Ceramic pans: pros and cons, manufacturers' review and choice

Non-stick cookware with a special type of coating (ceramic coating) appeared on the market 12 years ago and has successfully established itself as durable, safe for human health products. At the same time, ceramic pans are especially popular with most housewives. Since these products are presented on the market in a huge assortment, before purchasing them, it is necessary to take into account many nuances - this will save you from buying a fake.

The non-stick ceramic frying pan is considered a modern type of cookware that provides even heating and is ideal for cooking dishes that require long cooking times. The earliest patent for ceramic pans was awarded to William A. Groll and is now the lead manager of All-Clad Metalcrafters, a quality cookware company. Thanks to modern technology, the ceramic non-stick layer can be applied in two ways.

• Roller reel. This is a budget option and is considered the most common. For its implementation, the use of stamped aluminum is required. First, the appropriate molds are prepared, fired and placed in containers. After that, a suspension is applied to them, which includes stone chips and fine sand. The molds are sent to dry and a new layer of protective powder is reapplied to the future product.

• By spraying... This method provides a thick coating (up to 70 microns).It is performed in two stages: the surface of the workpieces is carefully polished and they are placed in closed chambers, after which they are treated with a mixture of oxygen and inert gas. Then, using special sprays, a powder containing a solvent (hydrochloric and formic acid), water, and silicon-containing substances is sprayed onto the blank inside and outside with a jet.

Despite the fact that ceramic pans appeared on the market recently, they were able to successfully replace their Teflon "congeners". The popularity of this type of tableware is explained by the following list of advantages.

• Environmental friendliness. For the manufacture of such products, exclusively natural materials are used, namely clay, sand and stone chips.
• The ability to prepare meals with or without a minimum of fat and oil. This is great for healthy lifestyle advocates.
• Protection of food from burning. Due to the fact that the surface of such pans has no pores, is completely smooth, the possibility of their damage is excluded. In addition, the coating is resistant to chemicals, inert and free of foreign odors and tastes.
• Modern design. Since the mixture used in the production of non-stick pans is resistant to staining, multi-colored pigments are often added to it.

As for the shortcomings, they also exist.

• Ceramic is considered too fragile material, therefore, the dishes must be treated with care. During cooking, care should be taken to avoid dropping the pan.
• High price. A good ceramic skillet can be purchased with a starting price of RUB 1,500, but it can be significantly higher depending on the brand.
• The instability of the ceramic coating to aggressive, abrasive substances, sharp temperature changes. As a rule, such pans will last no more than three years.
• Not all models are ideal for induction hobs. The only exceptions are products from the Tefal brand.

Ceramic pans are available in various models, which have their own performance characteristics depending on the base material. Usually on sale there are products, the basis of which is made of the following materials.

• Cast iron. These pans are heavy and suitable for long-term cooking. Thanks to these pans, you can cook very juicy and tasty dishes like “from the Russian oven”.

• Aluminum... The base for pans is usually made of stamped or cast aluminum, while the latter is in many ways leading in quality. The cast base allows you to quickly prepare any dish. Aluminum cookware is lightweight, this is one of its advantages. There are also pans on sale, in which the base is made of forged aluminum. They are inexpensive and are in no way inferior to cast ones in terms of performance.

• Steel. This base material retains heat well, evenly distributing it over the entire surface of the pan. On these products, you can cook both scrambled eggs and stew meat. Steel pans are considered versatile, of high quality, but they are expensive.

As for the varieties of non-stick pans, they are divided into the following.

• Pancake makers. Designed for cooking cheese cakes, pancakes, pancakes and scrambled eggs. They are distinguished by the presence of low sloping sides.

• Grill. Unlike a conventional frying pan, this model has a ribbed bottom, which contributes to the accumulation of juice in the grooves, released from the meat during cooking.

• For cooking fish. Such products are rectangular or rounded. They are used for frying fish.

• Stewpan. They are used for extinguishing, they are distinguished by the presence of an elongated handle and inclined (straight) sides.

• Wok. This is a conical pan with which you can fry meat over high heat. Most often, this type of product is purchased for cooking oriental cuisine.

Each hostess should have at least 2-3 pans of different depths and diameters in the kitchen. If you plan to cook special dishes, then you need to purchase additional highly specialized models. This will greatly simplify the cooking process. Today the market is represented by pans of different sizes.

For a family of two, a product with a diameter of 24 cm is perfect, for three - 26 cm, and for a large family in which more than five people live, the best option would be to purchase a frying pan with a diameter of 28 cm.

Despite the fact that ceramic non-stick pans have proven themselves well and received many positive reviews, you can often find their pseudo-brothers of Chinese production on the market. They are characterized by low quality and affordable prices. To avoid such purchases, it is necessary to give preference only to well-proven manufacturing firms. Their ranking is presented as follows.

