You finally took one of those big steps and got yourself some nice ceramic cookware. Kudos to you. Ceramic pots and pans are designed to be non-stick and safe to cook with. They’re quickly becoming more popular than other types of non-stick cookware. But it’s important to know how to maintain and clean your ceramic pots and pans so that they’ll give you years of service. Our secret: Bar Keepers Friend meet Ceramic Pan.
Ceramic Cookware is Quite Versatile
Ceramic pots and pans are similar to other non-stick cookware in that they have a non-stick coating bonded to the metal. This coating is made from a sand-like substance that goes over the metal and is cured at a very high heat. The coating of ceramic cookware is inert and non-reactive, so it’s a safe choice for cooking. No nasty chemicals or toxins will leech into your food.
Unlike other non-stick pans, ceramic pans don’t release any gases or toxins when they reach a high heat. Have you ever heated up a non-stick pan a little too much? You probably saw some smoke and smelled a weird chemical odor. That’s the non-stick coating beginning to break down. And as you probably guessed, it’s not a good idea to mix that into your food. Do you cook spaghetti and want all of your other meals to taste like tomato sauce? Then keep cooking with Teflon or other non-stick pots. An additional benefit of ceramic cookware is that it does not absorb odors or food particles.
Even though the non-stick properties of ceramic pots and pans are every bit as good as with other non-stick cookware, occasionally food will burn and stick to the pan. This happens often because ceramic pots and pans take longer to reach cooking temperature than traditional non-stick pans. You might accidentally crack that egg into the pan too soon. You’re going to want to clean that gunk off as safely and efficiently as possible. That’s where Bar Keeper’s Friend comes in.
What Makes Bar Keeper’s Friend Special
Bar Keeper’s Friend is a cleanser that has been manufactured since 1882. It was originally used in bars in Indianapolis, Indiana, but has spread far and wide since. One of the main ingredients is oxalic acid, which has a great way of breaking up tough stains. Bar Keeper’s Friend can be used to clean up porcelain, countertops, stovetops, backsplashes, and more. It can remove scratches from stainless steel and remove rust from all kinds of surfaces.
Can Bar Keepers Friend be used on non stick pans?
Absolutely! Not only can it be used but it’s the ideal cleaner for your ceramic pans. It’s gentle on the ceramic surface but tough on foods and stains.
How to Use – Bar Keepers Friend Ceramic Pan
Bar Keeper’s friend is a cinch to use. Just follow the steps below to make your ceramic pots and pans looking like new.
- Get your ceramic pot or pan nice and wet.
- Sprinkle just a bit of Bar Keeper’s Friend on the surface of your pot. A little goes a long way.
- Scrub the surface gently with a sponge, cloth, or other non-scratch cleaning pad.
- Rinse the pot thoroughly with water quickly after applying Bar Keeper’s Friend. Repeat the process if necessary.
- Once the pot is clean, wipe dry with a clean towel.
How to Care for Your Ceramic Cookware
Cleaning your ceramic cookware with Bar Keeper’s Friend will help keep it like new. But there are some other tips to maintain ceramic pots and pans.
- First of all, avoid using metal or plastic utensils. One of the only drawbacks to ceramic cookware is that it chips and scratches easily. It’s recommended that you only use wooden or rubber/plastic spatulas or other utensils.
- Wash them by hand. Because the ceramic chips easily, don’t put your ceramic pots in the dishwasher.
- Don’t use cooking spray on your ceramic pans. The spray can cause a residue to build up over time, which may affect the non-stick properties of the ceramic coating.
- Store your cookware safely. Ceramic-to-ceramic contact can cause big problems when you stack your pots and pans together. So buy a rack that separates them, or put a piece of felt or cloth in between each pot.
- Season your ceramic cookware twice a year. Similar to cast iron, the non-stick coating on your ceramic pots and pans can be revitalized by seasoning them. But only do this if your pans are oven-safe! You don’t need the headache of a rubber or plastic handle melting in the oven.
- Never, ever clean with abrasives. Seriously. Scouring pads, steel wool, and other abrasives will just wreck the non-stick coating. A soft sponge and Bar Keeper’s Friend is all you need.
Follow these tips, always have the Bar Keeper’s Friend handy, and you should get a nice long life out of your ceramic cookware. You’ll probably find that you can clean almost everything in your kitchen with Bar Keeper’s Friend anyway, so why not the pots and pans that you cook with the most?
