Ceramic vs. Stainless Steel Cookware: Which Is Best for Your Kitchen?

One of the most important purchases you can make for your kitchen is your cookware. With so many options to choose from, it can be difficult to know which will be the best to cook your meals, be the easiest to clean, and do those things for the most cost-effective price.

We've taken some of the guesswork out of this decision for you. Ceramic is a popular choice, but does that make it the best choice? Meanwhile, the stalwart stainless steel has been around for ages—with good reason.

Whether you're looking to buy a small personal set of cookware or an entire executive chef setup, you need to know what to look for.

Durability

How well your cookware stands up to cooking, cleaning and storage is the first consideration when deciding which cookware to buy.

Ceramic

Many ceramic pans are made with a non-anodized (less durable) aluminum base. This makes them more susceptible to warping, especially when cooking at higher heat. The ceramic coating is also delicate, and can easily be scratched by dishwasher detergents and metal utensils. It's also prone to chipping, which can happen during cooking and if pans are nested when stored.

Stainless Steel

One of the biggest benefits of stainless steel cookware is that it stands up to high heat without warping, making it ideal for searing and sauteing. It's dishwasher safe, saving you time and scrubbing. You can also use metal utensils like spoons and whisks. And because the metal is so durable, you can nest your cookware to take up less cabinet space, a lifesaver in a smaller kitchen.

Absence of Toxins

Some cookware coated with non-stick materials like Teflon can release toxins into the air if overheated. Those coatings can also flake into food as they break down. Both ceramic and stainless steel are safer options.

Ceramic

Ceramic cookware is made by applying a water- and oil-resistant layer of silicon oxide, also known as silica, on top of a metal base. The result is a hard, glossy, enamel-like finish that doesn't release toxins. However, just like non-stick-coated cookware, most ceramic cookware cannot tolerate sustained use on high heat because it will break down the silica coating.

Stainless Steel

Also inherently free of toxins, stainless steel is an alloy of iron and chromium. It easily tolerates high-heat cooking with no worry of releasing any toxic materials either into your food or the air, making it a healthy cookware option. And "food grade" 316 stainless steel cookware does an even better job of standing up to high heat, and is corrosion-resistant and non-reactive.

Non-Stick Coatings

While a non-stick coating on your cookware may be convenient, it isn't always a long-term solution or the healthiest option.

Ceramic

The silicon oxide coating in ceramic cookware is non-stick, but it wears down with every use. This means its ability to release foods also diminishes so that, eventually, food will begin to stick to the surface during cooking, defeating one of the main purposes of buying ceramic cookware.

Stainless Steel

While it does have a smooth surface, stainless steel cookware usually doesn't have a non-stick coating. This can easily be countered by cooking with healthy fats, such as olive oil. This will not only keep food from sticking, but will impart flavor and healthy Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids, both of which are important for fighting cardiovascular disease.

Heat Dispersal

To cook foods thoroughly, it's important that your cookware disperses heat evenly, regardless of the type of cooktop you use.

Ceramic

Aluminum is an excellent heat conductor, so because most ceramic cookware is constructed on an aluminum base, it disperses heat evenly, even on induction cooktops.

Stainless Steel

While stainless steel isn't a reliable heat conductor on its own, most stainless steel cookware contains an aluminum or copper core. This allows the cookware to disperse heat and cook all types of food evenly, whether you're using an induction, radiant or gas cooktop.

Ease of Cleaning

It would be so much easier if you could place all your cookware in the dishwasher. Unfortunately, that's not always possible.

Ceramic

Because of its delicate silica coating, ceramic cookware isn't dishwasher safe. Dishwasher detergents are formulated to dissolve foods from surfaces. This means they're also abrasive enough to damage some cookware, including ceramic. In addition, if food becomes stuck or burned onto a pan, it can be extremely difficult to remove without damaging the smooth surface. 

Stainless Steel

Already a workhorse on the stovetop, stainless steel is built to be dishwasher-safe. If somehow, you do get bits of food stuck or burned onto the cookware that won't come off in the dishwasher, there's a simple trick to remove it. Bring some water to a boil in the cookware piece, then let it simmer for 15 to 20 minutes. This should help loosen the food so it's easy to scrub out with a non-abrasive sponge before going into the dishwasher for a final cleaning.

Value

To determine value, divide the cookware's up-front cost by the number of years you expect it to last. Something that may seem expensive at first can actually become the most affordable option.

Ceramic

High-end ceramic cookware can be quite expensive. Due to the fact that its interior breaks down during cooking, ceramic cookware usually only lasts a couple of years before the silica coating becomes pitted and the cookware needs replacing. This makes its cost over time much higher than the initial price, and its value low.

Stainless Steel

Stainless steel cookware can also be somewhat expensive. But because it's durable, can be used at any heat level on any cooktop, and withstands everything from metal utensils to the dishwasher, stainless steel cookware can last for decades. Some families even hand down their high-quality stainless steel cookware along with other heirlooms like china and silver. So the initial outlay is actually quite small when compared to stainless steel cookware's lifespan, making its value very high.

Change Your Cookware. Change Your Life.

With this information about ceramic vs. stainless steel cookware, you're better equipped to make the best decision for your kitchen, and your life. By choosing Saladmaster stainless steel cookware, you'll save time, cook more easily, and save money in the long run. Locate a dealership to get started.

And there's another way you can change your life—by becoming a Saladmaster Brand Ambassador. Find out how to start a business and share your love for high-quality, healthy cookware.