Stainless Steel vs Ceramic cookware: Which is Best For You?

Last Updated on October 14, 2021 by Boniface Muriuki

Stainless steel vs ceramic cookware? This is a common stressor that faces cooking enthusiasts. And it’s quite tricky for many to get the difference between the two types of cookware.

Cookware industry is undergoing a revolution. As such, you’re likely to be bombarded by different types of cookware, thus making the selection process quite a hassle. Stainless steel vs ceramic cookware have particularly taken the market by storm. If you’ve been debating between the two options, and wondering whether one is best than the other, then the struggle is over! 

We’ve saved you from the hassle by providing a detailed breakdown plus a comparison of the two sets of cookware based on the features, advantages, and disadvantages.

Stainless Steel vs Ceramic Cookware – An In-Depth Analysis 

1. Stainless Steel Cookware Analysis

This cookware has been in use extensively and will never get out of fashion. When given appropriate maintenance, stainless steel cookware can last for a long time. It comes with a material made of a mixture of several metals such as manganese, iron, titanium, nickel, and silicon. This results in a safe, durable, and stable stainless steel material.

Apart from being sturdy, stainless steel features a pleasant shine that will add some beauty and glamour to the kitchen.

Also, stainless steel cookware do not leach harmful substances or toxins to your food, making it safe cookware for cooking.

Benefits of Stainless Steel

• Easy to Clean: Stainless steel vs ceramic cookware comparison on ease of cleaning will favor stainless steel Their non-porous and smooth surface is simple to clean, and you can soak or wash it quickly without breaking a sweat. Additionally, stainless steel cookware is dishwasher safe to making its cleaning a breeze.
• Non-Food Reactive: Since this cookware is a non-food reactive material, you can use it when cooking acidic recipes such as tomato sauces without getting worried about unsafe chemicals getting into your food.
• Easy To Maintain: Stainless steel is easy to maintain, and there’s nothing much needed to boost its longevity. Cost should never be a worry! Additionally, there’s no seasoning required to reduce the chances of rusting. Frequent cleaning is what is needed to maintain this cookware.
• Perfect Cooking Ability: Apart from being sturdy, another fundamental thing that makes stainless steel material famous is its fantastic cooking ability. This cookware features an excellent heat absorption and makes even heating with proper heat distribution when adequately built. 
• Durable: What makes stainless steel an edge among numerous cookware is the fact that it’s more durable compared to other cookware sets. You don’t have to worry about issues such as rusting or even chipping as it is super sturdy and resistant to all these things.

Disadvantages of Stainless Steel 

• Expensive: Stainless steel cookware might not be your best option when you are shopping on a budget as they’re quite pricier. There are other low-priced cookware in the market, but they are low-quality knock-offs.
• Not non-stick: There’s no worse feeling than buying a non-stick cookware set s your food will stick on it when cooking. And due to this, you’ll be forced to develop a temporary non-stick by applying oil on the cookware surface when cooking delicate foods to prevent them from sticking on the surface.
• Discoloration:When you expose stainless steel to maximum heat, the exterior parts may easily discolor. But there are various ways you can use to heat then restore the cookware preventing it from discoloring, although this means extra time and works for you.
• Poor Heat Conduction:When using stainless steel cookware without copper or aluminum coating, the surface will not heat appropriately as stainless steel cookware is a poor heat conductor.

However, while stainless steel might not be the best and user-friendly cookware like the non-stick ones, you can still use them to produce some fantastic dishes.

Keep in mind that when using stainless steel, ensure you start by heating it for some time before adding oil. Immediately it’s hot enough; be sure to add some oil then swirl it on the surface. Add your food instantly; the oil is shimmering to prevent it from sticking.

2. Ceramic Cookware Set Analysis

This is one of the non-stick cookware sets with the latest additions in the market. It’s a safer and environment-friendly option when compared with other cookware sets such as Teflon. Even though it’s not hardy like stainless steel, the ceramic cookware set is still durable.

There are two types of ceramic cookware. One of them is the pure ceramic that’s baked with clay, and the other type is the ceramic coated set made from spraying different cookware sets such as aluminum and stainless steel using a ceramic coating.

The Benefits of Ceramic Cookware 

• Simple clean up: Since food doesn’t stick to ceramic materials, cleaning the cookware is, therefore, a breeze! No hard scrubbing is required as compared to other types of cookware. Sometimes you can swipe the Ceramic’s surface using a paper towel.

Some modern types of ceramic cookware sets are dishwasher safe to make the cleaning easier. But some manufacturers don’t prefer this as the rough dishwasher detergents may ruin your ceramic non-stick coating over time. But since cleaning the pans is simple and hand wash enabled, that’s not a stressor!

• Toxins-Free: One thing that kitchen users love when using ceramic cookware is the fact that it’s toxic-free. Ceramic can’t leach harmful or foreign substances to your food, and the material is all-natural. Additionally, all-natural minerals used in producing Ceramic do not have common toxins like lead and cadmium.
• Non-Stick: When looking for safe non-stick cookware, then look no further than ceramic cookware. It provides a natural and non-stick property, and in other words, you don’t have to deal with harmful outer coatings such as Teflon. On the other hand, stainless steel is not non-stick.
• Pocket-Friendly price: The ceramic cookware set is affordable, especially if you want to use ceramic-coated models.

