Ceramic vs Porcelain Cookware – What Should You Buy?
Ceramic vs Porcelain cookware – What’s better to have in our kitchen?
This is a question that many people are curious about but might not know where to find the answer to. For this reason, the following article will seek to provide some clarification on these two terms. By learning more about their composition, advantages, disadvantages, maintenance requirements, and uses, one should be able to answer the question that is posed at the beginning! What’s the difference between porcelain and ceramic cookware?
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Porcelain VS Ceramic Cookware - Differences!
Imagine your grandmother’s kitchen. Maybe it is spacious, with a glossy ceramic stove and matching sink, or it may be compact but tidy, fitted with porcelain countertops. Either way, there is one thing for sure: the cookware she uses to prepare holiday feasts and family dinners will most likely be made of ceramic or porcelain. While ceramic and porcelain are both baked clay materials, but there are some major differences between them.
- Cooking Performance
- Construction Process
- Cost
Cooking Performance:
Ceramic cookware performs very well, cooking food evenly and quickly. Generally, ceramic cookware is so good at distributing heat that it can be used on any type of stovetop including induction ranges. This makes it versatile to use in homes with different types of stoves.
Whereas Porcelain cookware is designed for heat retention, to ensure that food cooks evenly. It can be used on gas or electric ranges, but should not be used on glass-top stoves because it may scratch the surface.
Construction Process:
Porcelain cookware is made by mixing porcelain powder with water, shaping it into the desired form, and then baking it in a kiln at over 2000 degrees Fahrenheit. This process makes the porcelain pots and pans very sturdy, but also makes it possible for the pottery to release harmful chemicals into food.
Ceramic cookware is made by mixing the ceramic powder with water, shaping it into the desired form, and then baking it in a kiln. As opposed to porcelain pottery, this process does not make ceramic cookware as sturdy or as impervious as porcelain cookware is.
Cost:
Porcelain cookware tends to be more expensive than ceramic cookware because of its better heat retention capabilities. Ceramic cookware is generally cheaper than porcelain pottery because it does not retain heat as well, but it still performs well under most cooking conditions.
Porcelain cookware costs more money to produce and the production process involves toxic chemicals that are burned off during the firing process.
Ceramic vs Porcelain Cookware
Individual Characteristics
| Construction Process | ||
| Porosity | ||
| Cooking Performance | ||
| Durability | ||
| Cost |
Porcelain Cookware!
Porcelain cookware usually consists of robust, pristine, and smooth pans and pots. They have gorgeous glass coatings and metal details. Most of these cookware items are secured to cast iron, stainless steel, or aluminum metals. You will find these pieces the most attractive in any cookware store. They have the most variety in bold and bright colors as well as outstanding finishes.
Pros:
- Non-reactive to acidic foods
- Safe to cook in
- Versatile
- Easy to clean
- Sturdy as compared to ceramic cookware
Cons:
- Heavier than normal
- Less heat conductivity
- Damage easily
- Expensive
Is Porcelain Coated Cookware Safe?
Porcelain enameled cookware is completely safe when used on the stove. Most people are skeptical about using cookware that is coated with porcelain. It is not toxic and is far more safer than using Teflon, aluminum, and cast iron.
Are Porcelain Pans Non-stick?
Porcelain is made from kaolin, white clay and a mixture of other rocks like quartz and steatite. This composition means that porcelain is not only strong and lightweight but is also naturally non-stick.
Ceramic Cookware!
Ceramic is the latest addition to the world of non-stick kitchen items. But what most people don’t know is that it is the safest and most environment-friendly choice in cookware. It’s not as robust as a stainless steel pan, per se, but it has incredible durability. You will find two individual types of ceramic cookware in the market: one is pure ceramic, made of baked clay. The other is a ceramic coated cookware, which involves spraying aluminum or stainless steel cookware with a ceramic coating.
Pros:
- Versatile
- Good heat retention
- Compatible with most types of stovetops, including glass, electric, and ceramic
- Good strength
- Budget-friendly
Cons:
- Not dishwasher-safe
- Cannot be used with metal utensils
- Less efficient in distributing heat
- Not very durable
Is Ceramic Cookware Safe?
Ceramic coatings are soft, which means that you have to handle them with a lot of care. If the insides start chipping, the coating can mix with your food, and the cookware is not safe to use anymore. General degradation after continuous use of the cookware is expected. However, most pots and pans do fine for about 3 to 5 years. So, one can say that ceramic coatings are somewhat safe to use, but they are not an ideal option for the long run.
Is Ceramic Cookware Better Than Non-stick?
Ceramic is a tremendous heat conductor. Pans get an even heat distribution, and you can cook your meal, even eggs, without any oil whatsoever. Ceramic cookware also retains heat much better than the traditional non-stick coatings. Its heat-resistant properties are also exceptional. It lets you use the cookware at very high temperatures without the food staining the insides of the pot or pan. So, yes, ceramic cookware can potentially be better than non-stick.
Why Do Ceramic Pans Lose Their Non-stick?
The most common reason behind ceramic pans losing their non-stick coatings very quickly is that consumers use metal or sharp utensils on them. Minor scratches can become a major trouble after continuous use. Ultimately, the layer starts to chip off. If the ceramic is damaged, it is irreparable. But you can fix the non-stick coating and make the cookware non-stick again.
Conclusion:
Whether you choose ceramic or porcelain cookware for your kitchen, you can be sure that it will last a long time. All types of pottery are durable and come with the added bonus of being able to cook food evenly and quickly.
If you want to prolong the life of your cookware, be sure to hand-wash it and do not expose it to high heat for prolonged periods of time.