Xtrema Cookware, The Founder’s Classic Collection: New Chic Cookware Inspired by Ancient Greece
Xtrema Cookware knocks it out of the park again with a collection that marries a timeless look with modern performance.
If you’ve decided it’s time to purge toxins and microplastics from your kitchen, your stovetop is a natural place to start. Xtrema cookware has long been a non-toxic cookware innovator, honoring centuries-old traditions in ceramic construction to craft pans for a 21st-century cook. A lot of “ceramic” pans are actually metal with delicate, thin coatings that can introduce unwanted additives into your food. By contrast, Xtrema Cookware offers something entirely different — 100% pure ceramic cookware.
Their newest line, the Founder’s Classic Collection, showcases a glossed-up, nostalgic nod to Ancient Greece, featuring a fluted design that sits at the intersection of classic and contemporary styles. And because Xtrema cookware contains no metal core and zero synthetic coatings, it completely eliminates the risk of chemical leaching. This cookware is the only option we know of on the market relying entirely on ancestral, traditional ceramic to naturally become nonstick when preheated properly — no coatings whatsoever. It’s cookware optimized for the modern cook who doesn’t want to compromise on health or style.
For those ready to swap out their PTFE nonstick cookware, we offer this collection as a major contender for your next foundational investment in a non-toxic kitchen.
Table of contents
- TL;DR
- The Cookware Problem Nobody Talks About
- When a Pan Fails, It Changes How You Cook
- The Solution: Xtrema’s Founder Classic Collection
- The New Collection Reaches into the Past
- What’s Included in the Xtrema Founder’s Classic Collection
- Classic Skillets
- Performance Innovation Wrapped in a Classic Design
- Implementation and Care Guide
- Xtrema Cookware Reviews: Real-World Performance Analysis
- A Classic Collection Built to Cook and Last
TL;DR
- Xtrema creates 100% pure ceramic cookware that eliminates toxic chemicals found in traditional nonstick and metal cookware
- Their proprietary ceramic formula provides superior heat retention, even distribution, and natural nonstick properties without harmful coatings
- The new Founder’s Classic Collection combines ancient Greek design inspiration with cutting-edge pure ceramic technology, spanning products from essential frying pans to specialized cooking vessels
- Proper usage techniques and maintenance protocols ensure decades of healthy cooking performance
- Professional and consumer reviews consistently highlight exceptional performance and health benefits
The Cookware Problem Nobody Talks About
Most cookware problems don’t start with a single dramatic event. More likely, there are small, annoying shifts: a pan that used to release perfect eggs now needs extra oil, or a “nonstick” surface feels less smooth with each passing month. The tricky part is that many of today’s pans rely on a surface layer or coating, meaning nonstick performance is often the first thing to fade.
“This new formula didn’t just function on the stove — it absorbed and retained heat energy so efficiently that food wouldn’t stick.”
Rich Bergstrom, Xtrema Cookware Founder
This leads to a frustrating cycle of frequent repurchasing and endless kitchen waste. People want cookware that remains reliable over time, not something that only performs when it’s shiny, new, and fresh out of the box. For those concerned about chemical exposure in their kitchen, understanding the truth about PTFE nonstick cookware is critical to breaking this cycle. You can move away from coatings that inevitably wear down by investing in Xtrema Cookware — it’s built to last.
When a Pan Fails, It Changes How You Cook
When a pan starts failing, most people begin quietly and subtly changing their cooking habits. You might start avoiding eggs, fish, or delicate sauces to sidestep the cleaning struggle. You might use a dose of extra oil “just in case” or turn up the heat to force browning, which often worsens sticking and creates hot spots.
But after many minor tweaks like this, cooking stops feeling like a creative outlet and starts feeling like a Rubik’s Cube of constant problem-solving. This friction in your daily routine is the real cost of poor cookware.
Check out our comprehensive guide on ceramic cookware to learn the truth behind glossy surfaces — you’ll quickly see the advantages of Xtrema pure ceramic cookware when it comes to long-term use.
The Solution: Xtrema’s Founder Classic Collection
In 2007, after three years of rigorous testing, founder Rich Bergstrom launched Xtrema. It became only the second brand in the world to craft stovetop-safe pure ceramic cookware completely devoid of metal, plastic, PFAS, or coatings that can leach into your food.
“Each piece is hand-made,” says Bergstrom. “From the time the artisan starts to form that product to the time that it’s actually put in a box, it’s a 22-day process.”
To produce this collection, Xtrema partnered with facilities in Chaozhou, a city with over 8,000 years of expertise in ceramics.
“The best ceramics in the world have always been made in China,” Bergstrom notes, highlighting that the region’s unmatched craftsmanship is what makes these Xtrema pans possible.
Use code OA15 for an exclusive 15% off discount that stacks with sales!
