Does Heating Up A PTFE Non-Stick Pan Create "Fumes"?
Given the advances in technology regarding non-stick pans, do they still give off fumes if they are heated with nothing in them?
I never pre-heat my non-sticks with more than low to medium-low heat, and have never had any issues. I have read various answers to this question, so I will defer to the knowledge of this group.
Best Answer
PTFE (Also known by Dupont's trade name, teflon) can decompose. For this reason PTFE pans are not recommended for broiler use. Per the Dupont Key Safety Questions:
At high temperatures, the quality of the coating may begin to deteriorate — it may discolor or lose its nonstick quality. This can begin to occur at temperatures above 500°F (260°C). If heated to an extremely high temperature, the coating may begin to decompose and give off fumes. Fats, butter, or cooking oil will begin to scorch and smoke at about 400°F (204°C). DuPont nonstick coatings will not begin to significantly decompose until temperatures exceed about 660°F (349°C) — well above the smoke point for cooking oil, fats or butter. It is therefore unlikely that decomposition temperatures for nonstick cookware would be reached while cooking without burning food to an inedible state.
Note that even heating a pan completely empty on a high flame will take some time to achieve these temperatures, so if you exercise even a reasonable level of care, you are extremely unlikely to have this occur.
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What happens to PTFE when heated?
Safety. While PTFE is stable and nontoxic at lower temperatures, it begins to deteriorate at temperatures of about 260 \xb0C (500 \xb0F), it decomposes above 350 \xb0C (662 \xb0F), and pyrolysis occurs at temperatures above 400 \xb0C (752 \xb0F).What happens if you overheat a nonstick pan?
Dangers of overheating Generally speaking, Teflon is a safe and stable compound. However, at temperatures above 500\xb0F (260\xb0C), Teflon coatings on nonstick cookware start to break down, releasing toxic chemicals into the air ( 13 ). Inhaling these fumes may lead to polymer fume fever, also known as the Teflon flu.Is PTFE coating toxic?
Although in its polymeric form, PTFE is considered to be non-toxic and physiologically inert, with the rise in temperature greater than 260 \xb0C, and PTFE resin produces polymer fumes into the working environment. With further increase in temperature to 350 \xb0C, the fumes can cause polymer fume fever in exposed workers.Should you preheat a nonstick pan?
Do not preheat an empty pan. Nonstick cookware is usually made of aluminum, which heats faster than heavier, denser stainless steel. Add a little bit of oil to the pan first (enough to lightly coat the surface), and preheat it for a few seconds before adding the food.Nonstick Pan Safety ANSWERS
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