# What’s the Difference Between a Cheap Ceramic Pan and An Expensive One? - Made In Why pay more for a ceramic pan? Learn the differences: fully-clad 5‑ply base, flake‑free ceramic coating, stainless rivets, rolled rim & stay-cool handle. [Ceramic non stick](https://madeincookware.com/collections/ceramiclad) is a pretty recent newcomer to the cookware scene. For that reason, there’s not _quite _as much information out there on how to choose a high-quality, safe, durable ceramic frying pan—at least when compared to something like cast iron. For that reason, it’s easy to wind up with a cheaply built piece of cookware. To ensure that you’re getting the most bang for your buck, we put together the following list: here’s everything to look out for, from country of origin to handle design. ```json { "_key": "0c8904d274cc", "_type": "tableOfContents" } ``` ## **Made in Europe or USA** ```json { "_key": "21a5cbf6dce3", "_type": "medium", "ctas": null, "description": null, "image": { "asset": { "altText": "A close-up of two stainless steel lids with a concentric pattern on a textured surface.", "metadata": { "dimensions": { "_type": "sanity.imageDimensions", "aspectRatio": 1.8, "height": 1000, "width": 1800 }, "lqip": "data:image/jpeg;base64,/9j/2wBDAAYEBQYFBAYGBQYHBwYIChAKCgkJChQODwwQFxQYGBcUFhYaHSUfGhsjHBYWICwgIyYnKSopGR8tMC0oMCUoKSj/2wBDAQcHBwoIChMKChMoGhYaKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCj/wAARCAALABQDASIAAhEBAxEB/8QAGQAAAgMBAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAYCAwQF/8QAIRAAAgEDBQADAAAAAAAAAAAAAQIDAAQFBhESIVETIuH/xAAVAQEBAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA//EABcRAQEBAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAEAEUH/2gAMAwEAAhEDEQA/ALrQSZOCcWM3wiFQXeRevytVtHh8pbGG7aOecHiyNH9QfKX8/cSw2pEUjIGYFuPW9T0sxXMlVOyuqsw9PtRHtZLoy6B080hZrLiT3srECimqcksCfKKbAv/Z" }, "url": "https://cdn.sanity.io/images/fr9flhkd/main/8766c556dd55020bba9a8d9b6797e4b143d93343-1800x1000.jpg" } }, "tags": null, "type": "image", "video": null } ``` Want to ensure that you’re buying a high-quality, safe, and environmentally-friendly frying pan? Check the country of origin. The USA and Europe have much stricter manufacturing standards and requirements than in other parts of the world, which means that cookware produced in those places is nearly always made using clean, non-toxic materials free of BPA, PFAS, lead, and other chemicals and heavy metals. [Made In’s CeramiClad™ Cookware](https://madeincookware.com/collections/ceramiclad) is stamped, coated, and assembled in Wisconsin. ```json { "_key": "4e5c13197448", "_type": "cta", "title": "Shop CeramiClad™", "url": "https://madeincookware.com/collections/ceramiclad" } ``` ## **Fully Cladded** ```json { "_key": "2bc7197f8817", "_type": "medium", "ctas": null, "description": null, "image": { "asset": { "altText": "A hand stirs a pot of simmering tomato sauce on a stovetop.", "metadata": { "dimensions": { "_type": "sanity.imageDimensions", "aspectRatio": 1.8, "height": 1000, "width": 1800 }, "lqip": "data:image/jpeg;base64,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" }, "url": "https://cdn.sanity.io/images/fr9flhkd/main/d77b36df1a43f15d0c796bcb6b6082b92e010696-1800x1000.jpg" } }, "tags": null, "type": "image", "video": null } ``` You can’t have a good ceramic frying pan without a solid base—full stop. True to its name, [Made In’s CeramiClad™ Cookware](https://madeincookware.com/collections/ceramiclad) is made using the same even-heating, fully clad 5-ply base as the [Stainless Clad Cookware](https://madeincookware.com/collections/stainless-clad) collection, coated with two layers of high-performance ceramic non stick. However, not all ceramic cookware is created equally: many manufacturers hide a flimsy aluminum