Ceramic vs. Teflon: How to Use Ceramic and Teflon Cookware

Ceramic cookware is a type of pan with a nonstick surface, a stainless steel handle, and an aluminum base that provides even heat distribution. Ceramic cookware has a specific kind of ceramic coating that enables cooking without food sticking to the ceramic frying pan. Ceramic-coated cookware often includes glass lids for simmering food on your stovetop.

Teflon is the brand name for polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), a nonstick coating made out of synthetic polymer. Teflon nonstick pans include a PTFE coating to keep food from sticking to your cookware set. Teflon pans, or PTFE pans, were invented in the late 1930s and contained a toxic chemical called perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) until 2013 when a new PFOA-free version became available. Avoid using Teflon pans with high heat (temperatures above 500 degrees Fahrenheit), as the Teflon coating can break down and release toxic fumes.

You can use both types of nonstick cookware to prepare a variety of foods, including omelets, stir-fries, and soups. To find the best option for you, consider a few of the main differences between the two types of pans.

• Chemicals: Although Teflon has discontinued the use of PFOA in its products, there are still health concerns about PFAS, a synthetic compound that can leach into your food. At high temperatures, PTFE pans can emit toxic fumes. By contrast, ceramic nonstick coatings contain no PTFE, PFOA, or PFAS chemicals. However, the aluminum base on ceramic pans can leach into food at higher temperatures. To be safe, use both types of cookware at low to medium heat.
• Durability: Typically, ceramic cookware has a shorter lifespan than Teflon cookware. However, both types of cookware are less durable than cast iron skillets, carbon steel cookware, and stainless steel cookware. With Teflon and ceramic pans, use silicone utensils rather than metal utensils to avoid scraping off the nonstick surface from your cooking surface. Teflon and ceramic pans are rarely dishwasher safe or oven safe, so opt for handwashing your nonstick pans.
• Price: Ceramic cookware is generally more expensive than Teflon cookware. Avoid using cheap ceramic pans as they may contain harmful materials like lead or cadmium.

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