Ceramic-coated pans have been my great cooking companion for a long time now. I use them regularly for all kinds of casual or party dinners. Due to some careless handling and washing practices, the coatings of my ceramic pans started chipping off. Despite wasting money on some other cheap products, I thought to mend these pans at home. And I did it!

I fix these coatings at home, using basic ingredients that are readily available at every home. I know you’re in the same boat with me; that’s why you’re here. Keep reading and learn how to make a ceramic pan nonstick again.

In this blog post, I’ll help you understand the sensitive nature of your ceramic cookware and how to fix its coatings. I’ve also shared some tips that can help your pan stay uncracked for longer.

Without further undo, let’s begin with some handy methods to cure your damaged ceramic-coated cookware.

How to make a ceramic pan nonstick again using ingredients from your kitchen?

Begin the repairing process with a clean and smooth pan. So deep cleansing is our first stage of repairing a nonstick ceramic coating.

Cleanse your pan with water, vinegar, and baking soda (pre-seasoning essentials)

Trust the exfoliating power of baking soda to clean your burnt or scratched ceramic pans easily.

1st Method

The trick is to mix 1 cup of baking soda with ⅓ cup of plain water to make a thick paste. Cover the surface of your pan with this paste and bring it to boil for 2 minutes. Later, wash it off with a recommended soft brush or cotton pad.

2nd Method

Pour half cup of white vinegar, 2 tbsp of baking soda, and 2 cups of water into your pan. You can choose to heat the pan or let it fizz in the normal water. (This fizz will require extra water and time for rinsing)

Soak the pan in this mixture for about 20-30 minutes. Scrub it off gently once the leftover or stuck food has loosened its grip on the pan. Discard this mixture, clean it with recommended dishwasher liquid or cotton pads, and let it air dry.

3rd Method

Pour a cup of vinegar into a pan full of water, turn on the flame, and bring the mixture to a boil. This hot mixture will help to deglaze the leftover sticky food.

Throw this liquid to sink and cover the entire surface of the pan with baking soda. Rub it gently to remove the stains and wash it off with normal water. Let it dry in fresh air for 4-5 hours. Rinse with water before subsequent use.

As mentioned above, the primary purpose of these methods is to deep cleanse the pan before seasoning or before subsequent use. The scraps of previously cooked meals can catalyze the next stain or scratch. So, it’s mandatory to treat it appropriately before starting the recoating procedure.

Use salt to recoat your damaged ceramic pan.

The easiest thing I’ve learned during my cooking class is “how to make a ceramic pan nonstick again with salt.”

Let me share this most simple recipe, so you can also repair your scratched ceramic pans quickly. Salt being the king of every meal, is readily available on every countertop.

To regain the ceramic coating of your pan with salt, follow these simple steps.

1. Put your pan on a burner or stovetop and fill it with salt. You can use any kind of salt for filling. Make sure it fully covers the scratched surface of your pan. (You can also heat the pan using any oil with a high smoke point and then sprinkling salt over this heated surface)
2. Heat the salt until it starts smoking. Discard the burnt smoky salt in the bin/sink and wipe the surface with some oil of your choice. Let it cool and rinse it with normal water.
3. Repeat the smoking process followed by oil 3-4 times. You’ll feel a visible difference in the texture and toughness of your pan’s coating.
4. Skip rinsing with water and let the oil polymerize on the surface for better finishing.

Season your scratched pans with oil

Seasoning your pan with oils is the most common method to preserve or extend the life of nonstick cookware. Seasoning your pan with some thick oil coats a polymerized layer over its surface. I love using olive or coconut oil as both of these are safe, edible, and readily available inside my kitchen. You can use peanut or vegetable oils as well.

This layer binds and seals the scratched surface, preventing it from further damage.

Follow this 4 step guide and master the art of seasoning your damaged or weary ceramic pans.

Step 1:

Cleans your pan thoroughly to remove adhered food residues. Skipping this part can damage your pan further, making stains and scratches more challenging to remove.

