Is ceramic cookware safe? This post will review whether ceramic cookware is a non toxic, non-stick cookware option, and which brands are safest to buy.
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Table of Contents
- Is Ceramic Cookware Safe?
- Why non-stick cookware is unsafe
- Risks of ceramic coated cookware
- Nanoparticles in ceramic coated cookware
- Unknown ingredients in ceramic coatings:
- Other materials used in ceramic cookware
- Glazed ceramic cookware
- Durability
- Which ceramic cookware brands are safe?
- Ceramic cookware brands to avoid:
- Ceramic cookware brands that might be safe:
- The safest ceramic cookware brands:
- Other safe cookware options:
- Frequently asked questions:
- The bottom line: is ceramic cookware safe?
- Other health info you will like:
- Our expertise:
Is Ceramic Cookware Safe?
Many people love using non-stick cookware because it's so convenient and easy to use. However, more and more people are realizing that the most common types of non-stick cookware on the market, the ones made with Teflon coatings or other non-stick coatings are quite toxic and harmful to our health and are looking for alternative options. Because of this, ceramic cookware has been gaining popularity lately. And ceramic coated cookware, which is another form of non-stick cookware has become more and more popular. But, is ceramic cookware really safe? Is it a less harmful alternative to traditional non-stick cookware? This post will review whether or not ceramic cookware is safe, and which brands are safe and non-toxic.
Why non-stick cookware is unsafe
Before we get into ceramic cookware, I wanted to review why traditional nonstick cookware is not safe because I realize this may be a new topic for some of you.
Traditional non-stick cookware is made with per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). PFAS are a class of chemicals that provide stain and water resistant coatings. For instance they are often used on non-stick pans, rain coats, stain resistant furniture, food packaging etc.
PFAS chemicals have been termed “forever chemicals” because they are persistent, meaning they build up and don’t go away. They resist degradation in the environment and they remain in our bodies for years, and sometimes even decades after exposure.
PFAS, even at low doses, can be harmful to health and are known to have a number of harmful effects on human health including but not limited to:
- They are endocrine disruptors (also known as hormone disruptors).
- They can increase the risks of certain cancers including thyroid and kidney cancer.
- Can lead to metabolic diseases including obesity and diabetes.
- Can contribute to cardiovascular disease (heart disease).
- Can cause thyroid disease.
- May cause inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).
- Increase cholesterol levels.
- Increase the risk of allergies and asthma in children.
- Decreases fertility in women.
- Can decrease sperm counts.
- Can increase the chances of miscarriages in pregnancy.
- Affects the growth, learning, and behaviour of infants and older children.
The original PFAS chemicals are called “long-chain” because they have a long carbon and fluorine chain. Examples of the long chain PFAS include Teflon and its related chemicals. They are known as Perfluorooctanoic acid (also termed PFOA, or C8).
Unfortunately, most of us have high levels of PFOA in our systems. With more than 99% of the U.S. population found to have PFOA in their serum when tested in the 2003–2004 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES).
Today, the production of the long carbon chain chemicals like PFOA and PFOS have been largely phased out in most consumer products. However this has brought new PFAS chemicals to the market which are referred to as “small-chain” because they have a shorter carbon-fluorine chain. The problem with this new class of smaller chain chemicals is their small size, making them even more persistent in the environment and even more difficult to clean up.
In other words, you want to try and avoid PFAS exposure, and thus traditional non-stick cookware as much as you can. One of the easiest ways to avoid PFAS and PFOAs is to avoid any non-stick or Teflon coated cookware, including pots, pans and bakeware (baking sheets, muffin pans, donut pans etc).
With that background information in mind, let's now talk about ceramic cookware.
Risks of ceramic coated cookware
Whether ceramic cookware is safe really depends on the type of ceramic cookware you are using, as not all ceramic cookware is created equally. When looking at ceramic cookware you can get pure ceramic cookware, ceramic coated or ceramic enameled cookware, or glazed ceramic cookware. It is the ceramic coated cookware, the ceramic enameled cookware, and the glazed ceramic cookware that you need to be cautious of.