Pure Ceramic: A Centuries Old Story for the 21st Century
Xtrema’s mission is rooted in marrying modern innovation with ancestral Chinese ceramic craftsmanship. Bergstrom has dedicated over 47 years to mastering cookware that departs from traditional metal bases.
Before creating Xtrema ceramic cookware, he spent two decades with Corningware. While that pyroceramic glass was stovetop-safe, it wasn’t nonstick. “Glass is not a very good conductor of heat,” he recalls, “so when you put it on top of the stove, it would stick and get really hot spots.”
By 2002, Bergstrom had identified a void in the market and discovered a new clary-and-oxide material. This new formula didn’t just function on the stove — it absorbed and retained heat energy so efficiently that food wouldn’t stick. This breakthrough became the foundation for Xtrema’s pure ceramic performance.
The New Collection Reaches into the Past
Never one to rest on his laurels, Bergstrom has spent the past two decades improving his ancestral formula for better performance.
“From when we first started making Xtrema back in 2007, we have been tweaking our clay formula and our glaze formula to make it so it has better thermal properties,” says Bergstrom. “So we’re always upgrading our material, our clay material, fire clay, as well as our glaze.”
So while the launch of the new Founder’s Classic Collection represents the continuous advances from Xtrema ceramic cookware over two years of development, the key upgrade is the cookware’s gorgeous new aesthetic.
“It gives a level of sophistication, a classic design going back to Rome and going back to Greece, the Parthenon, and all of those different buildings and structures.”
Rich Bergstrom
Given current trends among Millennials and Gen Z rooted in nostalgia, it’s no surprise the company opted to tap into a more classic look — literally. Bergstrom explains they took inspiration from the fluted columns of Ancient civilizations to create one of their best ceramic cookware sets yet.
“It gives a level of sophistication, a classic design going back to Rome and going back to Greece, the Parthenon, and all of those different buildings and structures,” he says.
Use code OA15 for an exclusive 15% off discount that stacks with sales!
What’s Included in the Xtrema Founder’s Classic Collection
The new Founder’s Classic Collection has launched with six new products: 1-, 2-, and 3-quart saucepans, and 7-, 9-, and 11-inch skillets. There’s also the option to purchase the Founder’s Classic Skillets individually.
“Xtrema can go in the oven, on the stove, in the microwave, in the toaster oven, in the steamer oven, in the refrigerator, in the dishwasher, in the freezer. No other cookware can do that.”
Rich Bergstrom
Each piece is made with a deep black ceramic base, which Bergstrom explains is “ideal from a performance standpoint. We retain that thermal property.”
Aesthetics aside, these pans boast all of the benefits of Xtrema’s technical prowess, moving effortlessly around your kitchen. “Xtrema can go in the oven, on the stove, in the microwave, in the toaster oven, in the steamer oven, in the refrigerator, in the dishwasher, in the freezer,” says Bergstrom. “No other cookware can do that.”
Classic Skillets
These Xtrema pans are built for high-heat contact cooking like searing, frying, and sautéing.
Because they are metal-free, they offer superior thermal retention, staying hot longer to deliver a consistent crust on your proteins.
While Xtrema ceramic pans do require a brief learning curve — remember to properly preheat the pan before adding oil — they reward the cook with a natural, chemical-free release that only gets better with use.
- 3-Piece Classic Skillet Set: (Includes 7, 9, and 11-inch): $380.00
- 2-Piece Classic Skillet Set: (Includes 9 and 11-inch): $296.00
- The Classic 7-inch Skillet: $105.00
- The Classic 9-inch Skillet: $160.00
- The Classic 11-inch Skillet: $210.00
Use code OA15 for an exclusive 15% off discount that stacks with sales!
Classic Saucepans
For tasks that require steady, controlled heat — like simmering grains, reducing sauces, or reheating soups — the Xtrema pots are the collection’s workhorses.
Each saucepan in the Founder’s Classic lineup comes with a lid for better moisture management and heat hold.
The pure ceramic construction means there are no nonstick coatings that can peel or flake into your food. Instead, you get a clean cooking surface that is naturally non-reactive, making it perfect for acidic tomato sauces or long-simmering stews.
Purchasing Options: 10-Piece Founder’s Classic Collection: Includes all Classic Saucepans with Lids (1, 2, 3-qt), Classic Skillets (7 and 11-in), and two Organic Cotton Handle Protectors – $620.00
Use code OA15 for an exclusive 15% off discount that stacks with sales!
The Classic Oval Dutch Oven
While not part of the core Founder’s Classic set, the 7.5-Qt Classic Oval Dutch Oven, which is fave of our founder Laura Klein (read the review linked), is the slow-cook anchor of the Xtrema lineup. Designed for big-batch comfort cooking, it will quickly become your new go-to for braises and roasts. Its 7.1 L capacity is perfect for meal prep Sundays.
