Are Nonstick Pans Safe?

Nonstick pans are extremely popular—and it’s not hard to see why. Clean-up is a breeze, thanks to a special coating that keeps food from bonding to the surface of the pan. The nonstick surface also allows you to cook with less (or even no) oil or butter. But are they safe?

Most nonstick pans are coated with polytetrafluoroethylene, also known as Teflon. And there are a lot of rumors out there that Teflon might be toxic and that these pans may not be safe to use.

One concern is that the nonstick coating can flake off and be ingested. This is more likely to happen with cheaper or poor-quality pans, or those that just haven’t been well taken care off. Using metal implements, for example, can scratch even a high-quality nonstick surface and make it more likely to flake. The good news is that ingesting small flakes of nonstick coating is not dangerous. The material will most likely just pass through the body. But it definitely reduces the nonstickiness of the pan.

Fortunately, most manufacturers of nonstick pans have phased out the use of perfluorooctanoic acid or PFOA, which is a suspected carcinogen. Nonstick pans never were our biggest source of exposure to this chemical, but it’s one less thing to worry about.

The Biggest Danger with Nonstick Cookware

However, even without PFOA, overheating these pans can still create problems. When the pans get too hot, compounds in the coating can be released as fumes. These fumes can cause flu-like symptoms in humans and can actually be lethal to birds. (Many bird owners choose not to even keep nonstick cookware in the house, just to prevent accidents.) Overheating the pans can also make the coating less effective.

Polytetrafluoroethylene starts to dissociate at about 300 degrees Celsius or about 600 degrees Fahrenheit, releasing toxic fumes into the air. An empty pan can reach 500 degrees F in less than 2 minutes. Cooking foods over a high burner can also put you in the danger zone.

Although you probably wouldn’t overheat the pan on purpose, stuff happens. The phone rings or someone comes to the door and a pan gets left on the burner by accident.

What Does the Nutrition Diva Cook With?

Personally, I get along just fine without any nonstick cookware.

I have a set of heavy stainless steel pans that I use for things like cooking rice and pasta, scrambling eggs, steaming or sauteeing vegetables, and making soup. I have a set of cast-iron skillets that I use to sear meat, roast vegetables, and other higher heat preparations. I also have an enameled cast-iron Dutch oven that comes in handy for braising or other things that start on the stove top and finish in the oven. I’ve had most of these pans for decades.

I'll be honest: Every once in a while, I do have to scrub a pan. But most sticking can be avoided simply by cooking things for the right amount of time, with the right amount of heat, along with a bit of oil or liquid, if needed.  

But if you prefer nonstick pans, I think it's perfectly OK to use them. Here are some tips on staying safe and getting the best results.

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Tips for Using Nonstick Cookware

Choose high-quality nonstick pans. The coating is more likely to be sprayed on in multiple layers rather than rolled on, and that makes it more durable. More expensive pans are usually also heavier and that reduces the risk of accidental overheating.

Keep the heat down. Cook only over low or moderate heat. If you do accidentally overheat a nonstick pan, open doors and windows to dissipate the fumes as quickly as possible. If you must preheat your pan before adding food, be sure to watch it carefully and preheat it only as long as necessary to get the surface hot.

Protect the surface. Although you don't need to worry about ingesting the coating, the pans will perform better if you avoid scratching them. Don’t use metal utensils or scrubbers and store them carefully to keep them from getting scratched by other pans.

Ceramic nonstick coatings have become a lot more popular lately.  

Learn to let go. If the surface becomes scratched or starts to flake off, or begins to lose its nonstick properties, it’s best to replace them. Even higher quality nonstick coatings will only perform well for three to five years.

Alternatives to Nonstick Pans

Finally, if you like the convenience of nonstick but would just as soon keep the polytetrafluoroethylene out of your kitchen, there are some newer types of cookware that feature nonstick surfaces made without Teflon.

Ceramic nonstick coatings have become a lot more popular lately. The coating is much more heat resistant and will not release any fumes at high temperatures. Unfortunately, however, the nonstick properties of the ceramic coating don’t seem to last quite as long as Teflon. Using them at high temperatures may shorten the lifespan even more. For that reason, manufacturers of ceramic nonstick cookware still recommend using them only over low or medium heat.

For high heat cooking, such as browning or searing meats, it’s best to steer clear of nonstick altogether. A cast iron pan can really take the heat and, if it’s well-seasoned, it should also be nonstick. As a bonus, cooking in cast iron may increase the iron content of your food!

Image of nonstick cookware © Shutterstock