Ceramic cookware is trending big time in the kitchen category today. You’ve probably seen ceramic cookware reviews or demos on your social media feed — but not all ceramic cookware is created equal.
The Two Types of Ceramic Cookware
There are two distinct types — pure, all-ceramic cookware, like Xtrema Cookware — and ceramic-coated nonstick cookware. And there’s a big difference between the two. Pure ceramic cookware is truly natural — crafted from clay, water, and natural oxides. It’s stood the test of time, we’re talking over 10,000 years, to be exact, and Xtrema Cookware has brought it to the forefront of today’s modern kitchens.
Xtrema’s line of ceramic cookware, featured in our guide to the best non-toxic cookware, bakeware guide, and the best ceramic cookware sets tested, is versatile and natural – the perfect tools to start new traditions in your kitchen.
Here’s What Makes Xtrema’s Cookware Unique & Safe
It Doesn’t Have a Coating or Metal Core
Unlike other popular lines of “ceramic cookware,” Xtrema cookware doesn’t have a silicon coating (or any coating!), or a metal core (which is usually composed of multiple layers of aluminum and or stainless steel). So there’s no need to worry about a chemical-laden coating flaking into your food, leaching heavy metals, or reacting to acidic foods, like white and red wine sauces, or those delicious tomato bases.
It’s Free of Forever Chemicals
Besides heavy metals, Xtrema ceramic cookware is also free of dangerous “forever chemicals” including PFAS, PTFE, and PFOAs. These toxic chemicals are linked to some serious human health and environmental risks because they don’t break down in the environment and can collect in human blood and organs. 1, 2 Yikes.
“I love Xtrema’s pure ceramic cookware for slow cooking soups, stews and braises. The even, consistent, heat distribution these cookware vessels offer is fantastic. And because it’s 100% ceramic, I’m confident there’s no heavy metal leaching. I also love that these cookware vessels can go from stovetop, to oven to dinner table.”
Laura Klein
It Has Ah-mazing Heat Retention
Ceramics, like stoneware, are known for heat retention — ideal for low and slow cooking — which happens to be one of my favorite cooking techniques. And Xtrema cookware does it masterfully.
Ceramic naturally heats evenly and can withstand high and low temperatures, cooking food efficiently and evenly. However, cooking with ceramic may be a bit different than what you’re used to if you’ve been cooking with metal your whole life.
“Non-stick and metal cookware are designed for fast and high-heat cooking,” says Rick Bergstrom, Xtrema’s founder. “Xtrema is the complete opposite.”
Using low, slow heat with this cookware will help cook your food evenly and preserve your cookware.
The Family Behind the Brand
Xtrema’s founder, Rich Bergstrom, is a veteran of the cookware industry. As someone who is immunocompromised, Rich’s mission is to create the cleanest cookware possible.
According to the Xrema Team, the care modern consumers take with their food doesn’t always extend to their cookware — yet it should!
While some believe that cooking with iron skillets is a way to add natural minerals to their food, Bergman cautions that you may not actually be getting the intended benefits. He notes the following with regard to the iron that can leach from cast iron when it comes into contact with acidic foods:
“The fact is that iron comes in a ferrous and a ferric form. Our body was not designed to assimilate the iron (ferric) from cast iron cookware. This means that iron leaching from cast iron cookware is not bioavailable and it has no value to our bodies at the cellular level.”
Today the brand is run by Rich and his family — an authentic family-run company through and through.
According to the Xrema Team, the care modern consumers take with their food doesn’t always extend to their cookware — yet it should!
“If you care about where your food comes from or the nutritional value of the meals you serve,” they write, “then why are you settling in terms of the cookware you use to prepare food?” Enough said.
Here’s What Xtrema’s Cookware is Made Of
Constructed from flameware, a newer type of ceramic clay, Xtrema cookware is made of easy-to-understand, simple ingredients (pun intended!). The finished products are made from 100 percent pure ceramic materials — crafted from clay, water, and natural oxides, and triple-fired at 2,000 degrees. They’re California Prop 65 compliant, non-toxic, and certified PFAS, PTFE, and PFOA free, which is a big deal.
