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These sets can stand up to the heat!
Ceramic cookware offers a good alternative to traditional nonstick pots and pans that are often coated in Teflon, a material known to release toxins when overheated (500°F is the recommended maximum). When compared to stainless steel, ceramic cookware offers the benefits of high-heat searing and even heating, without the heft, along with coveted nonstick properties. Some are made from clay, baked in a kiln and glazed, but the majority are metal glazed with ceramic. The downside to ceramic cookware is its glaze tends to wear quicker than traditional nonsticks and it doesn't compare to good stainless that could last forever.
In the Good Housekeeping Institute Kitchen Appliances and Technology Lab, we've tested more than 100 cookware sets over the years including stainless steel, traditional nonstick and ceramic. We test each type to see how well they distribute heat, if they can evenly sear a steak, how quickly they can bring water to a boil and good they are at simmering sauce without burning. We also assess ease of use by evaluating their handles and how much effort is needed to clean them. For nonstick and ceramic pans, we test their nonstick-ability by cooking eggs and pancakes with no grease.
Here are our recommendations for the best ceramic cookware sets, a list that includes top-tested picks, as well as popular sets and new releases from brands we've tested over the years and performed well:
This ceramic cookware set made of anodized aluminum with stainless steel handles and a ceramic nonstick finish, was a top scorer in our multiple tests. It heated very evenly whether we used gas, electric or induction. Omelets slid right out of the pan, steaks seared perfectly, and pancakes browned evenly without the need for extra butter. It also aced our scorch test, which means, no need to stir soups or stews while they simmer.
If you're looking to crisp up the topping on a casserole, note that you can put GreenPan Revolution's pans in the oven, up to 600ºF. Cleanup is easy, too, because unlike many nonstick pots and pans, you can pop these ceramic pieces in the dishwasher.
College students and new cooks will love this cookware set that comes with two spoons and two spatulas that can safely be used without the fear of scratching. The pans are lightweight and heat quickly, and they can be heated up to 570ºF. They have thick handles, which make for a comfortable grasp and oversized, stay cool knobs. The large assortment of pans allows for cooking many dishes at once. All pieces can be put in the dishwasher.
When we saw that Blue Diamond pans boast a 4.4/5 rating on Amazon, we had to see for ourselves. The 10-inch pan is lightweight but sturdy, and fits comfortably in the hand. Reviewers claim the handle gets hot, and in our tests we were able to confirm that they're hollow and do get hot; we learned that using a low to medium flame helps as well as centering the pan on the burner.
In our tests, we needed to slide almost all of the spatula underneath the egg to release it, more than others that released very easily. The pans, however, were still very easy to clean and barely any residue stuck to them. Cooked scrambled eggs practically slid off the pan, and wiping them clean with a dry paper towel made them look as clean as when we started. The pans also have nonstick rivets, which are one less area we need to normally scrub. For a sturdier option, try their new triple steel cookware set that offers more heft but is still relatively lightweight.
With the Scanpan ceramic CTX line, you can enjoy the beauty of stainless steel and the convenience of a nonstick finish. These pots and pans have a brushed stainless steel exterior, a nonstick ceramic interior and an aluminum core for even heat distribution. The 10-piece CTX set showed top-notch performance in our testing: Skillets heated evenly on both gas and electric ranges, easily released sticky scrambled eggs without oil and turned out perfectly seared steaks in practically no time at all. Just be prepared to use a little elbow grease to scrub off burnt-on splatters when cleaning up. The pots and pans are oven-safe up to 500ºF.
GreenPan's SearSmart Ceramic Cookware stands up to high heat – 600ºF, while most limit their capacity to 400ºF. Even their tempered glass lids are oven-safe up to 425ºF. The pots and pans are strong but easy to move around with thick, stay-cool handles.
In our sear test, steak browned quickly and evenly and quickly formed a nice, flavorful crust. Eggs fried up well with no oil and were easy to release with just a tiny nudge from our spatula. The pans have a rough surface that make them more durable than smooth ones. They seem hard to clean, but we were pleasantly surprised to see that the pans only needed to be rinsed with water after scrambling eggs. The pans also have a wide cooking surface, larger than most of comparable sizes, thanks to the short, sharp edges that aren't as sloped as others.
Cookware sets that nest sometimes feel like more work than their worth, but this ceramic set from Equal Parts only comes with the essentials, which means less unstacking and re-stacking. Plus, they all fit in one pile and take up minimal storage space. In our tests, the skillet seared a beautifully even steak, and eggs only needed a little nudge to release from the pan when cooking with no grease. The long, stainless steel handles stayed cool to the touch when simmering sauce, though the handle on the lid got a little hot. The pieces are oven-safe up to 450ºF.
Each piece in this 7-piece ceramic cookware set is light, yet durable and can achieve a good sear on protein. The pans are also very good at frying crispy eggs with minimal oil. The handles are thick and easy to hold; plus, they're made of silicone so they're non-slip and stay cool during cooking – great for weak and arthritic hands. The lid handles are also wrapped in silicone and stay cool.
A steamer basket adds extra versatility and can also be used as a strainer. The pieces are oven safe up to 350ºF and are freezer-safe for easy storage.
These pots and pans will surely make a statement atop your stove. The 4-piece set comes in five different earthy yet bright colors. The slim lids with flat handles are pretty and functional. In our tests, we found them very easy to grab and hold. While the lids aren't transparent, they each have a small steam vent that serves as a good indicator of what's happening inside (high steam = rolling boil; low steam = about to boil.) The set comes with a canvas storage sleeve for the lids, as well as magnetic pan racks. In addition to the modern design, we liked that the nonstick surface cooked eggs well with minimal oil and was easy to clean (hand washing is recommended, as is the practice for almost all nonstick cookware). The set is oven-safe up to 650ºF — though we doubt you're putting your pans in an oven that hot!
If you're looking for the essentials that will last you many years, look no further than this set that comes with a 9 1/2-inch fry pan and two stock pots, one perfect for boiling eggs and water for tea, as well as heating soup and sauce, plus another big enough for pasta, soups and stews. They boast wide, stay-cool handles that are easy to grasp and are lightweight yet extremely durable. They're a safe and reliable foray into the world of nonstick cookware that can be used with metal utensils. The fry pan lasted for years in our home kitchen, and we put it through the ringer, using it daily for everything from eggs to steak and stir-fry and then putting it in the dishwasher.
You don't have to worry about your food sticking to the pans with this 12-piece set. In addition to being nonstick, the budget-friendly pots and pans are stain-resistant and can be put in the dishwasher. The lid handles are are thin and wrapped in silicone, which allows them to stay cool while you're cooking. The tempered glass lids allow you to see inside and a steam vent helps prevent food from getting too hot and boiling over. The pots are oven-safe up to 400ºF, and the lids are oven-safe up to 350ºF.
These hard-anodized pots and pans will last you a long time, and they come with a ten year guarantee. They're oven-safe up to 400ºF, so you can use them on the stovetop for eggs to steak, or in the oven to gently finishing cooking seared meat or a braise. The tempered glass lids are study with high handles that help them stay cool. The various sizes make up the perfect starter kit and is ideal for one person making a quick egg in the morning, or even for a larger family looking to cook four chicken thighs at once. Hand-washing is recommended. These are not induction ready.