The Evolution Of Ceramic Cookware: Exploring The Fully Ceramic Cast Iron Revolution

Fully ceramic cast iron cookware sets are a great way to elevate your cooking experience. With their sleek enamel coating, these durable pots and pans offer quick and even heat distribution, resulting in perfectly cooked meals every time. The sets usually include various-sized pieces, such as skillets, saucepans, and Dutch ovens, providing a comprehensive collection for all your culinary needs. The enamel coating not only protects the cookware from rust but also eliminates the need for seasoning, making it easier to maintain than traditional cast iron. Additionally, the glossy surface is a breeze to clean and offers a bit of a non-stick advantage. These sets come in an array of stylish hues, allowing you to add a pop of colour to your kitchen and dining space. Whether you're a home chef, a newlywed couple, or a new homeowner, fully ceramic cast iron cookware sets are an excellent investment for those seeking both functionality and style.

Enameled cast iron skillets

However, the enamel coating is prone to chipping, scratching, and staining. Extreme temperature changes can cause thermal shock and lead to potential cracking. Despite this, enameled cast iron skillets are still a great choice for various cooking tasks, such as pan-roasting or frying eggs.

Staub 10-Inch Fry Pan

This skillet offers fantastic quality, performance, and ease of use. It has flared sides that allow for even browning and easy spatula access. It is also relatively lightweight, heating up quickly and evenly. The maximum heat rating is 900°F, which is significantly higher than most home ovens. While the Staub skillet performs well, it did show some slight uneven cooking during the cornbread test. Additionally, the helper handle is on the smaller side.

Le Creuset Signature Enameled Cast Iron Skillet

This skillet is a close second to the Staub offering. It heats up evenly and sears steak well. It also has flared sides, making it easy to maneuver a spatula inside the pan. This skillet is a favorite among many editors. However, it takes a little longer to heat up compared to the Staub skillet.

Crock Pot Artisan Cast Iron Skillet

If you're looking for a budget-friendly option, the Crock Pot skillet is an excellent choice, offering similar performance to more expensive models. It has a smooth, enameled interior that allows for easy flipping of fried eggs. While the white enamel interior requires a bit more effort to clean, it doesn't seem to stain or discolour. The high sides make it difficult to use an offset spatula, and it is not dishwasher-safe.

Lodge Enameled Cast Iron Skillet

The Lodge skillet fried perfect over-easy eggs but was disqualified due to low heat absorption, leading to a poorly seared steak.

Enameled cast iron Dutch ovens

Le Creuset Enameled Cast Iron Dutch Oven

Le Creuset is a well-known and trusted brand when it comes to enameled cast iron cookware. Their Dutch ovens come in a range of sizes, from 1 quart to 13.25 quarts, and a variety of colors to match any kitchen's style. The high-quality enamel cast iron has a tight-fitting lid, important for heat retention, and a phenolic knob that can be replaced with a stainless-steel knob for high-temperature cooking. The Le Creuset Dutch oven performs well in heat distribution and retention, with excellent browning capabilities. While it is on the pricier side, Le Creuset is known for its durability, and its products come with a lifetime warranty.

Staub Enameled Cast Iron Dutch Oven

Another trusted brand in the enameled cast iron cookware space is Staub. Their Dutch ovens come in a variety of sizes, from 0.25 quarts to 13.25 quarts, and a range of colors. The Staub Dutch oven has a flat lid with nubs on the interior that promote even distribution of condensed water back onto the food. The black enamel interior may make it slightly harder to see fond development, but it does an excellent job of browning meat and hiding scratches. Staub also has a solid reputation for standing behind its lifetime warranty.

Lodge Enameled Cast Iron Dutch Oven

Lodge offers a more affordable option for those looking for an enameled cast iron Dutch oven without compromising on quality. Their Dutch ovens come in a variety of colors and sizes, from 1.5 quarts to 7.5 quarts. The Lodge Dutch oven has a porcelain enamel finish, which is chip-resistant and easy to clean. It has superior heat distribution and retention, with a tightly fitting lid to seal in moisture. While some customers have reported durability issues, Lodge is a family-owned company with a long history of making high-quality cookware.

Crock-Pot Artisan Enameled Cast Iron Dutch Oven

For those on a budget, the Crock-Pot Artisan Enameled Cast Iron Dutch Oven is a great option. It comes in a variety of colors and sizes, from 3 quarts to 7 quarts. The cast iron build provides even heat distribution and retention, and the lid's texture creates a self-basting feature, ensuring your food stays moist. The oversized handles make it easy to grip, even with pot holders on. While some customers have reported issues with the enamel chipping and cracking, the Crock-Pot Artisan Dutch Oven is an excellent value for the price.

