Did you know that most "stoneware cookware" that comes up in a Google or Amazon search is aluminum cookware with a nonstick coating? It's true: the term "stoneware" has been hijacked by the nonstick cookware industry--so if you're looking for true stoneware and not nonstick, proceed with caution.
And, there are several kinds of actual stoneware cookware, all made of different materials.
A lot of cookware sites discuss aluminum nonstick cookware as if it were real stoneware, and they don't mention other types of stoneware at all.
In this article, we define all the types of stoneware cookware (and "stoneware" nonstick cookware) so you can know exactly what you're buying.
What Is Stoneware Cookware? All the Types Explained
Le Creuset enamel-coated cast iron "stoneware."
Corningware glass-ceramic composite "stoneware."
GreenPan nonstick ceramic "stoneware."
The terms "stoneware" and "ceramic" represent a wide range of cookware that can be made from stone or ceramic, coated with stone-derived material, or contain little to no actual stone at all.
The table below shows the different types of stoneware cookware. We start with the nonstick types because they are the most popular as well as the farthest from real stoneware.
Note: Table may not be visible in mobile view.
Types of Stoneware (and "Stoneware") Cookware | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Type of Stoneware | What It Is | Pros and Cons | Examples |
Ceramic (General term: can mean porcelain, glass, nonstick ceramic, or enamel. Can be 100% stone, ceramic, or a coating. | |||
Porcelain (ceramic)  | Stoneware that uses kaolinite (a high-grade clay). Typically a coating over some type of metal. | Pros: Most durable of all ceramics; nonporous; semi-nonstick. Cons: Brittle, heavy, heats unevenly. | |
100% Stoneware (ceramic)  | Fired clay. May be called "ceramic" or "stone." | Pros: Considered safe and healthy, semi-nonstick. Cons: Slow uneven heating, brittle. | |
Enamel (ceramic)  | Powdered, melted glass used as a coating over another material. | Pros: Very durable, semi-nonstick. Cons: Brittle, poor heating (but ok as a coating). | |
Glass (ceramic)  | Non-crystalline material made from sand or stone. Used mostly for baking and storage. | Pros: Impermeable, considered very safe. Cons: Brittle, with poor heating properties, not good for stovetop. | |
Corningware (ceramic) | Pros: Can use for stovetop, oven, and storage. Cons: Brittle, heavy, poor heating properties. | ||
Nonstick cookware with "stone" or "granite" in the name: | |||
PTFE "Granite" or "Stone"  | Aluminum or tri-ply base with PTFE nonstick coating; coating may contain stone or granite particles (but doesn't always). | Pros: Mostly inexpensive, base heats evenly. Cons: Coating won't last, use low heat, possible safety issues. | |
Ceramic Nonstick  | Aluminum or tri-ply base with ceramic nonstick coating; invented in 2007. NOT the same as traditional ceramic (which is not nonstick). | Pros: Mostly inexpensive, durable, base heats evenly. Cons: Nonstick coating won't last, have to use low heat, possible | |