Views: 625 Author: Site Editor Publish Time: 2022-11-16 Origin: Site
Ceramic-coated cookware has been gaining popularity over the years. So much so, it has become a common choice for pans and pots in many kitchens. It is the ideal modern kitchen tool for healthy and heat-efficient cookware. Despite this, there have been concerns raised on how safe it is for cooking. In this article, we will address how safe this material is for you. But first, we’ll explore what ceramic cookware is about.
Let’s kick things off.
Your ceramic cookware is a combination of several metals. These include: aluminum, copper, cast iron, stainless steel, and even carbon steel. These metals are used because of their good conductivity of heat. Note that while their heat conductivities vary, they are satisfactory enough for the purposes the cookware serves.
There are also unique non-metals used such as pottery, ceramic, glass, stone, and silicone. Although not metals, they conduct heat to a relatively good extent for cooking.
The existence of ceramic cookware dates as far back as thousands of years ago. They are usually made from clay, baked in a kiln, and then glazed. This makes it 100% ceramic.
However, modern-day ceramic cookware has taken great evolution from its traditional predecessors. Modern ceramic cookware is made from metal. This metal is coated with a silicone-based nonstick coating derived from sand. The technical term for this coating is called sol-gel.
Sol-gel produces silicone oil that anyone you cook with ceramic cookware. Sol-gel helps ceramic cookware with its non-stick properties. This is the reason we often regard the material as a ceramic non-stick coating.
Although they are not common, you can find 100% ceramic traditional ceramic cookware. The ones you see around have some metals as mentioned before. These metals help conduct heat optimally.
In a nutshell, ceramic-coated cookware is any cookware with a layer of thin ceramic covering on top. The middle of the cookware typically consists of a metal core, which varies. Then, we can dip the ceramic cookware into sol-gel or simply spray sol-gel on it. Then, we harden it using a heating process called curing.
This is how we initiate the nonstick component of your ceramic coating. This holds terrific benefits when it comes to streamlining your cooking processes.
Ceramic cookware has become an ideal item found in many kitchens today. This is not surprising because of its healthy and heat-efficient benefits. However, how safe is the nonstick ceramic cookware?
As far back as the 1940s, Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) was frequently used for non-stick coating. However, studies revealed that PTFE cookware has some metallic compositions that make it toxic. Hence the concern about nonstick ceramic cookware.
But today, we use sol-gel for the coating. This material is made up of just natural minerals. It has no toxins. As such, no toxicity is transferred from the cookware to the meal.
According to more findings, non-stick ceramic cookware does not generate any harmful gases when you heat it. You can heat it to over 450 degrees celsius, without producing any form of toxic gas. This makes it perfectly safe.
Ceramic-coated cookware is also deemed a safer alternative to nonstick cookware using Teflon for coating. Teflon-coated pans emit harmful gases when you apply high heat. Ceramic-coated cookware does not react like that. Therefore, ceramic-coated cookware poses no health concerns nor does it add toxicity to the food cooked in it. It is safe and healthy for use.
1. Non-Stick Coating
Silicone oil, on the surface of Ceramic Cookware, is released every time you cook. This provides a non-stick cooking surface. So, you don’t have to use butter or oil to prevent foods from sticking. However, you’ll only enjoy this benefit maximally when you start using it. With subsequent use, the silicone layer degrades, making the ceramic cookware gradually lose its non-stick properties.
2. Easy to Clean
The surface of ceramic cookware is easy to clean. This is because of the non-stick surface. You need less effort to clean the pot after use.
3. Heat Efficiency
It can retain heat much better than aluminum and stainless steel pots.
4. Durable
With proper use and maintenance, it can last for several years. This makes it a reliable option for cooking. It also helps save money.
These are the prominent benefits of ceramic cookware. However, there are a couple of disadvantages with it but these have nothing to do with its safety for use. Below are the highlights.
1. Quick Loss of Non-stick Properties
The common complaint is the quick loss of the non-stick properties due to persistent heating compared to other non-stick cookware. As a result of this, avoid overheating, avoid cleaning with a dishwasher, and avoid cooking with metallic utensils. This makes it last longer.
2. Inconsistent Cooking Performance
Ceramic cookware doesn’t cook food as evenly as other cookware types. This is because the ceramic coating is made up of tiny mineral particles, known as nanoparticles. It prevents the food from being in complete contact with the cooking surface. This is how it ensures that the food does not stick while cooking. Because of this, the food can't evenly cook.
3. More Expensive
Ceramic-coated cookware comes more expensive than natural non-stick cookware. This is due to the materials used and the process to create ceramic. It is a high-quality product that requires extra care when manufacturing.
The PTFE coating which was the common method of achieving non-stick cookware was the major culprit for concern. When exposed to a degree of temperature, it releases hydrofluoric acid and different chemicals which causes health concerns. This was the major cause for which many people become skeptical about ceramic cookware. As stated earlier, ceramic coatings are found to be one of the safest and healthy items. It also helps in making cooking and doing dishes an easy peasy.
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