Ceramic pans are attractive cookware that enhance the look of any modern kitchen. They also help to cook crispy food with a yummy taste. But do ceramic pans stick?
Yes, ceramic pans do stick. Ceramic pans may lose their non-stick coating over time, leading to food getting stuck on the pan’s surface. The non-stick coating can get damaged because of cooking food at very high temperatures or using metal cookware while handling the food inside the ceramic pans.
Since ceramic pans are prone to sticking, let’s talk about why this happens and see how you can restore the pan’s non-stick property.
Why Do Ceramic Pans Stick?
Ceramic pans are durable and highly resilient. They can retain their non-stick properties for around five years, depending on how you use them.
If your food starts to stick in a ceramic pan, it means the non-stick coating has eroded. This can make the pan greasy and difficult to clean.
Given below are some of the reasons that can cause ceramic pans to stick:
- Using inappropriate cooking utensils: Avoid using metal or sharp utensils such as forks and knives on your ceramic pan as they will damage its coating. This would lead to scratching or scraping of the pan’s surface.
- Using the pan as a food container: You should not treat your ceramic pan as a food container. Put the leftover food in a storage container that can be refrigerated. If you leave any food in the pan for a long time, the non-stick coating may get damaged.
- Cooking at high temperatures: When exposed to high temperatures, the ceramic pan’s non-stick coating can slowly erode. Be it a stove or oven, heating temperature matters in the long run.
- Using cooking spray: Cooking sprays are very harmful to ceramic pans as they can cause scraping of the pan’s interior. Too much use of cooking sprays can also result in the deterioration of the non-stick coating.
- Wrong timing of greasing/oiling: It is a wrong practice to grease/oil the pan after warming it. If you warm the ceramic pan first and then add oil, it may lose its non-stick property. Also, heating the pan first may lead to the emission of unhealthy fumes.
- Abrasive cleaning: Abrasive cleaning may harm the ceramic pan’s interior surface. Instead of using abrasive cleaners like steel wool or scouring pads, use warm, soapy water with a soft sponge. Cleaning the pan with baking soda and water can help remove any food residue build-up.
Related Further Reading:
- Can You Grill Using Pans?
- Do Stainless Steel Pans Darken Over Time?
- Eliminating Smoke from Pans
- Do Cast Iron Skillets Need To Be Seasoned? (How To Figure Out?)
How To Stop Ceramic Pans From Sticking?
Ceramic pans help to cook food fast as they require less greasing and lack harmful chemicals.
The non-stick coating of the ceramic pans can be preserved by proper cleaning and handling.
There are two great ways to stop ceramic pans from losing their non-stick coating:
- Washing the pan, and
- Taking care of the pan.
1. Washing The Pan
Here are some effective ways to wash a ceramic pan:
- Hand-wash the pan with a soft sponge: After use, let the pan cool down for a while so that you can hand-wash it properly. Avoid using steel wool or abrasive cleaners. Instead, use a soft sponge or wash with warm soapy water.
- Soak the pan: If burnt food is stuck on the pan, soak the pan for around 30 minutes in hot water. It will help loosen the stuck food and make it easier to clean the pan.
- Rinse the pan in tap water: Rinse off the food particles from the ceramic pan with tap water. If there are traces of soap left after washing the pan, rewash it with soapy water before rinsing it.
- Sprinkle with baking soda: If you witness tough stains on your ceramic pan, sprinkle baking soda over the wet pan. Let the baking soda settle for around 15 to 20 minutes. After that, scrub the pan in circular motions using a soft dish brush.
- Allow the pan to dry: After washing and rinsing the pan properly, dry the pan using a soft dish towel or paper towel. If you have a drying rack, you can air-dry the ceramic pan as well.
2. Taking Care Of The Pan
Given below are some effective ways to take care of a ceramic pan:
- Wash the pan in water before first use: Before using the ceramic pan for the first time, don’t forget to wash it. Washing the pan before use will help remove any dust particles or bacteria present on the pan. You can use a clean dish towel or paper towel after washing the pan in warm, soapy water.