Xtrema is Third Party Tested
“Xtrema cookware is 100 percent ceramic — from the ceramic glaze to the ceramic core — to keep your meals healthy and flavorful,” says Bergstrom. “Most importantly, every shipment of Xtrema cookware is third party tested in accordance with California Prop 65 standards for lead and cadmium leaching.”
It’s also free of synthetic glues, polymers, and dyes. It’s tested and certified PFOA and PTFE free which is a big deal. All of these things add up to Xtrema being one of the safest, if not the safest, cookware on the market that I know of in my experience.
Here’s Where It’s Made
After searching the world over, and yes locally in the United States, for a manufacturer who could produce ceramic cookware to Rich’s standards, he returned to its country of origin, China. It’s the only country that’s made ceramics for 1000s of years. I know what you’re thinking, “Yikes, China!” However, not everything that comes out of China is poor quality.
“It’s shocking how many pots and pans are thrown out every year in the United States. Choosing more sustainable materials in your kitchen has a direct effect on limiting consumer waste.”
Rich Bergstrom, Xtrema Founder
Made by skilled Chinese artisans, each piece is handcrafted with a process that takes 20 days from start to finish, with a high-pressure casting mold and triple-firing at 2,0000 degrees for strength and durability.
My Experience Cooking with Xtrema’s Cookware
I’ve been testing Xtrema ceramic cookware for over 10 years. I’ve cooked with their Signature Skillet, the 10 QT Round Dutch Oven (which is ah-mazing for large one-dish dinners including family soups, stews, roasts, and more!), and their latest Classic Oval Dutch Oven at 7.5Qts (you can read my review of that Dutch here). I love the modern design and that it’s lighter than traditional cast iron Dutch ovens).
“The manufacturing process is vastly cleaner than producing metal cookware. Our product is handcrafted by highly skilled artisans, and we use clean-burning natural gas-fired kilns to fire our products.”
Rich Bergstrom, Xtrema Founder
You do have to adjust the way you heat your pot or pan when cooking with Xtrema’s ceramic cookware, though. You want to gradually heat up the cookware. Think of it like preheating an oven.
You’ll want to start it on low, to medium-low heat for the first 3-5 minutes, then add your desired healthy oil or fat, and then turn up the temperature if desired.
“When I first read Xtrema’s claim, I was skeptical. After all, there’s no nonstick coating.”
Laura Klein
In my experience, Xtrema cookware retains heat so well, that you may not need to cook dishes at as high a temperature as you’re used to, or for as long as you usually do.
For example, I roasted a whole chicken with baby rainbow carrots, potatoes, and garlic in the Classic Oval Dutch Oven with the lid on. The chicken was done 15 minutes before its usual total cook time, which is a huge plus for busy weeknights. To finish browning the chicken, I simply turned up the oven to 500 degrees Fahrenheit, and it turned out juicy and golden brown.
The Signature Skillet Tested
The Signature Skillet is a favorite of mine. I love cooking my morning eggs in it because they come out like baked eggs. I also use this skillet to cook this brunch favorite, shakshuka with feta and cilantro, warm dips like spinach and artichoke dip, and delicate proteins like salmon and chicken dishes and sauteed veg.
Because of their sleek modern design, these pans can go from stovetop to oven to table beautifully, eliminating the need for another serving dish (which means fewer dishes to clean).
You can even use Xtrema’s pots and pans in the microwave, on the grill or take them camping. They’re pretty darn versatile.
Exclusive code: Use code OA15 to save an extra 15% off your order at checkout.
Have a question for me about Xtrema or my experience? Drop it in the comments and I’ll get back to you!