base beneath a colorful ceramic exterior, resulting in a pan that heats unevenly and warps easily yet costs the same as higher-quality brands. What’s more, a fully clad construction more or less guarantees that your pan will be fully [induction compatible](https://madeincookware.com/blogs/what-is-induction-cookware). ## **Coated with Durable, Flake-Free Ceramic Coating** ```json { "_key": "046185b423c6", "_type": "medium", "ctas": null, "description": null, "image": { "asset": { "altText": "A person wearing an apron is cleaning a frying pan in a kitchen sink.", "metadata": { "dimensions": { "_type": "sanity.imageDimensions", "aspectRatio": 1.8, "height": 1000, "width": 1800 }, "lqip": "data:image/jpeg;base64,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" }, "url": "https://cdn.sanity.io/images/fr9flhkd/main/7b82489d38f8d673e95a684df7492322e8944665-1800x1000.jpg" } }, "tags": null, "type": "image", "video": null } ``` While a ceramic frying pan is never going to last as long as, say, a carbon steel frying pan, it should still last you a solid few years before it starts to warp or lose its non stick properties (when [properly cared for](https://madeincookware.com/blogs/how-to-clean-ceramic-pan), of course). While Made In’s CeramiClad™ Cookware is made using two layers of premium-quality ceramic non stick, cheaper ceramic cookware manufacturers tend to use subpar ceramic that scratches easily and can flake into your food after just a few uses. Since damaged coating cannot be repaired, you’ll likely end up sending your pan to landfill before the year is up—yet another argument for why a cheap pan can actually end up costing you more in the long run. ## **Sturdy Stainless Steel Rivets** ```json { "_key": "5c61d2205e18", "_type": "medium", "ctas": null, "description": null, "image": { "asset": { "altText": "A person is cooking, stirring a pot on a stove while holding a kitchen towel.", "metadata": { "dimensions": { "_type": "sanity.imageDimensions", "aspectRatio": 1.8, "height": 1000, "width": 1800 }, "lqip": "data:image/jpeg;base64,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" }, "url": "https://cdn.sanity.io/images/fr9flhkd/main/4af1f64a5fc2443d7bd4360ae2aca0e78dd5f84e-1800x1000.jpg" } }, "tags": null, "type": "image", "video": null } ``` We’ve spoken in the past about why you should choose pans with [riveted handles over welded ones](https://madeincookware.com/blogs/riveted-vs-welded-handles), and the same argument applies to ceramic pans. Just be sure those rivets are stainless steel, not aluminum. Stainless steel is durable and resists rust, while aluminum expands and contracts with heat, which can loosen the rivets over time. That can leave your handle unstable—or worse, falling off mid-cook. ## **Rolled Rim for Mess-Free Pouring** ```json { "_key": "ff228d900bae", "_type": "medium", "ctas": null, "description": null, "image": { "asset": { "altText": "A hand is placing a frying pan over a plate of avocado toast topped with a fried egg and crispy bacon.", "metadata": { "dimensions": { "_type": "sanity.imageDimensions", "aspectRatio": 1.8, "height": 1000, "width": 1800 }, "lqip": "data:image/jpeg;base64,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" }, "url": "https://cdn.sanity.io/images/fr9flhkd/main/704462ad0777b5694f84bdcdd0723bf532e526ba-1800x1000.jpg" } }, "tags": null, "type": "image", "video": null } ``` You’ve probably noticed that [Made In’s CeramiClad™](https://madeincookware.com/collections/ceramiclad) pans have a slightly curved—aka rolled—rim. This easy-to-miss detail is actually essential for drip-free pouring, creating a smooth, seamless surface for liquids to travel over. Since adding a rolled rim to a frying pan also requires adding an extra step to the production