There are a few reasons why ceramic coated cookware, ceramic enameled cookware and ceramic glazed can be unsafe. First are the nanoparticles used to create the ceramic coating. Second, are the materials that are used in the cookware underneath the ceramic coating. And third are the materials used to set the ceramic coating or glaze it. So let's review all of these issues.
Nanoparticles in ceramic coated cookware
For some of you, the term nanoparticle may be a new concept. Nano literally means “very small”. To be more specific, nanoparticles are particles between 1 and 100 nanometres in size. Nanoparticles are used in many different industries, not just in cookware.
Because of their small size, nanoparticles can easily enter many bodily tissues or organs. And some of them can lead to different health problems. (For example, asbestos is an example of a nanoparticle that can cause cancer.)
When looking at ceramic cookware, the ceramic coatings used by many brands have been found to release titanium dioxide nanoparticles from the non-stick ceramic coating into food.
This is a problem as ingestion of nano titanium dioxide has been shown to cause many different health issues in animal studies including: causing harmful effects on male fertility (including damaging sperm), damaging the liver, testicles, heart, brain, kidneys, as well as altering the gut microbiome. Titanium dioxide nano particles have also been shown to accumulate in the reproductive organs of mammals, affect the development of ovum and sperm, damage reproductive organs and harm the growth and development of offspring.
Unfortunately, to date, there are very few human studies examining the ingestion of nano titanium dioxide. So it is not yet known whether the same effects that are seen in animals would be seen in humans. Because of this, we are also lacking safety data in humans for the use of nano titanium dioxide (meaning we don't know if it is safe or not to use) and because of these concerns, France recently banned the use of nano titanium dioxide as a food additive.
The good news is that in undamaged ceramic coatings, the titanium dioxide nanoparticles don’t get released until exposed to temperatures of 500 °C or higher. So, with typical cooking temperatures the nanoparticles shouldn’t be released. However, mechanical degradation studies show that any surface scratches or damage to the ceramic coating (which occur overtime with normal use) leads to significant release of the titanium dioxide nanoparticles.
So, if your ceramic coated pots or pans are in perfect condition (no scratches or signs of use) and you don’t heat them to excess you should be safe. However, once the surface of those pots, pans, and other cookware items have any scratches or imperfections they would no longer be safe to use. And in my experience, the coatings on these ceramic coated cookware tend to break down rather quickly, usually within the first year or two of use, meaning you would need to replace your cookware every 1-2 years which is not only costly, but also bad for the environment.
Another thing to keep in mind is that some brands that make ceramic coated cookware brand their cookware as ceramic enameled, when it technically isn't (the processes used to make ceramic coatings and ceramic enamel are very different). Be careful because you don't want to confuse the two. It is the ceramic coated cookware that has been found to release titanium dioxide nanoparticles. So if a brand or a store calls cookware ceramic enameled, when it is actually ceramic coated, you could be unknowingly buying cookware that could end up releasing titanium dioxide nanoparticles into your food.
Unknown ingredients in ceramic coatings:
Another compound which some ceramic cookware brands use is Thermolon. Thermolon coating is a polymer hybrid composite material that is derived from silicon dioxide (which comes from sand), which is transformed into a sprayable solution, then cured in an oven at low heat on to the cookware.
The good news about Thermolon, is that while we do not know all of the ingredients that it is made of, it is free from cadmium and lead and has been third party tested to confirm its safety. It is also more scratch resistant and can withstand higher temperatures compared to traditional non-stick coatings.
Other materials used in ceramic cookware
Another one of the problems with ceramic coated cookware are the materials used underneath the ceramic coating or the ceramic enamel. These materials can also be harmful or dangerous to our health. So if the coating ever gets scratched or damaged (which does occur overtime with typical use) you then get exposed to even more harmful materials (such as aluminum or other heavy metals).
Glazed ceramic cookware
Another potential issue with ceramic cookware can be the coatings and glazes used to seal the ceramic. Some brands use glazes to seal or help set the ceramic coating. And these glazes can contain harmful chemicals or materials including heavy metals that can leach into food. There are even case reports of people getting lead toxicity from glazed ceramic cookware. So when looking at ceramic cookware you want to look for brands that use a pure ceramic glaze, and test their glazes for heavy metals to ensure they are safe.
