With the concern towards PTFE (Teflon) cooking utensils and the health hazards it poses, many people are now taking a more serious look at the alternatives when it comes to nonstick pots and pans. This is where ceramic coated cookware is gaining popularity among the more health-conscious consumers. Apart from its nonstick feature, you can cook with little oil using these pieces which minimizes the amount of grease on your food for a healthier diet.
Just like with any other Teflon products, ceramic ones also require careful handling to prevent the interior from chipping. The risk is still there that it will chip over time and the utensil then becomes sticky, unlike stainless steel and cast iron cookware which hold up better under repeated use. However, if you are willing to trade it for an easier clean up and cooking process with its nonstick properties, then you can’t go wrong with ceramic cooking pots and pans.
Below are 5 of the best ceramic cookware sets in the market in terms of customer reviews and popularity:
WearEver Pure Living
You get a choice of 10 or 15 pieces when you buy the WearEver Pure Living set. The pieces are stain and scratch resistant which means you can use metal tools to do your cooking although cutting directly in the pan should be avoided. They are free of PTFE and PFOA, which should be a healthier choice for those who are concern about health risks. Constructed using aluminum as their base, they heat up quickly and retain heat well. The interior has a durable ceramic coating and you can safely cook at high temperature up to 350°F with them.
The handles are riveted and soft touch with an ergonomic design for better grip. The cookware is not suitable for induction stoves and there is a limited lifetime warranty on your purchase. These are not made in the USA although engineered in the country.
An important thing to note here is that you need to season the pieces before you start using them. This will make them last longer and you will avoid the stickiness and stains problems. The other point to bear in mind is the heat level that you use when doing your cooking. The WearEver Pure Living Ceramic Cookware conducts heat very well, and you may find that you do not need the hottest setting to brown your food. If you have the highest heat turned on, you may find stains appearing on your pans and ruining them.
Cook N Home NC-00358
This one is a 10-piece set and it is cheap. But don’t let the price fool you because, surprisingly, it gets a good review from the buyers. So, it works and it is green in color for a change. You can also get a red one instead of green. Like the set above, it is PTFE and PFOA-free and resistant to scratches. The exterior is also built to be stain resistant so that high temperature would not ruin its appearance.
Made of aluminum for conductivity, you won’t find hot spots while cooking. The handles stay cool to the heat and have an anti-slip coating. The lids are made of tempered glass to make it easy to view your food.
The nonstick feature here is really living up to its name because you can cook without oil and yet, your food won’t stick to the pan. Which only means cleaning up is super easy with little mess leftover.
T Fal Initiatives Ceramic Nonstick Cookware
T Fal is popularly known for its affordable cookware, especially its nonstick sets. The T Fal Initiatives Ceramic cookware is no different with its attractive retail price as the company competes with the best-selling WearEver and Cook N Home sets above. Available as a 14 and 16-piece package, the T Fal Initiatives is a good-looking set with a dark colored outer layer setting off against the light colored interior. Included in the sets are a few nylon tools which is great for those who are just starting out.
They are not for induction cooking but are both oven-safe and dishwasher-safe. The construction is more or less the same as the sets above with no harmful chemicals present. It is also light in weight.
They are truly nonstick so, little oil is needed to do your cooking. Handle with care and you will find this set easy to use and clean. If you are still wondering how good is the nonstick element of the T Fal Initiatives ceramic cookware, you can check out this video clip below.
Cuisinart Advantage Ceramica XT Cookware Set
Shown here is the Cuisinart 11-piece ceramic cookware set in black. You can also check out the one in red which is selling at the same price at the time of writing. The saucepans, saute pan and stock pot come with tempered glass lids. It has a titanium reinforced ceramic nonstick interior which the manufacturer claims that it wouldn’t stain or discolor. It also has an aluminum core with a protective metallic finish for the outer layer. The cookware is compatible with gas, electric, glass ceramic, and halogen stovetops. Apart from being oven safe to 350°F, it is also freezer safe for convenience when it comes to food storage.
