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Ceramic cookware has gained popularity in recent years, and many people have been left wondering: Is ceramic cookware safe to cook with? The short answer is yes (but there are some important caveats).
Cookware that is 100% pure ceramic is generally safe. Ceramic-coated cookware, which is generally made of a metal body and finished with a hard ceramic coating, is also often safe, as long as you don’t overheat or scratch it and the ceramic coating doesn’t contain other harmful materials, like Teflon.
When used properly, ceramic-coated non-toxic pots and pans can be a safe option as long as they’re made without the dangerous chemicals found in other non-stick coatings like Teflon. That said, you should always make sure to check with the manufacturer of any ceramic cookware you’re looking to buy to make sure it’s fully non-toxic and safe for cooking on your stove and in your oven.
Is Ceramic Cookware Safe? Let’s Dig Into the Details
Cookware and bakeware that’s 100% ceramic is generally safe. Ceramic-coated cookware, which is often made of a stainless steel or other metal body and coated with ceramic, is also usually safe, as long as you don’t scratch or overheat it.
Most companies advise not exceeding temperatures of 500 degrees Fahrenheit when heating ceramic-coated pans. Beyond this temperature, there’s a risk of the ceramic coating decomposing, which could release nano-particles, if the ceramic glaze contains them.
What’s more, some ceramic-coated cookware may contain PTFE (aka Teflon), which is harmful at high temperatures and often contains forever chemicals like PFAS. It’s important to check the label to make sure your ceramic cookware is Teflon- and PFAS-free before purchasing it.
What Is Ceramic Coating?
Ceramic coatings are often referred to as “sol-gel” coatings. They’re composed of silica (aka sand) and other inorganic chemicals. While sol-gel coatings are harder and more heat-resistant than PTFE coatings, it’s still important not to overheat, scratch, or otherwise damage them to optimize food safety.
Ceramic coating is known to distribute heat evenly as it cooks, so it’s great for searing meats, vegetables, and fish.
Even with this knowledge, it’s always worth doing your research whenever you’re considering buying a ceramic piece of cookware from a company you haven’t heard of before. Make sure the company lists safety concerns and states that the ceramic non-stick coating is free of PFAS, PTFE, lead, cadmium, and other heavy metals that are known toxins.
What’s the Problem with PFAS?
Unfortunately, some nonstick cookware contains PFAS, especially the compound perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA). PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) are toxic substances that have been linked to fertility issues, cancers, developmental delays, hormone interference, ADHD, and increased cholesterol levels. They also stick around practically forever in the environment, even persisting in our bodies for upwards of eight years (which is why some people refer to them as “forever chemicals”).
PFOA was widely used in the production of PTFE, more commonly known as Teflon. Many major manufacturers have phased out the use of PFOA in their nonstick cookware products, but that doesn’t mean its unavoidable. What’s more, even if a piece of cookware doesn’t contain PFOA, that doesn’t mean other PFAS compounds, such as perfluorobutanoic acid (PFBA), perfluorohexanoic acid (PFHxA), and perfluoropentanoic acid (PFPeA), aren’t present.
That’s why you always need to check the brand you’re buying from to ensure they are free from all PFAS before buying.
Can Ceramic Cookware Contain Teflon?
Unfortunately, ceramic cookware can also contain Teflon. It is important to understand that a ceramic non-stick pan is not necessarily PTFE (Teflon)-free. This is why it’s always important to check that any ceramic pans you’re interested in do not contain PTFE or any PFAS, PFOAs, lead, or cadmium.
To make sure that you’re getting cookware without toxins, it’s recommended to look for products that explicitly state they are PTFE (Teflon), PFOA-free and PFAS-free. Ceramic cookware usually doesn’t contain PFAS, as it relies on ceramic glazes or mineral-based nonstick coatings rather than PFAS-based coatings.
However, you still should always check to make sure the cookware brand says it’s explicitly free of these toxins.
