The cookware market experienced declining sales from 2016-17 in part due to competitive pressure from the growing small kitchen appliances category, lessening the need for cookware items. High penetration and long purchase cycles also challenge category growth, as market sales rely on new users and trade-ups.

However, positive economic indicators and consumer enjoyment toward at-home cooking and baking could boost category sales. Creating online educational campaigns could be an opportunity for brands to reach younger adults who are new to the category and still building their cookware inventory.

For the purposes of this Report, Mintel defines the US cookware category as follows:

• Standard pots and saucepans

• Frying pans

• Woks

• Casserole dishes designed for use on the stove or in the oven

Also included are products used to bake or roast foods in the oven, such as:

• Roasting tins

• Baking sheets

• Loaf tins

• Muffin trays

• Omelette/pancake pans

• Pasta pans

• Vegetable steamers

• Other niche products

Cookware may be made of metal, ceramic, glass, or composite material. However, while sales of glass, ceramic, and silicone bakeware are discussed in the Report, sales of these are not included in market size figures.

Additionally, kitchen cutlery is also discussed as part of the cookware market. It includes:

• Knife blocks or sets

• Cook’s knives

• Carving knives

• Vegetable paring knives

• Cleavers

• All-purpose kitchen knives

Kitchen cutlery refers to knives that have a specific kitchen task and therefore does not include table knives.