Disadvantages of Ceramic Cookware 

• Can Be Used Only on Medium to Low Heat: Ceramic cookware won’t work correctly on high heat, as this can damage it. Therefore, this reduces its flexibility and limits you to using the cookware set for specific food types.
• Unsafe to Use with Other Metal Utensils: Kitchen users prefer to use metal utensils than plastic utensils as they are durable. Using metal utensils on ceramic cookware can break the delicate pans and pots. However, if you want to maintain the great shape of the ceramic coating, ensure you use nylon or wood.
• Short Lifespan: Ceramic cookware has a short lifespan compared to stainless steel as it’s flimsier and can easily break. In case the cookware falls on the kitchen’s surface might probably terminate the service life of the ceramic pot. On the other hand, a stainless steel pot will take more abuse.

Ceramic cookware heats up faster. Therefore, it’s vital to ensure that you begin with a low heat setting before mastering how to use it. Also, as compared to stainless steel that can withstand severe cooking conditions, ceramic cookware should be used at medium to low heat.

Furthermore, ensure that you don’t expose the cookware to direct heat for more extended periods as it’s not designed for this. In terms of storing, be sure to use padding between the pans/pots to make them free from breaking in case they bump on each other.

Stainless Steel vs Ceramic Cookware: Which One is Better?

Having looked at the two cookware sets, you will have the courage of whether to choose ceramic or stainless steel cookware. However, keep the following factors in mind to help you choose the best cookware set.

Stainless Steel vs Ceramic Cookware – Which One is Cheaper?

Did you know that excellent quality cookware doesn’t come cheap? Therefore, it’s evident that a set of stainless steel cookware is much more expensive than ceramic cookware. You can quickly get excellent ceramic cookware set for as low as under $100. Consequently, you’ll be forced to spend more dollars on a good set of stainless steel set. In the long run, it will be worth it, and you will use it for long.

Stainless Steel vs Ceramic Cookware – Which One is More Durable?

In terms of quality, stainless steel is more durable compared to the ceramic cookware set. A good stainless steel set will sustain accidental drops without getting any dent or scratch.

Additionally, stainless steel cookware is pricier for lovely pieces. If you maintain it properly, it can last up to 20 years or more! Ceramic pots are perfect for kitchen lovers looking for a starter set or people who do not often cook or want a pocket-friendly alternative.

Stainless Steel vs Ceramic Cookware – Popularity 

Almost every home has a stainless steel cookware set. You can attest to this! Many people love using stainless steel cookware set over others as it’s easy to maintain and durable. But as more kitchen users search for safe non-stick cookware, Ceramic cookware’s popularity takes a steady rise.

Stainless Steel vs Ceramic Cookware – Which cookware set is safe to use?

Both Ceramic and stainless steel cookware are safe to use as they are built with natural materials that won’t leach harmful and toxic substances to the cooking food. However, with stainless steel cookware, a small scratch can make tiny metal pieces leach to the cooking food.

Furthermore, burning stainless steel cookware results in metal pitting, instigating the release of small metal particles to your food. On the other side, with ceramic cookware set glazing and coloring, the cookware set is what leads to toxic substances such as cadmium or lead. If you don’t glaze ceramic, it can be the best choice. 

Stainless Steel vs Ceramic Cookware – Which One is Easy to Clean 

Ceramic pans and pots are easy to clean compare to stainless steel. They feature a non-stick cooking surface to make cleaning a breeze, and Some Ceramic cookware brands are dishwasher safe.

Stainless Steel vs Ceramic Cookware – Which One is Easy to Maintain 

Caring and maintaining the ceramic coated pans and pots needs a bit of ‘babying’ to have the proper performance of the non-stick coating. You can season them first before using the cookware. Also, ensure you use medium-low heat since the aluminum coating delivers maximum-heat conductivity. You can also sear meat and boil water in a low-temperature setting.

Consequently, maintaining stainless steel cookware is convenient, easy, and pretty. You can use them on sweltering conditions and use metal utensils for cooking food as in contrary to ceramic cookware. 

Stainless Steel vs Ceramic Cookware: The Final Verdict 

To sum up, you can’t go wrong buying both types of cookware in your cookware! But your cookware option will create a massive impact on everything starting from the safety, taste, and quality of food that you are cooking. When it comes to stainless steel vs ceramic cookware, our best bet is on ceramic ones. 

They are affordable and healthier, since you’ll require less oil to complete your cooking processes. However, it all depends on personal preferences:

If you’re looking for durability, then stainless steel cookware wins. On the contrary, a ceramic cookware wins when it comes to ease of cleaning. 

Stainless steel vs ceramic cookware; in a nutshell, the best choice depend on your needs. You should go through this article extensively to make an informed decision. Ensure that you consider all the factors we’ve highlighted herein.