Is Ceramic Cookware Safe – Possible Dangers Of Ceramic Coated Pots And Pans

Learning about ceramic cookware dangers is crucial if you want to start cooking with ceramic pots and pans or already doing so.

There have been many complaints about cooking utensils made of toxic material or that allow harmful substances from the pans to leach into food and cause health complications. That is why users are more careful now with the cooking utensils they use in their kitchen.

This is the reason the question of safety comes up. People want to know about the dangers of using particular pots and pans, especially those that seem popular, like the best ceramic cookware sets.

That is what we’re going to cover.

Is Ceramic Cookware Safe?

The most common question people ask before investing in ceramic cookware is whether the ceramic pans and pots are safe.

Yes, ceramic cookware is 100% safe for use.

Some cookware is manufactured using materials known as PTFE and PFOA. These two are harmful and can be related to causing various health problems such as cancer, kidney problems, and liver disease.

PTFE and PFOA are not used to manufacture ceramic pots and pans. Therefore, these kitchen cooking utensils will not affect your health negatively.

This goes for 100% ceramic frying pans and those coated with it too.

According to kitchenware manufacturers, the ceramic coating ensures that the metal used to construct a skillet does not leach into the food. Thus, it is safe to use ceramic coated cooking pans. Also, the coating does not cause a chemical reaction during cooking.

Most manufacturers add a non-stick element to kitchenware today. That brings us to the question of how safe is the non-stick coating.

You will be glad to learn that the non-stick coating isn’t constructed using carbon. The primary materials used are inorganic minerals, oxygen, and silicon. Replacing carbon with inorganic minerals makes these kitchen utensils friendly to the environment.

Another thing is that kitchen utensils save energy. This means that they spend less time in the oven and also seasoning. This translates to 50% less carbon dioxide emitted.

What Are The Ceramic Cookware Dangers?

The dangers associated with any cooking utensil come from leaching. That is also what to look for in ceramic pots and pans.

Leaching is when the substances or materials used to manufacture kitchenware get absorbed into food while cooking.

If those substances are toxic, then you are exposed to various health issues. Also, when metal from cooking utensils mixes with food, it alters the taste of your meal.

100% Ceramic Cookware and Ceramic Coated Cookware

The term ‘ceramic cookware’ covers two types of cookware. There are 100% ceramic cooking utensils and ceramic coated cookware.

The pure ceramic ones are made from clay and water, so no metal can leach into food. This means that there is no danger in using these cooking utensils.

The coated ones are usually regular pots made from metal and then covered with ceramic. Aluminum is used to make the base of the pots to make it stronger and improve the pan’s ability to conduct heat. No toxic chemicals are involved in constructing the non-stick cooking area.

The skillets can become harmful when the coating chips off, usually when the cooikware is not appropriately handled.

The material used to make the coat of the pots is soft, and when it comes off, you are exposed to the metal underneath, which may leach into food. That is why you should handle it well to avoid that, primarily as you use the cooking pan repeatedly.

The brand you determine the amount of danger you expose yourself to. This is because some degrade faster than others. Once the degradation process starts, you are not protected from the metals mixed into your food.

Cheaper brands with thin coated layers will expose you to leaching, which is dangerous to your health. Another danger related to ceramic pans is leaching when your pots and pans are exposed to wear and tear.

The first models of ceramic utensils had a thin layer of coating, and so the layer came off easily. However, newer models have more layers which translate to more protection.

Using metal utensils on ceramic can scratch the bottom part of the pan and expose the metal underneath it, which can be absorbed into your food. Therefore, failure to follow the manufacturer’s instructions on caring for the cooking utensils can put your health in danger.

While generally, ceramic kitchen utensils are safe, you might come across some that are not. The United States is strict in its attempt to get rid of harmful cookware. Therefore, American manufacturers have to adhere to strict guidelines by the FDA.

If you buy sets manufactured in the United States, you can be assured that it does not contain lead or cadmium.

Some types of food, such as tomatoes, also make it easy for lead and cadmium to get into food. The same happens with vinegar. If you are regularly exposed to these chemicals, you can develop brain damage.

When you cook your meal using high heat, these chemicals leach into your food which can be dangerous.

