Seasoning your ceramic pan can help lessen the need for fats. If you have one right now, then you should learn how to season a ceramic frying pan.
Aside from reducing the need for fats, seasoning your cookware can also extend its lifespan and help prevent rust and corrosion. You can season your pans every few years or twice a year to keep them in top shape. Otherwise, food will stick to the cooking surface of the pan and you will have a hard time cleaning your cookware. So to prevent this from happening, you should season your pan properly.
You can use vegetable oil to season your pan, but other kinds of oil such as canola oil, grapeseed oil, peanut oil, or lard will work just fine. Here are the steps that you need to follow when seasoning your ceramic cookware for the first time.
- Clean the pan
Use a paper towel or soft cloth and some dish soap to clean the pan. Don’t scrub it with an abrasive sponge or brush because it can damage your cookware. Once you have cleaned the pan, rinse it properly with clean water then dry it with a paper towel or soft cloth.
- Apply oil all over the pan
Add one tablespoon of oil to the cookware and use a paper towel to spread it all over the pan. Make sure that the cooking surface is completely coated with oil. You can add more oil if needed. Use oils with a high smoking point. Olive oil and butter are not suitable due to their low smoking point.
- Heat the cookware
Place the cookware on your stovetop burner then set it on medium heat. It will take a while for the oil to heat up, so just wait and leave your pan there until it starts to smoke. You can turn the cookware periodically to make sure that the oil is not pooling in just one spot. Another option is to heat the pan in the oven at 300⁰F for 20 minutes. This method is ideal for heating ceramic baking pans. Most ceramic pans are oven safe, but it’s still a good idea to check the user manual before putting your pan in the oven.
- Allow it to cool
When the oil starts to smoke, remove the cookware from the burner and let it cool. Don’t put the pan in the fridge or wash it with cold water because doing so will damage the pan. Be patient and allow the pan to cool down completely.
- Dry the pan
Once the cookware has cooled down, use a paper towel or soft cloth to wipe excess oil. The cookware will feel a bit greasier than before, but this is completely normal. It’s also the reason for the pan’s non-stick property.
- Season the pan regularly
If possible, you should season the cookware every few months. But the frequency of the seasoning process will still depend on the model of the cookware and how long you’ve been seasoning your pan. If you have a brand new pan, then you should season it once every month to help it build up a permanent seasoning layer. Some manufacturers recommend seasoning the pan every six months.
Tips for Ceramic Pan Care
Seasoning is one of the best ways to keep your ceramic pan in top shape. You should use safer and gentler utensils as well. Wood, silicone, and plastic utensils are good options because these materials won’t scratch or damage the surface of the pan. Rubberized silicone spatulas and spoons are the gentlest and softest utensils that you can use on ceramic pans. Here are other important things that you should keep in mind when using ceramic cookware.
Cook on low to medium heat
Always cook on low or medium heat when you are using seasoned ceramic cookware. Higher temperatures can damage the pan, especially its non-stick surface. Ceramic pans already have remarkable heat conductivity, so you don’t have to cook food on high temperatures. Drastic fluctuations in temperature can also cause thermal damage and reduce the pan’s non-stick and heating performance. So once you are finished cooking, move the pan from the hot hob to a cool stovetop burner and leave the cookware there until it cools down.
Store the pan properly
Don’t stack the pans on top of each other. When storing your pans, place a paper towel or a cardboard piece in between them. If your pan has a hole in the handle, then you can hang it in your kitchen as a decorative piece.
Don’t wash ceramic pans in the dishwasher
You should wash your pans by hand because washing the cookware in the dishwasher will remove the pan’s non-stick coating. Dishwashing detergents also contain harsh chemicals that may damage the pan. Aside from this, the surface of the cookware may get scratched chipped in the dishwasher. It’s easy to wash ceramic pans by hand. You can use a soft sponge and mild dish soap to clean your ceramic pans.
Avoid using cooking oil sprays
Cooking oil sprays may have certain chemicals and ingredients that can damage the surface of your cookware. These oil sprays will not burn off or wash away quickly. Scrubbing these oils is not a good idea as you will probably end up peeling, scratching, or scraping the surface of the pan.
Clean the pan properly
Don’t forget to clean your ceramic pans properly. The excess protein residue on the cooking surface will eventually create a noticeable brown layer on your cookware. Brush and soapy water are not enough to get rid of this layer. You can use acidic products such as vinegar to remove this dirty layer from the pan’s ceramic coating. Pour a small amount of vinegar on your pan and heat it on medium heat for one hour then scrub the surface with a scrubbing pad or gentle brush.
Conclusion
Seasoning your pan regularly will help you save a lot of time. The food will slide off easily thanks to its non-stick surface, so you won’t have a hard time cleaning your cookware. Follow the steps stated above and your pans will definitely serve you for a long time.
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