Top 10 German Cookware Brands - Chef's Pencil (2024)

When you’re serious about cooking, it’s natural to want the best equipment to work with. German cookware has a reputation for being among the best you can buy.

Whether you’re looking for a new set of pans, a casserole, or any kitchen accessory, German brands provide an appealing blend of quality, durability, and design excellence.

In this guide, we take a look at ten of the best-known German manufacturers to help you decide which to choose. Quite a few of the brands below have refined their craft over hundreds of years. Others are newer, but each one offers products that will enhance your food preparation experience for years to come.

1. WMF

Founded in 1863, WMF produces cookware that’s designed to be functional and durable as well as beautiful to look at and handle.

The WMF range covers knives, pans, cutlery, serving accessories, and tableware. One innovation we think particularly worth mentioning is WMF’s Cool+ patented technology. This means pot handles never get hot, making them safer and easier to use.

They stand by their quality with a 10-year repairable guarantee (or 2 years for electrical products).

On the downside, they only deliver to Germany and Austria from their website. However, many WMF products are available on Amazon. For example, the elegant 60-piece cutlery set is available for purchase in the United States, as well as many different stainless steel pots and gourmet sets.

And as we’re focussed on German quality here, you should be aware that while some items are made in Germany, others are manufactured in China. Be sure to check if this is something that makes a difference for you.

2. Woll

If you’re looking for authentic German cookware and are ready to invest in authenticity, Woll is the brand for you. No anonymous outsourced mass-production here; every product is hand-crafted in Germany. You can expect every Woll item to last a lifetime.

The brand was founded in 1974 by master chef Herbert Woll, who’d been dreaming of the ultimate frying pan for his culinary creations. In 1983, Woll launched its first range, made with an aluminum permanent mold-casting technique, which is still used today.

WOLL Professional Cast cookware has become synonymous with long-lasting, non-stick coatings, attractive designs, and professional-level cooking results.

The company has patented many of its innovations and unique features such as removable handles.

Given its functionality and longevity, Woll cookware is an investment. In North America, you can find WOLL cookware on Amazon and other specialty stores.

3. Rösle

Rösle has been based in Marktoberdorf, Germany since 1888. The brand offers a huge range of cookware and accessories from can openers to barbecues, ladles to pineapple cutters.

Prices are affordable and the brand is respected for the quality of its products, which all come with a lifetime guarantee against manufacturing defects.

However, although the parent company and the designs are German, products are made in China. It’s claimed that the steel used for manufacture is German.

Still, if you’re looking for starter cookware, Rossler’s Basic Line contains all the products you need to get started at an economical price. You can purchase Rösle cookware on Amazon and other specialty stores.

4. Fissler

Founded in 1845, Fissler has earned a stellar reputation among the best German cookware brands. This is the company that created the first aluminum pans specially adapted for electric stoves.

Since those days, its comprehensive product range has grown to include pans, cooking pots, knives, and pressure cookers as well as other kitchen accessories. It’s respected for the quality, durability, and useful design touches in its reasonably priced ranges.

Fissler created the first aluminum pans specially adapted for electric stoves.

Their pots and pans remain star performers.Their base heats correctly on any stove, distributing and retaining heat without any warping or degradation.They’re solidly made and easy to clean.

Let’s take a closer look at one of Fissler’s collections: the Original Pro.As you’d expect, it’s made in Germany from 18/1 stainless steel and with an attractive brushed finish that’s water, stain, and scratch-resistant.It is oven and dishwasher safe. Tight-fitting lids seal in flavor and feature a conical center, so the steam condenses and drips back into the food, keeping it moist and juicy.

Handles stay cool for safe handling, and every item features a pouring lip. They even have measuring scale on the inside, so no need to measure liquids separately. Why do so few cookware products include this handy feature?

5. Zwilling

Zwilling is another of these German cookware brands with a heritage that goes back generations. With over 290 years of experience, they specialize in Dutch ovens, cocottes, chefs’ knives, frying pans, and wine accessories. They also offer electrical items such as blenders and coffee makers.

Perhaps they’re most famous for their ceramic pan sets. Incredibly tough and hard wearing, they provide perfect heat distribution and retention as well as being easy to clean. One small drawback is that not all their handles are heat-resistant, so you’ll need to take care when you’re handling them. However, they do have the advantages of tight-fitting glass lids and non-drip rims.

