How to Season a Ceramic Pan (Step-by-Step)

Do you want your ceramic pan to last long? If so, have you tried seasoning?

Seasoning lets you increase the lifespan of your ceramic pan as well as enhance your cooking experience.

Whether it’s your old ceramic pan or a new pan you just bought the other day, seasoning can help keep its surface non-stick for an extended period.

Table of Contents

How Do You Season a Ceramic Pan?

In short, seasoning a ceramic pan is a simple process.

You only need to put oil on a freshly cleaned pan and heat it. Once finished, let the pan cool and dry it off. It’s that simple!

Let’s look at each of the steps in more detail.

You’ll need the following ingredients to get started:

Soap
Water
Cooking oil of choice
Paper towels
Ceramic frying pan

Step 1: Clean Your Pan

The first step is to ensure your ceramic pan is spotless. To do this, start by washing your ceramic pan, whether brand new or used.

Use mild soap and a soft cloth or sponge to wash the pan gently. Avoid using abrasives or harsh brushes as they damage the pan’s surface by chipping the outer coating.

Once your pan is clean, rinse it thoroughly with running tap water and dry it using a soft cloth.

Step 2: Apply Oil on the Ceramic Pan

Add oil to the surface of the pan. Then spread it evenly (use a soft cloth, a brush, or a paper towel) until the surface is completely coated.

It’s advisable to use vegetable oil, peanut oil, canola oil, sunflower oil, or grapeseed oil. These oils have high smoking points.

Usually, a tablespoon of oil is just enough. Avoid coconut oils, butter, or flavored cooking sprays.

They not only have low smoking points but also tend to leave your ceramic pan with an unpleasant smell when used for seasoning.

Step 3: Heat the Pan

There are three ways to season a ceramic pan.

You can either use an oven, a stove, or direct sunlight.

Heating the Ceramic Pan by Oven

Procedure:

Preheat your oven to about 300°F or 150 degrees Celsius. Generally, the highest temperatures for preheating the oven should be 350°F or 180 degrees Celsius, while the lowest temperature should be 150°F or 130°C.
Place the oiled ceramic pan in the preheated oven, preferably the middle rack. Let the pan heat for about an hour. However, if smoke comes out of the pan surface, remove it immediately ‒ regardless of the amount of time it has been in the oven.
After one hour, remove the ceramic pan from the oven. Place the pan on the surface.

While most ceramic pans are oven-safe, you must check the pan manufacturer’s instructions first.

Heating the Ceramic Pan by Stove

Procedure:

Place the oiled ceramic pan on your stove. Turn on the stove and let it heat to medium temperature. Medium temperatures ensure the oil on the pan heats up at a slow rate.

Note: The heating should continue until the ceramic pan starts to smoke ‒ and this can take several minutes.

When the stove has started to smoke, remove it from the pan and put it on a plain surface. Now let it cool to room temperature, which can take about 10-15 minutes.

Heating the Ceramic Pan by Sunlight

Procedure:

Place the ceramic pan in a paper bag, preferably a brown shopping bag. Open the shopping bag and put the pan inside.

Note: You can also put the ceramic pan’s handle inside the paper bag or leave it outside. The bag prevents direct sunlight from getting into the surface of the ceramic pan.

After placing the pan inside the paper bag, look for a sunny place and let the ceramic pan sit in direct sunlight. The bag should be exposed to direct sunlight for about 3 to 5 days. From time to time, touch the paper bag to confirm if it’s getting warm.
Remove the ceramic pan and the bag from direct sunlight. Then, open the paper bag and take out your ceramic pan.

Step 4: Allow It to Cool

After heating the ceramic pan, you need to let it cool to room temperature.

Don’t put the hot pan in the fridge or pour cold water on it to cool it off faster ‒ just let it cool on its own.

A sudden change in temperature damages the surface of the ceramic pan, leading to a reduction in its cooking abilities.