Step 2:

Preheat your pan on medium flame before initiating the seasoning process. The temperature of the pan should be within moderate ranges such that it doesn’t ignite the oil right away.

Step 3:

Pour a suitable amount of oil into your pan. Spread it evenly all over the surface, ensuring it doesn’t get super oily or leaves some empty spaces.

Step 4:

Leave it on a medium flame for a few seconds to 2 minutes. Let the oil absorb inside the cracks or scratches and leave a firm, polymerized coating.

Step 5:

Remove the pan from the stovetop or flame and spread the leftover oil over the coating using a cotton towel or paper. Don’t rinse your seasoned pan with water. Let it dry at room temperature and store in a safe place.

Every time you wash your pans, make sure it doesn’t collide with other objects in the storage cabinet. Collision or abrasion also increases the chance of further damage.

Try nonstick cookware repair spray.

Nonstick cookware repair sprays are known to restore damaged ceramic coatings. These sprays are the most sought-after products that provide instant solutions to your ceramic-related problems. Their application procedure is quite simple.

Before spraying:

1. Make sure your pans are washed and cleaned properly.
2. Sprinkle the spray over the dried pan, making sure it completely covers the scratches and damaged surface.
3. Give it a stay time of 30 minutes to an hour.

Later bake this pan in a preheated oven for around 30-45 minutes. It will strengthen the ceramic coatings, making your pan reusable. Nonstick repair sprays can be a good option if you’re looking for temporary fixing solutions. For long-lasting results, I recommend seasoning your damaged pans with your favorite oils.

Replace your nonstick pans if needed

The matter of replacing your worn-out nonstick pans needs to be addressed beforehand. Don’t put your health in danger just for the sake of saving some bucks or a scratched nonstick pan.

If you’ve been using, seasoning, or repairing a nonstick pan for a long time now, I suggest you replace this damaged pan with a new one. Some scratches are irreversible and can’t be repaired with seasonings or other treatments. The more scratches your pan has, the more toxic it gets.

Do ceramic pans lose their sticky coating?

Yes, ceramic-coated pans lose their nonstick coatings as they grow old. Our careless practices can make the ceramic coatings lose their tensile strength and stability. Chipped-off ceramic coatings not only damage your cookware but also make your meals toxic.

These damaged pans are prone to erosion which even worsens the situation. So let’s understand the root causes behind this damage and discover how to make ceramic pans nonstick again.

Exposing your pans to extreme heating

Yes, ceramic coatings can chip off or scratch due to extreme temperature conditions. If your cooking practices demand high temperatures, try switching to brands that claim to be oven or heat-safe. You still need to be careful with these oven-safe cookware, as they can also melt away after crossing their safe limits.

Another factor to consider is the sudden transition in temperature while cooking with nonstick cookware. Immersing your red hot pans in cold water can change the molecular structure or composition of their coatings. These altered coatings become less resistant to environmental stress and start scratching earlier than expected.

Using abrasive ladles or stirrers while cooking

The manufacturing companies emphasize using ceramic coated, safe and compatible utensils with nonstick pans. Unnecessary use of hard ladles is strictly prohibited for nonstick cookware. These curvy and sharp-edged utensils impose pressure that causes injury to ceramic coatings.

Improper cleaning and maintenance practices

Don’t ever hand over your nonstick pans and pots to dishwasher machines. Even using harsh dishwasher liquids or scrubbing tools can cause irreversible damage to ceramic coatings. Sharp scrubbers remove the nonstick coating and expose the metallic base to the outside environment.

Another reason behind these scratches could be their improper maintenance. These maintenance mistakes include:

• Storing chemicals or processed foods for a longer duration inside these pans
• Improperly stacking these pans over each other.
• Unnecessary or frequent seasoning of the pan

How to prevent ceramic pans from getting sticky?

