Where Is Misen Cookware Made?

The Origins of Misen Cookware

Misen's founding story

Misen emerged from founder Omar Rada's frustration with the cookware market's stark choice between low‐quality cheap tools and overpriced premium brands. The company launched in 2015 with a Kickstarter campaign for their chef's knife, raising over $356,000 in just 5 days – far exceeding their initial $25,000 goal^[1]. Since then, Misen has launched many more successful Kickstarters and grown into a thriving e-commerce business. The name “Misen” comes from the French culinary term “mise en place,” meaning “to put in place”^[2].

Before launching, the team spent 18 months developing their first product, creating hundreds of sketches and multiple prototypes to combine elements of both Japanese and German knife design^[3]. This meticulous approach to product development has become a hallmark of Misen's design philosophy, ensuring that each item undergoes rigorous testing and refinement.

The company's mission and values

Misen's mission centers on making premium kitchen tools accessible without inflated prices. Through careful material selection and rigorous product testing, the company develops cookware that delivers professional‐grade performance at reasonable prices. Their development process involves months of prototyping and evaluation by designers, engineers, and cooks of varying skill levels to refine features that meaningfully improve cooking^[4].

Beyond product development, Misen demonstrates a commitment to sustainability and social responsibility in their operations, using eco‐friendly materials and packaging while continuously seeking ways to reduce environmental impact^[5]. This holistic approach to business aligns with their core values of accessibility, quality, and responsibility.

Misen's approach to cookware design

The product development process reflects a focus on functional design over marketing hype. Each item undergoes months of rigorous testing and refinement, with designers, engineers, and cooks of varying skill levels evaluating prototypes to identify truly useful features^[6]. Unnecessary elements are stripped away while preserving characteristics that meaningfully improve cooking performance.

This approach was evident in their first product – a chef's knife that took 18 months to develop through hundreds of sketches and multiple prototypes^[7]. The carbon steel pan exemplifies this commitment to functional design, combining the best qualities of various cookware materials into a versatile cooking surface. Through extensive research and testing cycles, Misen aims to deliver professional‐grade performance in streamlined designs that eliminate retail markups.

Where Is Misen Cookware Made?

Manufacturing location in China

All of Misen's cookware products are manufactured in facilities located near Shanghai, China^[8]. This strategic manufacturing choice allows the company to maintain lower production costs while still adhering to American quality standards. The Chinese manufacturing facilities operate under strict quality control protocols to ensure consistent product quality.

Reasons for choosing Chinese production

The decision to manufacture cookware in China stems from Misen's core mission of delivering premium cookware at accessible prices. By partnering with facilities near Shanghai, the company maintains significantly lower production costs while still adhering to American quality standards – enabling them to offer premium cookware at prices 25–35% below competitors^[9].

The Chinese manufacturing location allows Misen to achieve a 3mm thickness in their cookware walls, resulting in superior heat distribution and retention^[10]. This strategic choice enables the company to balance quality and affordability, with their cookware performing on par with or better than premium brands in heat distribution tests.

Quality control measures in place

The manufacturing facilities near Shanghai operate under comprehensive quality control protocols that align with international standards. Misen's cookware undergoes third-party testing and must meet strict requirements including EU RoHS compliance, FDA approval for US markets, and ISO 9001 certification^[11].

Each piece goes through multiple inspection points during production to verify material quality and construction. For the nonstick cookware line, detailed documentation of PFAS chemical usage is maintained as required by regulations like California's AB-1200 and Colorado's HB22-1345^[12]. The quality assurance process has proven effective – independent heat distribution tests show Misen's 5‐ply cookware performing equal to or better than premium Western brands, while maintaining consistent 3mm thickness across product lines.

Misen's Product Range and Materials

Stainless steel cookware lineup

Misen's stainless steel cookware features 5‐ply construction with a 3.0mm thickness, combining stainless steel and aluminum layers for superior heat distribution^[13]. The pans include a wider base providing 19% more cooking surface than competing premium brands, along with ergonomic handles that stay cool during stovetop use.

The lineup includes 8-inch, 10-inch, and 12-inch skillets, with the largest offering a 12.5-inch diameter and 9-inch cooking surface. Each piece is compatible with all cooktop types including induction, and remains oven-safe up to 800°F. The cookware's thick aluminum core enables quick, even heating while preventing hot spots – essential for tasks from searing steaks to simmering sauces.

Carbon steel and non-stick options

Misen's carbon steel pans combine the best qualities of nonstick, stainless steel, and cast iron cookware into a versatile cooking surface^[14]. Their nonstick line features a three-layer DuPont Platinum coating with a ceramic exterior that maintains its appearance over time^[15].

The nonstick pans are oven-safe up to 450°F and include a 4.0mm thick aluminum core for even heating, with stay-cool handles designed for comfortable use. By intentionally designing their nonstick cookware with fewer layers, Misen optimizes performance while keeping costs down.

Knife collection and manufacturing

Misen's knife collection centers around their flagship 8-inch chef's knife, featuring Japanese AUS-10 steel with a 58 HRC hardness rating and 15-degree blade angle for superior edge retention^[16]. The knives are manufactured in facilities near Shanghai, China, ensuring lower production costs without compromising on premium materials.

Each knife undergoes extensive testing for sharpness and durability, featuring an ergonomic handle design and balanced construction for versatile kitchen tasks. A focus on material quality and rigorous testing protocols has earned accolades from both home cooks and professional chefs.

Consumer Considerations for Misen Cookware

Performance and durability factors

Misen's 5‐ply stainless steel cookware demonstrates exceptional heat distribution and retention. When evaluated against premium competitors, their pans heat more evenly, and the 3mm thick construction ensures consistent cooking performance^[17].

Durability testing reveals impressive resilience of the nonstick coating, even though minor surface scratches may develop over extended use. Independent tests confirm uniform cooking performance across the entire surface.

Pricing and accessibility for home cooks

By leveraging a direct-to-consumer model and strategic manufacturing, Misen offers premium cookware at 25–35% lower prices than competitors^[18]. Eliminating retail markups allows them to provide high-quality tools at accessible price points.

Misen's focus on combining performance with affordability makes professional-grade kitchen tools attainable for home cooks seeking reliability and value.

Warranty and customer service offerings

Misen provides a Limited Lifetime Warranty on most products, covering defects in material, construction, and workmanship under normal use^[19]. While the warranty for stainless steel cookware excludes damage from extreme heating and minor blemishes, their nonstick products come with a 2-year warranty on the coating.

For warranty claims, customers typically submit photo documentation, and the company may offer a replacement or partial refund based on the product's discontinued status.