Ceramic cookware features a smooth cooking surface with non-stick capabilities that makes cooking food very easy. Most of the ceramic pans are not made of pure ceramic material but rather has a metal core that is coated with a layer of ceramic.
The popular metals used to make ceramic cookware cores include aluminum, copper, and stainless steel. The metals have superior heating and heat distribution properties compared to pure ceramic.
Some cooks are clueless when it comes to proper care and maintenance of these pans because the ceramic coating tends to chip off, crack, or peel the more the cookware is used.
Knowing how to take care of ceramic cookware properly helps to retain the utensils in proper condition.
To start you off, here are a few tips that you can follow to ensure your ceramic cookware lasts for a long time:
Why is the pan getting burnt?
Ceramic pans have a delicate interior cooking surface that comes in a plain color in most pans. The smooth cooking surface can tempt the cook to cook with little or no oil at all. Doing so can cause the food to burn and leave stains on the cooking surface.
Another reason why the ceramic pan can burn is using too much heat. The metal core in the interior of the body heats up quickly and effectively transfers heat to the cooking surface. Cooking with ceramic pans should be done with low to medium heat to avoid burning.
Cooking very little amounts of food can also lead to burns. As a rule of thumb, ensure that the food you are cooking covers the entire cooking surface on the pan to avoid burns on the ceramic pan.
How to use ceramic cookware properly?
If you own a set of ceramic utensils, knowing how to use them properly ensures you keep them in proper working condition for a long time.
Care and maintenance procedures begin from when you take the utensils out of packaging. You should clean the pans thoroughly to get rid of any coatings or stickers that come on the pan. Warm water and soap are enough to get the pan ready for the stove.
Do not scrub off the stickers because doing so can easily scratch the surface. Rather, let the utensils soak in water for some time. The soggy stickers should then come of effortlessly. Remember to dry the cooking surface and exterior before using any of the utensils.
Spread a little amount of cooking oil or butter on the cooking surface before you begin cooking. The cooking oil works to improve the non-stick properties of the ceramic material. You should never use cooking sprays because they are propelled by aerosols, which can leave a difficult to clean layer on the cooking surface.
Moreover, avoid virgin olive oils when cooking on ceramic cookware. This is because the olive oil reacts when heated to extremely high temperatures to form a carbonated layer that is difficult to clean.
Moderate the heat when cooking on ceramic cookware. Low to medium heat is okay depending on the type of food you are cooking. Extreme heat could cause food to burn or the bottom to warp. Never pre-heat the utensils without any food or cooking oil on the cooking surface.
Use non-abrasive cooking utensils when cooking. Wooden and silicone cooking spoons and spatulas are good for the ceramic cooking surface. Metal utensils should never be used because they can easily scratch or chip the ceramic surface, especially when it is hot.
Avoid cutting food items on the ceramic utensils' surface directly. The knife can slip and the impact from the knife blade can chip the ceramic coating.
Never place frozen foods fresh from the fridge on the cooking surface. Rather, let them thaw and reach room temperature before placing them on the cooking surface.
Finally, take care when transporting the ceramic cookware to avoid dropping them. The ceramic coating can easily crack or chip from impact of a single drop on a hard floor.
How to clean ceramic pans?
Ceramic cookware should be cleaned after every cooking session. You can also choose to rinse or wipe them with a dry towel before use to remove any dust or speckles from the cooking surface. (1) Cleaning ceramic utensils is easy because food items do not stick on the cooking surface.
The proper method for cleaning ceramic cookware is handwashing them using warm water, soap, and a non-abrasive sponge. Scrubbing with the sponge should be done sparingly to prevent scratching the surface. Soaking the pan also works to loosen any leftovers so that they come off easily when cleaning.
The ceramic utensils are not safe for dishwasher cleaning. Utensils tend to collide in the dishwasher, which can cause the ceramic coating to crack. Dishwashers also use harsh soaps to clean utensils.
Apart from regular daily cleaning by handwashing, you should also inspect the cooking surface for any stains. Periodic cleaning with hydrogen peroxide also works to remove stubborn stains that form with time.
Cleaning supplies
Below are the cleaning supplies you need to properly clean and care for ceramic cookware:
Step-by-step cleaning method
Begin by letting the utensils cool off after cooking. Never place hot utensils right from the cooking stove into the sink. The drastic temperature change can cause the pan to warp. The metallic interior also cools faster than the ceramic coating. Drastic cooling, therefore, might cause the coating to chip or crack.
After the cookware cools off, remove as much food items as possible from the surface using a non- abrasive cooking spoon or spatula. Then place the utensil in the sink.
Pour warm water in the sink and ensure you cover the cooking surface. Now let the utensil sit for a while for any stuck food items to soak in the water. A few minutes should be enough time for this. Add a few squirts of dishwashing liquid to the water.
Afterwards, start scrubbing the surface gently with the cleaning sponge to remove left over food items. Use a circular motion and ensure you cover the entire cooking surface. If you find any stuck foods, let the pan soak some more and try scrubbing them off later.
After removing all food leftovers, rinse both the interior and exterior of the utensil with plenty of warm water. Then use the kitchen towel to wipe the surface dry. Hang the utensil to air dry thereafter before storing it in the dishrack or cabinet.
Removing burnt food items with baking soda
Burnt food items are hard to remove on ceramic surfaces because they get stuck. If you notice that you still have stuck food on the pan even after soaking and following the instructions in the above section, a good tip is to use baking soda on the cooking surface when cleaning.
Begin by soaking the pan in water for half an hour. Then sprinkle baking soda on the sponge and scrub gently. If that fails to remove the burnt food, sprinkle the baking soda on the pan and soak it again for another half hour. Doing this repeatedly gets rid of even the most stubborn food leftovers.
Clearing stains on ceramic cookware with Hydrogen peroxide
The bright color on the ceramic cooling surface often develops stains and discolors with continued use. You can restore the brilliant look with hydrogen peroxide when you notice that the color has changed. This is not a regular day cleaning procedure and should only be done once in a while.
Use mild hydrogen peroxide powder that is commonly used for first aid. Pour the powder to cover the discolored surface. The powder should first start bubbling after which you should rinse it off with plenty of water. The hydrogen peroxide has a bleaching effect that leaves the ceramic cookware looking good as new.
Proper storage of ceramic pans
Ceramic pans should never be left out in the open. One accidental drop could mean the end of a very pricey utensil. You should always store ceramic cookware inside closed kitchen cabinets and only remove them when you need to cook with them.
Avoid stacking the ceramic utensils directly because when the walls come into contact with each other, the ceramic surface can easily scratch. If you have limited space in your kitchen and you still want to stack ceramic cookware, ensure that you place a napkin in between two adjacent pieces to prevent contact and damage. You can also hang the ceramic cookware on a kitchen shelf to save space.
Related questions
How do you get burnt oil off a ceramic pan?
Burnt oil can be removed from the ceramic pan's surface by soaking the pan's surface with warm water and baking soda. The baking soda dissolves the burnt foods, thus making them easier to remove. To remove stubborn burnt stains, add vinegar to the baking soda warm water, then heat the mixture for a few minutes. Clean the pan afterwards to remove any burnt oils.
How do you get stains out of ceramic pans?
Stains on ceramic cookware can be removed easily by cleaning the surface with hydrogen peroxide. The bleaching effect of hydrogen peroxide leaves the ceramic surface looking brilliant. Use a mild solution of hydrogen peroxide powder to cover the stained surface. Leave it to rest for a while until its starts bubbling before you rinse it with plenty of water.
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