For 11 pieces, it is not the cheapest for a ceramic cookware set. But you are buying the Cuisinart brand name and a titanium reinforced interior which will certainly command a certain premium. If you compare with the other ceramic cookware with an aluminum core, you can probably get more pieces for the same price that you are paying for the Cuisinart Advantage Ceramica XT set. But then again, it is still an affordable set for a healthier cooking option.
GreenPan Valencia Pro Hard Anodized Ceramic Cookware Set
If you want to upgrade and go for something that has a more solid construction, then you can take a look at the GreenPan Valencia Pro Hard Anodized Ceramic Cookware Set. Shown here is an 11-piece set but it will cost you a lot more than the other 4 brands mentioned above. Being hard anodized, it should not warp and scratched as easily as most ceramic cookware which tends to have a thin construction. The Valencia Pro also has a Magneto induction technology which ensures base stability for more even cooking without loss of heat.
The interior uses the latest ceramic nonstick coating which is the Thermolon Minerals Pro. This is supposed to be the most durable and resilient ceramic nonstick coating on the market. Although this makes it metal utensil safe, nylon and wooden utensils are still recommended.
The other good news is this cookware set is also suitable for induction stovetop. While most ceramic cookware can withstand oven heat of up to 350°F, this set is oven and broiler safe up to 600°F which will allow you to use it with more recipes.
Which Is The Best Ceramic Cookware To Buy?
The above are all popular consumer choices with it comes to ceramic cookware. The online reviews from various buyers are generally positive although complaints of chipping, warping, and stickiness are common. This applies across the board for all brands although the frequency of complaints may differ slightly from one set of cookware to the next.
Bear in mind that nonstick cookware will never be able to match the durability of a good old stainless steel unit. If you want cookware that lasts a long time, a ceramic set is not for you. That is why some people prefer not to spend too much on this type of pots and pans.
The question then becomes how much are you willing to pay for cookware that will last you a year to 3 years at the most? If you are unlucky, your pan will start to stick within a few months of use as some buyers have discovered. If you are lucky, the same pan can probably last you 3 years or slightly longer. Most of the ceramic cookware on the market have more or less the same construction and coating unless explicitly stated otherwise such as the GreenPan Valencia Pro above. They won’t stick or chip when they are new but there is certainly no guarantee they will remain so over time, even for the high-end ones.
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Therefore, there is no best ceramic cookware that you can buy that will guarantee to be durable. To us, any medium range cookware that is not too flimsy is adequate. You don’t want to take the risk on unbranded low-end pieces because the handles may not be securely riveted and the body could be too thin that it warps too easily before the nonstick coating even starts to break down. On the other hand, because we don’t expect any of these to be heirloom pieces, there is little point in going high-end either unless you have the money to spare. Hence, the medium range is the best ceramic cookware that you should consider and the first 4 sets above should fit the bill.
what about scanpan ?
Also what is the warrenty on cera stone I can not find any info
The best thing to do on warranty matters is to contact the retailer or manufacturer. Warranty details may vary over time and for different retailers.
I have a set of Maxam cookware and one of my sauce pans needs to be replaced. Do you sell replacement pieces? I have the lid. I just need another pots.
Thanks,
Mary
No, we don’t. We are not a retailer but a review site for all brands of cookware.
afternoon
i am looking for the best cast iron pots set to use in an oven with their glass lids on.
As far as we know, most cast iron pots do not come with a glass lid. However, you can buy tempered glass lids separately from Amazon but you will have to be mindful of the size to make sure it can fit your pot. Also, you have to check the maximum temperature allowed for the lids before you buy to make sure it is oven-safe.
Ceramic cookware is great for fat free cooking and a reason it’s a healthy option especially with the concern towards PTFE in recent years regarding the traditional nonstick pans. Information provided like this helps in making an informed decision.
I have a set of Maxam cookware. Thanks for sharing this useful article !
Hey, I get one of the pan from your recommendation. Thanks a lot!
Great recommendation for ceramic cookware. Have you reviewed any ceramic cookware set from Xtrema? I need a honest review about their ceramic cookware set as I’m going to get one. I specially love their design but confused about other features.