Not all products are made equally, and this fact is especially true for two things — health products and cookware. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the materials we use to prepare food can impact our health. Cooking is a chemical process. It involves heat and foods that have a unique chemical makeup and properties. Some foods, such as acidic tomatoes, react with materials like metals, which can affect the flavor and textures of food, as well as your health.
Opting for premium cookware made from safe, effective materials — such as pure ceramic — can have a positive impact on your cooking and your well-being. Explore the health benefits of ceramic cookware and why pure ceramic offers some of the best results in the kitchen.
Why Ceramic Cookware Is a Healthy Option
Ceramic cookware is an excellent addition to your kitchen for various reasons. Most notably, it is an excellent cooking material for your health. Some of the healthy benefits you can enjoy when cooking with pure ceramic include:
Thoroughly and Evenly Cooked Meals
Cooking food incorrectly can pose serious health risks. You may become seriously ill from undercooking meats like pork and chicken, as undercooked meats can contain germs like salmonella, E. coli and Yersinia.
You might check that your meat or poultry is cooked by checking one or two pieces, but this inspection is not foolproof. Some pieces that may have been cooked in "cold spots" won't be thoroughly cooked — checking one spot doesn't guarantee a sufficient temperature across the entire dish. Some cookware materials do not distribute heat evenly or retain heat well enough to ensure foods are cooked through.
Thankfully, pure ceramic cookware doesn't have this problem — heat is spread out evenly across the ceramic surface, which retains heat well. This design helps ensure that your food is cooked in a safer way, but you should always take measures to prepare meats according to the correct cooking times and with the right hygiene protocols in place.
Heat Resistance
Pure ceramic has low thermal conductivity and good insulating properties. With its effective heat distribution properties, pure ceramic is an ideal choice for even, consistent cooking and a versatile option for different methods — such as preparing foods in the oven. On the other hand, coated metal pans can overheat at temperatures higher than 500 degrees Fahrenheit, at which the cookware releases toxic chemicals as the compounds break down.
Non-Toxic Surfaces
Many pots and pans made today contain polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), which, when overheated, can cause polymer fume fever. Polymer fume fever can cause temporary side effects like fever, headache and chills but also cause serious side effects like lung damage. Older pots and pans may also contain perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), a potentially harmful substance that can cause adverse health side effects. Thankfully, one of the greatest benefits of cooking with 100% ceramic is that its surface naturally resists sticking and contains no PFOA or PTFE.
Another feature that sets pure ceramic apart is its non-reactive surface, meaning that it will not react with acidic foods, such as tomatoes or lemon juice. Acidic foods normally react with metals and can cause the metal to leach into the food. In most instances, anodized or corrosion-resistant finishes prevent this reaction, but it may still occur if you have low-quality cookware or old, worn and scratched coatings.
In these situations, leaching can leave an unpleasant metallic taste in your meal and may cause health effects that range widely depending on the metal. For instance, rare cases of food poisoning can occur after prolonged contact between copper and highly acidic food. Reactive pans can also cause problems for people with sensitivities to specific metals.
Like most natural materials, pure ceramic may have normal amounts of trace metals, but it does not contain extractable lead or any other heavy metals. This means you do not have the risk of heavy metals leaching into food when you cook. Keep in mind that this advantage is only true for tested and certified pure ceramic cookware. Ceramic-coated cookware may well contain metal cores, so always opt for pure ceramic to avoid anything more than trace metals in your cookware.
Healthier Fat Ratios
Our efforts to be more health-conscious often affect what we consume and how much we consume. Cooking with fats — especially healthy fats like avocado and olive oil — can benefit your health and make meals more delicious. But we also know that having nutritious amounts and types of fats can support heart health and weight.
When you use ceramic cookware, which naturally resists sticking, you may need less fat to coat the surface. Of course, you can still add plenty of healthy fats, but you don't need to if they don't fit your dietary needs.
Product Testing
Product testing for ceramic cookware — and all cookware — is essential for understanding the product's properties and how they affect health. Product testing also shows how we can safely use and care for our kitchen products. Some elements cookware manufacturers should look for include:
- Non-toxic qualities: At Xtrema, all products undergo testing for metal leaching, including lead and cadmium. Pure ceramic is non-toxic and worry-free.
- Safe for microwave, oven and dishwasher use: Using household appliances to prepare your food or clean your dishes should not compromise the integrity of your cookware — and the good news is that it doesn't with pure ceramic pots or pans. Xtrema Cookware pots and pans are safe for the dishwasher, microwave and oven.
- Durable: One of the main concerns with ceramic coatings is the coating's tendency to flake, chip or peel. Losing the coating can expose metal cores. Pure ceramic cookware is not coated, and with proper use and maintenance, it can last a lifetime.
- Natural and eco-friendly: Pure ceramic is made from natural and sustainable materials, including clay, water, natural minerals and oxides. This design is eco-friendly and good for your health, as these materials are non-reactive and non-toxic. Another healthy, eco-friendly benefit is that you only need to use natural products like warm water, vinegar and baking soda to keep ceramic clean.
Choose Pure Ceramic Cookware From Xtrema Cookware
Preparing your meals with 100% pure ceramic cookware is a simple but effective way to serve flavorful meals that are better for your well-being.
When you choose ceramic kitchen items from Xtrema Cookware, you invest in high-quality cookware that is good for you and your family. We prioritize your health and happiness in the kitchen with our premium range of 100% ceramic cookware that is non-toxic, won't leach heavy metals and is free of PFOA and PTFE. Our cookware is also versatile, so you can prepare all your favorite healthy dishes, and its high quality makes it an investment for life. Shop our line of pure ceramic kitchenware products today!