How to clean a ceramic pan
Wash it by hand once it has cooled, with mild soap and a soft sponge, and soak anything stuck. A baking soda paste now and then lifts the dull film.
On this page
Clean it in five steps
- Let the pan cool completely before it goes near water.
- Wash it by hand with mild dish soap and a soft sponge or cloth, even if the box says dishwasher safe.
- If food has stuck, leave warm water in the pan for a while, then wipe it clean.
- Every so often, rub a paste of baking soda and a little water over the cooking surface to lift built-up residue, then rinse it all off.
- Dry the pan, and put a cloth or pan protector on it before stacking another pan inside.
What to avoid
- Steel wool and scouring pads.
- Metal or sharp utensils: All-Clad says metal can chip, scratch or wear down the ceramic.
- Cooking spray, which leaves a film that builds up.
- Heating the pan empty or on high: All-Clad calls high heat the number one cause of early wear.
- The dishwasher.
Burnt food on a ceramic pan
Work from gentle to stronger and stop when it comes clean. First simmer water with a little dish soap for 10 to 15 minutes. Then try one part white vinegar to three parts water, simmered for 5 to 10 minutes, with 1 to 2 tablespoons of baking soda stirred in off the heat. Last, leave a thick baking soda paste on the burnt spots for 15 to 30 minutes. Wipe with a soft sponge each time and rinse thoroughly, because leftover baking soda can dull the finish.
When it starts to stick
GreenPan names the habits that wear a ceramic coating fastest: overheating, cooking spray and metal utensils. Before giving up on a pan that has turned dull or sticky, give it the baking soda deep clean; GreenPan says it can bring a tired surface back. If food still sticks afterwards, or the coating is chipping or flaking, the pan may be near the end.
Ceramic or regular nonstick?
Both kinds of coating are cleaned the same gentle way. The differences show up on the stove and in the dishwasher: All-Clad rates its ceramic nonstick pans to 450°F in the oven against 500°F for its other nonstick pans, and says the ceramic ones should not go in the dishwasher.