Ceramic nonstick frying pans have gained popularity in recent years. Many people think they're safer to use, better for the environment, and even more nonstick than their PTFE (aka Teflon®) competitors.
But are they?
Here, we take a look at ceramic nonstick and compare it to PTFE (Teflon). Find out how they compare--and whether or not ceramic is the right nonstick choice for you and your family.
The Best Ceramic Frying Pans at a Glance
If you're in the market for a nonstick ceramic frying pan, here are our top three picks. They all meet our criteria for fast and even heating, durability, and affordability (which is important for ceramic because it is not a buy-it-for-life product).
GreenPan Lima Covered 12" Pan
About $40, lid included.
Stainless handle.
Anodized aluminum body.
Glass lid (not incl. w/induction pan).
Oven safe to 600F.
2 yr. warranty on ceramic.
Kyocera Ceramic Frying Pan
About $40-$60.
Stainless handle.
Forged aluminum body.
Induction compatible.
Oven safe to 400F.
Limited lifetime warranty.
Tramontina Gourmet Ceramica 12" Pan
About $35/$55.
Stainless/soft grip handle.
Forged aluminum body.
Oven safe to 350F.
Made in Italy.
Limited lifetime Warranty.
What Is a Ceramic Frying Pan?
This article is about aluminum (or clad stainless) frying pans with a ceramic nonstick coating:
The ceramic coating is made from sand--otherwise known as silicon--in combination with some other substances. The silicon material is heated to its melting point, then sprayed onto the cookware using a sol-gel process. The resulting ceramic coating is durable, heat resistant, and very nonstick (at least at first).
The body can be made from stamped, cast, or forged aluminum, anodized aluminum, or clad stainless steel. We recommend cast or forged anodized aluminum bodies for the best heating properties at the best price. Stamped aluminum is usually thinner so the heating properties aren't always as good (but they can be, if the aluminum layer is thick enough).
Anodization has no effect on heating properties and makes the aluminum stronger and more durable.
Clad stainless pans are high quality, but they have a price tag to match. Since nonstick cookware has a pretty short lifespan, we do not recommend buying nonstick in clad stainless--the cooking surface will wear out decades before the rest of the pan does.
100% Ceramic Cookware
In contrast, some cookware, like Xtrema, is 100% ceramic. This is a very different type of cookware: It is heavy, brittle, and is not nonstick. Also, because ceramic is an insulator rather than a conductor of heat, its heating properties aren't great: it takes a long time to heat up and is not responsive to temperature changes. Most people who use 100% ceramic cookware do so because they believe it is the healthiest cookware. (This is a debatable point, but since this article is not about this type of ceramic cookware, we won't say any more about it here.)
Is Ceramic Nonstick Cookware Safer and Healthier than PTFE?
There are two types of nonstick cookware: PTFE and ceramic. Both of them have potential safety issues everyone should know about before they decide to buy nonstick cookware.
PTFE Safety Issues
PTFE, an acronym for polytetrafluoroethylen