How To Care For Your Ceramic Cookware

Ceramic cookware is durable, long-lasting, and there’s no need to worry about harmful chemicals common in the non-stick coating. They’re also quite expensive, which means taking care of your ceramic pots and pans is crucial if you want your investment to last for years.

If you’ve never had ceramic pans before, this guide will help you learn the basics of caring for your ceramic cookware.

Here are things to keep in mind when using ceramic pans:

Cook Over Low to Medium Heat

Ceramic pans may withstand extreme temperatures, but they’re made for cooking over low to medium heat settings. They’re not as durable as stainless steel or cast iron, though, so it’s best not to use ceramic when you want to cook with full throttle high heat. Besides, too much heat can cause food to burn on the surface, making it harder to clean.

Consider: Misen Cookware

Can You Use Metal Utensils on Ceramic Pans?

The answer is yes, technically you can, but it’s not recommended. This is because ceramic pans are sensitive to metal utensils since they have hard and rough edges that can scratch and damage the cooking surface.

Avoid cutting food with a knife on your ceramic pots and pans, too, as slicing food on your pan can cause damage such as scratches.

Wood, plastic, or nylon utensils are ideal when cooking with your ceramic cookware.

Oils and Butters are Not Necessary

Ceramic already has a non-stick surface, so there’s no need to put oils or butter on the cooking surface. This means cooking with ceramic pans can be healthier since you won’t be adding fatty oils or butter to your food.

If you like the taste of butter on whatever you’re cooking, use only a tiny amount and use a low heat setting. High heat over ceramic cookware can cause the butter to burn and leave sticky residue on the surface.

Avoid using extra olive oil on your ceramic pans since burnt olive oil can leave a carbon layer on the cooking surface.

Cleaning and Storing Ceramic Cookware

It’s essential to properly clean your ceramic cookware to make your pots and pans last longer.

Any build-up of leftover food on your pans can decrease the performance of your cookware, and they won’t be able to cook as properly as when they’re brand new. Proper cleaning and storage can maintain your ceramic cookware’s durability and capabilities.

Here are tips for cleaning and storing ceramic pans:

1. Hand wash your ceramic cookware. Although ceramic pots and pans are generally dishwasher-safe, if you want to extend the life of your cookware, handwashing them is more ideal.
2. Do not wash your pots immediately after cooking. Wait for your pot to cool down before washing it with water. Though ceramic cookware can withstand extreme temperatures, the sudden change from hot to cold can be damaging.
3. Wash with warm soapy water and use a sponge or dishcloth to remove leftover food. If any burnt food sticks on the surface, soak in warm water until it is easy to scrape off.
4. Make sure the pot is completely dry before storing it. Avoid stacking other cookware on top or beneath it, as different pots can cause damage to your ceramic cookware. If you are limited on storage space, place polyester pot protection between the pots or use dish towels to act as cushioning layers between the cookware.

Food residue or leftovers on ceramic pans are easy to scrape off. However, there are instances where food sticks to the surface, so do not use any metal utensils or tools to scrape off stuck food, as this can damage the ceramic pot. Once the coating is scraped off, it won’t work as well as a non-stick pan anymore.

Conclusion

Ceramic cookware is durable and reliable, and best of all, it’s non-reactive, which means you’ll get more full flavors from the food you’re cooking. They can also handle extreme temperatures and can be used for any kind of cooking, whether you’re frying, sauteing, steaming or grilling.

However, ceramic cookware needs gentle care to make them last longer. As long as you know how to care for your ceramic pans, such as not using metal utensils, cooking on low to medium heat, and providing proper cleaning and storing, they’ll last for many years to come.

Related: PFOA Free Cookware