What’s the Deal with Ceramic Coating and Nano-Particles?
There’s some concern that ceramic glazes on non-stick pans may contain nano-particles of titanium dioxide. If these pans get scratched, are cooked at very high temperatures, or wear down over time, they could release tiny particles of titanium dioxide.
While ingesting small amounts of ceramic coating is generally not a health concern, it’s a good idea to avoid using damaged cookware or utensils on the surface to minimize risk. It’s easiest to avoid scratching your ceramics pots and pans by using soft silicone utensils (note: avoid plastic, which can melt into your food), such as whisks, serving spoons, tongs, and spatulas.
Unfortunately, researchers don’t yet know what the effects of consuming nano-particles of titanium dioxide means for human health. Some caution that we should avoid doing so until we know more.
If nano-particles concern you at all, you should probably look to alternative pots and pans that don’t use non-stick coating at all, such as those made from cast iron, stainless steel, glass, and pure, non-coated ceramic.
To be extra safe, be sure to stop use of your ceramic-coated pans once they become scratched, worn down from use, or heated higher than the manufacturer’s recommendations.
Ceramic Cookware Brands Made Without PFAS and Toxins
One of the main concerns about cookware safety revolves around the presence of harmful chemicals. High-quality ceramic cookware should be free from lead, cadmium, PFOA and PTFE, PFAS, and heavy metals, all of which are known to be toxic to our health and environmentally hazardous.
Choose reputable brands when you’re shopping for ceramic cookware and to look for safety certifications to ensure the absence of such chemicals, such as:
These brands all sell ceramic cookware that’s guaranteed and tested to be free of toxic ingredients, including PTFE (Teflon), PFOAs and PFAS, lead, cadmium, and titanium dioxide nano particles.
The popular Caraway line is made without PTFE, PFAs, lead and cadmium, but they do use small levels of nano-particles in their ceramic glazes (which they claim is not a health concern). If you go with Caraway pans, be sure to treat them with care and avoid scratching or over-heating them.
Avoid Overheating Your Ceramic Cookware
Extreme temperature changes can cause ceramic cookware to crack or shatter. It’s important to follow the manufacturer’s instructions and avoid subjecting the cookware to sudden temperature fluctuations. By using it within the recommended temperature range to avoid thermal shocks, ceramic cookware can be a safe and reliable option in the kitchen.
Depending on the brand, ceramic coated cookware can be oven-safe from 350 to 500 degrees Fahrenheit. You should not cook it above what the manufacturer recommends, or you risk the coating on ceramic glazed pans breaking down and potentially getting into your food.
What Are the Downsides to Ceramic Cookware?
The main downside to ceramic glazed stove-top cookware is that it can wear down with lots of use and become significantly less “non-stick” over time. It can also scratch, if you accidentally use sharp utensils on its surface, so be sure to also get a few high quality soft silicone utensils for cooking if you go with ceramic glazed pans.
You should always be sure to hand wash your ceramic cookware rather than put it in the dishwasher, and you should also make sure to stack it carefully (or better yet, avoid stacking it) so it doesn’t get scratched by the bottoms of other pans. Using cookware protectors can help keep it from getting scratched, too.
So, Is Ceramic Cookware Safe? Yes, With Caveats
Cookware that’s 100% pure ceramic cookware is safe. Ceramic-coated cookware can also be safe, as long as it’s high quality, made by trusted manufacturers, and is not scratched, overheated, or worn from use.
However, some ceramic-coated cookware may contain other materials that are not as non-toxic as ceramic. So before purchasing ceramic-coated cookware, make sure that it explicitly says it’s free of PTFE (Teflon), PFAS, nano-particles, and heavy metals. Alternatively, you can go with a 100% ceramic pan like those made by Xtrema and Emile Henry.
By selecting reputable brands, sticking to specific usage guidelines, and being sure not to scratch up your pots and pans, you can safely include ceramic cookware as a reliable component of your culinary adventures.
