Porcelain and Ceramic are two materials that have gained popularity in the world of cookware. Both come with an eye-catching appearance, are lightweight, durable, easy-to-clean, and nonstick. Most of us are confused that porcelain and ceramic are the same material used to manufacture cookware.
However, apart from having so many similarities, there are also some differences between these two cookware items. In this article, we have compared both these materials mentioning their advantages and disadvantages. All being well, this article will help you make sure you find the one you need. Let’s take a look:
About Porcelain Cookware
Porcelain Cookware or Skillets is one of the blazing pans, and it is coated with a pristine, smooth, and robust glass coating. This coating is secured to the metal on the cookware, such as cast iron, stainless steel, or aluminum. The process is carried out through a higher temperature to protect the metal, which enables the cookware to be less absorbent and more glass-like.
Moreover, they come in a wide range of attractive designs and colors. However, Depending on the quality of the raw materials used to make them and the manufacturers, the durability of porcelain pans, pots and skillets can vary. Some high-end porcelain enamel cookware pieces last longer than other inexpensive graded cookware available on the market.
What are the advantages of Porcelain Cookware?
Keep reading to learn certain benefits of porcelain cookware that make them perfect than others. These include:
- Porcelain has a non-reactive and secure cooking surface
The biggest advantage of having porcelain cookware is that it has a non-stick coating, which is safe and healthy. Since, its coating doesn’t require saturated fats like butter and oil to cook food, hence good for health. It’s also non-reactive to ingredients with citric properties, including vinegar, lemon juice, or tomatoes, so you shouldn’t expect their quality to decline quickly.
- It is user-friendly and easy to clean
Porcelain cookware is very easy to clean and has useful features, unlike most other pan and skillet materials. You need to wash it with a mild detergent and water. Don’t use metal wools and harsh products to wash the porcelain pots & pans base as it will harm & destruct non-stick coating. As with porcelain cookware, you can also use any type of spatula for cooking. On the other hand, the use of any utensils on the surface of ceramic cookware is prohibited.
- It enables for versatile cooking
The nonstick coating and high-grade materials used to make porcelain cookware enable you to prepare a wide range of different types of cooking. Plus, it can be placed in the freezer, microwave, oven and stove.
- It has a sturdy body
Unlike Teflon or aluminum cookware available on the market, porcelain cookware is much more expensive. At the same time, it is more sturdy, durable, and long-lasting.
What are the Disadvantages of Porcelain Cookware?
Being one of the stronger and longer-lasting materials, cookware made of porcelain has a lot of benefits, but unfortunately, it also has some drawbacks. When purchasing from these two options, you should keep the disadvantages of this cookware in mind.
- It cannot withstand high temperature
A major disadvantage of a ceramic pot or pan is that it cannot tolerate the high temperatures of the oven or stovetop because the strong flame can ruin the exterior finish, affect its longevity and cause it to break. However, you should cook on a low or medium flame for the best cooking results.
- The coating of Porcelain is fragile
The fact is that this type of cookware has a delicate coating that can be prone to chipping. Functionality and nonstick abilities will be gone once its enamel is destroyed. To ensure that the enamel doesn’t stick to your porcelain cookware, make sure you don’t stack them firmly on top of each other, do not immediately put cookware in cold water, or use abrasive materials to clean the base.
- It is expensive
Porcelain pots or pans are slightly more expensive than other types of metal cookware sold by manufacturers. Hence, you need to invest more as compared to other cookware.
About Ceramic Cookware
After knowing about porcelain cookware, let’s discuss what ceramic cookware is. The material belongs to the metal family and is kiln-baked with a ceramic finishing and coating. Ceramic coating makes these pots and pans safe and non-toxic for regular cooking tasks. Additionally, it makes the skillets resistant to heat, scratches, wears and tear as they are highly durable & sturdy than steel or aluminum cookware.
Types Of Ceramic Cookware
There are several types of ceramic cookware available on the market:
1. Ceramic coated: This type of cookware has a metal base (such as aluminum or stainless steel) that is coated with a layer of ceramic material. The ceramic coating is non-stick and helps to prevent food from sticking to the pan.
2. Pure ceramic: This type of cookware is made entirely of ceramic material and does not have a metal base. It is typically heavier and more brittle than ceramic coated cookware.