And like the rest of the line, it’s PFOA-free, PTFE-free, and California Prop 65 compliant. And just like any good Dutch Oven should, it includes a lid to help keep moisture in your food.
Purchasing Options (USD):
- 7.5-Qt Classic Oval Dutch Oven: $370.00
Use code OA15 for an exclusive 15% off discount that stacks with sales!
Performance Innovation Wrapped in a Classic Design
This collection keeps the look sophisticated with its fluted, Grecian-inspired ridges, while the build is strictly high-performance. Every Xtrema ceramic frying pan and pot is triple-fired at 2,500 degrees, resulting in a scratch-resistant and stain-proof finish. By eliminating the metal core, Xtrema ensures there is no uneven warping, providing a stable cooking experience that “set-it-and-forget-it” home chefs will love.
Use code OA15 for an exclusive 15% off discount that stacks with sales!
Implementation and Care Guide
Of course, great cookware does still require some upkeep to ensure it stays in good shape for as long as possible. Here are the things to keep in mind so your classic Xtrema pieces stay sturdy for years to come.
Proper Cooking Techniques for Optimal Results
Unlike conventional nonstick pans that heat up instantly, Xtrema pure ceramic cookware performs best with a “low and slow” approach. Because pure ceramic is an excellent thermal insulator, it absorbs and holds heat far more efficiently than metal. To get the best results:
- Start Low: Always begin on a low to medium-low heat setting for the first 3 to 5 minutes of cooking.
- The Preheat is Key: Use the “water-drop test” — a tiny drop of water should sizzle gently on the surface of your pan before you add anything else.
- Oil After Heating: Add a light layer of oil or fat after the pan has preheated to create a naturally nonstick surface. Adding oil to a cold pan can actually lead to more sticking.
- Respect the Heat: Once the pan is hot, it stays hot. You’ll likely find you can finish cooking on a lower burner setting than you’re used to.
- Choose the Right Tools: Check out our guide to non-toxic cooking utensils to find wood or silicone tools that won’t leave metal marks on your ceramic surface.
Long-Term Care and Maintenance Protocols
Keeping your Xtrema collection in heirloom condition is simple if you follow a few basic rules. While these pieces are exceptionally durable, they are sensitive to “thermal shock” — sudden, extreme temperature changes.
- Cool Down Gradually: Never rinse a hot pan with cold water. Let it cool on the stovetop before washing.
- Soak, Don’t Scrub: If you’re faced with stuck-on food, a simple soak in warm, soapy water is usually enough. For tougher stains, a paste of baking soda and a soft sponge will restore the gloss without scratching the finish.
- Smart Storage: When stacking your pots and pans, place a soft cloth or towel between each piece to prevent chips or scratches from contact.
- Dishwasher-Safe: While hand-washing is recommended to maintain the high-gloss finish, the Founder’s Classic Collection is fully dishwasher-safe for those busy weeknights.
- Stay away from nonstick sprays: Sprays often contain additives and propellants that create and leave a residue on your cookware over time, rendering its nonstick properties useless.
Use code OA15 for an exclusive 15% off discount that stacks with sales!
Xtrema Cookware Reviews: Real-World Performance Analysis
In the world of Xtrema cookware reviews, you’ll find a clear consensus: there is a learning curve, but the cooking and health benefits are unrivaled.
Chef and Expert Feedback
Professionals frequently praise Xtrema for its “steady-state” cooking. Unlike thin metal pans that have hot spots, pure ceramic provides a deep, even heat that is perfect for searing meats and slow-simmering sauces. Experts note that once you master the preheat, the browning capability is comparable to high-end cast iron, but without the risk of iron leaching or the tricky maintenance of seasoning.
Consumer Feedback
Home cooks often report a “transition period” after they switch to Xtrema. Early Xtrema cookware reviews sometimes mention sticking, which is almost always traced back to skipping the preheat or using too high of a heat setting.
However, long-term users emphasize the peace of mind that comes with “clean cooking.” There are no coatings to flake off and no chemical smells, even at high temperatures.
Use code OA15 for an exclusive 15% off discount that stacks with sales!
A Classic Collection Built to Cook and Last
The Xtrema Founder’s Classic Collection isn’t just about a glamorous, Ancient-inspired aesthetic — it’s about a commitment to material purity (that can, in fact, be traced back to those Ancient days). By stripping away the metal cores and synthetic coatings that define today’s “disposable” cookware industry, Xtrema has created a line that rewards the patient cook with better flavor and total safety.
If you’re looking for a comprehensive Xtrema ceramic cookware review before making a purchasing decision, the verdict is clear: if you are willing to spend a few minutes learning the rhythm of ceramic heat, you will be rewarded with a set of tools that looks beautiful on your table and performs flawlessly for decades.
Use code OA15 for an exclusive 15% off discount that stacks with sales!
