Non stick cookware has always been a popular choice amongst many types of cookware. With non-stick cookware, you don’t have to worry about flipping a pancake or frying your favorite food. With non-stick cookware, you wouldn’t have to worry about bits of food getting stuck at the bottom of the pan. In the past, the most popular cookware were those made with with teflon coating. However, health concerns as to the safety of teflon-coated cookware has come up in recent years, leading to a decrease in the popularity of their use. There are now many other alternatives when in comes to non-stick cookware. One of the more popular ones these days is ceramic cookware.
This website is supported by readers. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.What makes ceramic cookware a better alternative to other kinds of non-stick cookware though? With ceramic cookware, food is cooked more evenly so you don’t have to worry about inconsistencies when in terms of texture and flavor. Since ceramic cookware is considered to have a non-stick surface, it is considered to be as reliable as teflon-coated cookware. The best part about ceramic cookware though is that it is considered to be quite safe to use since it doesn’t have toxic materials, such as polytetrafluoroethlene (PTFE) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), which may emit fumes while your cookware is being heated up.
Ceramic cookware in the market are of two types. The more common type of ceramic cookware in the market is made from either cast iron, aluminum or stainless steel. These are with ceramic coating which are quite capable in terms of heat conduction. These types of cookware are quite reasonably priced too. The other type of cookware are made from pure ceramic and are manufactured by companies like Extrema and Corningware. These are made from clay and are heated up at very high temperatures resulting in cookware which are highly polished. These types can be used not only on stovetops, but also in microwave and conventional ovens. They may be immediately placed in the refrigerator as well right after being used for cooking.
The one disadvantage of ceramic cookware though when compared to teflon cookware is maintenance. Whether it’s from a combination of metal and ceramic or pure ceramic, ceramic cookware may be difficult to clean. In fact, in time, ceramic cookware may gain stains from food that, if not cleaned properly, may destroy the look of your ceramic cookware.
There are, however, certain hacks as well as do’s and dont’s when it comes to the use and care of ceramic cookware. Once you get an idea of how to properly maintain your ceramic cookware, you will find that it definitely is a better alternative to teflon-coated ones.
Washing Your Cookware
Maintenance instructions from manufacturers claim that ceramic cookware is dishwasher safe. Although this may be true, there is still nothing better than good old handwashing when it comes to caring for your ceramic cookware.
Before beginning to wash your ceramic cookware, allow it to always cool down to room temperature. Sudden changes in temperature may lead to cracks in ceramic, whether it’s ceramic coated or pure ceramic cookware.
Once cooled, fill your sink with warm water and add dishwashing liquid, preferably the ones with degreasers, to the water. Use a soft sponge or a dishcloth made from microfiber to scrub the cookware. Never use rough sponges or cloth that is abrasive to clean the cookware as these may scratch your cookware. When your cookware has been properly scrubbed, rinse it with warm water and dry it using a microfiber towel. You may also leave it out to air dry.
Cleaning Burned Cookware
Burned cookware, unfortunately, cannot be avoided. Even the best chefs in the world get to accidentally burn their food on rare occasions. Cleaning scorched pans can be a headache, more so with ceramic pans. Scouring pads and metals cannot be used for cleaning ceramic bakeware, but there are ways to go about this problem.
One way is to submerge the cookware in warm water with dishwashing liquid for thirty minutes right after the cookware has cooled. Scrub the cookware in a circular motion using a non-abrasive pad to remove all burned items from the pan. Rinse the cookware and repeat the procedure, if necessary.
For burned food that is difficult to remove, you may sprinkle some dry baking soda on the area with the burned food and mix it with around a tablespoon of hot water to form a paste. Let it stay on the area for thirty minute and then scrub the area using a soft sponge or cloth in a circular motion. Rinse the cookware when you are done.
One more way to go about burned cookware is to fill the cookware with a mixture of vinegar and water using a 1:4 ratio. Boil this mixture of three to four minutes. Let it cool and scrape the burned food off using a plastic or rubber scraper. Pour out the solution and rinse the cookware using cold water.
You can also try spraying some laundry stain remover like shout Trigger on burned areas while leaving it on the area for a few minutes. Scrub the area using a soft sponge or cloth to remove the burned area and rinse with warm water.
Discolored Cookware
Stains on ceramic cookware cannot be avoided. Through constant use , it is but natural for ceramic cookware to acquire stains in time. When this starts to happen, you can try soaking the cookware in 3% hydrogen peroxide for thirty minutes and rinse it using warm water after.
How To Keep Your Cookware in Top Condition
It is but normal for you to want our ceramic cookware to last for as long as possible. In order to do this, know more about the dos and donts when using ceramic cookware.
Anything abrasive is a no-no for ceramic cookware. Abrasive detergents and sponges can cause scratches on the ceramic coating and surface which can lead to the deterioration of the cookware.
For the very same reason, metal utensils of any kind are not to be used on ceramic cookware as these may also cause scratches on the ceramic surface.
Ceramic cookware is sensitive to extreme heat. Using these at very high cooking temperatures ay cause damage on the surface so it would be best to use them at moderately hot temperatures.
Avoid using cooking sprays when cooking on ceramic cookware since cooking sprays may leave residue on the cookware. Some cooking sprays may also have ingredients that may be harsh on the ceramic surface of your cookware. The same can be said for ingredients that are acidic in nature. This is especially true for cookware that has begun to show wear.
When putting away your ceramic cookware, make sure that you use padded sheets in between your cookware when stacking them on top of each other. This is to avoid creating scratches on the cookware which may lead to damage on the ceramic surface.
Non-stick cookware is a great, and even healthier, alternative if you are looking into purchasing non-stick cookware. For as long as they are properly cared for, all apprehension with regards to its durability can be set aside. When properly maintained, you can be assured that it can be your constant cooking companion in years to come.
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