• Tefal. This is one of the very first companies that started the production of karmic pans and gave Russian housewives the opportunity to enjoy the process of cooking. The main advantage of Tefal products is that they have a thermostat. This is a unique heat indicator that shows the pan is ready for use. The maximum heating temperature is +180 C. In addition, the dishes produced under this brand have an extra-thick bottom (5 cm).

• Ballarini. Products from this Italian manufacturer are well known all over the world, their main difference is the presence of a multi-layer non-stick DuPont coating. Frying pans of this brand are produced from an aluminum alloy to which copper is added. Therefore, the products are durable and last a long time. Particularly noteworthy are the frying pans of the Cookin and Cortina range - they are characterized by a chic design, they are available with a white coating on the inside and outside.

• Rondell. German pans of this brand are produced in China, but this did not affect their quality in any way. The main "highlight" of the products is that during their production they use modern technology of a three-layer stamped bottom. Thanks to this feature, the thermal conductivity of the cookware increases several times.

• Vari. Products from this manufacturer have appeared on the Russian market since 2002. Pans of the Cerama range received positive reviews.They are thick-walled and produced using the chill casting technique, due to which a dense layer of aluminum is covered with a reinforced ceramic coating. The dishes are resistant to contact with metal objects, do not enter into chemical reactions.

Any housewife wants her ceramic frying pan with a non-stick coating to last reliably for a long time, so before such an important purchase, you need to take into account many important indicators. When choosing, experts recommend paying attention to the following characteristics.

• Coating structure. High-quality products should have a uniform surface without chips, dents, curvatures, inclusions in the form of spots and dots. As for the color scheme of the coating, it is best to give preference to pastel colors. Shades of ivory and beige indicate the presence of synthetic dyes in the product.
• The thickness of the walls and bottom of the cookware. The wear resistance of the ceramic coating and the protection against deformation largely depend on these indicators. It is advisable to buy dishes for frying with a bottom thickness of more than 3 mm (if the base is aluminum), 3.5 mm (cast iron) and 4 mm (steel).
• Size and shape... Today, manufacturers produce ceramic pans of various designs and sizes. Therefore, in addition to universal products with a diameter of 18 to 30 cm, you can additionally buy products intended for cooking special dishes. A set of frying pans should consist of products measuring 25 cm in diameter for making pancakes (pancakes, cheesecakes, pancakes), for cooking grilled fish and meat, as well as models with inclined (straight) sides, called saucepans. The diameter of the pan must not be larger or smaller than the circumference of the cooking zones.
• Handle design... They can be cast, screwed on or removable. The handle should be kept cool while cooking, so pans with plastic or silicone handles are a good choice.

Besides, it is important to know where you plan to cook your meals: on a gas or electric stove. For electric stoves, you should select dishes with a flat, flat bottom, it is best to give preference to models with thick walls. The color of the bottom also plays a huge role. So, matte and dark shades do not reflect heat well. Frying pans from not all manufacturers are suitable for induction cookers; in this case, products from the Tefal brand are considered a good choice.

If you plan to cook dishes not only on the stove, but also in the oven, then before buying utensils, you need to pay attention to indicators such as the ability to remove the handles and the level of heat resistance. In addition, oven pans should be equipped with lids that match the size of the product. Heat-resistant glass lids with rubberized or metal rims are ideal. Also, the lids should have holes for steam to escape, this will improve the taste of the dish.

Proper use and maintenance of your ceramic frying pan will help extend the life of your ceramic frying pan. Do not start using the cookware immediately after purchasing it. First, the product must be treated with soapy water, rinsed well with warm water and wiped dry. After that, the walls and the inner surface of the pan are greased with fat or oil. The next step in preparing dishes for use is hardening. To do this, it is heated over high heat for several seconds.

Ceramic cookware is highly resistant to damage, but when cooking in it, metal accessories cannot be used; it is advisable to replace them with wooden or plastic spatulas that will not leave scratches. In addition, this type of coating does not withstand sudden temperature changes. Therefore, do not immediately place frozen food on a hot surface. Such products should be cleaned with detergents that do not contain alkali, acid and chlorine; use only a soft sponge. Do not wash ceramic pans in the dishwasher.

Frying pans with beige and white coating quickly become coated with grease and stains appear on the surface. They not only spoil the appearance of the dishes, but also affect the cooking process. The food starts to burn. You can get rid of these stains using special products that are designed for cleaning microwave ovens.

If you take into account all the above recommendations and take good care of the dishes, it will last a long time.

Among the buyers of ceramic pans, you can find both enthusiastic and skeptical reviews. Many housewives are satisfied with their convenience, non-stick qualities and cooking speed, while others do not like the fact that the dishes are whimsical in relation to detergents, water and are not suitable for cooking various sauces.

For the features of ceramic pans, see the following video.