Durability
Another issue with ceramic coated cookware is the lack of durability. Unfortunately, with normal use, these pots and pans tends to get scratches and signs of wear very quickly. Many people report that only after a few months their ceramic coated cookware shows signs of wear and tear. And as we discussed previously, the materials under the ceramic coating could be dangerous to your health, so once your ceramic coated cookware shows signs of damage you would need to get rid of it. This means that you would need to invest in new cookware very frequently which would get very expensive over time and contribute to excess waste.
Which ceramic cookware brands are safe?
Now that we have gone over the potential risks of ceramic coated, ceramic enameled and glazed ceramic cookware you probably want to know which brands of ceramic cookware are safe to buy. Navigating the ceramic cookware market can be tricky, as many brands won't disclose the materials they use to make their ceramic coatings. If a brand won't disclose the materials they use, I wouldn't recommend them since you just don't know if they are safe to use or not.
I have tried to make things easier for you and have created lists of ceramic cookware brands to avoid, brands to consider using, and the safest brand that I could find in the lists below.
Ceramic cookware brands to avoid:
These brands either won't disclose what materials they use in their ceramic cookware or ceramic coatings, contain nano particles, or have received a letter of intent from an attorney in the State of California to sue them under Prop. 65 consumer protection laws. Because of these reasons, I suggest avoiding these brands (note that this is not an exhaustive list and I have not been able to review every single brand on the market).
- Anolon Ceramic Cookware
- Blue Diamond Cookware
- Calphalon Ceramic Cookware
- Caraway Ceramic Cookware - Caraway confirmed with me that they do use nano particles in their ceramic coatings.
- CookLover Ceramic Cookware
- Cook-n-Home Cookware
- Cooksmark by Americook Cookware
- Cuisinart Ceramic Cookware
- Equal Parts Cookware
- Farberware Ceramic Cookware
- Gotham Steel Cookware
- GreenLife Ceramic Cookware
- Hexclad Cookware
- Kenmore Arlington Nonstick Ceramic Cookware
- Le Creuset Ceramic Cookware
- Nutrichef Nonstick Cookware
- Our Place Cookware - Our Place confirmed with me that they use nano particles in their ceramic coatings.
- Shineuri Diamond Hard-Anodized Cookware
- Staub Ceramics
- T-Fal Cookware
- Williams Sonoma
- Deane and White Cookware
Ceramic cookware brands that might be safe:
These brands use a ceramic coating of something the brands say are not made of nanoparticles or PFAS. However, these brands are not transparent about what is actually in the coating of their product, so it's difficult to know if they are truly safe or not. But these brands do pass California’s strict consumer law, Prop. 65, and have no filed complaints against them. This means they have low levels or no heavy metals and other contaminants coming from their cookware.
Just note that because these brands are ceramic coated, and not pure ceramic, once the ceramic surfaces are damaged I recommend no longer using them as you could then be exposed to materials that are underneath the ceramic coating or the ceramic enamel.
- DaTerra Cucina Cookware
- Bella Basics Cookware - has been third party tested by the Ecology centre to confirm the coatings are made with silicon dioxide ceramic.
The safest ceramic cookware brands:
1. Xtrema ceramic cookware
Xtrema cookware is the safest ceramic cookware brand on the market that I could find and is the one that I personally recommend. Xtrema products are made from 100% pure ceramic (including a ceramic core and a ceramic glaze) and as far as I can find, they are the only ceramic cookware brand that uses pure ceramic. They also contain no PFOA, PTFE, glues, polymers, coatings or dyes.
This brand does not use coatings with nano particles and does not leach nano-materials into food. Xtrema also passes California’s strict consumer Prop. 65 laws with laboratory testing on heavy metals and offers sample laboratory reporting from all runs of their cookware. In other words, their glazes and materials do not leach heavy metals.
Their cookware is an investment but it will last a lifetime, so even though it will cost more up front, you won't have to replace these pots and pans every 6-12 months like you would with the other ceramic brands I reviewed, so in the long run it will actually be less expensive.
I personally have many of the Xtrema ceramic products in my kitchen including skillets, frying pans and a dutch oven. One thing to be aware of is that because this cookware is pure ceramic it is rather heavy so you do need to be careful when lifting it.
