Bhg
  • Shop
  • News
  • Food
  • DIY
  • Garden
  • Renovating
  • Decorating
  • Health
  • TV
  • Hard to Find
Bhg
  • Shop
  • News
  • Food
  • DIY
  • Garden
  • Renovating
  • Decorating
  • Health
  • TV
  • Hard to Find
Subscribe
  1. Home
  2. Health

Are teflon non-stick pans safe for use?

Scared by rumours about teflon being toxic? Here’s what the science has to say. - by Rhys McKay
  • 02 Oct 2019
Are teflon non-stick pans safe for use?

They’re great tools to use in any kitchen, but are non-stick pans safe? Yes, but you need to be careful where you buy them and how you use them. There’s very little that you should fear from cooking with your favourite non-stick pan, but like any cooking utensil, knowing how to use them properly is crucial.

RELATED: New research finds cooking is good for your mental health

What is teflon coating?

Teflon (also polytetrafluoroethylene or PTFE) is a synthetic chemical made of carbon and fluorine. Surfaces coated with teflon become nonstick and frictionless, making it ideal for cookware like pans and pots. Teflon-coated pans are easier to clean, use less oil to cook with, and last longer in the kitchen.

Most cookware today is coated with teflon, not just pans and pots. But while the benefits of teflon coating have definitely been a blessing for anyone tired of scrubbing pans, the safety of teflon products has come into question a lot! Mostly regarding a chemical called perfluorooctanoic acid or PFOA.

A mini non stick fly pan on a stove top
Getty

What is PFOA?

Perfluorooctanoic acid is a chemical that was used in the manufacturing of Teflon cookware and other non-stick products. The alarm over its use was raised when it was found that repeatedly heating and cooling PFOA coated cookware could cause it to leak into the food being cooked.

Ingested PFOA is dangerous to the human body: it can cause thyroid issues, infertility, and even some forms of cancer – which led to the teflon cancer scare in the early 2000s. Warned about the dangers of Teflon poisoning, manufacturers all over the world agreed to ban the use of PFOA in non-stick cookware in 2013. 

So is teflon safe now?

Absolutely. PTFE is inert in its solid form and will most likely pass through your digestive system with no issue. In addition, the temperatures used for cooking aren’t typically hot enough to release PTFE fumes into the air – though toxicologists are quick to remind people that overheating Teflon coated cookware is a bad idea.

A metal background texture
Getty

How to take care of teflon cookware

If you’re still concerned about Teflon’s dangers, there are ways for you to avoid it by taking care of your cookware. Not only do these methods prevent damage to the coating, but they also help it last longer in the kitchen.

  • Use silicone, plastic, or wooden utensils. Metal can scratch the surface of Teflon pans, making them vulnerable to flaking.
  • Do not preheat empty pans. Empty Teflon pans are good conductors of heat and warm up quickly if nothing is inside them, potentially causing the PTFE to fume out.
  • Replace when needed. Teflon coating isn’t permanent. Once it flakes, peels, or chips because of time or prolonged use, replace it immediately.
  • Ventilate. Cooking in a well-ventilated area minimises the little PTFE fumes that you may be exposed to.
  • Gently handwash. Avoid using steel wool sponges or scrubbing pads with washing Teflon cookware, since they scratch the surface easily.

Is there such a thing as “the safest cookware?”

Truthfully, there is no true non-toxic frying pan or utensil out there – these tools eventually degrade with time and use. The best thing that you can do is to always make sure that your cookware comes from a trusted, reputable source, and always make the extra effort to maintain and use it properly.

Doing your due diligence when buying and using cookware is the best safeguard against accidents or complications that come with using them. The safest cookware is the one you know well.

Keep on cooking

We hope that this article has helped assuage your fears about teflon being toxic. Just make sure that your non-stick frying pan comes from a trusted brand, and you should be able to enjoy the convenience of non-stick cooking for years to come.

RELATED: 5 easy ways to make your home-cooked meals look beautiful

Treat yourself to a subscription-Save up to 25%

Plus, your chance to win

Subscribe Now
Treat yourself to a subscription

Treat yourself to a subscription-Save up to 25%

Plus, your chance to win

Subscribe Now
Treat yourself to a subscription

Recommended to you

YOU’LL NEED A WEDGE TO HANG THAT DOOR
Watch 6:32

YOU’LL NEED A WEDGE TO HANG THAT DOOR

{headline}

{headline}

Top 5 Deep Fryers in Australia

Top 5 Deep Fryers in Australia

The best dehumidifiers to use on wet and muggy days in Australia

The best dehumidifiers to use on wet and muggy days in Australia

What to do if chocolate is truly your weakness

What to do if chocolate is truly your weakness

Untreated decay in kids' teeth can lead to depression

Untreated decay in kids' teeth can lead to depression

{headline}

{headline}

The best silk pillowcases to slip on for a good night's sleep

The best silk pillowcases to slip on for a good night's sleep

The best treadmills to get your steps up at home

The best treadmills to get your steps up at home

The best low calorie alcoholic wines, beers and premixed spirits to drink

The best low calorie alcoholic wines, beers and premixed spirits to drink

{headline}

{headline}

Cool weighted blankets are here and it’s time to chill

Cool weighted blankets are here and it’s time to chill

New research reveals more than half of Australians feel lonely

New research reveals more than half of Australians feel lonely

Where to buy rapid antigen tests (RATs) in Australia

Where to buy rapid antigen tests (RATs) in Australia

10 best cooling pillows in Australia

10 best cooling pillows in Australia

The one mistake all Australians are making with sunscreen

The one mistake all Australians are making with sunscreen

5 plants that naturally repel mosquitoes

5 plants that naturally repel mosquitoes

Where to buy pulse oximeters in Australia

Where to buy pulse oximeters in Australia

Bhg
  • About Us
  • Subscribe Today
  • Contact Us
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
Bhg Magazine Subscribe
  • About Us
  • Subscribe Today
  • Contact Us
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy Policy

Brands

  • All Recipes
  • BHG Shop
  • Girlfriend
  • Home Beautiful
  • New Idea
  • New Idea Food
  • Practical Parenting

Our Network

  • marie claire
  • Beauty Crew
  • Who
  • Women's Weekly Food
  • Bounty Parents
  • That’s Life
  • Perth Now
  • The West Australian
  • 7Plus
  • 7mate
  • 7NEWS
  • 7Sport
  • Sunrise
  • Starts at 60
  • Hard to Find
© 2022 Are Media PTY LTD
All products are independently selected, tested or recommended by our team of experts.If you buy something, we may earn an affiliate commission.
Get more from Better Homes and Gardens

Magazine Subscription Offer

Treat yourself to a subscription-Save up to 25%

Shop This Offer
Treat yourself to a subscription