Enameled cast iron braisers

Le Creuset Enameled Cast Iron Braiser

This braiser is a top choice, known for its spacious cooking surface, large lid knob, and easy-to-grip handles. It is highly durable and comes in a range of colors, making it a beautiful addition to your dinner table. It is available in a standard 3.5-quart size and a larger 5-quart size, perfect for cooking for a bigger group. While it is a more expensive option, its quality and performance make it a worthwhile investment.

Crock Pot Artisan Enameled Cast Iron Braiser

If you're looking for a more budget-friendly option, the Crock Pot Artisan braiser is a great choice. It offers a similar cooking surface size to the Le Creuset braiser but at a more affordable price. It comes in a range of colors and is compatible with induction cooktops. However, it is on the heavier side, and its durability is not on par with some of the higher-end options.

Misen Enameled Cast Iron Braiser

The Misen braiser stands out for its huge capacity and super-wide surface area, making it ideal for cooking for a crowd. It is easy to clean and highly durable, with enamel that does not chip or scratch. However, its weight may be a downside for some users, as it is quite heavy.

Staub Cast Iron Braiser

The Staub braiser is another excellent option, known for its durability and performance. It features a matte black interior that is impossible to stain, making it perfect for heavy-duty use. The handles are angled upwards, providing good leverage for moving the pan, although they are on the smaller side. This braiser is also an expensive option.

Lodge Enameled Cast Iron Braiser

The Lodge braiser is a good choice, offering a 3.6-quart capacity and dual handles. It is oven-safe up to 500°F and can be used on the stovetop for marinating, cooking, baking, refrigerating, and serving. It comes in a Caribbean blue color and is a popular option, with many positive reviews.

These are just a few examples of the enameled cast iron braisers available on the market. Each has its own unique features and benefits, so it's essential to consider your specific needs and preferences when making a decision.

Enameled cast iron saucepans

When selecting an enameled cast iron saucepan, consider the size, finish, and brand. Size depends on the number of people you typically cook for and the types of recipes you like to make. The finish, or colour of the enamel coating, can be chosen to match your kitchen and dining space. If you are building a cookware collection, you may want to keep the look consistent by selecting multiple pieces by the same brand.

• Le Creuset Enameled Cast Iron Signature Saucepan: This 2.25-quart saucepan comes in a range of colours, including Cerise, Artichoke, and White. It has a tight-fitting lid and can be purchased individually or as part of a larger cookware set.
• Healthy Choices 2 Qt Enameled Cast Iron Saucepan with Lid: This small saucepan is perfect for making small servings of pasta sauce, gravy, and puddings. It can be used on all cooktops up to 500°F and is dishwasher-safe.
• Larder & Vine 2.2 Quart Enameled Cast Iron Saucepan with Lid: This saucepan features a shortened long handle for more control and a support handle for easy movement around the kitchen. It also has pour spouts on both sides to drain pan juices without making a mess.
• Crock-Pot 3 Qt Enamel Cast Iron Sauce Pan: This matte linen white saucepan is a stylish addition to your kitchen.
• Enameled Cast Iron Mini Saucepan: This 1-quart saucepan with a lid and long handle comes in a vibrant purple colour.

Enameled cast iron cookware sets

Enameled cast iron cookware is a great addition to your kitchen. It is incredibly durable and conducts heat quickly and evenly for exceptional cooking results. The enamel coating provides protection from rust and doesn't need to be seasoned, plus it can handle high temperatures. Some sets can even be washed in the dishwasher.

When selecting your enameled cast iron cookware set, consider the size of the pieces, the finish, the brand, and whether you want a set or individual pieces. Size depends on the number of people you typically cook for and the types of recipes you like to make. The finish, or colour, can be chosen to match your kitchen and dining space. If you're building a collection, you may want to keep the look consistent by selecting multiple pieces from the same brand.

There are a variety of enameled cast iron cookware sets available from different brands, including Le Creuset, Lodge, Crock Pot, Staub, and more. These sets typically include a range of pieces such as skillets, saucepans, Dutch ovens, casserole dishes, and frying pans, along with lids. Some sets offer non-stick coatings, oversized handles, and oven-safe capabilities.

While enamel provides protection and ease of use, it is prone to chipping, scratching, and staining. Extreme temperature changes can cause thermal shock and potential cracking. However, with proper care, enameled cast iron cookware can last for generations.

Frequently asked questions