I left a non-stick pan on the stove for an hour [closed]

I was boiling something and I left them on the stove for about 1 hour. The pan was full and starting to boil at the start of the time, and when I got down and realised it was totally empty. The gas was on full heat, and since it's gas it does get really quite hot. There is still fumes 3hrs later - I don't think the brand was Teflon, but would it still have been using the same material? And basically, should I be worried, or is most of the internet stuff mostly scaremongering?

Hope this isn't too off-topic!

teflon

Best Answer

When heated to a high enough temperature (260C - 350C) Teflon (polytetrafluoroethylene) degrades into fumes that can cause flu-like symptoms. If you haven't experienced these symptoms and have aired out the room you should be fine. Even if you had these symptoms, they should clear up by themselves fairly quickly.

Pictures about "I left a non-stick pan on the stove for an hour [closed]"

I left a non-stick pan on the stove for an hour [closed] - Person Cooking on Black Pan

I left a non-stick pan on the stove for an hour [closed] - Smiling couple cooking meal together in kitchen

I left a non-stick pan on the stove for an hour [closed] - Person Cooking on Black Frying Pan

What happens if you leave a nonstick pan on the stove?

If you leave an empty, or a nearly empty, nonstick pan on a hot burner for a few minutes, he says, by the time you smell it in the next room, toxic fumes are in the air. The fumes can cause headaches and chills and even kill pet birds, which have sensitive lungs.

What happens if you overheat nonstick?

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.

How do I know if my non-stick pan is ruined?

How to Know When to Throw Away Nonstick Pans

Sign 1: The Pan Is Warped.

Sign 2: Dark Discoloration.

Sign 3: You See Significant Scratches.

Nonstick Pans Do Not Last Forever.

Can You Repair Your Nonstick Pan?

Can you burn off non-stick pans?

Non-stick pans can not only be damaged when its cooking surface is burned. Bad use can also damage them. It's very important you keep in mind that bad manipulation can cause a very early deterioration of non-stick cookware.

Gordon FLIPS OVER CHEF NOT USING A NON-STICK PAN | Hell's Kitchen

Sources: Stack Exchange - This article follows the attribution requirements of Stack Exchange and is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.

Images: Gagan Cambow, RODNAE Productions, Gary Barnes, Ketut Subiyanto