Ceramic Cookware Pros And Cons: A Detailed Discussion

What is Ceramic cookware?

Cookware plays a considerable role in the whole cooking process. We have numerous choices of cookware. It becomes very challenging for us when we have to select one. Nowadays, people are buying Ceramic cookware because of its multiple advantages. Ceramic cookware usually means pots made of clay. These are specially glazed and kiln-baked. Some Ceramic pots have aluminum or some other metal base and are often coated with ceramic enamel. Significant growth in its usage has been noticed in the past few years. But the question is if all the claimed benefits of ceramic pans are actual. Do you know about the Ceramic cookware pros and cons? First, we need to discuss the ceramic cookware pros and cons before coming to any conclusion. 

Ceramic cookware pros and cons: Advantages

There are many benefits of ceramic cookware; some include lightweight, colorful, healthy, and cost-effective. The ceramic cookware pros and cons are discussed below in detail.

• Toxic-free

Ceramic coatings are made of natural minerals. Thermalon creates a non-stick covering on the cookware by using natural minerals. It does not use PFAS or PFOA in the manufacturing process. Only natural sand is used. So, you can rest assured that lead or cadmium is not getting mixed into your food. Sometimes we are in a hurry and overheat the cookware. Even if one overheats their cookware, toxic fume will not come out if they are using Ceramic cookware. Thus, you can make safe and healthy meals for your family.

• Non-stick

Ceramic cookware works like any non-stick cookware. It has a smooth and slick surface, but it does not use any type of chemicals. Even the stickiest food will slide smoothly out of a ceramic pan. With stainless pans, you need to use oil or butter to get the same effect. So indirectly, ceramic cookware also cuts down our daily fat consumption and keeps us healthy. So, if we compare ceramic vs. nonstick pans, Ceramic will always be the better choice.

• Easy cleaning

Cleaning Ceramic cookware is very easy. You do not have to scrub it for hours to remove the stains. Just some warm water and soap is enough for the cleaning process. Because the pot has a non-stick feature, cleaning it is a quick and smooth process. Even if you burn the cookware, you only have to soak it in warm water for an hour and wash it with your hands.

• Affordable

Ceramic cookware is very affordable compared to others. You can get the entire pots and pan set under $100, whereas other cookware costs two to three times higher. Ceramic pots can separately be bought at a lower price as well. One can also replace their sets easily from the market.

• No need for seasoning

Ceramic cookware does not need seasoning. You can use them right after the purchase. Other cookware like iron-based or stainless steel needs some seasoning before they can cook perfectly. But Ceramic cookware can be used to cook almost anything, and you do not have to put oil or butter to make the surface non-stick. It is ready to use cookware right out of its box.

Also Read: Difference Between Iron and Cast Iron Cookware

• Various usages

Ceramic cookware comes in various shapes and sizes. They can also be used as a food container. If you have some leftovers and do not want to use other metals to store your food overnight, you can simply store them in your Ceramic cookware. They even come with a lid, so the fragrance of your food will stay intact. They can be easily restored in refrigerators as well. This option is not available for other metal cookware.

• Colors

All of us love to decorate our kitchen. Nothing can be better if we find utensils that match our kitchen décor. Ceramic cookware comes in different colors and shapes that can enhance the look of your kitchen. All the red, blue, yellow utensils can make your kitchen very colorful. This gives a positive vibe to the kitchen environment and inspires us to make tasty dishes. We cannot get this colorful effect from any iron coated or stainless steel kitchenware. They have the same dull silver color. Only ceramic cookware can spoil us with different choices of colors. Some even use Ceramic cookware to decorate their kitchen or to serve the food to their guests. They are very aesthetically pleasing and look great on kitchen shelves.

• Distributes heat evenly

Ceramic cookware distributes the heat evenly all over the pan. So, you do not need to worry about burning your food while some other parts are still uncooked. It acts like cast-iron pans, but the only difference is that cast iron pans need seasoning, whereas, Ceramic pans are always ready to be used.

• Can be used in high temperature

The enamel coating on ceramic cookware is usually made of molten glass powder and has a porcelain glaze. So, these can be used to cook on high flames. They are also a great time saver.

• Durable

The enamel coating on Ceramic cookware is resistant to breakage, scratches, or chips, making it one of the most durable cookware. They also have cast iron centers, which makes them more durable. The glaze and molten glass powder make the coating stronger. 

• Environment friendly

Cookware with a Ceramic coating is environment friendly. It uses sand, which is a natural ingredient, in its making process. 

