The Benefits of Porcelain Enamel in the Kitchen (history, benefits and products)

Porcelain enamel has been at the heart of kitchens for centuries. In recent years there has been a real resurgence of its use due to the inherent qualities and benefits of using porcelain enamel.

Read on to find out exactly why porcelain enamel continues to be an ideal material for the kitchen environment.

Porcelain enamel kitchen benefits:

1/ Superior heat resistance and fire safety

Vlaze porcelain enamel is cured in a furnace at approximately 800°C. This offers ultimate heat resistance and protection from the burn marks, warping or melting other materials can be susceptible to in the kitchen. This is the same material that is used in the London Underground specifically due to its superior heat resistant qualities and fire safety.

2/ Porcelain enamel is highly durable

Vlaze porcelain enamel is incredibly durable and lasts up to 4 times longer than standard powder coated panelling. It is also chemical and abrasion resistant and of course waterproof.

3/ Porcelain enamel is clean, hygienic and easy to maintain

Porcelain enamel coatings are made by fusing powdered glass into a substrate at extremely high temperatures. This process melts the powder which hardens to a smooth, durable, vitreous coating that is non-porous. This helps eliminate the absorption of dirt, moulds, bacteria etc. It’s also simple to clean and maintain – with just an intermittent wipe of a damp cloth with a product such as Astonish cleaning spray required.

4/ Non-toxic

Porcelain enamel is also an extremely stable and safe material for a wide variety of uses, unlike others such as PVC which can release traces of toxic chlorine gas over time. The compounds and oxides used to make vitreous enamel are all naturally derived. Our spray enamels are all water-based, while our print enamels are natural pine oil-based – not petroleum. This means porcelain enamel can be recycled at the end of its long life.

5/ It’s magnetic

This is a handy feature that allows for many useful functions. We provide a range of magnetic pots that are perfect for holding herbs, spices and other kitchen staples.

6/ They bring kitchens to life

As you can see from the images above and below, Vlaze finishes are absolutely stunning, with the luxurious glaze shining through to elevate the look and feel of your kitchen.

7/ Enamel is colour-fast

Finally, it’s worth noting that porcelain enamel is colour-fast which means the wonderful colour and vibrancy of your kitchen unit will never fade – regardless of the indoor/outdoor conditions.

History of Porcelain enamel in the kitchen

From the 18th century, enamels began to be applied to metal consumer objects, including kitchen sinks and cooking vessels. This continues to this day with several premier brands, including wedding list favourite, Le Creuset.

In the 1920s the unmistakable ice-white and blue-rimmed Falcon enamelware was born. It is as popular today as it has ever been. The style, functionality, and longevity, aided by enamel’s excellent eco credentials, means new generations are filling their kitchen cupboards with enamelware that can last a lifetime.

From the 1950’s onwards, enamel’s use was expanding in the kitchen, being used to create cabinet doors, countertops, and tables. Favoured for its ability to stand up to high use in domestic and professional kitchens, its strong uptake was also due to the colourful and vibrant finishes that are achievable. This coincided with people’s desire to move beyond the traditional kitchens of the past and inject some colour and personality into their homes.

Building on the centuries of knowledge and development, Vlaze is now taking porcelain enamel in the kitchen forwards in the 21st century.

Vlaze Adapt

We recently debuted Vlaze Adapt at the Kitchen & Bath Industry Show 2022 in Orlando, Florida and were delighted with the feedback and to receive 3 accolades from the show’s famous ‘Design Hounds’. Situated in the outdoor living section, we exhibited a vibrant Vlaze Adapt kitchen in Ochre which featured Fire Magic’s drop-in Legacy grill and stainless-steel fridge.

Vlaze ADAPT is a new innovative range of modular and free-standing kitchen units that can be moved freely from indoors to outside. Designed for outdoor living and with a choice of grills, these mobile units offer the perfect solution for food preparation, garden storage and al fresco dining. They form a versatile kitchen and entertainment space, while providing a focal point capable of hosting large gatherings.

Vlaze Adapt kitchens are designed and made in Britain by our company A.J Wells & Sons, with parts then shipped to the USA where they are built by hand. Drawing on 50 years of engineering expertise we are also the manufacturers of the iconic signage for the London Underground and the Paris Metro. The exceptional porcelain enamel surface of VLAZE is the same finish that is used on these signage and cladding products. It is a luxurious, durable finish that withstands all types of weather from the heavy British rain to the Californian sunshine.

Vlaze Splashbacks

Vlaze’s porcelain enamel splashbacks are the perfect kitchen wall surface. Engineered from steel and adorned in a stunning vibrant glaze that is heatproof, hygienic and stain-resistant. Vlaze also specialises in made-to-measure porcelain enamel work surfaces.

Tom Dixon

A fantastic example of Vlaze in the kitchen is our collaboration with British design house Tom Dixon. We’ve been fortunate to work with Tom Dixon over the years, as he is a keen supporter of British manufacturing and heritage materials. In 2017 we secured a tender to produce and install bespoke splashbacks for 40 apartments at the Upper Riverside Complex on the Greenwich Peninsula. There were two colour palettes finalised for the project, one using a white and indigo sgraffito finish and the other using the dark green enamel fade seen here on the show home. As you can see from the image above the green enamel gloss sits perfectly against the copper extractor hood.
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The porcelain enamel process has been honed over time and new innovative ideas for its use continue to be found. It is quite simply unrivalled in its ability to marry beauty, functionality, and longevity.

Having only recently launched in the US we urge you to get in touch to discuss availability.