additional consistency but overall the quality is there.
Handle Design
Ballarini makes all of their handles using a professional approach. The handles are tubular in nature and they use steel reinforcement to make them sturdy for any cooking job.
The handles go through extensive testing to be high-quality and reliable. They meet all of the European standard requirements as well.
The handles sometimes do get warm when you are cooking, so they also incorporated a temperature indicator into the handles so that it changes colors if the handle is getting hot.
If the handle reaches more than 131 degrees, the indicator will be red. This is according to the safe contact guidelines in European regulations.
The handles are made to be durable and long-lasting. They are superior in terms of bending strength, fatigue resistance, and torque resistance.
Wide Range of Products
The Ballarini brand offers more than 200 products with a broad range of categories as well as styles within the different categories.
We already shared the different styles with you earlier but imagine these styles with a variety of pots, pans, bakeware, strainers, stovetop cookware, and utensils.
There is a style and an assortment for literally every need and the fact that they have bakeware, strainers, and utensils just adds to the versatility that they offer.
They have some incredibly unique items as well and some specialty items like fish pans, cake molds, serving pans, and stock pots. This just barely touches the surface of the different items they have available.
Cleaning and Maintenance
One of the things that often stand out about a product line is the cleaning and maintenance details. There are certainly ways that you can protect your pans and best practices for cleaning them and using them.
We all know the dreaded scratching and chipping of non-stick coating and this is something that often becomes frustrating and unreliable.
Ballarini uses Kerastone coatings, which outlast to much higher standards than traditional coatings. These coatings are even designated as metal-safe.
This means that where normally you can only use rubber or wooden utensils on non-stick pans, you can use literally anything on Ballarini’s non-stick pans. These hold up and they are easy to clean.
For best practice, Ballarini recommends letting the pan cool down before trying to clean it. If it is still hot, this is actually bad for the pan. To clean, you can use a soft sponge with soap and warm water.
Since they are non-stick, they should clean up pretty easily. If you follow the care and maintenance, which is provided for you with any purchase, your pans will most likely last for many years to come.
Pros and Cons
Alright, we’ve touched on just about every little detail of the brand, including the types of products they have, their overall quality, and a detailed review of a specific cookware set.
There is a lot of information here so we thought it might be helpful to share the advantages and disadvantages in a simple list for you.
This list of pros and cons is about the brand as a whole and not just the specific set we reviewed above.
Pros:
- A multitude of options, including specialty items, cookware, bakeware, and more. All items designed for Italian cooking and more!
- A brand that has been faithfully operating as a family-owned business since 1889
- Professional non-stick coating that is even safe for metal utensils
- Easy to care and maintain
- Exception handle designs that even warn you when the handle is hot
- Cold-forged aluminum leads to better design and better heat distribution overall
- Pots and pans from different sets are interchangeable, as are the lids
- Multiple quality certifications to stand behind the brand
Cons:
- Shipping quality is something that needs to be improved as many online customers receive deformed or damaged products from shipping
- Some of the lines of pans have been shown to discolor over time
- The sets can be a bit pricy but are on par for the overall quality.
Summary
In closing, we feel as though Ballarini is certainly a brand worth considering. If you want something durable and well-made, their different products and offerings all seem to be consistently reliable.
The set we reviewed above is a popular choice but you also can’t go wrong with many of their other options as well.
Ballarini stands behind their brand and remains a family-owned company 130+ years later.
Related Questions
We hope that you find this guide to understanding the quality of Ballarini cookware to be a valuable resource for making an informed decision for your household.
Check out some of these common questions about Ballarini for some additional information.
Are Ballarini Products Dishwasher-Safe
The items from this brand are all labeled as dishwasher-safe.
However, the company also notes that the recommended practice is to let the pans cool completely and then wash them by hand with a gentle sponge, soap, and warm water.
Is Ballarini Cookware Oven Safe?
Cookware that is designed for the stovetop is labeled to be safe in the oven up to 300 degrees Fahrenheit.
This is fairly low for oven use so be mindful of that. Ballarini items that are bakeware are oven compatible to higher temperatures. Always follow the instructions to know what is acceptable.
Is Ballarini Cookware Safe?
Ballarini cookware meets and exceeds many industry standards according to European requirements. The brand is produced in Italy.
They have multiple certifications for quality and this is something they actively work to maintain. All of their products are safe to use and food-safe approved.
I bought a 3 pc. Fry pan set about 5 years ago and totally love this cookware. I love that it will also go into the oven after I sear something. I will say the insides discolored some but I still love them. These pans make the best eggs. And omelets. Salmon is done great in them . I got a 3 pc. Fry pan set at Costco for $99. Highly recommend these
Looking for some help or good advice. My Ballarini set is about 2 years old. The pots are doing fine but the pans have become a real issue. Not only are they discolored but everything sticks. I have to soak the pans to be able to get food unstuck so the pans can be cleaned. Do you have a phone number of a rep in the states? Can you tell me how to deal with my pans to make them a pleasure to use again? Thanks for any help you can give me