The Natural Nonstick Claim Tested
Now lets discuss their “natural nonstick” claims. When I first read Xtrema’s claim, I was skeptical. After all, there’s no nonstick coating. Their website and packaging directions tell you to “Heat the pan on low, to medium, for two-three minutes, then add a healthy oil/fat to create a naturally non-stick surface.”
So I tested it with one of my favorite sticky foods—eggs. I followed the brand’s directions. I preheated the pan, added my EVOO and let that come to a shimmer, and then I added the eggs. The finished product turned out just the way I like them — delicately soft, yet firm, without any weird undercooked bits (I don’t like my eggs hard, or brown).
Shockingly, they didn’t bind to the pan and slid around nicely. And the clean-up? A breeze—nothing stuck to the pan.
Here’s How to Clean Xtrema
Caring for Xtrema is simple. While dishwasher safe, hand washing is recommended to preserve its life (dishwashers are hard on cookware and accelerate deterioration).
I may be the exception, but I hand wash all of my cookware, nothing ever goes in the dishwasher and it lengthens the life of my cookware. And with a little dish soap, water, and a soft brush you’d be surprised at how easy it is to quickly clean cookware.
If you do get stuck on food, use the old baking soda and water trick. Add a tablespoon or two of baking soda with water to the pan. Put it over low heat. As the pan heats up and comes to a low simmer, use the wooden spoon to help remove stuck food. Once the food is removed, cool, and hand wash as usual.
Utensil Recommendations
Xtrema doesn’t recommend using metal utensils. Use wood or silicon to avoid scratches and knicks. If you stack your cookware when stored, they recommend storing it with a kitchen towel covering the bottom or specially designed Cookware Protectors to prevent chips and breakage. I haven’t used the cookware protectors, but I do use dish towels and it works.
Take good care of your natural ceramic cookware, and it will last for years to come.
Longevity
Because this cookware is free of any nonstick coatings, its shelf life is much longer than ‘ceramic coated’ nonstick cookware. In fact, if cared for properly it may last a lifetime and may become your family’s next cookware heirloom, passed down to generations.
I’ve been testing Xtrema cookware for 10 years now and each piece is still in great condition — pretty incredible!
The Xtrema Warranty and Return Satisfaction Guarantee
Xtrema offers a 10-year limited warranty and a forever replacement program, which is impressive! Here’s what it involves: You simply contact their customer support, submit a ticket, and follow their instructions for verification. The first replacement is free! After that, subsequent replacements come at a 30% discount. I haven’t met another cookware company that offers this.
Xtrema also offers a 40-day return satisfaction guarantee. This means you have a 40-day trial period during which they accept returns and exchanges within the United States.
Xtrema’s Environmental Impact
Xtrema isn’t just better for your health; it’s also better for the environment. Made with clay and water, Xtrema has a far smaller carbon footprint than most other cookware. Also there are no PFAS Forever Chemicals, like PTFE, that need to be disposed of that could end up in a city’s drinking water supply and, eventually, the ocean.
“The manufacturing process is vastly cleaner than producing metal cookware,” says Bergstrom. “Our product is handcrafted by highly skilled artisans, and we use clean-burning natural gas-fired kilns to fire our products.”
Bergstrom also shares, “It’s shocking how many pots and pans are thrown out every year in the United States. Choosing more sustainable materials in your kitchen has a direct effect on limiting consumer waste.”
In recent years, Xtrema has also made strides in improving the sustainability of its packaging, phasing out Styrofoam and transitioning to packaging that is 70 percent cardboard, 30 percent EPE foam, and 100 percent recyclable.
I love Xtrema’s pure ceramic cookware for slow-cooking soups, stews, and braises. The even, consistent, heat distribution these cookware pieces offer is fantastic. And because it’s 100% ceramic, I’m confident there’s no heavy metal leaching. I also love that these cookware pieces can go from stovetop to oven to dinner table.