For better results, allow more time for your ceramic pan to sit out, and it will absorb enough oil to fill in its inconsistencies.

Step 5: Dry Your Pan

Once the pan cools down to room temperature, wipe away excess oil using a clean paper towel.

Typically, the ceramic pan should feel a little greasy. Don’t rewash your ceramic pan unless you’ve cooked with it.

Step 6: Repeat This process

Seasoning your ceramic pan every six months will keep it working like it’s new.

However, it will depend on how often you use your pan.

Whenever you notice that food is sticking to the pan, go ahead and season it.

Ideally, for a brand-new ceramic pan, season it before use ‒ and frequently for the first few months. This will help build up an effective non-stick coating.

Also read: How To Season Rusty Cast Iron Skillet?

Additional Ways to Care for Your Ceramic Pan

Seasoning is one of the best ways to increase the lifespan of your ceramic pan and enhance your cooking experience.

Still, there are several other measures you can take to care for it.

Here are some other methods you can take to keep your pan looking like you just bought it.

Don’t Wash It in the Dishwasher

Whether you regularly use your ceramic pan to fry chicken nuggets or make pasta sauce, cooking can leave stubborn stains on the pans.

Sometimes these stains can be so stubborn that you think of using a dishwasher to remove build-up food residue.

While this may seem like a good option since you don’t use extra effort to clean the pan, you are likely to damage it.

Dishwashers use detergents that contain abrasive compounds that are generally more aggressive than regular soaps.

Some of these abrasive compounds include phthalates and sulfate. They are responsible for getting rid of stubborn stains, although they also damage cookware.

As such, go for handwashing for all your ceramic pans, even when the pan is labeled dishwasher-safe.

Use Non-metallic Utensils

To cook food to perfection, you’ll need utensils to stir, sear or simmer.

Ceramic pans are usually resistant to scratches and marks, unlike other cookware. This makes most utensils suitable for use.

Utensils such as silicone, wood, nylon, and plastic are easier on ceramic pans. They help extend its lifespan.

Try not to use metal cooking utensils as much as possible. They can have sharp edges that easily damage the coating.

Store Your Ceramic Pan Safely

Always be mindful when you store your ceramic pans. Make sure you dry and air the pan before you put it away.

Stacking your pans can damage them.

But if you must store them this way, ensure you place a napkin, kitchen towel, or soft cloth between the pans. That way, you will prevent your pans from scratching.

You can keep the pans in the cabinet or if your ceramic pans have holes, care to buy a hanging rack.

Importantly, store ceramic pans on a flat surface to avoid knocking them down. If the pan drops to the floor, it might deform, losing its non-stick properties.

Ensure You Cook in Moderate or Low Heat

Never use high temperatures whenever you’re cooking using a ceramic pan.

Extreme temperatures cause damage to the pan, especially if the pan is exposed to high temperatures for an extended period.

If you wish to preheat your pan, let it be on moderate or low heat. Cooking at low temperatures not only prevents the pan from damage but also ensures your food cooks evenly.

Besides, ceramics are now known for their ability to distribute heat evenly. Don’t let the pan preheat for several minutes before adding food because this may also damage it.

Use Small Amounts of Oil

Using large amounts of oil is one of the most common mistakes people make when using ceramic pans. Although oil lubricates the pan and makes it durable, avoid using a lot of oil.

That’s because ceramic pans require a small amount of oil to prevent food from sticking. Using tiny bits of oil also helps the pan coating last long.

Also read: Can You Microwave Ceramic Bowls?

Wrapping Up

You have to care for the things you buy if you want them to last long ‒ and your ceramic pan is no exception. The more your ceramic pan lasts, the more benefits you will enjoy from it.

Like other investments, learning how to season your ceramic pan and care for it plays a significant role in maintaining this expensive investment.

We hope this post has shown you that there are easy, quick, and simple ways to season and care for your ceramic pan.

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