India’s cookware market is shifting from traditional materials to healthier alternatives as consumers question what goes into their food. Concerns over PFAS in non-stick coatings are driving demand for safer, durable options like enamel, built to withstand Indian cooking styles. This evolution signals a move towards transparency and sustainability in the industry. India’s cookware market has long been driven by legacy decisions , aluminium because it’s light, stainless steel because it lasts, and non-stick because it’s easy. But as India’s kitchens evolve, so must its cookware. What was once a low-involvement category is now becoming one of the most important conversations in the broader consumer health and home segment.Today’s consumer is asking a new question: what’s going into my food, and what’s my cookware made of? And that question is reshaping the industry.The non-stick dilemmaFor decades, non-stick cookware has been synonymous with convenience. Its appeal was simple, less oil, less cleaning, faster cooking. But convenience often came with a quiet compromise. Most non-stick coatings are polymer-based, many of which fall under the PFAS family of chemicals. These “forever chemicals,” as they’re increasingly known, have been under global scrutiny for their persistence in the environment and potential health implications when overheated or damaged.Globally, markets like the EU and US are tightening regulations around PFAS use. In India, however, non-stick continues to dominate store shelves, largely because of affordability and familiarity, not safety. The gap between what’s available and what’s advisable has never been more evident.
The new engineering as alternativeThere are brands which are taking initiatives to make cooking healthier and are developing technologies that are making cooking safer from health perspective. For instance, Cumin Co has developed Enviromax coating which has four-layer enamel technology, developed to make enamel cookware not just safer, but also purpose-built for Indian kitchens. It combines a glass-based, non-porous surface with metal’s durability, creating cookware that is rust-resistant, stain-resistant, and non-reactive, even under prolonged, high-heat cooking. Unlike conventional enamel, which can crack or discolor with repeated use. This technology is said to handle the demands of Indian cooking: longer cooking times, spiced gravies, and high-temperature searing. By removing polymers and PFAS entirely, it ensures food purity without sacrificing performance — proving that longevity and safety can, in fact, coexist.A market at a CrossroadsIndia’s cookware industry is valued at over ₹20,000 crore, but innovation has lagged behind consumer awareness. While categories like food and beauty have seen clean, health-forward revolutions, cookware remains decades behind. The average buyer still associates quality with shine, weight, or brand familiarity, not safety or science. That’s starting to change. A new wave of digitally native, design-led brands is educating consumers, driving adoption of safer materials, and demanding transparency from suppliers. As in other consumer categories, trust is emerging as the ultimate differentiator.
The future of cookware in India will belong to brands that build that trust — not just through marketing claims, but through measurable, material innovation.What the next decade of cookware will demand? As the market matures, three shifts are already becoming clear:Transparency over tradition – The next phase of growth will come from brands that disclose what goes into their coatings and why. Consumers no longer accept vague “food-safe” assurances.
Built for the Indian kitchen – Products designed for Western cooking styles rarely meet India’s intensity of use. Heat, spice, oil, and frequency demand materials that can stand up to local conditions.Longevity as sustainability – As consumers grow conscious of waste, cookware will be judged by its lifecycle. Durable materials like enamel, which don’t peel or corrode , will lead this shift.The conscious cookware economyIndia is on the cusp of a cookware revolution, one driven by science, health, and sustainability rather than habit. The shift from non-stick to enamel-coated cookware isn’t just a consumer choice; it’s an industry realignment. Because in a country where food is culture, the tools we cook with deserve the same thought and care as the meals themselves.Contributed by: Niharika Joshi & Udit Lekhi, Co-Founders, Cumin Co
Dining and Cooking