My Top Favorite Xtrema Cookware Product Picks
The Signature Skillet Set
Xtrema’s Signature Series collection is probably my favorite set. If you are looking to start with a small skillet set, I recommend their 3-piece collection that comes with a 7, 9, and 11-inch skillets. If you want to start with one piece to test it out and see if it’s right for you, I recommend starting with this Skillet (choose your preferred size 7, 9, or 11-inch) and choose the 9 or 11 inch.
A larger skillet gives you more surface area for cooking and makes it easier to brown foods in a single layer (which adds texture and additional layers of flavor to food). If you stack your food, you’ll create steam in your pan, which prevents browning and promotes watery texture and flavor. However, if your goal is to steam your food, that’s okay, too. I also love that it cleans easily.
There’s also the Signature Saute Set which includes 2 pans, a 9 and 10-inch with a lid, so if you want a lid get this one. I love the 10-inch large oversized pan for large meals for friends and family, and batch cooking Sundays. There’s also a Signature Series Set (9-piece cookware set) that comes with 1, 1.5, 2.5 Quart saucepans with lids and one 9-inch signature skillet and two one hundred percent organic cotton handle potholders.
Use it for: Everyday eggs or frittatas (like our mushroom, zucchini, and goat cheese frittata), and because they can go right into the oven, cook up casseroles or things like shepherd’s pie.
Signature Skillet Set Includes:
- 11-Inch Signature Skillet
- 9-Inch Signature Skillet
- 7- Inch Signature Skillet
Exclusive code: Use code OA15 to save an extra 15% off your order at checkout.
Price: $385.04 (at time of publish)
The Classic Oval Dutch Oven
Prepare a feast fit for your crew with the Xtrema Classic Oval Dutch Oven. This 7.5-quart modern beauty isn’t just stylish (thanks to the textured, fluted exterior!). It also boasts a beautifully designed lid that locks in flavor and an oval shape for even heat distribution.
Use it for: Sunday roasts, a whole chicken (yes, really), hearty soups, crusty artisan bread — this Xtrema Cookware heirloom-quality pan will help you create meals for generations to come.
Specs:
- Length: 16.5
- Width: 10″
- Height: 6.3″
- Capacity: 7.5qt
Exclusive code: Use code OA15 to save an extra 15% off your order at checkout.
Price: $314.99 (at time of publish)
Tea Kettle Set
This tea kettle set screams (or whispers in a calm, tea-soothed voice) “I take my tea seriously.” The 2.5-quart Retro Tea Kettle pairs perfectly with the matching 18 oz. classic mugs. It’s an ideal set to make your own homemade ginger tea, or your favorite matcha or turmeric latte. Because of the excellent thermal retention, these ceramic mugs excel at keeping your brew cozy warm.
Specs:
- Tea Kettle Capacity: 2.5-quarts
- Classic Mug Capacity: 18 oz (set of four)
Exclusive code: Use code OA15 to save an extra 15% off your order at checkout.
Price: $226.09 (at time of publish)
The Pie Plate (It Doubles as a Pretty Serving Dish for Dips and More)
Ditch the soggy crusts and bake smart. Xtrema’s 100% ceramic pie plates (in 7 & 9-inch sizes) are designed for even cooking and baking bliss. These baking beauties go from oven or grill right to the table, looking as good as your culinary creation tastes.
Use it for: Pies, like our panna cotta pie with fresh berries, tarts, and gratins like this sexy cauliflower gratin. We also love it for serving dips either hot, like our plant-based spinach and artichoke dip, or cold like this garlic lemon butter bean dip.
Specs:
- 7” (8” wide by 2” height)
- 9” (10” wide by 2” height)
Exclusive code: Use code OA15 to save an extra 15% off your order at checkout.
Price: $47.69 (at time of publish)
Got a question for me? Leave a comment below!
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Sources:
1: https://www.ewg.org/tapwater/contaminant.php?contamcode=E207
2. https://www.cancercenter.com/community/blog/2021/09/does-teflon-cause-cancer
