How to Use a Ceramic Nonstick Frypan on Induction: RACO Guide
By RACO Australia | Published: 2026-11-03
Category: How-to Guides
Learn how to use a ceramic nonstick induction frypan with the right heat settings, egg technique, and care habits. A practical RACO SmartStart guide.
Quick answer
Use low-to-medium induction heat, preheat the empty pan for about a minute, add a little oil or butter, and never let a ceramic nonstick frypan run dry or hot. The RACO SmartStart Ceramic Nonstick Induction Open Frypan 24cm is built for this gentle routine.
Why induction heat needs a gentler approach with ceramic
Induction responds faster than gas or electric, so a ceramic nonstick pan can reach high heat before you notice. Keep the dial lower than you would with a stainless steel pan, and let the pan's even heat and heat retention do the work. If food starts to stick or the coating smells hot, the pan is too hot, not too cold.
Ceramic nonstick is PFAS-free and PFOA-free, but it still needs care. Avoid metal utensils and abrasive cleaners, and do not use cooking sprays that leave a baked-on film. A little butter or oil is enough for most foods.
When this routine does not apply
This guide assumes a ceramic nonstick frypan rated for induction, like the RACO SmartStart model. If your pan is not induction compatible, it will not heat on an induction cooktop at all. Also check your cooktop's minimum pan size: a 24cm pan is usually fine, but small burners can reject very small pans.
The RACO SmartStart 24cm frypan is oven safe to 180°C / 350°F, so you can finish dishes in the oven. Do not use it under a grill or at higher oven temperatures, and always use oven gloves because the handle may still get hot.
Step-by-step: cooking on an induction cooktop
- Match the pan to the burner: Centre the 24cm frypan on an induction zone that fits its base. A zone much larger than the pan wastes heat; a zone much smaller heats unevenly. If the cooktop does not detect the pan, check the zone size before assuming the pan is faulty.
- Preheat empty on low to medium: Set the induction zone to low or medium and let the pan heat for about a minute. Do not preheat on high or leave an empty pan unattended. A drop of water should sizzle gently, not skitter and vanish instantly.
- Add a little fat, then the food: Add a teaspoon of oil or butter and swirl it around. Add food once the fat shimmers, not when it smokes. If the fat smokes, remove the pan from the heat and lower the setting before adding food.
- Cook eggs on low to medium-low: For fried or scrambled eggs, keep the induction setting low to medium-low and stir or lift the eggs as they set. Ceramic release works best when the pan is not rushed. Eggs that stick usually mean the pan was too hot or the fat was insufficient, not that the coating has failed.
- Finish in the oven only if needed: If a recipe needs oven finishing, transfer the oven-safe pan to an oven no hotter than 180°C / 350°F. Use oven gloves and keep the handle away from the element. Never put the pan under a grill or use it above its stated oven limit.
- Cool, then wash by hand: Let the pan cool completely, then wash it with warm water, mild detergent, and a soft sponge. Avoid sudden cold water on a hot pan and skip abrasive scourers. Stack pans with a protector or cloth between them to avoid scratching the ceramic surface.
Product facts
- RACO SmartStart Ceramic Nonstick Induction Open Frypan 24cm Grey: PFAS-free, PFOA-free ceramic nonstick coating with even heat and heat retention. You can cook with less oil and rely on retained heat, so lower induction settings are enough.
RACO SmartStart Ceramic Nonstick Induction Open Frypan 24cm Grey - RACO SmartStart Ceramic Nonstick Induction Open Frypan 24cm Grey: Induction compatible and oven safe to 180°C / 350°F, with stay-cool handles. It moves from induction cooktop to oven for finishing, but the handle still needs protection in the oven.
