The Best Ceramic Cookware Sets We’ve Ever Tested
When you’re used to stainless steel skillets and cast iron pans, cooking on a nonstick surface probably feels like a luxury. While Teflon cookware has been the nonstick standard for many years, modern ceramic cookware can offer the same convenience, but more safely and arguably more effectively.
“Ceramic [cookware] is generally made without those nasty chemicals like PTFE and PFOA, which can release harmful fumes if overheated,” says Dennis Littley, a professional chef and recipe developer. “Plus, ceramic pans often have that sleek, glossy finish that looks pretty slick on the stovetop.”
Like any cookware set, the design and quality of ceramic options can vary. To filter out the best options, we tested several different ceramic cookware sets, evaluating their ability to cook food efficiently and maintain their nonstick properties. We also consulted Chef Littley for expert advice on what qualities to look for when shopping for a ceramic cookware set and how to properly care for it.
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The ceramic coating is oven-safe.
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Almost half of the pieces in the set are for storage and organization.
There’s a lot we love about this Caraway Nonstick Ceramic 12-Piece Cookware Set, particularly its balance of safety, performance, and versatility. During testing, it stood out from the rest due to how well it distributed heat and prevented food from sticking. It delivered consistent browning and caramelization, and even stubborn ingredients were easy to wipe clean from the pans.
While the pieces in this set do have to be hand washed, they aren’t fragile or flimsy. The pots and pans are thick-walled and durable, equipped to handle a range of different cooking tasks, and they’re safe to use with gas, electric, and induction cooktops, as well as ovens up to 550°F. Because they’re fairly heavy duty, you may need two hands to carry them, however, the weight is supported decently by the handles. These handles also stay cool to the touch and have safety bumpers, so handling the cookware is still very manageable.
Suitable for both those who prepare basics recipes as well as more serious cooks, this set gives you four pots and pans to work with, including a 3-quart saucepan, a 6.5-quart Dutch oven, a 10.5-inch frying pan, and a 4.5-quart saute pan, plus three lids to go along with them. The rest of the five pieces in this 12-piece set are pot racks and a lid holder, which may be disappointing if you wanted more pots and pans. However, it is still moderately priced compared to other sets, especially for what it offers, and comes in eight different colors.
Number of Pieces: 12 | Oven Safe Temperature: 550°F | Induction Safe: Yes | Care: Hand wash only
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The set comes with 14 pieces and is made of scratch-resistant PFOA- and PTFE-free ceramic.
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It doesn’t perform as well for tasks like frying and baking.
This T-Fal Initiatives Ceramic Cookware Set is ideal for those who want to replace old pots and pans without spending a lot of money and don't need high-end cookware. For under $100, you get four lids, four nylon cooking utensils, and six pots and pans, which include 8.5- and 10.5-inch frying pans, an 11-inch saute pan, 1- and 2-quart saucepans, and a 5-quart Dutch oven. All of these pieces are made from recycled aluminum and coated in scratch-resistant ceramic that is also free of PFOA and PTFE.
One of the best features of this cookware set is the Thermo-Spot indicator, which turns red when the pot is hot enough. We noticed that the pans run hot and cause food to brown very quickly—the water reached a boiling point in about four minutes—so this unique feature definitely comes in handy. Even though the pans get very hot, the handles stay noticeably cool.
While this cookware set excels at sauteing food without sticking, it’s not the best at frying or high-temperature baking. We noticed that whenever oil is added to the pan, it tends to pool in one area, and even though it’s technically oven-safe, it can’t handle anything higher than 350°F. After cooking, cleaning up is fairly easy, as you can just stick it in the dishwasher, however, the manual advises against using dishwasher tablets.
Number of Pieces: 14 | Oven Safe Temperature: 350°F | Induction Safe: No | Care: Dishwasher-safe but only with liquid detergent; Hand wash recommended