• Energy saver

Cookware made of ceramic coating easily heat up and retain the heat for a long time. So, these are great at saving energy. You do not have to waste a lot of power to cook using a Ceramic pot. In winter, you can serve the food warm, even after a long time of cooking. This is one of the most pocket-friendly ceramic cooking pots benefits. 

• Any cooking medium can be used

When you are cooking with a ceramic pot, you can use any cooking medium. These can be used for oven, stove, and even microwaves. You can also keep them in your refrigerator.

• Non-reactive

Ceramic cookware is completely non-reactive like pots made of glass. You can cook with lemons, tomato, or acidic ingredients without worrying about contamination or change of taste.

• Lightweight

Ceramic cookware is exceptionally light in weight. The base and ceramic coating make it lighter and easy to carry. Using heavy cookware can be difficult at times. Cleaning them also takes more energy. So, with Ceramic cookware, you can do all your kitchen work smoothly.

• Retains heat

Sometimes Ceramic cookware can take a longer time to heat-up, but they are great heat retainers. If you cook your food using Ceramic cookware, they will stay warm for hours. The lid also helps to keep the food from cooling down.

• Retains nutritional value

Everyone wants to cook healthy food for their family. Ceramic cookware is non-reactive. So, it does not add anything to your food, and also it does not soak-up any nutrition from the food. It keeps all the health benefits and flavor in your food intact.

Ceramic cookware pros and cons: Disadvantages

So, we were discussing the Ceramic cookware pros and cons. Even though it has many advantages, there are some disadvantages as well. All the disadvantages are discussed below:

• The durability of the coating

The enamel coating of a Ceramic pan makes it non-sticky. But unfortunately, the durability of the coating is minimal. Most Ceramic cookware users complain about the layer. Once the surface is damaged, you cannot repair or use oil to prepare a non-stick surface. No matter what you do, the food will get burnt or stick to the pan. Eventually, you have to buy a new pan. Even with costly ceramic pans, the same issue occurs. This is considered as one of the biggest disadvantages of porcelain Enamel cookware.

• Flimsy

The Ceramic pans are very light and easy to carry. The thin metal surface also makes this unsuitable for heavyweight recipes. Sometimes you need to wrap the pot if you overheat it. This limits the cooking process very much. So, you must have some additional cookware in your kitchen.

Also Read: Terracotta Cookware – All You Need To Know

• Not good for dishwashers

Ceramic kitchen-wares must be cleaned using hands and soap. But, there are some days when we are in a hurry or too tired to wash dishes. Then we prefer to use the dishwasher. But, we cannot if we are using Ceramic pots and pans. The coating will get damaged if they are washed in a dishwasher. Some companies even do not honor the warranty if the pots are cleaned with dishwashers or other appliances.  

• Cannot be used with another metal utensils

You have to avoid using any metal utensils when you are cooking with Ceramic cookware. The surface of the ceramic cookware is very delicate, so you have to take special care. It is best to use wooden or nylon products while cooking with Ceramic utensils. You also have to avoid any steel wool to clean the pots. In short, you have to redecorate the whole kitchen and shift to all non-scratch items.

• Sometimes cannot tolerate high heat

Though Ceramic cookware is good in dealing with heat, some pots are too fragile to tolerate high flames. In that case, one must use other cookware. The delicacy and lightweight nature make the surface of these utensils more fragile. You must read the user guide before using it for cooking.

• Uneven surface

Ceramic cookware uses sand and nano-particles to make the non-stick surface. Though they are all-natural ingredients, they can make the surface a bit uneven. Unlike other cookware, Ceramic cookware has a rough surface. All these do not matter when you are cooking pasta or vegetables, but when you try to cook a steak, you face problems. The heat does not always spread evenly, and the cooking processes can become messy.

• Safety concerns

Undoubtedly, Ceramic utensils are environment-friendly and beneficial, but there are some concerns about its safety. The porcelain glaze can add a small amount of lead in the pot if manufactured poorly. This can be dangerous for our health. So, we must check the product details very carefully before buying any Ceramic cookware. If the manufacturing details are not available, then we should buy it from any other trusted shop.

Every cookware has its advantages and disadvantages, just like ceramic cookware pros and cons. But after understanding all the ceramic cookware pros and cons, we can say that for any type of heavy cooking, we can use other cast-iron or stainless steel utensils. Still, if you are going for simple and delicate cooking, the Ceramic cookware is the best. They look great and have multi-faceted usages. Ceramic pots are great for beginners and for people who want to enhance the aesthetic beauty. They are also very cheap compared to other cookware available in the market. So, do try them to make your cooking and kitchen innovative. Moreover, these Ceramic cookware pros and cons will help you make a decision.