Photo: MainStays
In the cookware industry, ceramic is one of the most liked cookware materials. There are many reasons for why people have shifted their interest from other material types to ceramic.
First thing is that there is no metal in ceramic material. Therefore, you should rest assured that there won’t be any chemicals releasing in your food.
Before we talk any further, it is important to identify what ceramic material exactly is. Let’s see:
In this post:
What is Ceramic Pan?
Ceramic material is basically a stone or clay-based material which is fire hardened. It is baked in a kiln. People when hear about ceramic material, the first impression they have is about a cookware that is made of clay and will break easily.
However, because of the fire process, it is hardened and becomes extremely strong and durable. After firing up, the cookware is dipped in glaze which helps in making it stain resistant. It also gives non-stick coating to the cookware.
Now, there is a difference between ceramic cookware and ceramic coated cookware. A ceramic cookware that is true to its name is the one completely made of ceramic material.
Read More: Pros and Cons of Ceramic Cookware
However, the ones that have ceramic coating basically have metal base like hard anodized aluminum and comes with multiple layers of ceramic on the top.
This coating is made from inorganic minerals like oxygen and silicon. There is no involvement of chemicals in the coating, thus keeping the cookware extremely safe for usage.
Are Ceramic Pans Safe?
Photo: GreenPan
The precise answer to this question will be that ceramic pans are extremely safe for usage. Let’s discover how.
1. Construction
As mentioned before, the construction of this material is done using clay as a core component. You should know that in olden times, clay was a primary material to come in use when people have to make food. That’s because irrespective of the fact that people did have metal material, clay was one of the safest to use.
The only drawback here was that these cookwares use to break too soon. However, with ceramic, since it is treated in fire, the strength becomes exceptional. The material in itself is very safe for usage.
2. Coating
Well, the cooks and chefs stopped using typical non-stick cookware because they have Teflon coating on top. The material is dangerous as it releases chemicals in food.
Ceramic cookware has natural non-stick coating this means that there is no additional coating done on the top. This eliminates any concern of the cookware ruining your health by releasing any kinds of chemicals in it.
3. Acidic Food
You are recommended not to cook acidic food in copper or stainless-steel cookware because of the leeching problem. Well, there is another winning point in team ceramic as you can cook any kind of food in it without concerning about leeching or food engulfing any chemicals in it.
Read More: Is Stainless Steel Cookware Safe?
4. Oven Safe
Well, not all materials of cookware we use in the kitchen are oven-safe. However, such is not the case with ceramic cookware.
These are absolutely compatible with oven as far as you have applied heat settings of 450-degrees of less.
5. Non-Oxidizing
Another great feature is that the ceramic pans don’t oxidize. They will not catch rust or corrosion like steel pans or turn black like copper pans. In this context, they need least maintenance.
Overall, this material is safe to use. Although, it does have a limitation that with ceramic cookware, you should not cook on super high temperature. It is good with medium high heat but not more than that. It is a basic precaution so that your cookware can last longer.
Tips to Use Ceramic Pan
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Well, there are some preliminaries to keep in mind while using ceramic pans. Here you can find all the details:
- Wash the pan with tap running water before every use. This will eliminate any substantial dirt on the surface effectively.
- Since ceramic coating is prone to wear or scratch, you should make sure to use safe utensils while cooking. Some examples are wood, plastic, silicon, or nylon spatulas or spoons. Any metal that has hard edges will not suit these pans.
- Use very minimal amount of oil only to coat the interior surface of the pan while cooking. You are recommended to use an oil sprayer than pouring off of an oil dispenser that can pour a lot more quantity than required.
- Don’t use high heat settings with ceramic pans as it can damage the cooking surface. You are recommended to cook on medium/high flame at the most.
- Never plunge a heated pan into water. When there is a drastic change in temperature instantly within minutes, the pan can react badly, and it can affect the non-stick coating.
- While ceramic pans are fire treated to become harder and durable, the core material still remains fragile. This means that you cannot toss it into dishwasher or drop it on the ground because it will break immediately. So, you need to handle it with care.
Tips to Clean Ceramic Pan
Photo: simple-human.nl
Well, there are some precautions while cleaning a ceramic pan. These will help in increasing the life and appeal of your pan for a long time.
1. Essential Handwash
Every manufacturer will list this precaution on the product’s packaging that it is suitable for handwash only. First, you have to let it cool down before start to clean.
Take a soft sponge and dip it into warm soapy water to start with. If there is any burnt food, never get aggressive with the pan and take out any sharp or hard object to scrub on the surface while cleaning.
Dip the pan in warm soapy water for 30 minutes or more, while checking if the burnt food has softened and come off or not. You can increase the time accordingly.
Once the food has loosened up, take a sponge and gently clean it. Dipping in water will also take off any greasiness or discoloration on the pan. Lastly, you have to make sure to dry it completely before storing if you want to prevent watermarks from appearing.
2. Deep Cleaning
Every once in a while, your cookware will demand deep cleaning so that you can remove all the stains and maintain its natural sheen.
For deep cleaning too, you will have to soak it inside hot soapy water and take a soft brush or sponge to clean. Make sure there is no abrasive pad to clean the spots.
You should then take baking soda and sprinkle on the dull and stained areas. Let it sit on that for around 20-minutes. This is when you should start scrubbing gently in circular motions to lift the stains.
Once the task is done, wash the pan with fresh water and dry it with a soft towel before storing.
3. Seasoning
Since you are leaning all the tips of cleaning and maintaining, you should also know about the seasoning of ceramic pans. Most of the high-end ceramic products come with instructions on seasoning but the most standard ones are here. This is to re-boost the non-stick coating for effective cooking.
- Start by spraying oil on the inner surface of the pan. You can use a coating brush to finely coat all the dimensions and sides of the pan from inside.
- Put the cookware in oven on 250-degrees F and allow it to bake. You should keep the pan inside for 3-minutes at least.
- After that, take the pan out and allow it to cook.
- Take a kitchen towel or a soft cloth to wipe away the excessive oil from the pan and store.
It is important that you repeat the seasoning process every 6 months to keep the non-stick coating well performing.
Conclusion
Ceramic cookware has gained significant importance in the last couple of years. It was introduced majorly after various studies stressed to stop using cookware with Teflon coating.
Today, this cookware is the first choice of every chef in the world for safety purposes and also for healthy cooking and lifestyle.
Before you buy one, make sure to know all about the cookware so that you can make best use of it.