Learn once and for all which one reigns supreme (hint: it’s the one used in professional kitchens).
Whether you're a seasoned home chef or just starting out, there’s nothing more important than having quality tools in your kitchen. But before you start shopping, it’s essential to understand the differences between the types of cookware available.
Here, we’ll be focusing on the differences between ceramic and stainless steel cookware, two popular materials beloved by home chefs. Let’s dive in.
Ceramic cookware doesn’t refer to earthenware pots and pans that are fired in a kiln, but those constructed from metal and coated with a layer of ceramic glaze called Sol-Gel. Sol-Gel mimics the non stick properties of PTFE-coated non stick, allowing for an easy release of food, and are increasingly popular alternatives.
Ceramic pots and pans are often celebrated for their colorful aesthetic appeal, but we generally don’t recommend it. While a beautiful, colorful ceramic fry pan might seem appealing on your social media feed, in practice, ceramic cookware tends to underperform and wears out quickly—especially when compared to durable and efficient stainless steel pieces.
A blend of various metal elements, including steel, carbon, and chromium, stainless steel cookware offers superior durability, heat conduction, and resistance to rust, stains, and corrosion. As a result, it's known to be a preferred choice for professional chefs worldwide.
Cladded cookware is a popular subtype of stainless steel cookware, where layers of different metals are combined to deliver exceptional performance and heat distribution. The core of our Stainless Clad line is aluminum and aluminum alloy, but the stainless steel cladding ensures that each piece is induction compatible.
Simply put, stainless steel surpasses ceramic cookware in virtually all areas, whether its performance, durability, longevity, or heat control.
While ceramic pots and pans may win when it comes to their unique color palette, stainless steel cookware offers a sleek, timeless aesthetic that fits in with a variety of kitchen décor. More importantly, stainless steel maintains its shine and luster over time, unlike ceramic, which is known to fade or discolor with age.
With its high-quality metal alloys, providing excellent heat distribution and durability, stainless steel is known for its superior construction, whether 18/8 or 18/10 construction. Ceramic, on the other hand, often suffers from uneven heating and a lower level of durability over time thanks to the self-sacrificing nature of Sol-Gel.
Stainless steel provides an incredibly versatile cooking experience suitable for a range of methods, recipes, and beyond. While ceramic cookware is easy to clean and non stick, its heat limitations and lack of durability definitely limits your culinary experimentation.
Durability and Longevity
When it comes to durability and longevity, stainless steel takes the cake. It's highly resistant to chips, cracks, and wear and tear, while ceramic cookware is more prone to such damages over time. In fact, ceramic cookware is only known to last just a few years at most, while stainless steel can last several decades (or longer—there’s a reason these are often referred to as the workhorses of home and professional kitchens).
Stainless steel cookware also takes the win when it comes to safety. It doesn’t potentially leach any harmful substances, such as silicone oil, into your food. Ceramic cookware, on the other hand, can potentially release harmful elements, especially if it’s chipped or damaged.
While ceramic cookware may look pretty, it doesn't hold a candle to the reliability, performance, and safety that stainless steel cookware offers. Investing in high-quality stainless steel cookware is a decision that will certainly elevate your cooking and pay off for years to come. We offer a range of premium stainless steel cookware designed for exceptional cooking performance. Be sure to check out our variety of stainless pieces, built to last.
