If you live in a small home or apartment, then you know how challenging it can be to find storage space for all your cookware and kitchen appliances. Fortunately, Joseph Joseph — a brand that combines form and function through its innovative, space-saving gadgets —recently launched a line of nonstick cookware with a feature that really sets it apart from others on the market. Every pot and pan in the Space Cookware Set has folding handles that allow them to stack within one another to save space in your pantry or cabinets.
We got our hands on the new cookware set and tested each piece for functionality, performance and convenience, cooking everything from eggs to bacon to chicken thighs to pancakes. Through our tests, we aimed to assess the slickness of the nonstick coating, the functionality of the folding handles (Do they actually save space? Do they remain secure while in use?) as well as how easy the cookware is to clean.
The Space Cookware 10-piece set includes two saucepans with accompanying lids, two fry pans, a sauté pan with a lid and a casserole pan with a lid —all made with a nontoxic and nonstick ceramic coating. After weeks of testing, we love how easy the pieces are to fold up, stack and store in small spaces, and they save a ton of space in our kitchen cabinets. It also comes in a smaller seven-piece set.
What we liked about it
Folding handles that lock into place
When you have a small kitchen, storing multiple pieces of cookware can be quite a challenge. But thanks to the folding handles on Joseph Joseph’s pots and pans, the pieces actually nest inside one another, allowing you to stack two frying pans or three saucepans in the same amount of space that would normally be taken up by one. The handles fold up and down and lock in place while in use, and there’s a convenient latch on the underside of the handle that you can pull with your finger when you’re ready to fold or unfold.
When we first tested this feature, we were concerned the handles wouldn’t fully lock in place and would unlatch right in the middle of flipping a pancake or turning an omelet, but that wasn’t the case. The locking system kept the handles fully secure while in use, and we never experienced any loosening or unlatching of the handle. When ready to fold up, the button is easy to find with your finger and releases the lock quickly and efficiently. If you’re working with minimal storage space, the folding handles make these pots and pans an unbeatable option for saving space.
Solid nonstick surface
Each piece of cookware in the Joseph Joseph Space collection is made from nontoxic, nonstick ceramic that is safe to use in the oven up to 450 degrees Fahrenheit (392 degrees for the lids). We tested the nonstick surface by cooking a variety of foods, paying special attention to the stickiest foods we could think of (like eggs, chicken skin and fish).
When cooking on the stovetop, we were impressed by how easily omelets, pancakes and chicken thighs slid right off. Though the pans required a little bit of oil, everything came off easily when cooked on the stovetop. We had a bit of trouble with using the pans in the oven though — more on that later.
Compact accompanying lids
We love that the lids on these pieces also feature folding helper handles. Typically, cookware lids often have a knob or helper handle that prevents them from being efficiently stacked or stored. That’s not the case with the Joseph Joseph Space Cookware Set — the stainless steel handles can either be folded up and used to grab while cooking, or folded completely down and flush against the clear glass lids. It’s important to keep in mind that these handles don’t lock in the “up” position, but we found them to be sturdy nonetheless.
We also love that the clear glass lids make it easy to see what’s going on inside the pan without removing them. Plus, we found that the lids created a sturdy seal that helped keep moisture inside the pot instead of escaping in the form of steam.
Easy to clean
Although the brand says that the cookware is dishwasher-safe, any responsible nonstick owner knows that hand-washing is your best bet for preserving the longevity of the surface. Luckily, we had no issues cleaning the pots, pans or lids by hand: Each piece came clean with just a bit of soap and warm water.
What we didn’t like about it
Not as slick in the oven
We had no problem with the nonstick surface when cooking on the stovetop, but we noticed a bit of sticking when using the pans in the oven. Although scrambled eggs and omelets came easily when cooked on the stovetop, we didn’t have the same result when baking a frittata in the oven.
When we filled the pan with eggs and vegetables to bake in the oven, we noticed a ton of residue stuck along the outer corners. We couldn’t get the eggs out of the pan with a silicone spatula and large chunks of eggs were left behind in the pan. So even though the nonstick surface is pleasantly slick, it’s ultimately not as effective in the oven as some other nonstick pans we’ve tried.
Some pieces are heavy
We love how ergonomic the fry pans are, but the saucepans are heavier than expected, even when they’re not filled with ingredients. The weight of the pan doesn’t feel evenly distributed with the handle, which put a strain on our wrists and made maneuvering a bit challenging.
Bottom line
If you live in a small home or have limited storage space, the Joseph Joseph Space Cookware Set is a fantastic buy. Each piece heated up quickly and evenly, and we found that heat was distributed consistently no matter which pot or pan we tested. The folding handles are a genius function that lets the cookware nest within itself, saving space and making for efficient storage. Though the nonstick surface isn’t completely slick when baking in the oven, we found that it performed exceptionally well on the stovetop.
If you don’t need an entirely new set of cookware or simply want to try out one pan first, the Joseph Joseph Space cookware is available for purchase individually too.
Shop Joseph Joseph's space-saving cookware separately
The fry pan is available in 8- and 9.5-inch sizes, both of which have a folding handle. But keep in mind that the fry pan doesn't come with a lid.
The saucepans come in three sizes —1.4, 2.9 and 5.4 quarts —so you can choose the one that's best for your household.
The sauté pan only comes in a 3.8-quart size, and it's equipped with a folding helper handle and a lid.
This 5-quart pan has a wide base and tall sides, so it's a good choice for baking casseroles and cooking one-pot meals.
