Cooking is therapeutic for me. It’s an act of self-care – a way to express myself creatively, get out of my head, and stay in the present.

The pans that help me achieve zen? GreenPan’s Reserve set in Sage. Not only are they gorgeous; they’re also literally good for my health – free of PFAS, PFOA, lead, and cadmium. And because they’re so slick, so intuitive, and so effortlessly nonstick, they keep me in a flow state from the start of my cooking project to the end. 

Easy Does It

Just because cooking helps me relax doesn’t mean I always feel like cooking! It can be hard work. It’s a time commitment, it’s daily effort, it’s prep work and dishes and recipe research and cleanup and so much more. 

And when I’m stressed out or overwhelmed with life, it’s one of the very first things that falls by the wayside, in favor of ordering junk food on Postmates and binge-watching reality shows. But eating like crap is not great for my mental health! So when I’m finally able to snap out of this spiral – reminding myself that cooking healthy food is both enjoyable and necessary for my well-being – I head to the kitchen and reach for my trusty nonsticks. 

My go-to move is to find one new, easy recipe. Nothing that’s going to take me 6+ hours and involve hunting down specialty ingredients at a dozen different stores. Just something simple, homey, and a little different than what I’m used to – it does the trick of engaging my senses while dulling my racing thoughts. Pretty soon I’m in a comfortable flow state and feeling proud of myself for my new creation. 

(Side note: these pans are super durable – so far, they’ve held up to every single recipe I’ve thrown at them!) 

Can Cookware Be Self-Care?

In my experience: absolutely! If cooking is an act of love and nurturing, then shouldn’t what you’re cooking on matter? Think of a good pair of running shoes or your favorite bath bomb – the instrument makes the activity that much more fulfilling. 

Here are some specific reasons these pans are good for your mind, body, and soul:

1. They’re forever chemical free.

I’m pretty sure avoiding toxins counts as self-care. Which is great because that’s what GreenPan’s all about. Your average nonstick pan is full of forever chemicals like PFAS, which release harmful fumes at high temperatures and hang out in your body forever. GreenPan, on the other hand, uses a ceramic-based nonstick which is free from PFAS, PFOA, lead, and cadmium. It’s a super easy and kind of unexpected win in the “eating healthier” department.

2. They’re flawlessly nonstick.

This ceramic nonstick isn’t just about being healthier, it’s also as slippery and sleek as any nonstick I’ve ever tried. And it is such a relief to have that coating on every single surface you’re cooking with, especially when it comes to cleanup. I can braise a nice saucy dish in the broiler to let it get all rich and caramelized, then clean those leftover carbonized bits off the edges without having to soak my pans for hours.

3. They’re built to last.

Yet another point for the Reserve set: these babies are survivors. I’m not exactly gentle with my pans, especially when I’m in the groove and cooking my heart out. But the Reserve set can take it. They’ve got diamond-reinforced ceramic for when I forget I shouldn’t be using my fork to stir; hard anodized and scratch-resistant bodies; and gold-tone handles that are oven safe up to 600°F (plus glass lids that are also oven safe up to 425° F). 

4. You’ll never have to think about them.

These pans aren’t sticky, finicky, overly fragile or complicated – so you literally never have to worry about them; you can just vibe. This is a huge selling point in my opinion. Cooking is like meditation, and the last thing you want is being pulled out of your tranquility by an annoying cookware fail. 

Find A Moment For You

Whatever self-care looks like for you, the most important thing is that you do it! And if it’s cooking – or even if you just enjoy cooking occasionally and want a healthier set of pans – do yourself a favor and check out GreenPan’s Reserve set.

It’s perfect for turning what can be a tedious task for lots of people into a rewarding experience that’s great for your mental (and physical!) health.

P.S. Right now you can save up to 75% site-wide!