Let’s take a look at the upsides and downsides of using these types of pans or pots.
What are the advantages of Ceramic Cookware?
- It has attractive looks
The biggest pros of ceramic cookware are its completely good looks, eye-catching appearance and outer coating. They come in a wide variety of patterns and vibrant colors, allowing you to choose as per your preference. The entire ceramic set is also used to decorate your kitchen and impress your guests.
- Ceramic does not require seasoning
Most other types of ingredients used in cookware require seasoning to clean them and prevent rusting, while ceramic pans don’t require this because it has a natural non-stick coating that does not require seasoning and provides ease of cleaning.
- Ceramic has a safe, natural and non-stick coating
One significant benefit of using ceramic cookware in day-to-day cooking is its non-stick property and coating. This coating allows preparing healthy food without using any cooking oil or fats. The food prepared in this cookware is completely safe to eat. Furthermore, the coating is non-reactive, so you can use acidic ingredients like vinegar, lemon juice, and tomato without damaging or cracking the non-stick surface.
- It offers warmth Preservation
It’s easy enough to cook your favorite recipes in ceramic pots and pans because they conduct heat, and keep the heat from the oven to the table for a longer duration.
See This Video About Ceramic Cookware:
What are the disadvantages of Ceramic Cookware?
Apart from so many useful sides, ceramic cookware has some disadvantages. Let’s have a look over the factors right below to know more.
- Less durable
Cheap quality ceramic cookware available in the market can vanish its non-stick coating over time, mainly if you use them frequently. To avoid this from occurring, you need to choose ceramic skillets from reputed manufacturers and brands as they will offer better quality and longer-lasting cookware.
- Easy to get Scratch or Crack
Ceramic cookware is prone to scratching despite its natural non-stick coating.To protect their coating, it is recommended not to use metal utensils metal brushes, abrasive materials, including steel or wool, when cooking and cleaning.
- It is not dishwasher-friendly
Cleaning ceramic cookware by hand is recommended as it is not dishwasher friendly.Dishwasher cleaning can scratch the non-stick coating of cookware.
- Ceramic cookware used either on low heat or at medium heating temperatures
Like porcelain cookware, you can place ceramic cookware over a low or medium heat temperature.Using ceramic cookware at high temperatures increases the risk of losing its non-stick properties or cracking or scratching its surface.
What Factors Differentiate Porcelain and Ceramic?
After knowing about both ceramic and porcelain separately, you must have understood that to a great extent they are similar to each other. Well, very few people know that porcelain is a type of ceramic. To break down their difference, we have listed some of the features that distinguish each other.
- Their Construction Process
The biggest difference between Ceramic and Porcelain Cookware is their construction process. Talking about the ceramic construction process, it is built at lower temperatures and kiln-baked, which gives them finishes and makes it more porous. Porcelain cookware, on the other hand, knows for the coating that is on top of the base of metallic cookware. The clays used to construct porcelain cookware are toughened at a high-heat temperature to make them less porous, more glasslike.
- Cooking Performance
To determine the cooking performance of porcelain and ceramic cookware is based on the recipe you are going to cook or the cooking method you use. For instance, ceramic cookware is ideal for baking and roasting. Apart from that, you can use it to cook by combining acidic ingredients. Porcelain, on the other side, would be an excellent option if you want to use it for baking or stovetop cooking. Both are equally able to prepare a variety of dishes when it comes to roasting and baking.
Many porcelain cookwares are ideally designed for use both inside an oven and on the stovetop. Since it has the ability of heat transferring which makes them popular among the chefs for a variety of dishes.
- Price
As we have mentioned earlier, porcelain cookware is one of the expensive options when it comes to cookware. They aren’t budget-friendly than the ceramic and other available nonstick pans or pots. On the other hand, ceramic cookware is a comparatively affordable option and available in different colors & sizes. However, some ceramic cookwares are expensive sets available that you can consider instead of cheaper ones.
Final Words
Hopefully, this article will help you decide for sure which cookware suits your cooking needs.
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Hi, my name is Ashley Robinson. I’m a food blogger and a part time chef in Food & Drink Junction, Denver. With my blog I’m sharing information & tutorials about different kinds of cooking pans.
