Have you always wanted to own a beautiful ceramic frying pan for some delicious sunny-side-up eggs in the morning and to sear your salmon for dinner?
People often rethink buying ceramic cookware as its care is considered too much of a hassle.
We are here to prove this notion incorrect! Ceramic cookware is relatively easy to care for and lasts for a long time.
You just need to be mindful of a few important pointers for your ceramic frying pans to cook beautifully for years to come.
Here is how to care for a ceramic frying pan, the right (and hassle-free!) way.
How to Care for Ceramic Frying Pans
Applying some simple methods of caring for your ceramic pans will do wonders for how well they cook. Try them out here.
Know How to Use Them
First and foremost, you need to know everything about your ceramic frying pans.
Read up on the buyer’s guide and the instruction manual to ensure you aren’t missing out on anything important. Furthermore, it is also a good idea to do some research online and find out all the common properties of ceramic frying pans.
Doing so will offer you useful details about how to care for a ceramic frying pan properly.
Here are some facts you should know;
- Ceramic cookware is non-reactive and non-toxic as it doesn’t leach harmful chemicals into your meal.
- Using ceramic cookware allows you to cut down on the amount of oil or grease you use in food prep.
- Ceramic cookware is widely available in various stunning colors, so you should look for a frying pan that complements your kitchen décor.
- Cooking in ceramic pans ensures the food is cooked evenly.
- These frying pans have a higher scratch resistance than any PTFE coating.
Prepare it Before Use
We are sure the points mentioned above would have convinced you to finally take the leap and invest in a sturdy ceramic frying pan. It’s time to get you started on how to use it for the most effective results.
Remember, you should take good care of all your pots and pans from the very first day, not just when they get horridly dirty.
Once you’ve removed all the packaging and labels, you will need to prepare the pan for your first use. Start by going over the entire surface to ensure no labels are left still on.
If not removed, these will melt onto the surface of your pan and ruin it immediately. Go over the manuals for tips on how to care for your pans, and then there’s just one little thing left.
You will want to wash the pan before using it. Rinse your pan with warm water, and then use gentle dish soap to remove any dirt left behind.
Dry it off with kitchen towels, and your pan is perfectly prepared to cook your first meal!
Only Use the Recommended Utensils
Your pan is ready for some cooking, but how ready are your kitchen supplies?
Since your ceramic frying pan is non-stick, you will need to be a little careful not to damage the inner surface.
Scratches or bumps inside your pan will ruin its ability to cook healthier meals with little to no oil needed.
To make the best use of the non-stick properties your ceramic frying pan offers, avoid metal utensils at all costs.
It can be tempted to stir with the first spoon or ladle that comes in hand, but this extra precaution will be well worth it when you notice your pan’s non-stick layer lasting for years.
Whenever you need to sauté, flip, simmer or mix the food in your frying pan, use plastic, silicone, or wood utensils.
Ceramic is generally quite scratch-resistant and durable; however, it is best not to risk any abrasions or scratches appearing on your pan.
Also, be sure never to scrape the surface with a knife to remove food bits or even for cleanup.
Practice Safe Cooking
You might be wondering, what does safe cooking have to do with frying pan care? You’ll be surprised to find out how important it is!
If you’d like your ceramic frying pans to maintain their glossy finish, retain their non-stick abilities, and last for years, safe cooking is a must.
When we say safe cooking, we’re referring to the heating temperatures you use to prepare your meals. Most ceramic frying pans can take up to 2500 *F, which allows you to easily fry, sear, baste, or any other way that you’d like to cook your food.
However, temperatures above this limit can not only cause damage to your pans but also increase the risk of a fire breaking out.
Another crucial thing to note is the compatibility of your pan. Check the instructions manual to ensure that your pan supports the kind of stovetop you have.
While most ceramic frying pans can be used on gas and electric tops and in the broiler, the handle construction might result in different compatibilities.
Forget About Spraying
Cooking oil sprays are extremely popular due to their ease of use and the lack of mess created. They get the job done well and are convenient to handle.
Unfortunately, the bad outweighs the good for using cooking oil sprays on your ceramic frying pans.
These aerosol sprays have ingredients like soy lecithin and other added chemicals that will cause a sticky buildup on the pa’s surface. This buildup isn’t washed off, neither does it burn out.
Instead, it will start to smoke and interfere with the taste of your food. Due to the gunk stuck to your pan, you are more likely to try removing it using rubbing pads or steel wool.
The rough texture of these cleaning products is sure to result in peeling and scratch marks on the once smooth and shiny surface.
Follow the Low-Heat Guide
Most of us tend to heat the pan before we add anything to it in hopes of saving up some time.
Did you know this could actually be ruining your pan? One of the essential parts of how to care for a ceramic frying pan is to only use low heat when the pan is empty.
This rule applies when your food is in the pan, but there isn’t any form of liquid in the mix as well.
Ceramic pans are safe to use over high heat when there is water, oil, or any other liquid in with your food, but not otherwise.
It would help if you also remembered that using oil or butter on your already non-stick pan will result in the unnecessary buildup. So, it is best to use lower flames when cooking in your ceramic pans.
People often worry that this means their food won’t cook all the way through or will take ages to cook.
That’s not the case, though! Since ceramic pans have excellent heat conductivity and don’t form any hot spots, your food will cook quickly and even despite the reduced flame.
Avoid Sudden Temperature Changes
Exposure to drastic temperature changes can cause severe thermal damage to your pan’s non-stick surface.
This means it will start to lose its non-stick ability and all your plans of eating healthier with lesser fats go down the drain.
A good practice is to let the pan cool down completely before submerging it in water for washing.
You should also take care not to put the pan over the stove right after taking it out from the refrigerator.
Clean Them Well
When your pans have cooled down, it’s time to start cleaning.
An important tip to remember is that if you feel the need to scrub or be rough with the surface, then you’re probably doing something wrong.
On a regular basis, simply hand washing your pans with gentle dish soap and warm water is enough to keep them shiny and clean. Don’t use any abrasive materials, and dry it with a soft dishcloth.
Once every month, try to deep clean your pan to get rid of any food debris or buildup that may be stuck inside.
You can use a mixture of baking soda and hydrogen peroxide to remove any tough stains without having to scrub or scrape the inner surface.
Proper Storage Equals Long Life
Due to their scratch-resistance property, ceramic pans are highly durable and don’t require extra care when storing them away in your kitchen cabinets.
That being said, it doesn’t hurt to take some precautions to ensure a long life for your pans.
The first thing to remember is never to put your pans in storage before they’re completely dry. Leave them out to air dry first, and then wipe them down with a kitchen towel to ensure all the water droplets are gone.
Only then can you store your pans.
Avoid stacking ceramic pans on top of one another. Your ceramic pans are sturdy, and this extra-strong build can cause damage to the inner surface of another pan.
Additionally, some pans come with a roughly textured bottom, which will cause marks on your ceramic pans.
Try to use the circular packing cardboard that your pan probably came within its original packaging. Use the cardboard to keep the inner surface of your pan safe.
You can even use a sheet of paper towel or an old dishcloth instead of cardboard.
Bon Appétit
That’s it! This list is everything you should know about how to care for ceramic frying pans.
Told you it wasn’t as much of a hassle as everyone thinks, didn’t we?
As with all things in life, when you take care of it, it lasts. Your ceramic pans are no different. They bring to your kitchen a plethora of unique cooking opportunities.
You can try out various techniques and different recipes to bring some adventure to your kitchen.
Have fun!
Other articles you may also like: