CHOICE verdict
The Ninja Extended Life Premium Ceramic 24cm Frypan performs well, is easy to use and has a durable ceramic coating. While other ceramic-coated frypans we’ve tested have performed better and have been recommended by CHOICE experts, this set might be worth considering if you’re looking to move away from traditional non-stick cookware, as it offers an alternative that's free from harmful chemicals. You can buy some of the individual pieces through Amazon if you want to give it a go before investing in the whole set.
Price: $400 (for the 6-piece cookware set)
Contact: ninjakitchen.com.au
Ninja is fast becoming a household name in kitchen appliances, known for its selection of air fryers, multi-cookers, blenders and food processors.
Now the brand has added a range of kitchenware to its offerings, and its latest release is ceramic cookware – the Ninja Extended Life Premium Ceramic 6 Piece Cookware set.
We've put the 24cm frypan from the collection to the test to see how it stacks up against other frypans we've tested.
On this page:
- What is ceramic cookware?
- Is ceramic cookware worth buying?
- Is the Ninja Extended Life Premium Ceramic Frypan good for cooking?
- How durable is the ceramic surface?
- Is the frypan easy to use?
- What do you get in the set?
- Is it worth investing in a whole set?
- What other brands offer ceramic cookware?
What is ceramic cookware?
Ceramic-coated cookware is an alternative to traditional "non-stick" cookware that's praised for being free of PTFE and related chemical coatings.
Ceramic cookware has a metal base that's coated with a glass-like ceramic material derived from beach sand.
Unlike traditional non-stick coatings, ceramic cookware is claimed to not pose health risks, even when heated to high temperatures.
Is ceramic cookware worth buying?
The Ninja Extended Life Premium Ceramic Cookware claims to provide five years of non-stick performance thanks to its CeramicLock coating (and hence come with a 5-year warranty). The cookware requires little to no oil or fat during cooking and is suitable for all cooktops. It's also oven-safe up to 285°C.
Construction
It has an aluminum core with a dual bonded coating, which helps to preserve the non-stick capabilities, and a stainless steel handle.
Is ceramic cookware safe?
If you're looking to replace your non-stick cookware while reducing exposure to PTFE and related chemical coatings, this cookware set is free from harmful chemicals, PFAS, PFOA, lead and cadmium.
Dishwasher-safe
While the cookware is dishwasher-safe for easy cleaning, washing it by hand with a mild detergent is recommended to help extend the life of the coating.
Metal utensil-safe
Ninja claims you can use metal utensils with your Extended Life Ceramic Cookware; however, there's still potential for these to damage the cookware. If you want to take extra precaution, we'd recommend using wooden, silicone or plastic utensils to ensure the longevity and durability of the ceramic coating.
Is the Ninja Extended Life Premium Ceramic Frypan good for cooking?
Our kitchen experts conduct a range of tests on frypans to measure different aspects of performance.
They cook pancakes to assess evenness of heating, and the Extended Life Premium 24cm frypan performed very well in this test. The pancake was fairly evenly cooked and didn't stick to the pan.
For non-stick pans they also fry an egg without adding any oil. An excellent result is if the egg slides right off the pan when it's tilted or shaken. The Ninja performed well for this test, with the egg needing slight lifting to release it from the pan. Over time you may need to use a little oil to improve the non-stick capability. We also found the egg ran to the side of the pan, because the base of the pan concaves during heating.
If you're using an induction cooktop, you may find the outer edge of the base to have reduced heating. This is because the magnetic area doesn't cover the entire base of the pan.
CHOICE members can see all the performance results in the full Ninja Extended Life Premium Ceramic Frypan review.
How durable is the ceramic surface?
Over time coatings deteriorate and non-stick capabilities fade, resulting in sticking and food that bakes on easily.
For frypans that are non-stick (or claim to be), we run them through a rigorous durability test that pushes them to the limit.
Using a specifically developed mechanical scrubbing arm, loaded with a Scotch-Brite scourer and with a 10kg weight applied, we scrub a section of the pan 10,000 times.
This test separates a good non-stick surface from a poor one. The worst will leave you with exposed metal (a definite no go when it comes to non-stick), while the best might just slightly dull the surface, which is to be expected after continuous use.
The Ninja Extended Life Premium Ceramic Frypan gave impressive durability results. After 10,000 cycles there was no bare metal exposed and no visible scratch marks. The surface was dulled, but this is still a very good result and with proper care you can expect the cookware to last.
Is the frypan easy to use?
A good frypan should be well-balanced, comfortable to hold and easy to clean.
This frypan is easy to use and very lightweight, and although the stainless steel handle has no non-slip grip, it's still fairly comfortable to hold. Be mindful that the area of the handle close to the pan can get hot. It's easy to clean but the stainless steel base, rivets and handle may discolour over time.
What do you get in the set?
In the 6-piece set you'll receive three frypans:
- 20cm fry pan
- 24cm frypan (the one we tested)
- 28cm frypan
And three saucepans:
- 1.4L saucepan with lid
- 2.3L saucepan with lid
- 5.6L stock pot with lid
You'll also receive comprehensive instructions and a useful user/recipe guide.
Is it worth investing in a whole set?
Cookware sets can set you back hundreds of dollars so it's important to consider what you actually need and the way you usually cook. You may want to buy a single pot or pan first to see how it performs before you invest in a whole set.
Everything in the set is usually made of the same material, so consider if that's what you're after as well. If you need a range of non-stick, stainless steel and cast iron pots and pans, you'd be better off buying each item separately.
If you're conscious about reducing exposure to Teflon-coated materials and want to replace your non-stick cookware, the Ninja Extended Life Premium Ceramic 6 Piece set might be worth considering. It comes with a good range of different-sized saucepans and frypans with a 5-year warranty.
What other brands offer ceramic cookware?
As well as Ninja, we're starting to see more brands such as Baccarat, Greenpan, Wiltshire, Crumble Cookware, Our Place and Cosmic Cookware bringing ceramic-coated pans onto the market, and we've tested a couple of these in our kitchen lab.
To help you find the frypan that best suits your needs, start with the CHOICE frypan review, which includes reviews of 38 24–26cm non-stick frypans and skillets from Tefal, Scanpan, Essteele and more. Our lab results will tell you which frypans perform the best, are easy to use and have durable non-stick surfaces.
Stock images: Getty, unless otherwise stated.