- Use proper cookware: Metal cookware can scratch the surface of the ceramic pan. This scratching can damage the non-stick coating. So, you should avoid cutting food items in the pan. Also, prefer wooden, silicone, or plastic cookware to use with your ceramic pan.
- Use oil or butter: You should use an optimum amount of oil or butter before putting the pan on heat. If you use less oil, there are higher chances of burning the food, which can then cause the food to stick on the pan. Avoid using non-stick cooking sprays or extra virgin oils so as to avoid the formation of any carbonized layer.
- Cook at medium or low temperatures: If you cook food at a high temperature, it may cause discoloration and damage the ceramic pan’s surface. Try to cook at medium or low temperatures. The alternative option is to grease the pan with oil or butter and pre-heat the pan on low heat. The heat can then be adjusted gradually as needed.
- Allow the pan to cool properly: Take care of your ceramic pan by not pouring cold water on a hot pan. A sudden temperature change can damage the non-stick coating of the pan. So, it’s necessary to let the pan cool down before washing it.
- Avoid keeping ceramic pans with other pans: Don’t pile the ceramic pans on top of each other as it can scratch and damage the non-stick coating. Instead, you can hang them on a hook or keep them on a shelf.
Interesting Further Reading:
- What Pans Do Professional Chefs Use? (Including Michelin Chefs)
- Do Anodized Pans Have Teflon? (Is Anodized Cookware Safe?)
- What are the Pros and Cons of Washing 12 Different Types of Pans in a Dishwasher?
How To Make A Ceramic Pan Non-Stick Again?
It’s frustrating to cook food in a ceramic pan that has lost its non-stick coating.
Without the coating, food will keep sticking to the pan’s surface, resulting in unattractive and non-tasty food.
Though the deterioration of the coating is inevitable, it’s possible to make a ceramic pan non-stick again.
Some of the effective methods to make a ceramic pan non-stick again are:
- Using vinegar and baking soda: You need to make a mixture of two tablespoons of baking soda, one cup of water, and a half cup of white vinegar. Pour this mixture into the pan and then turn on the stove. Heat the pan for 10 minutes until the mixture starts to boil. After turning off the stove, let the pan cool down, after which you can hand wash it. Then, you need to re-season it with vegetable oil to restore the non-stick surface of the pan.
- Seasoning with coconut oil: Pre-heat the bottom of the pan at medium temperature if using a stove. If you are using an oven, you need to pre-heat the pan at around 300°F to 350°F. After heating for a while, carefully apply coconut oil on the pan to fill all the pores. The oil layer should be around 1.27 inches. Let the pan heat for at least two hours in the oven. The oven’s heat will form a layer of coconut oil on the surface of the pan. After two hours, turn off the oven. Keeping the pan in the oven overnight to dry the oil layer will help get back the pan’s non-stick property.
- Seasoning with peanut oil: After cleaning the ceramic pan with vinegar and baking soda, wash it with warm soapy water. Dry the pan gently to apply a thin layer of peanut oil. The oil layer should cover all the pores on the pan’s surface so as to keep the non-stick property intact. Heat the pan for about 60 to 120 seconds. When the surface dries up, wipe the dripping oil. Then wipe the pan gently with a soft sponge. You need to do this seasoning after every six months.
- Seasoning in the oven: If you are using an oven for seasoning, oil the pan and pre-heat it to around 300°F to 350°F. Avoid using olive oil or butter as their smoke point is very low. Instead, use peanut oil for seasoning in the oven as its smoke point is very high. But remember not to damage the ceramic pan by heating the pan above 500°F. As ceramic pans can’t resist high temperatures, your pan might get severely damaged. Keep the pan in the oven for about 60 minutes. Then, remove the pan and wipe the dripping oil with a gentle cloth or sponge.
- Spraying the pan’s surface: If you don’t want to put great effort into cleaning your ceramic pan, you can season its surface using a non-coating spray. After spraying, let it dry for some time before you start cooking food in the pan. This helps the pan to get back its non-stick property.