process, it can also increase the overall cost of a product. Thus, if a ceramic pan is missing a rolled rim, it’s likely a cheaper, mass-produced model. ```json { "_key": "8409f35e4931", "_type": "cta", "title": "Shop CeramiClad™", "url": "https://madeincookware.com/collections/ceramiclad" } ``` ## **Hollow Stay-Cool Stainless Steel Handle Keeps Hands Safe** ```json { "_key": "af8a600641cc", "_type": "medium", "ctas": null, "description": null, "image": { "asset": { "altText": "A person is stirring fresh vegetables in a pot on a gas stove in a modern kitchen.", "metadata": { "dimensions": { "_type": "sanity.imageDimensions", "aspectRatio": 1.8, "height": 1000, "width": 1800 }, "lqip": "data:image/jpeg;base64,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" }, "url": "https://cdn.sanity.io/images/fr9flhkd/main/4b138e466ccca869d77e26297eb46c96a937e310-1800x1000.jpg" } }, "tags": null, "type": "image", "video": null } ``` Does your pan _need_ a handle that stays cool even over a scorching hot burner? Not necessarily—though we highly recommend having one. [Made In’s CeramiClad™ Frying Pans](https://madeincookware.com/collections/ceramiclad) come with a stainless steel Stay-Cool Handle, a proprietary design with a hollow core to help dissipate heat quickly. **Ready to Shop** ```json { "_key": "06b4d95eff9b", "_type": "variant", "data": { "_id": "variant.42773292023887", "badges": [], "collegiateAsset": null, "computed": { "compare_at_price": 447, "discount": 22, "isAvailable": true, "isPrimary": true, "offset": 98, "price": 349, "status": "forSale" }, "handle": { "current": "sand-stainless-handle" }, "imageBadges": null, "media": [], "meta": { "hasCollegiate": false, "hasTrial": false, "hasWaitList": false, "isCollegiate": false, "isDiscountEligible": true, "isFinalSale": false, "isOnSale": true, "isSet": true, "promoDates": null, "promoPrice": null }, "product": { "ranking": 5, "rating": { "rating": 4.94, "rating_count": 3130 }, "shopify": { "handle": "ceramiclad-non-stick-frying-pan-set", "id": 7739630125135, "image": { "alt": null, "height": 1500, "src": "https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/2131/5111/files/Web_1x1_CeramiClad_3p_Fry_Set-0973_33cfd87f-6943-41c1-b347-756f50b2a1f3.jpg?v=1762270220", "width": 1500 }, "title": "CeramiClad® Non Stick Frying Pan Set" } }, "shopify": { "handle": null, "id": 42773292023887, "image": { "alt": null, "height": 1500, "src": "https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/2131/5111/files/Web_1x1_CeramiClad_3p_Fry_Set-0973_33cfd87f-6943-41c1-b347-756f50b2a1f3.jpg?v=1762270220", "width": 1500 }, "title": "3-Piece Set / Stainless" }, "taxonomies": [ { "handle": { "current": "ceramic" }, "title": "Ceramic", "type": "material" }, { "handle": { "current": "cookware" }, "title": "Cookware", "type": "product_category" }, { "handle": { "current": "frying-pans" }, "title": "Frying Pans", "type": "product_type" }, { "handle": { "current": "sets" }, "title": "Sets", "type": "product_category" }, { "handle": { "current": "sets" }, "title": "Sets", "type": "product_category" }, { "handle": { "current": "induction-compatible" }, "title": "Induction Compatible", "type": "features" } ], "title": null } } ``` If you haven’t invested in a ceramic frying pan yet, make sure to give CeramiClad™ a try. Made using our chef-tested 5-ply Stainless Clad base and proprietary ceramic coating, [Made In’s CeramiClad™ Cookware](https://madeincookware.com/collections/ceramiclad) guarantees cleaner cooking with professional-quality results. ```json { "_key": "8c82dc1e5555", "_type": "cta", "title": "Shop CeramiClad™", "url": "https://madeincookware.com/collections/ceramiclad" } ``` --- URL: https://madeincookware.com/blogs/cheap-vs-expensive-ceramic-pans