Avoid High Temperatures While ceramic nonstick cookware can withstand higher temperatures than traditional PTFE nonstick cookware, it's still best to use low- to medium-heat temperatures. The coating naturally wears over time and the higher the heat, the faster it'll fade.
The ``ceramic'' coating is nonporous and should not be seasoned. Like other nonstick pans, the coating is prone to scratching so you should not use metal utensils in it or tough scrubbers on it. It also should not be heated empty on high heat.
Don't Use Metal Utensils
Metal utensils are typically quite abrasive, leaving permanent scratches that may not be visible to the naked eye, but which will gradually build up and destroy your pan's non stick surface.
The best way to keep food from stick to a pan or other cooking tool is to either oil the pan or oil the food item. Depending on the food cooked, oiling the pan and then flooring it also will prevent food from sticking--this is often used with cakes.
Average ceramic cookware will last for about a year, whereas quality ceramics can last for up to 3 years when well taken care of. The main reason ceramic cookware may need to be thrown out is that it loses its nonstick coating.
Every time you heat up a ceramic pan, it naturally releases a little bit. from whatever's underneath the ceramic, and that means that coating is wearing out. every single time you heat it, no matter the temperature, which then, unfortunately, makes it stick.
Heating an empty ceramic pot or pan is a recipe for disaster: with nothing to absorb the heat, the pan can overheat quickly, potentially warping the metallic base and degrading the coating. Always make sure to add oil or food to the pan first—even a drizzle of olive oil is better than dry heating.
Keeping your ceramics in shape
Make your pan naturally non-stick for easy cleaning and added flavor with high-quality fats or oils. Our favorite choices are Avocado Oil, Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Tallow, Ghee, or Grass-Fed Butter.
Fill the pan halfway with water and bring it to a near-boil for about 2 minutes. Pour out the water and place the pan on a sturdy, flat surface. Carefully use a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser on the warm pan, and any residual carbon should clean up quickly.
Our experts agree that ceramic cookware is completely safe to use if you purchase from a reputable supplier. Commercial factories that produce ceramic cookware for everyday use are much less likely to have lead-related issues.
“The most nontoxic cookware that you can buy is stainless steel, cast iron or carbon steel; things that don't have a coating on them,” says Alexis Pisciotta, culinary purchasing and events manager and cookware consultant for Food Network.
Stubborn Stains Call for Baking Soda
Apply the paste gently on the affected area, let it sit for a few hours or overnight, then wash as usual. This mild abrasive action helps lift stains without damaging the pan.
Avoid metal utensils: While ceramic cookware is durable, it can be scratched by metal utensils. Instead, use wooden or silicone utensils to avoid damaging the surface of the cookware. Allow to cool before washing: After cooking with ceramic cookware, allow it to cool before washing it.
If food starts to stick to the surface of your ceramic-coated pan, it may be a sign that the nonstick coating is wearing off. As the coating wears off, the surface becomes more porous and food can stick to it, making it challenging to cook with.
Lead may be present in the glazes or decorations covering the surface of some traditional pottery. If the pottery is not manufactured properly, this lead can leach into food and drink that is prepared, stored, or served in the dishes.
This is due to the nature of the coating, which naturally releases every time you heat up your pan. Once that coating has worn out, your pan will no longer be non stick—but will still be usable, and can be made relatively non stick once more with the help of cooking fat.
Are scratched ceramic pans safe? As long as they're made without potential toxins, then yes. A scratched surface will just make your ceramic nonstick pan less, well, nonstick. To preserve the ceramic coating, hand wash your cookware with warm, soapy water and a soft sponge.
It may seem like ceramic cookware has to be handled with caution, but it's actually an incredibly versatile type of cookware. You can use ceramic cookware for making basically whatever you want, such as a baked casserole, a pan-seared steak, or a slow-cooked stew.
Never use spray oils — including aerosols, mist, and pump sprays — with ceramic nonstick cookware, because small spray droplets will heat up quickly and carbonize easily on the nonstick surface.
Here's why. Overheating + oils= carbonization (a.k.a. those little spots that cause your food to stick to the pan). But don't worry! You can use a melamine sponge (e.g. our Restore Sponge) to wipe them away.
We use wood or silicone cooking utensils — never silverware or metal utensils, so the inner pans are not scratched whatsoever. On the outside, we've had some spills, grease, and who-knows-what burn onto the outer pan underneath, and we easily scrubbed it off with some barkeepers friend.
Some ceramic cookware may not be ideal for high-heat cooking methods like searing or broiling. Exposing ceramic to very high temperatures can damage the non-stick surface and cause it to break down.
Which cooking oils are healthiest? Skousen says she recommends avocado oil and extra-virgin olive oil, particularly for anyone who wants to reduce their risk of cancer or cancer recurrence. “These two are high in heart-healthy monounsaturated fatty acids, antioxidants and omega-3 fatty acids,” she says.
Avoid all oils in spray form, as the tiny particulates will heat up quickly and burn, creating a layer of carbonization on your pan.