People often wonder about what material their cookware should be made of. Of course, we all want what’s best for us. Cooking and eating healthy food should always be our top priority. Still, some coatings and materials make that almost impossible, and lots of people don’t even know it.
For example, ceramic and stainless steel cookware have been butting heads for a long time. They both have pros and cons, and we’ll go through them in an attempt to determine which one is superior.
There are quite a few things to consider and think about while we go through the good and the bad. Those things include cookware aesthetics, budget, the type of food you like the cook the most, etc.
Without further ado, let’s get straight into it!
1. Ceramic Cookware
Since Teflon is out of the picture, where do you find quality non-stick cookware? Think about ceramic pots and pans. Making pots out of clay isn’t a new invention because people have been making it for hundreds of years. However, they are a new addition to the non-stick collection of cookware.
Ceramic cookware is split into two groups: cookware with a ceramic coating and those that are entirely ceramic, like Xtrema Cookware, for example. 100% ceramic cookware has no harmful chemicals, toxins, coatings, or dyes that could put you or your food in danger. What we can conclude from this statement is that ceramic cookware seems to be the healthy option here.
Advantages
Keep in mind that ceramic pans and pots have plenty of advantages, but we won’t list them all here. We’ll mainly focus on those that can influence your decision to add them to your cookware collection. The advantages include, but are not limited to:
- Toxin-free — Ceramic coating and cookware, in general, are safer than most cookware types, especially Teflon. That’s because ceramic is made out of clay, which is a natural material. If the ceramic coating worries you, know that not all coatings come from the same materials. This type of cookware coating doesn’t have harmful PFOA or PTFE chemicals.
- Non-stick properties — Your food not sticking to the pan isn’t the only good thing here. What we mean is that you’ll also have to use way less oil or butter, resulting in a healthier diet and consumption of fewer calories. Plus, this makes ceramic cookware easy to clean.
- Withstands high heat — Ceramic cookware can be safe over high heat. When it comes to temperature, ceramic is a great conductor, resulting in even heat distribution. This will allow your meals to cook perfectly every time.
- Aesthetically pleasing and affordable — Lastly, ceramic cookware can come in numerous styles that will fit right into any kitchen. Also, depending on your budget, they’re quite affordable.
Disadvantages
Naturally, everything that has pros, has to have cons too. Disadvantages include:
- Not dishwasher safe — If you want your ceramic cookware to last you a long time, make an effort to remove dirt or stains using your hands only (Read: How to clean ceramic cookware).
- Requires specific utensils — Forget about your metal utensils because they can harm the cooking surface or the pot or pan.
Only good with low to medium heat — While ceramic cookware can withstand high temperatures, that doesn’t mean it should. Exposure to high heat can result in a shorter lifespan. - Shorter lifespan than stainless steel or even cast iron — You can get up to five years of non-stick cooking only.
2. Stainless Steel Cookware
You’ve probably noticed that all top chefs usually use stainless steel cookware. That must mean there’s something great about it.
Stainless steel is created from a mixture of metals and has no coating at all. That means it will shine brightly in every kitchen, and there’s no coating to ruin with improper care.
Similar to any other cookware type, stainless steel comes with both advantages and disadvantages. Now, we’re curious to see how it compares to ceramic cookware. Will it end up being better and safer? Let’s jump into what makes stainless steel good (or bad) and find out.
Advantages
Similarly to ceramic cookware, stainless steel has multiple advantages, and we will talk only about the most relevant. Here they are:
- Extreme durability — With this type of cookware, you won’t have to worry about chipping or rust or using the correct utensils. Stainless steel can withstand it all. Plus, you can clean them any way you like (yes, they can go into the dishwasher).
- Versatility — You can cook any kind of food on stainless steel without worrying if it will ruin the flavor or release harmful toxins. Why is that? Well, there’s no coating to interfere!
- Withstands high temperatures — Unlike ceramic cookware, stainless steel heats up pretty fast, and it’s even oven-safe!
It’s recyclable
Disadvantages
On the other hand, let’s see if the disadvantages will change our positive opinion on stainless steel. They include:
- Not non-stick — This is a huge disadvantage because it includes having to use more oil, resulting in an unhealthy diet. Plus, it’s all trial and error until you learn what works for your pan.
- Poor heat conduction — Unlike ceramic, stainless steel isn’t good at conducting heat. However, multi-ply types of pans take care of this issue.
- Pricier — Buying on a budget means you usually can’t afford these. There are cheaper options, but they are of lower quality.
The Verdict
Taking everything we know into account, we’re able to form certain opinions. In the battle of ceramic vs. stainless steel cookware, both came out as winners! Sure, they both might have some disadvantages but look at it from a different point of view. We’re all different, and we have different needs.
Take your health, habits, budget, and aesthetic preferences into account and make the decision accordingly. We will say that ceramic does seem like a safer and healthier option. However, stainless steel doesn’t fall far behind.
Lastly, you can always combine pieces from each type. You don’t have to buy a whole set during the trial period. Give both types of cookware a chance and see which works best for you.
0 Comments