Ceramic cookware, like cast-iron cookware, needs to be seasoned regularly.
But what does it mean to season your ceramic pan? Seasoning is the process of applying a thin layer of oil to the ceramic surface to plug microscopic holes and prevent food from sticking to your pan.
In this article, we’ll go over what you’ll need before seasoning your pan. With this quick guide, we’ll also show you how to season your ceramic pan properly.
We’ll explain how best to clean and take care of your ceramic pans. We also respond to your questions.
- Why Is It Necessary To Season A Ceramic Pan?
- How Often Should You Season Your Ceramic Pan?
- How to Season a Ceramic Pan in Six Easy Steps?
- How to Care for Your Ceramic Pan
- How to Clean a Burnt Ceramic Pan
- How to Clean a Ceramic Pan in the Oven
- FAQs About Seasoning Ceramic Pan
- Seasoning a Ceramic Pan in a Nutshell
Why Is It Necessary To Season A Ceramic Pan?
Frequently seasoning your ceramic frying pan will improve its nonstick surface while also extending its life.
This also allows you to use less oil and butter when cooking. And a seasoned pan is easier to clean.
How Often Should You Season Your Ceramic Pan?
It’s best to season your ceramic pan before using it for the first time. After that, you should season the ceramic frying pan every few months.(1)
When your food starts sticking a little more than usual, it’s a good idea to season your ceramic pan.
Related Reading
How to Season a Ceramic Pan in Six Easy Steps?
Let’s take a closer look at seasoning your ceramic frying pan.
What You Need
Here’s everything you will need to get started with ceramic pan seasoning.
Here’s a list of high-smoking-point oils to try.
- Sunflower oil
- Avocado oil
- Canola oil
- Peanut oil
- Grapeseed oil
- Vegetable oil
Note
How to Season a Ceramic Pan Using the Standard Method
1. Clean the Ceramic Pan
Before using, but especially before seasoning, always wash your frying pan.
Seasoning acts as a barricade between your food and the pan. The last thing you want is debris from the pan’s packaging to become caught in your barrier.
To clean it, all you need is a clean dishrag, some soap, and warm water. Before moving on to the following stage, make sure it’s completely dry.
2. Pour Oil Into Your Ceramic Pan
Using a spoonful of your preferred oil will be enough. Brush the oil all over the pan’s surface. You must coat the entire interior surface of the pan.
Add extra oil if necessary.
3. Preheat the Ceramic Pan
On the stovetop, heat the ceramic frying pan over medium heat. Allow a few minutes for the oil to begin to smoke. Don’t bring the heat up too much because this will take some time. The oil must heat up to soak through the surface.
Move the pan around to keep the oil from pooling. Continue to cover the sides of the pan with the previously poured oil.
There’s no need to add extra oil; just keep shifting the oil as the temperature rises.
4. Allow the Pan To Cool
Once the oil begins to smoke, remove the ceramic pan from the heat.
Allow the pan to cool until it reaches room temperature. Make no attempt to speed up the cooling of the ceramic pan. This stage allows the oil to absorb completely.
5. Dry Your Pan
Wipe any residual oil out of the ceramic pan once it has cooled to room temperature. It’s normal for your pan to have a greasy feel to it.
It’s not necessary to rinse it away.
6. Repeat
For brand new frying pans, it’s a good idea to season your ceramic pan every month or two.
The frequency with which you use your ceramic cookware will decide how often you need to season it. Season the pan again if it’s sticking more than usual.
How to Season a Ceramic Pan Using the Oven Method
You can season a ceramic frying pan in the oven. Most ceramic frying pans are oven-safe but double-check beforehand. The same rules for seasoning your ceramic pan apply as before.
- Alternatively, preheat the oven to 300°Fahrenheit and let the pan heat up for approximately 20 minutes.
- Follow steps 4, 5, and 6 for the best results.
Just keep in mind that this method is only applicable to conventional and convection ovens. If you have a steamer oven, microwave oven, or toaster oven, you will have to season your ceramic pan on the stovetop.
How to Care for Your Ceramic Pan
Seasoning your ceramic pan is the best way to keep them looking and working like new—there are other ways to care for them and get the most out of them.
Use the Correct Utensils
Ceramic cookware care requires the use of silicone, plastic, and wood utensils. These materials will protect the surfaces of your pans from scratches. Use silicone utensils for the best results; they are the safest alternative for ceramic surfaces.
You shouldn’t use metal utensils in your ceramic pan. They have sharp, pointed edges that can chip or damage the pan’s surface.
Keep in mind that if you scratch the ceramic coating of your pan, it will lose its nonstick abilities.
Never Use Cooking Oil Sprays
Don’t be tempted to use aerosol cooking oil sprays because they’re convenient and widely available. But you shouldn’t do so while using ceramic cookware.
