Beautiful ceramic cookware has a stunning appearance (hello, Instagram-worthy food), but how practical are these pans and pots in the kitchen? We tested them and can tell you all about them!
Choosing the best cookware might be difficult for dedicated home cooks. You need the dining set you select to be adaptable enough to accommodate short midweek suppers, leisurely weekend brunches, and everything in between. The ideal set should also be long-lasting, resilient, and appropriate for your cooking style. That’s a big task!
I made the decision to replace my aluminium cookware set with ceramic after some study. I tried these lovely pans from Caraway in particular.
Metal cookware that has a ceramic coating applied to it is known as ceramic cookware. These pans differ from their stainless steel, aluminium, and other nonstick counterparts thanks to their coating. These pans’ ceramic finishes are devoid of heavy metals, PTFE, and PFO (commonly known as Teflon). Ceramic pans have a mineral layer that is inherently slippery, preventing food from sticking.
Additionally, this coating aids in distributing heat uniformly across the cooking surface, guaranteeing that your food will cook consistently whether it is placed in the middle or the corners of the pan.
Caraway provided a simplified set of cookware consisting of a Dutch oven, a saute pan, a saucepan, and a frying pan with corresponding lids, which was part of what made the company’s set so intriguing to me. Despite the fact that I cook frequently, almost every day, my kitchen is not very big. It was appealing to reduce my kitchenware to just these basic pieces.
Caraway comes with a pot rack and a lid storage option to keep your cookware tidy. Less than 17 inches of room is needed to fit everything on a single shelf. That can give the cabinets more breathing room or just some extra room for some lovely Bundt pans.
Additionally, the Caraway cookware range is oven safe up to 550oF, so you can quickly finish a meal in the oven after cooking it on the stovetop (you can use it on electric, gas, or induction burners). Given that the majority of other nonstick cookware is only safe up to roughly 400oF, that high heat rating surely provides me some piece of mind.
How could I overlook the colours, which are a big selling point for this specific brand. Performance is important, but if I can discover a device that performs well and looks great, I’m sold. Cookware from Caraway is available in sage green, navy, cream, light grey, and Perracotta, a pink shade.
I made the decision to start cooking with my new cookware as soon as I opened it up for the first time. I quickly made a curry with a side of coconut rice using an abundance of fresh vegetables from the garden.
Rice, particularly sticky coconut rice, has a propensity to adhere to the pan even with the finest nonstick cookware. I’ve scrubbed my old saucepan several times after discovering rice residue on the bottom. However, after allowing this ceramic pan to cool, I gave it a warm sudsy water wash and then dried it. It was clean, much to my surprise and happiness. The remaining curry, which had a lot of turmeric, which may leave yellow stains on hands and dishtowels, slipped straight out of the pan and into a container for lunch.
I made up some lettuce cups with pork and ginger later on in the week. To brown the pork, I used a big sauté pan that cooked evenly and rapidly (far quicker than my cast-iron skillet). If I had a large crowd to feed, the pan could easily hold a quadruple quantity of this healthy and simple dish.
After eating them all evening, I’ll admit that I was concerned about rinsing away the hoisin sauce that frequently loves to stay in pans. These ceramic pans were simple to clean, just like the previous meals I prepared. Even though I’ve only had these pans for a short period, using them has been a true pleasure. They work well, are simple to clean, and have a lovely appearance on the table. For me, having cookware that also serves as serving ware is a significant benefit because it means less dishes to wash!
Before you choose to get yourself a set of attractive ceramic cookware, consider the following…
It is advised to wash this cookware by hand – dishwasher use will shorten its lifespan. The good news in this situation is that cleaning up is made simple by the nonstick properties of ceramic cookware. Avoid using the abrasive scrubbers while you’re at it. Use a dishcloth or sponge to clean.
Metal tools are not permitted – If you have previously cooked with nonstick cookware, you may be familiar with this advice. Use only wooden, nylon, and silicone tools to prevent scratching the ceramic covering.
Let it cool down – After dinner, it might be tempting to just dump a hot pan into the sink, but it’s preferable to let ceramic cookware cool down first. Not just ceramic cookware can suffer from the effects of sudden temperature changes. For the same reason, you should use caution while exposing your Pyrex plates to high temperatures.
The cost – An entry-level set of aluminium cookware is less costly than ceramic cookware. For dedicated home cooks, purchasing a set is an investment that is worthwhile.
So, Should You Consider Buying Ceramic Cookware?
Consider ceramic-coated choices if, like me, you’re looking for new cookware. Excellent performance characteristics of these pots and pans include rapid heating, uniform heat distribution, versatility and simplicity of cleaning. Those are important factors to think about while looking for a new set. Even while many people would rather avoid doing it, I believe that in this instance the extra work is worthwhile. I’m currently anticipating all the delicious dinners I’ll prepare and how beautiful they’ll look when served in these pink pans.