The brand also produces stainless steel, aluminum, non-stick pans, and skillets.

Zwilling’s kitchen knives have a great reputation among professional chefs, thanks to their balance, and the quality and design of their blades, which assure great performance over time.

As the products are made in Germany, you can be sure that Zwilling products provide value in terms of design, functionality, and durability.

6. Stoneline

What makes Stoneline stand out as a brand? Today’s eco-savvy consumers appreciate the fact that every production process is climate-neutral, and their processes are designed to help protect the environment.

The pots and pans are perfectly designed, whether for professional or domestic kitchens. Although lightweight, they have magnetized bases ensuring they sit safely on metal rings.

Add to that the scratch-proof, PFOA-free, non-stick coating of their Xtreme line, which is also lead-free and non-toxic. Stoneline cookware meets the toughest European safety standards.

One caveat is that you should read the care instructions before using them. Although most of them are intuitive for an experienced cook, failure to do so may lead to inadvertent damage.

Given all their pluses, you might expect Stoneline products to carry a luxury price tag. Even with their functional, ecological, and longevity benefits, they are a mid-priced brand that will repay your investment with years of reliable use.

7. Römertopf

Römertopf cookware has been around for more than 50 years. Although the range includes frying pans and other metal equipment, the company is most famous for its natural clay products, which are hand-crafted in Germany.

These include Dutch ovens, casseroles, loaf pans, and chicken roasters. This incredibly versatile material is also very adaptable to different uses – and the range includes flame-proof dishes for barbecues.

Soak the lid of a baking pot before use as this creates a blanket of steam inside and out, to keep the contents juicy and enhance the flavors. The pots can adapt to changes in temperature with ease and are even microwave-safe

Take a look at any of the online reviews of this brand and you’ll see that each product has an army of dedicated fans who love the effect it has on their favorite recipes – whether they’re into baking delicious crusty sourdough or mouth-watering casseroles and stews.

Given the quality of their materials and their range of uses, Römertopf pots are very affordably priced. And they’ll become your much-loved kitchen companions for years to come.

8. Velosan

The Velosan company, founded in 1896, has a long and proud history of producing some of the finest German cookware on the market. Velosan’s keynote products are premium-quality cast iron and aluminum cookware, as well as their well-designed and durable cooking knives and other kitchen utensils.

The combination of high-quality materials and traditional craftsmanship has earned the brand many fans among serious cooks, as well as those for whom food preparation is a source of joy.

Velosan non-stick coatings are 100% free of POFA, making them safe to cook with as well as environmentally friendly. The pans also boast ergonomic handles and clever designs to make your cooking experience safer, more convenient, and more enjoyable.

9. Titanium Cookware Collection

Titanium Cookware is actually a US company which imports high-end German-made products. It sells frying pans, saucepans, omelet pans, and one-pot meal pans all made from the same premium quality materials.

What makes this range so special? First, it’s made from solid, hand-cast aluminum, which is a great heat conductor. It also retains heat well, so you can turn off the burner and let the food finish cooking slowly. Aluminum is tough so won’t warp or become misshapen.

Next, the non-stick coating. This is where the magic happens! It’s not some POFA-laden chemical, but pure titanium.Titanium is not only extremely durable, it’s also inert in the body and therefore totally non-toxic (that’s why it’s used for hip implants). It’s also easy to clean with a green scrubber – wire wool or metal tools will damage the surface.

The fact that this range comes with a 20-year surface performance warranty is a testament to the quality.

Prices are definitely at the luxury end of the market, but you can regard them as an investment. Products can be ordered directly from their website and, at the time of writing, they offer free shipping on orders over $600.

10. Wüsthof

Wüsthof is another iconic German brand with a heritage stretching back to 1814. The company is still based in Solingen, known as “the City of Blades”. Not surprisingly, it’s most famous for its knives, which are elegant, well-balanced, and built to perform perfectly for years.

As well as single knives, they also offer 2-knife sets, carving sets, knife and scissor combos, and knife-block sets; you can even choose the knives you want to include in the block.

A really great knife is fundamental to easy, safe, and enjoyable food preparation. Providing you care for them properly, your Wüsthof knives will serve you well for decades – so they’re well worth the investment.

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