Certain ingredients and chemicals in these cooking sprays are prone to causing a sticky buildup on the pan’s surface.(3) Cooking oil sprays are frequently difficult to remove or burn off. And they eventually begin to smoke.
Scrubbing the accumulation off your ceramic pan will most certainly damage, scratch, or peel the surface. As a result, seasoning your ceramic pan with oil is a good idea.
Don’t Use the Dishwasher to Clean Your Ceramic Pan
Even if the ceramic pan’s instructions say it’s safe in a dishwasher, hand-wash it(4). Most dishwashing detergents include harsh chemicals that your pan may be unable to withstand.
The surface of the pan will quickly deteriorate if washed in the dishwasher. The hot water pressure blasted on the pan in a dishwasher may ruin the nonstick coating.
Furthermore, as a result of sliding against other pans or the dishwasher, the surface of your ceramic pan may be broken or scratched.
Hand-wash the pan with mild dish soap and a soft sponge or clean towel. It’s a quick and easy way to clean your ceramic cookware. When you hand-wash ceramic cookware, you preserve the quality of the ceramic cookware.(5)
Heat Setting: Reduce the Heat to a Low or Medium Setting
Always cook on medium to low heat while using seasoned ceramic pans.
Higher temperatures increase the possibility of discoloration and damage to the pan and reduce its non-stick function. This can happen after only a few high-temperature cooking sessions.
The aluminum or hard-anodized aluminum base offers excellent heat conductivity and helps to distribute heat evenly. This means that greater temperatures aren’t required to cook food quickly and evenly.
If you’re using oil or butter, preheat your pan on low heat for a few minutes to allow the oil to heat up before adding your food.
Avoid Sudden Temperature Changes
Allowing your ceramic pan to quickly transition from a hot stove to cooling under cold water is not a wise decision.
Extreme temperature changes may result in thermal damage to the nonstick surface. As a result, the pan’s heating and nonstick properties will deteriorate. Or worse, the coating can crack.
When cooking is over, move the pan from a hot burner and let it cool to room temperature before washing it. Never, ever put a hot pan in a sink with cold running water.
Safely Store Your Ceramic Pan
When storing ceramic cookware, never stack them on top of one another or inside one another. To keep the pans separated, use a sheet of paper towel. If you don’t have any of these, you can use some old washcloths.
You can also hang your ceramic pans if the handles have holes in them. They can be used as decorative pieces to improve the aesthetic of your kitchen.
How to Clean a Burnt Ceramic Pan
Even if your ceramic pan is extremely dirty or burnt, you may clean it with two tablespoons of baking soda.
- Fill the dish halfway with heated water, add the baking soda, and bring to a boil.
- Allow the mixture to cool for two to three minutes after stirring it with a wooden spoon. Clean and wash the pan using dishwasher detergent, thorough rinsing, and drying with a cloth or paper towel
- If the pan isn’t too dirty, you can sprinkle dry baking soda on top and wipe away the residue with a damp sponge.
How to Clean a Ceramic Pan in the Oven
Another approach is to fill your oven-safe ceramic pan with water after removing as much food as possible.
- Add two tablespoons of baking soda and at least three cups of vinegar until the mixture begins to bubble.
- Preheat the oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit (163 degrees Celsius) and bake your dish for 15 minutes.
- Clean away the residue with a sponge once it has cooled, rinse the pan, and wipe it with a soft dishcloth.
FAQs About Seasoning Ceramic Pan
What's The Difference Between A Ceramic Pan And One That Has A Ceramic Coating?
Non-stick ceramic pans are not ceramic. They’re essentially metal pans with a silicon-based coating to keep them from sticking (Exactly sol-gel). The coating, like ceramicware, is formed of sand and has a slick, glossy surface, which is how it got its name.
Can I Season My Ceramic Frying Pan With Coconut Oil?
Yes, you can. But it’s safe to season your ceramic pan with one spoonful of liquid coconut oil. Avoid using coconut aerosol spray or any other aerosol spray for seasoning your frying pan.
Seasoning a Ceramic Pan in a Nutshell
Seasoning your ceramic pan is a vital step in ensuring that it lasts a long time. So, before using your ceramic pan for the first time, make sure to season it. Seasoning acts as a boundary between your food and the pan.
When your food starts sticking a bit more than usual, it’s time to re-season your new ceramic pan. If you prefer to season your pan in the oven, make sure the manufacturer’s label says it’s oven safe.
Ceramic pans and cookware, whether dishwasher safe or not, should be hand washed. This will prevent the ceramic coating from chipping and scratching, resulting in a longer-lasting pan.
About the Author
Since always, I am passionate about food; I enjoy writing and want to share my passion and offer quality articles to my readers. On Homekitchenland, I like to research, review, and compare kitchen appliances, write product reviews, and develop recipes.