2. GreenPan ceramic cookware
GreenPan is one of the ceramic coated cookware brands that uses Thermolon. They make a variety of gorgeous and lightweight ceramic coated pots and pans. The Ecology Center released cookware testing of Green Pan and confirmed they were coated with silicon dioxide ceramic.
I have used Greenpan pans before, and I really like how light weight and easy to use they are, but just note that I personally found the surfaces to get scratched within about a year of use so the durability wasn't as great as I had hoped which is why this brand is my second choice.
Other safe cookware options:
If you are looking for other safe cookware options, luckily there are many other choices besides pure ceramic for you to choose from, many of which are more affordable. To learn what other types of cookware are safe, please refer to my post on non toxic cookware options.
Frequently asked questions:
Greenpan is one of the safer ceramic cookware brands on the market. They pass California’s strict consumer law, Prop. 65. and are made with Thermolon which is a silicon based non-stick material.
Blue Diamond cookware uses a diamond-infused ceramic nonstick coating. The brand does not disclose what materials are used in their ceramic coating so I would be cautious and avoid purchasing this brand as you don't know if the coating is safe or not.
No, scratched ceramic pans and pots are not safe to use. The materials under the ceramic coating can be harmful to health, so it's recommended that once your ceramic coated cookware shows signs of wear that you dispose of it.
The bottom line: is ceramic cookware safe?
That really depends on the type of ceramic cookware you are looking at. The safest type of ceramic cookware is pure ceramic, or ceramic coated cookware made with Thermolon. Try to avoid ceramic coated, ceramic enameled, and ceramic glazed cookware if you are looking for the safest, non-toxic options.
Other health info you will like:
- Is stainless steel cookware safe?
- How to choose safe cookware
- How to choose non-toxic sunscreen
- Is there mercury in your mascara?
- Is retinol harmful?
Since you made it this far we are basically best friends so be sure to follow me on Instagram, Pinterest, TikTok and Facebook where I share even more recipes and healthy living tips!
Our expertise:
Dr. Erin Carter, MD, FRCPC, is a physician with board certifications in internal medicine and rheumatology. She is passionate about nutrition, environmental health and low toxicity living and has been doing research and publishing information in this area for years. She is also a self-trained chef and has been creating and publishing recipes since 2015. Her recipes have been featured on many different websites and online publications.
Yi
Xtrema cookware is ceramic glazed. https://xtrema.ca/blogs/blog/everything-you-need-to-know-about-ceramic-coated-cookware?shpxid=0b072f84-3338-4f71-91d4-18a5161935d1
Erin Carter
Hi Yi!
Yes they use a pure ceramic core, which is coated with a pure ceramic glaze (so they are 100% ceramic) and it's then all tested for heavy metals to ensure it's safe. The issues with some other glazes on ceramic is that they are not always pure ceramic and can be contaminated with heavy metals.
I hope that helps!
Yi
Hi Erin, I like this article very much. Thank you very much!
Tony
Amazing article. You are a superior journalist and extremely knowledgable. Question though… i read alot of ceramic cook aware have lead? Xtrema doesnt mention anything about being lead free.
Erin Carter
Hey Tony!
Thanks for reading. And yes Xtrema is lead free. Here is their info on it: https://xtrema.ca/pages/product-testing
FranqB
Thanks for the post, it looks like your extrema code isn't working
Erin Carter
Thanks so much for letting me know! I reached out to Xtrema and it should be working now!
sedat
this article is amazing, thank you
Erin Carter
I'm so glad it was helpful!
Gina
Do you know anything about MasterClass ceramic sold in Marshall's?
Erin Carter
I looked them up and couldn't find any information on what ingredients they use in their ceramic coatings so I wouldn't recommend them without knowing what's in them.
Kenya Wilkins
Excellent article. I bought a sunblock for my kids with titanium dioxide and zinc, thinking it was beneficial. Thank you for all the information.
Erin Carter
I'm glad you found it helpful! Those ingredients are great in sunscreen though. They don't get absorbed so they don't have the same risks as ingesting them. I have a whole article about that if you are interested in reading more:
https://www.pureandsimplenourishment.com/is-mineral-or-chemical-sunscreen-better/
S.
What about German Silit brand?
Erin Carter
I can't find any details on what they use in their ceramic coatings so I can't recommend that brand without knowing more.