Here’s What You Need to Know About Ceramic Non-Stick Pans
Non-stick pans make cooking and cleanup super easy. These pans have a coating on the metal that prevents food from sticking and makes cleanup a breeze. Non-stick cookware is extremely popular, especially now that more people are trying to cut back on fats in their diet and need an alternative to traditional non-stick options like oil or butter. Ceramic non-stick pans also offer many advantages. Once you understand your options, choosing the right set for your needs is simple—and all about the details!
What Is a Ceramic Non-stick Pan?
Ceramic non-stick pans are made with a coating that is bonded to both sides of the surface of an aluminum, copper, or steel pan; they’re not made of 100% ceramic. And unlike the “seasoning” of cast iron pans, it’s not a coating you can remove and reapply if you have to. In that way, ceramic non-stick pans are beginner-friendly if you want to avoid a lot of pan maintenance. However, this also means that when the coating wears or chips off, you will have to replace the pan.
The ceramic coating is a hard material, like porcelain, which makes it an excellent choice for non-stick cookware, but calling it “ceramic” is a bit of a misnomer; it’s actually coated at high temperatures with natural silicon derived from sand and then baked on. The process is referred to as sol-gel. The result is a pan that has ceramic non-stick properties on both the inside and outside of the pan. So, why is it called “ceramic?” It was given the label because of its smooth, glossy appearance and texture.
Ceramic Pans Give You More Options When Cooking
You can safely heat traditional non-stick pans to around 500 degrees Fahrenheit before you need to worry about health risks. However, with ceramic non-stick pans, you can preheat your empty pan for a sear without worrying, because the finish won’t begin to break down until around 800 degrees.
Unlike traditional non-stick pans, however, most ceramic ones will give you the flexibility to move a dish you’re preparing from stove to oven without switching pans; this reduces the number of dishes you’ll need to do at the end of your meal. Because they’re so attractive with their variety of colors and designs, you can also use your ceramic pans as serving dishes!
Of course, you could achieve similar benefits by using cast iron cookware. With ceramic pans, though, you won’t risk damaging your pan’s non-stick qualities by cooking with acidic ingredients, and they’re much lighter than their cast iron counterparts.
Non-stick Can Become Low-Stick
Not all ceramic non-stick pans are created equal. Most traditional non-stick pans have a lifetime use of around five years if they’re treated right, but ceramic non-stick pans have different thickness layers, depending on the manufacturer. Your non-stick pan can become low-stick quickly; it all depends on how you treat the pan and the coating thickness and quality. It’s worth paying more for more layers of protective finish so you can enjoy your pan for longer. The maximum lifetime of most ceramic non-stick pans is often between two-three years.
That said, even as your pan becomes low-stick, you can still reduce the amount of butter or oil you use in your cooking. If you like the added flavor those options bring to your meal, it may not be a deal breaker.
Preserving Your Non-stick Ceramic Pan
There are many things you can do to retain the non-stick quality of your ceramic pan for as long as possible:
- Avoid high heat to reduce the wear on the ceramic coating.
- Always hand-wash your pans and avoid abrasives when cleaning them.
- Regardless of what your manufacturer says, don’t risk scratching the surface using metal utensils.
Ceramic Is Functional Decor
Non-stick pots and pans come in many different styles with varying price points, but ceramic offers you the ability to also choose your colors; your cookware can be a functional showpiece in your kitchen. If you “forget” to put the pan away and store it on your stovetop, countertop, or shelf, it becomes an instant photo-worthy opportunity for all your recorded memories.
Final Thoughts
Ceramic non-stick pans are a convenient, useful, and attractive kitchen tool and if you care for them properly, they’ll last you for years to come. When choosing your pan, it’s important to do your research.
Not all ceramic non-stick pans are of the same quality or even offer the same range of versatility. Choosing high-quality, durable products that offer you the most options for use will ensure you get the greatest value of their life span; this will make them worth the investment and help you avoid the drawbacks of low-quality non-stick pans.