Remember how they suggest: “Prevention is better than cure”? So before getting your hands onto curing guides, let’s learn how to take care of your nonstick pans. It will save your investment (both time and money) and make your cookware last longer.

Following simple precautionary steps can benefit your cookware in the long term.

Hygienic cleaning is a must for your nonstick pans.

Residual food leaves perfect bedding for tough stains as well as microbial infestation.

The way we cleanse our cookware matters a lot. Every metallic, clay or nonstick pan has its individual characteristics. Each cookware has its specific nature, chemical/mechanical composition, and cleaning & maintenance properties. Wash nonstick cookware with extra care and attention. Avoid harsh exfoliants such as bleach, steel scrubbers, and mechanical washers. These exfoliating agents penetrate the coating by creating cracks or holes and reach the hidden metallic base. This metallic base then starts leaching carcinogenic compounds to your cooked food items.

Thus, better cleaning practices make your nonstick pan stay in your kitchen for longer.

Monitor cooking temperatures carefully.

Don’t rush while cooking in nonstick ceramic cookware. Being highly temperature-sensitive, the coatings of these cookwares can melt or chip off within a few uses.

Memorize this 3D temperature monitoring formula to avoid safety risks in the future.

• Don’t cook frozen food in nonstick pans.
• Don’t put the empty pan on the stovetop.
• Don’t immerse extreme hot or cold pans directly underwater.

 It’s better to thaw and wash the frozen food carefully before cooking. It will not only help in cooking but also reduces the microbial load in thawed food.

Before baking or roasting in the oven, make sure your pans are oven-safe. Even if they are safe for use in the oven, don’t exceed the recommended temperature limits.

A small quantity of butter and oils can ease cooking.

Ceramic or nonstick pans cook great without oils or butter then why do I need to add them while cooking? The answer to this question is simple. Even the best brands recommend adding small quantities of oils to avoid food sticking on the surface of your pan.

You don’t need to add tons or larger quantities of fat in nonstick pans for cooking. Adding a teaspoon or twice of oil will help the food come out quickly without sticking to the coating of your pan.

Stuck food usually serves as a building stone for tough stains. Every time the strength of these residues increases, the nonstick coating loses its durability. Hence, to keep the ceramic coatings intact, it’s better to use a small oil quantity rather than go oil-free.

Not all nonstick pans are great storage containers.

I’m saying this by my personal experience to not store your leftover food for longer in cracked nonstick pans.

Aluminum is an excellent heat carrier that helps cooking food evenly, but it’s not safe for human health, especially when it’s coming from chemically coated surfaces.

Some companies employ other metals such as lead, copper, and mercury in small quantities. These heavy metals can seep into your stored food and cause diseases [1].

Poisoning due to lead and mercury could be due to the mishandling of food commodities. Elevated levels of aluminum in the human body are found in association with cognitive disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease. 

Use compatible cooking and serving utensils.

Mixing with iron or sharp metallic forks or stirrers is a massive spoiler for your non-stick-coated pans. Try using compatible soft utensils with your nonstick cookware. In case you’re in a hurry or can’t manage to find soft ceramic spoons for cooking, keep these mixing rules in mind:

1. Don’t scratch or stab the stuck food particles.
2. Mix the food without being hard on the pan
3. Avoid contacting the base of your pan as minimum as possible

Apart from sharp utensils, avoid dropping your nonstick pans on the ground or some hard surfaces.

A small crack is enough to create a mess with the nonstick coatings. Being careful while cooking can save extra time and effort.

Are nonstick pans and pots worth the hype?

The nonstick Teflon-coated cookwares ruled out traditional cooking utensils through their remarkable characteristics. These Teflon-coated pans, pots, and other accessories are easy to clean, manage, and cook. Teflon ruled the cookware industry until it was associated with carcinogenic compounds [2].

What is Teflon-coated cookware?

The polymerization of plastic yields Teflon. This polymerized network is sprayed or coated over metallic cookwares to improve your cooking experience.

