Greenlife Soft Grip Ceramic Nonstick
Ceramic cookware is the somewhat newer, trendier option in the world of pots and pans. They’re most famous for being pretty, and are available in a range of colors from pretty pastels to bold retro blues and reds. But don’t let that fool you: they also perform well in the kitschen.
So how does ceramic equipment stack up against other cookware materials like stainless steel, cast-iron and nonstick? Use this guide to understand what ceramic cookware is all about, the pros and cons, and how to choose the right time to use it so it really shines.
The word “ceramic” may make this cookware sound fragile, dainty even, but ceramic cookware isn’t actually made 100% of clay. Rather, these attractive pots and pans have a metal core, usually made of aluminum or copper, that is coated with several layers of ceramic coating. This coating has an attractive, smooth matte finish that also happens to be non-stick and even-heating.
Okay, it doesn’t just “happen” to be that way. That’s precisely why they put the coating on in the first place.
These beautiful pots and pans have more going for them than looks! Here are some advantages that come with using ceramic cookware at home.
Ceramic surfaces are quite non-stick, thanks to a coating of nanoparticle-sized silicon along the surface. You need very little oil or cooking fat, if any, to perform most culinary tasks, including frying eggs, searing meat and stir-frying.
Those same nonstick properties also make ceramic incredibly easy to clean. Stuck-on sauces and even burned bits are pretty easy to wipe away with hot water, a sponge or scrubber and some dish soap.
For everyday cooking, most brands of ceramic cookware are also dishwasher-safe (unlike cast iron). That said, always check the manufacturer’s care recommendations before washing – no point in taking risks and ruining your beautiful new cookware!
When the metal core of your ceramic pot heats, the ceramic layers hold on to that heat well. That means there’s less heat loss when you add food to your heated pan, and it cooks the food more evenly on the outside and inside.
Teflon cookware is usually gray, and cast iron settles into a deep, matte black once properly seasoned, but ceramic cookware can be colored any way you like! You can match your modern, stylish cookware to the color scheme of your kitchen, or even feel good about taking it straight from the stove to the table for service.
Gotham Steel Ceramic Cookware Set
One of the main disadvantages of the more popular Teflon cookware is that it becomes toxic when heated up to 570 degrees Fahrenheit. Most ceramic pots and pans are safe to put in the oven up to 500 degrees and beyond. If you have a woodfired pizza oven in the backyard, you may want to opt for something sturdier like cast-iron, but most in-home ovens don’t heat beyond 500°F anyway, so you should have no problem finishing dishes and baking casseroles right in your skillet.
Bonus: most ceramic pots and pans are also safe to use in the freezer, microwave and on the grill.
Some materials, including cast-iron, aluminum and copper, can interact with acidic foods (like vinegar, citrus juice and tomatoes) and cause things to turn strange colors or create off-putting metallic flavor. With ceramic, no metal touches your food, so you don’t have to worry about any of that.
In most cases, you can use ceramic pots and pans on an induction stove top. That inner iron or aluminum core makes the pans magnetic, which is all your induction range needs to fire up.
With the good, there are always a few drawbacks. Here are the major cons to using ceramic cookware at home.
The many layers of ceramic coating on each pot and pan make them heavier than other materials. Be prepared to use two hands to transport a pot or pan, especially if it’s full of food.
While ceramic is free from potentially harmful chemicals, the surface of your cookware may scratch or chip more easily than stainless steel or cast-iron. To avoid damage, use soft cooking utensils like wooden spoons or rubber spatulas.
Once it gets hot, your ceramic will stay hot for a long time. However, it does take a bit longer to reach temperature than other materials. This means that if you’re boiling water, simmering a soup or just making an omelette, you’ll need to factor in a few extra minutes of cooking time.
Ceramic cookware comes in stunning matching sets of pots, skillets and dutch ovens in every shape and size you could need. But if you have a few different materials to choose from in your cookware cabinet, here are the times that it’s best to reach for the ceramic:
Gibson Home Plaze Café' Forged Aluminum Non-stick Ceramic Cookware with Induction Base
If you’re looking for a reliable, versatile and healthy set of pots and pans to round out your collection, ceramic is a great option. This easy-to-clean, stylish and non-reactive cookware material may just become your new go-to for everything from breakfast eggs to baked desserts.
Lizzy Briskin is a freelance food writer and product reviewer. She runs the content creation business Earthen Food Co (https://earthenfood.co/), where she develops and photographs recipes, shares food stories and her (usually strong) opinions about all things related to cooking and eating. She's also a trained chef and marathon runner who lives in Boston. Contact her at lizzy@earthenfood.co and follow on Instagram @lizzybriskin.