Cadmium and lead can be used to manufacture ceramic cookware or in the glazing process. Kitchenware with high amounts of these chemicals are meant for decoration, not cooking. Unfortunately, some imported glazed ceramic cookware has exceedingly high levels of lead and cadmium in them.

Examples of countries where these pots and pans come from include China, Hong Kong, and Mexico. Ceramic cooking utensils from the United Kingdom and Japan are safe.

Does Safe Ceramic Cookware Exist and What Is the Safest Ceramic Cookware?

There are safe ceramic utensils, and here is an example of one.

Thermolon

Very hard-anodized aluminum is used to manufacture Thermolon pots and pans. This metal is stable. The base of the cookware is designed to save energy. The pans are compatible with all cooktops.

The dangers associated with using Thermolon cookware are extremely low compared to other ceramic pots. The material is more tolerant of high temperatures. So there are fewer worries of it peeling and off and reacting with food.

Examples of brands that use Thermolon include GreenPan and GreenLife. Cookware from these two is exceptionally safe for use.

Ecolution

Ecolution is the safest ceramic cookware. Being eco-friendly is the brand’s top priority. They also contributed to a revolution of non-stick pots and pans and hence their name.

Ecolution has been known for manufacturing quality and safe kitchenware for a long time.

Their non-stick coating is not achieved from toxic materials like some cookware. Water and hydro ceramic are used to create the non-stick element. These are not only safe for your health but also friendly to the environment.

Ecolution cookware does not contain lead, PTFE, or PFOA. Therefore, there is no danger in using them.

The pots and pans have glass lids that have been tempered. This makes them difficult to shatter. They also have a steam vent which makes the cooking process efficient.

Their ergonomic silicone handles are comfortable, stable, and cool to the touch, so there is no danger of burning yourself.

PFOA and PTFE

The terms PFOA and PTFE come up a lot when talking about cookware. PTFE is Polytetrafluoroethylene in full. It is a chemical and a combination of fluorine and carbon.

Roy Plunkett, a scientist, discovered Polytetrafluoroethylene, which was later called Teflon. This is the compound used on cookware to give it a non-stick quality. It is also used in the construction of other items like automobiles and electronics.

PFOA is perfluorooctanoic acid in full. PFOA is used to make non-stick pots and pans. It also helps to make carpets and fabrics stain-resistant. You should know that PFOA is used to create PTFE.

Perfluorooctanoic acid is dangerous because it remains in the environment and in our bodies for an extended period.

There are various ways in which humans are exposed to PFOA. These include using PFOA contaminated water, working in places that use the chemical to manufacture different items, and through cookware.

PFOA burns off during cooking, and humans breathe in the toxic fumes.

According to health studies, one is more susceptible to developing liver disease, blood pressure problems, high cholesterol, cancer (kidney, testicular, and bladder), and thyroid illness when he or she comes in contact with PFOA.

Safety of ceramic compared to other cookware materials

There are many different cookware materials. However, solid ceramic cookware is the safest of them all.

Aluminum leaches into food and gets into your body. Therefore, aluminum pots and pans carry that risk. High levels of aluminum can cause Alzheimer’s Disease and cancers related to estrogen levels, and an example is breast cancer.

Copper cookware has both copper and nickel (used to make the coating), and these get absorbed into the food while cooking.

Pots and pans manufactured from cast iron can expose one to stress, oxidation, and illness. This is because iron gets into food.

The chromium, nickel, and iron used in constructing stainless steel cooking utensils also mix up with food.

Lead is sometimes used to construct pots and pans made from enamel, glass, and ceramic. However, the FDA and California Prop 65 are in charge of regulating the amount of lead used. Therefore, USA-manufactured ceramic cookware does not have high levels of lead in them.

Conclusion

Ceramic cookware sets have received a lot of praise over the years for being safer than traditional cookware. It is, therefore, normal to be curious about ceramic cookware dangers.

We have established that these cooking utensils are majorly safe for use. The dangers come in the form of brands manufactured without adhering to the set guidelines, such as high levels of lead and cadmium.

When pans start to chip because of continuous use, having a thin layer of coating (for cheap quality ones), or not taking good care of them, they become dangerous because they allow leaching.

When you buy a good quality set from a reputable company and care well for it, you will not experience any danger with ceramic pots and pans.