Studies have shown that Teflon releases toxic fumes and constituents such as PFOAs, and PTFE on heating. These hazardous compounds cause several other disasters such as high blood pressure, liver and kidney intoxication, and respiratory distress [3].

In 2015, ceramic-coated nonstick pans and pots revolutionized the cookware industry. These cookwares are pretty more effective than their counterpart Teflon-coated brands.

Let’s dive deeper and discover the advantages of using nonstick ceramic-coated cookware.

Cooks healthier and safe food

Nonstick ceramic-coated pans are safe from a health and cooking point of view. These cookwares are not coated with plastic, thus are pretty safe from PFAOs and PTFE fumes. Moreover, it requires little to no oil for cooking as compared to stainless or metallic cookware. This is the main reason why it’s highly recommended by doctors all over the world.

Now patients with diabetes, high cholesterol, or obesity issues don’t need to go the extra mile for healthier cooking options.

Safe for environment

Ceramic-coated nonstick cookware doesn’t add to environmental pollution. The safe sol-gel network of these coatings doesn’t emit toxic fumes. The fumes emitted by Teflon were also responsible for polluting natural resources such as air, water reservoirs, and soil.

Its heat dissipation mechanism keeps the temperature in control. This way, it does not contribute to raising environmental heat, thinning of the ozone layer, or greenhouse effects.

If you want to be a great humanitarian chef, go for ceramic-coated nonstick pans.

Nonstick pans are easier to clean

Washing a nonstick pan is as simple as washing your hands. As the name reflects, nonstick pans don’t capture your food items while cooking or mixing. You just need to wash it off simply using a mild soap or hot water. You don’t need to waste your energy scrubbing the adhered food particles.

As compared to stainless steel or metallic cookware, nonstick pans are pretty easy to maintain as well. These cookwares don’t require regular seasoning before use.

Unique designs and vibrant color schemes

The nonstick ceramic-coated colors are not just resistant to scratch but also satisfy your aesthetic horizons. I personally love cooking in utensils that match the color scheme of my kitchen. Brands like greenpan and greenlife have introduced these aesthetic-colored features.

Now you can serve directly from your stovetop or oven without transiting between other serving platters.

Some ceramic-coated cookwares are safe to use in the oven.

Only chefs or cooking experts are exposed to the dark sides of cooking or baking in an oven. Regular plastic, glass, or even Teflon-coated pans melt or collapse when placed inside the oven at high temperatures. It doesn’t only damage your pans but also puts your personal safety at risk.

Thermolon (a type of ceramic coating) coated nonstick pans are safe at a temperature ranging from (350-850℉). It implies that these cookwares are safe to place inside the oven, on the burner, or stovetop.

The lids, handles, or coatings of the pans remain safe and intact within this temperature range.

Durability

Ceramic-coated cookware is way more durable than regular plastic, glass, and Teflon-coated cookware. These pans are mostly made with aluminum, that’s a good conductor of heat. The pans provide equal heating to all over its surface, which means no part of your meal remains undercooked. The oven-safe options and heat dissipation mechanism adds power to its durable features. 

Moreover, your (unbroken) ceramic-coated nonstick cookwares are almost unreactive to chemical spills. You’re free to pour any kind of liquid food or preservative into these pans.

Affordable than stainless fewer utensils

The lightweight nonstick ceramic pans are inexpensive than stainless steel utensils!

There are 2 primary reasons behind the pricing range for both cookware.

1. Manufacturing cost
    The stainless steel utensils are heavier than nonstick ceramic pans. These heavy utensils are made of the multi-layered original steel, while ceramic pans are made of aluminum.
2. Metallic nature
   Stainless steel is more pure, expensive, and durable than aluminum.

Despite these natural characteristics, aluminum-coated cookwares serve better in transferring heat. Stainless steel has a long list of disadvantages when compared with ceramic-coated nonstick pans. Cutting long story short, stainless steel pans are expensive yet less beneficial than nonstick ceramic ones.

