Home & Kitchen with Caraway

How To Cook With Ceramic Pans

Key Takeaways

Keep ceramic pans on low to medium heat. High temps wear them out faster without cooking food better.
Hand-washing with gentle tools helps preserve the non-stick coating and extends your pan’s lifespan.
Storing ceramic pans properly (with protection between them) prevents scratches and keeps them looking new.

Cooking with ceramic pans should feel easy, breezy, and low-maintenance. That’s exactly what we designed ours to be. But even the best non-stick cookware needs a little love to keep performing (and looking) its best.

At Caraway , our ceramic-coated cookware is made without any of the chemicals you’re trying to avoid—no PTFE, no PFOA, and no "how is this still legal?" mystery materials. Just naturally slick, non-toxic ceramic that works like a dream, as long as you know a few key rules.

What To Know About Cooking With Ceramic Pans

Ceramic Fry Pan - Modal - Clean Cooking for Every Day

Whether you're brand new to ceramic or just want yours to last longer, this guide breaks down everything you need to know—what to do, what not to do, and how to keep your pans in their prime for years to come.

There are a few non-negotiable things to know before you begin cooking with your new ceramic pans, including:

Keep Heat Low

Ceramic cookware loves a gentle touch. Unlike traditional pans that need high heat to get going, Caraway’s ceramic-coated pans are designed to perform best on low to medium settings. The slick surface naturally distributes heat more evenly, so there’s no need to blast the burner.

Cranking the heat won’t make things cook faster. It’ll just wear down the non-stick coating quicker and may even cause food to burn before it’s cooked through. Think of it like this: ceramic is the chill friend who gets the job done without the drama. Preheat gently, give it a little oil, and trust the process.

Hand Wash Only

Tossing a dirty pan into the dishwasher at the end of a long day sounds like a win. But when it comes to ceramic cookware, the dishwasher is not the best move. Those harsh detergents, high temps, and long cycles can chip away at the non-stick layer over time.

Hand-washing ceramic is the way to go . Luckily, with Caraway’s naturally slick surface, it doesn’t take much.

Warm water, a soft sponge, and a gentle dish soap are all you need. Most of the time, food wipes off with a single swipe. It's faster than running a dishwasher cycle anyway, and way better for the longevity of your pan.

Store Your Pans Correctly

Tossing your pan into a cabinet where it clangs against metal lids and rogue spatulas is not ideal. Ceramic coating can scratch if it’s rubbed the wrong way, so storing it properly is key to keeping that surface pristine.

Stack pans with protective pads or place them in a rack where they don’t touch. If you’re short on space, even a dish towel between stacked cookware works.

And if you grabbed a full set from Caraway, our included organizers were literally made to solve this exact issue. A little storage strategy goes a long way when it comes to keeping your pans scratch-free and gorgeous for the long haul.

The Don’ts of Cooking With Ceramic Cookware

Some habits are harmless with other pans, but not with ceramic. If you want to keep your non-stick surface performing like a pro, here are a few things to skip:

Crank the Heat

Ceramic pans are not built for blast-off. High heat can cause the coating to break down faster , which means less non-stick magic over time. Instead of rushing the process, give your pan a few extra seconds to warm up on medium (or lower). You’ll get better results and extend your pan’s lifespan.

Use Abrasive Utensils

Metal spatulas, forks, and knives are ceramic’s worst enemies. One scrape and you could permanently damage the surface, even if the scratch seems minor. Over time, those tiny dings add up and mess with how well your food releases.

Stick with soft tools: silicone, wood, or nylon are your go-to MVPs. They get the job done without compromising the coating.

Preheat an Empty Pan

This one’s a sneaky mistake. Preheating an empty ceramic pan—even for a minute or two—can quickly lead to overheating. And once that happens, the non-stick layer starts to weaken behind the scenes, even if you don’t notice it right away.

Always add a little oil, butter, or food before turning up the heat. It helps regulate the temperature and keeps your ceramic coating cool, calm, and collected.

How To Pick the Best Ceramic Cookware

Ceramic Cookware Bundle - Modal - A Non-Toxic Future for All

Not all ceramic cookware is created equal, and if you’ve ever been burned by a pan that claimed to be non-stick but turned into a sticky mess, you know the struggle.

Here’s what to actually look for when shopping around:

Look for Non-Toxic Credentials

“Ceramic” doesn’t automatically mean non-toxic. Some cookware still contains hidden PTFE or PFAS compounds , especially in cheap knockoffs that mimic ceramic finishes. At Caraway, all our ceramic-coated cookware is 100% free of PTFE, PFOA, PFAS, lead, and cadmium, so you can cook without second-guessing what’s leaching into your food.

Pay Attention to Build Quality

A great ceramic pan starts with a great base. Ours? Aluminum core for fast, even heating, paired with a naturally slick ceramic coating that delivers easy release without the need for aggressive heat or tons of oil. You want something that heats evenly, retains temperature, and doesn’t warp under pressure (literally).

Cheap, thin pans tend to overheat quickly, burn food at the center, and lose their shape over time. Look for weight, balance, and multi-layer construction—it makes all the difference.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do you use oil in a ceramic pan?

Ceramic pans have a naturally slick surface, but using a small amount of oil helps improve performance and extend the life of the coating. Skip the cooking sprays (they leave residue) and opt for a drizzle of avocado, olive, or coconut oil instead.

Are scratched ceramic pans safe?

It depends on how deep the scratch goes. Minor scuffs from regular use are common, but if the coating is visibly chipped or flaking, it’s time to replace the pan. Damaged ceramic can affect cooking performance and potentially expose the metal base.

Does ceramic non-stick wear over time?

Yes, eventually. All non-stick surfaces break down with regular use, but with proper care (low heat, gentle cleaning, and no metal utensils), ceramic pans can last for years while staying safe and effective.

Cook Right With Ceramic

Cooking with ceramic pans isn’t complicated, but it is different. It’s about working with your cookware, not against it. Use lower heat, skip the metal utensils, and give your pans the gentle treatment they deserve, and they’ll keep performing like a dream.

The biggest takeaway? Ceramic doesn’t need high-maintenance care, just the right care. A little mindfulness goes a long way, and once you get in the groove, you’ll wonder why you didn’t make the switch sooner.

At Caraway , we’ve designed our ceramic-coated cookware to be as functional as it is beautiful—no harmful chemicals, no fussy upkeep, just clean, easy cooking that fits your life. Ready to upgrade your kitchen game? Explore the full Caraway collection and cook smarter from the start.

Sources:

How to Care for Your New Cookware | Consumer Reports

Five Ways You're Damaging Your Nonstick Pans (and How to Stop) | Food & Wine

Toxic truth? The cookware craze redefining ‘ceramic’ and ‘nontoxic’ | Health & wellbeing | The Guardian

How to preheat your skillet to avoid a sticky situation | The Washington Post