It is getting tougher to find good cookware options. It seems like many of the nonstick or easy clean options contain harmful chemicals or heavy metals, while the natural options lead to sticking and are hard to clean.
Xtrema Ceramic Cookware
Several years ago, I got some Xtrema cookware as a Christmas present. I’d been trying to find good pots and pans after getting rid of my non-stick pans. I was frustrated with eggs sticking to cast iron and coated cast iron, and we only had one small stainless steel pan that didn’t stick terribly.
I was skeptical at first about Xtrema… It’s all ceramic (not metal) and while beautiful, I doubted how well it would cook. I also wondered about the safety/durability of ceramic cookware, so I researched it. (I envisioned a mix between a ceramic tile and a clay pot) Turns out that when properly made, ceramic cookware is very durable and a choice of some top chefs.
Convenience
It took me a few days to adjust to cooking with Xtrema but I was really impressed with how well it cooked. Though it takes longer to heat up (about 3 minutes), I’m able to cook on lower heat and without it sticking.
I also really like how easy Xtrema is to clean. It’s the only cookware I’ve ever found that encourages using steel wool, baking soda, or any other abrasive cleaner. From their website:
Clean Xtrema cookware just like you would metal cookware. You can use Baking Soda, Soft Scrub, Bon Ami, Comet and Ajax powered cleaners along with steel wool SOS and Brillo pads and heavy duty scrub sponges on the inside and outside of your Xtrema cookware. Do not worry; you cannot scratch the Xtrema cookware surface!
Safety of Ceramic
Some sources have brought up safety concerns about ceramic cookware, claiming some contain lead and other harmful heavy metals in dangerous amounts. Specifically, testing with an XRF (X-ray fluorescence) instrument showed the presence of lead, chromium, and other metals.
Since I’ve used these pans for years, it’s important to be able to verify their safety. After months of research and talking to specialists, I’m still comfortable using this cookware, as it passes all stringent California Prop 65 testing, as well as third-party leach testing, and they publish all of their results here.
Additionally, an XRF device is not an approved way to test for the ability of these metals to leach. This means that although there may be small amounts of these compounds naturally occurring in the clay used to make this cookware, leach testing confirms that they are not migrating into food.
I also confirmed that no harmful nano-particles are used in production and that each batch is lab tested to ensure safety.
Xtrema Pros
- Very easy to clean
- Nonreactive
- Cooks well on low heat
- Safe to use on high heat (500+ degrees)
- Dishwasher safe
- Oven safe
- Stove safe
- Fridge/freezer safe
- Won’t scratch or flake
Xtrema Cons
- Can break if dropped
- Takes slightly longer to heat up than regular metal cookware
Xtrema: My Opinion
After exhaustive research, I consider Xtrema one of the highest quality cookware options. After confirming safety data from independent labs, I’m comfortable using this cookware for myself and my family and have many of their pieces in my kitchen. It is easier to clean than most cookware and won’t scratch.
The only downside is that it’s not non-stick like some other types of cookware and takes a little adjustment if you’re used to those. Unfortunately, I’ve never found any safe non-stick options to recommend, and consider Xtrema a good alternative.
As an affiliate partner of Xtrema, I was able to negotiate a discount for my readers. If you decide to try any of their cookware, you can save 15% with the code WM15X at this link.
What kind of cookware do you use? Would you try ceramic? Share below!
Love their coconut oil, never tried their shredded coconut! I use it all the time (most often in my paleo energy bars from Mark’s Daily Apple) but always just get it at the grocery. I’m betting that TT’s is better!
Hey Katie! I love using coconut because the oil is so completely tasteless… and so healthy! And, shredded has that body and sense of sweetness that is delish! Thank you, Analise
My favorite thing about cooking with coconut… that’s tough, since I adore coconut! The taste, the texture, the health benefits. I love it all!
I love using coconut in grain free muffins for added texture and flavor!
What I love about cooking with coconut is just about everything, but I’m having a hard time finding unsweetened in the stores. Last time I bought it must have been about a year ago.
Rose – its also great for your skin and our family uses it as a body lotion too. Wonderful product. 🙂
I’m coconut crazy these days, using the oil to make deodorant and body wash and using it as lotion. I just made your energy bars recently and am now addicted to them, especially with coconut and cocoa added! Love your newsletter and like you on facebook! I’d love nothing more than to win the coconut and keep experimenting with new things to put it in! Thanks so much!
I didn’t use to like coconut at all, but over the last several months I’ve been trying it in different things and now, I love it!
I’m sort of new to low carb but I’m learning quickly. I’m loving your recipes. I’m using coconut oil now but haven’t used shredded coconut yet. Thanks for the contest!
I love using Coconut oil in my smoothies, or for making healthy fudge with peanut butter and cocoa! I also love the finely shredded coconut in macaroons!
I love using cocnut oil as lotion! Works better than any ‘regular’ lotion. Love your blog, by the way. I also subscribe to your newsletter 🙂
I also did Crossroads and met my husband doing work in the ministry as well, fun little common denominator 🙂
You sure are spot-on on this one. The biggest contributor for toxins in our body is through the food we eat and stuff that unknowingly becomes part of our food. After a lot of research on non-toxic cookware (having suffered the direct consequences of cooking in metals) i found Miriam’s Earthen Cookware: pots for cooking made from pure, tested natural clay. These are fantastic! They are non-reactive, have no metals, chemicals, glazes or toxins and do a great job cooking my food. The taste of the food is superior to that of the same dish prepared in a metal pot. Most importantly it seals most of the nutrients in (works like an oven). I got mine from mecware.us
I am from the UK. And I can’t buy most of these items listed on this site. And sadly still these healthy alternative pots pans and things are so expensive. I’m trying to add up everything I need for homemade ingredients and products it’s great most of them are from the same sources. But filters are one off and so are cooking ware options but they are too expensive for me. 🙁 I wish there was another way to get hold of the non toxic items and pure items and also for fairer prices. I don’t know why pure products cost more than added chemicals ones. Factories work harder in additives than natural sources. I always wanted to do pottery maybe perhaps I can make myself my own cooking ware. I know metals are to be avoided too so plastic ? Man this is all getting too much to take in and organise. My kitchen is being refitted. Does that mean my worktops need to be anti toxic too ? But it would mean I can buy new kitchen ware that is non toxic 😉 maybe chop board non toxic will do for toxic surfaces ? Filter for shower seen as I use my shower in the bath too 😉 as I have no other source of hot water I think to invest in long term filter for my drinking water n cooking ware will be good in time. But to make them would be more ideal wonder how can go about that ? 😉
But Miriam’s is secretive about the ingredients in the clay. All clay has at least trace amounts of lead and arsenic. Because Miriam’s is unsealed it leaches into the food. People have said in reviews that their house smelled of clay for hours after cooking. Also several people said they felt physically unwell after using it. I would want to know exactly what her clay ingredients are. Even then I wouldn’t cook on unsealed clay. Also there were comments that when cleaning it the water was red. I think it’s one of those things that sounds nice but I’m not at all convinced about the safety of it.
Thank you for that comment. Good points and experience knowledge.