An excellent choice for beginners and expert chefs

Whether you’re new to cooking or an expert chef, nonstick pans are great for your cooking journey. You can cook, bake, fry, sauté, simmer, or roast like an expert without putting extra effort with your nonstick ceramic pans.

The pans come with a guide that includes instructions for cooking different recipes. You’re free to use these pans without seasoning or hectic maintenance. The large spacious pans serve best for chefs who want to cook luxurious dinners for grand parties. 

So why not invest in something worth paying??

Frequently asked questions related to recoating ceramic pan.

Recoating your ceramic pan could be overwhelming for first-timers. You might wonder whether these methods are safe for your pans or not. First thing first, everything you see on the internet isn’t necessarily true.

Let me help you answer all your queries on how to make your ceramic pan nonstick again.

Is it safe to use cookware coating spray to repair my nonstick pan?

Yes, cookware coating sprays that restore the nonstick ceramic are safe for your pans and pots. You can bake these lightweight sprays over the damaged surface of your pan when the damage is less severe.

These sprays are not a long-term repairing solution for your cracked ceramic coatings. You need to season your pan at home or get expert advice.

Why can’t I use my scratched nonstick ceramic pan?

Scratched ceramic coatings are hazardous for health. Nonstick coatings are unreactive until they are intact. Once broken, these coatings start releasing PFAOs or other carcinogenic compounds. The scratches or cracks in these coatings leach out heavy chemicals from the base that enter your food and render it unsafe for your health.

Can I recoat my ceramic pan at home?

Yes, you can recoat your nonstick ceramic pan at home without any technical knowledge. But you have to be mindful while handling ingredients inside your pan. I’ve shared different methods and step-by-step guides to help you restore your nonstick coatings. The ingredients mentioned above can vary depending on the size of your pan. You can adjust this quantity according to the dimensions of your pan.

Does overheating damage the coating of my nonstick pan?

Yes, frequent overheating can disturb the composition of ceramic coating, making it weak and less durable. You should avoid putting empty nonstick cookware over burners or stovetops. Try coating your pan with a thin layer of vegetable oil, and then expose it to flame. It will bake the coating and prevent its chipping off from the surface of the metallic base.

What type of salt can I use for restoring the nonstick of my pan?

You can literally use any salt to restore the ceramic coatings of your pan. Whether you use sea salt, kosher salt, or pink diet salt at home, just pour it in your pan, smoke it, and discard. The salt toughens the ceramic coatings and fills the scratches, making it inert for temporary use.

Does seasoning with oil or smoking with salt provide a permanent solution for cracked nonstick pans?

No, seasoning or smoking with salt only provides a temporary solution to your scratched nonstick coatings. Once broken, you have to season your pans over and over again. The only permanent solution is to replace it with a new one.

Can I cook acidic foods or soups in broken ceramic pans?

No, you should never simmer your sour soups in scratched ceramic nonstick pans. Acidic soups are the ones that contain lime, tomato, or any other acidic ingredients. These acidic constituents react with the exposed metallic base and start reacting with its chemicals. It could prove hazardous for health and pans.

Are there any alternatives to nonstick ceramic pans?

Yes, your cooking range shouldn’t end at ceramic-coated nonstick pans. Every type of cookware has its pros and cons. You can use glass, plastic, or clay pots for cooking healthy foods. These are less stronger as compared to ceramic pans but serve better than Teflon or stainless steel. These optional cookwares are susceptible to damage over long-term exposure to heat.

The bottom line

Getting your nonstick pans scratched is nothing less than a nightmare. But the good thing is, you can season these scratched or damaged nonstick pans at home without wasting extra money on their maintenance. I know how to make a ceramic pan nonstick again because I had been there mourning over the damage of my favorite nonstick pan.

I season my pans and pots using the same recipe and ingredients, and the results are always satisfying.