Porcelain enamel, a thin layer of ceramic or glass applied to a substrate of metal, is used to protect surfaces from chemical attack and physical damage, modify the structural characteristics of the substrate, and improve the appearance of the product.

When the substrate is a ceramic, the coating is called a glaze. When the substrate is a metal, the coating is called a porcelain enamel. When the substrate is a glass, the coating is called a glass enamel.

Vitreous Enamel is simply a thin layer of glass fused at high temperature on to the surface of a metal. It is thus defined as a vitreous, glass-like coating fused on to a metallic base. In American English it is referred to as Porcelain Enamel. It should not be confused with paint, which is sometimes called ‘enamel’.

Vitreous enamel, also called porcelain enamel, is a material made by fusing powdered glass to a substrate by firing, usually between 750 and 850 °C (1,380 and 1,560 °F). The powder melts, flows, and then hardens to a smooth, durable vitreous coating. The word comes from the Latin vitreum, meaning “glass”.

The best option is either porcelain enamel with a cast iron or stainless-steel interior, or enamelware, which is a type of cookware with a porcelain enamel coating inside and outside. This coating creates a seamless, non-porous interior that is resistant to acidic food, heat, and humidity.

Enamels on Chinese ceramics If the enamel covers the entire body of a ceramic object, it is usually also called a glaze while the distinction should be made that it is a “low fired lead glaze”.

Raw materials of ceramic glazes generally include silica, which will be the main glass former. Various metal oxides, such as sodium, potassium, and calcium, act as flux and therefore lower the melting temperature. Alumina, often derived from clay, stiffens the molten glaze to prevent it from running off the piece.

Enamel paint is mostly used for painting the exterior walls of the house while acrylic paint is used to paint the interior of the house. Enamel paint finish takes a comparatively longer period to dry than acrylic paint. Enamel paint is an oil-based paint finish while acrylic paint is a water-based paint.

In essence, enamel is a form of glass. Enameled cookware is most often cast iron with an enamel coating. I feel that this type of cookware is completely non-toxic and wonderful to cook with. Some people have worried about lead in the enamel cookware, since the enamel coating is often made of clay, which can leach lead.