Safe to use non-sticky pan with scratches?

Safe to use non-sticky pan with scratches? - Closeup of weathered old rusty brown locked wooden door with cracks on surface with aged metal handle

Everyday I have to cook using some share kitchenware, and I came across some old non-sticky frying pan that have significant scratch marks on them.

I was told by my parents that I should not use any non-sticky cookware with scratch marks on them, they said cooking with them will cause some harmful/toxic substance release to the food. I have asked if they got any reference to that claim but they never told me about it. I just don't understand if those non-sticky layer can contaminate my food, why it will only be dangerous when there is scratch marks on them but not in normal condition.

Could anyone tell me those frying pans are safe to use? Although there are new one in the share kitchen which I can use, I would still like to know if that safety issue is true. It would be nice if there is also reference given.



Best Answer

Related question here. A few years back, I spent a lot of time researching this issue over at Chowhound. There have probably been hundreds of scientific studies on this stuff, so you can read about some of them I found over there.

I haven't looked at this in a few years, but my understanding is that most people tend to be concerned about products from off-gassing when Teflon is heated. The concern about "flaking" Teflon pans seems to be that you might ingest small pieces of the coating. However, that inert solid form of Teflon seems to be the least concerning from a health perspective. If there is a potential safety problem with Teflon (and I'm not really convinced there is), it's something that might come from gases, not from ingestion of the solid form. (Also, this is not unique to Teflon: keep in mind that inhalation of fumes -- which takes a substance directly to the bloodstream -- often results in much more significant exposure for many substances than ingestion.)

I suppose another element of concern comes from people who have heard that overheating a Teflon pan will cause danger. They therefore assume if the pan is damaged during overheating that consumption of the remaining Teflon bits will be hazardous. However, again, the main concern -- if there is one -- is in the potential gases, not the solid form.

The current scientific consensus seems to be that ingestion of small quantities of Teflon is not a hazard. When it degrades or flakes, it remains very inert -- which means it won't react with just about anything, including your body or digestive system.

Bottom line: IF you're concerned about Teflon (for whatever reason), you shouldn't cook with it at all. The hazard posed by flaking pans is NOT greater than intact ones. The only greater concern is that your food will tend to stick more.




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Quick Answer about "Safe to use non-sticky pan with scratches?"

According to Reader's Digest, certain nonstick pans that have been scratched have been compromised and are no longer safe to use. The good news is this really only applies to Teflon pans that were made prior to 2013 and contained Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), which had chemicals known to cause cancer.

Can you use scratched non stick pan?

If you see scratches, that means the nonstick Teflon surface has been compromised and the chemicals could be flaking off into your food. Not good! To be safe, once a pan is scratched it's gotta go.

Do scratches ruin a pan?

Conclusion. Scratch marks on your cookware are very unsightly. They can also have serious health repercussions when they develop on your non-stick cookware since they will expose the non-stick coating that will get into your food and contaminate it.

What happens when non stick coating comes off?

Nonstick cookware coating begins to breakdown and works poorly after a few years. That's because the chemical bonds that prevent your food from sticking to the pan have started to break down and disintegrate, leaving you with a pan that requires more butter or oil to create the perfect dish.

Is it safe to use a scratched non stick pan Reddit?

Unless it's a really old Teflon pan then it's fine. The ingredient suspected of causing cancer in Teflon pans wasn't the PTFE itself, but a chemical used in processing Teflon called PFOA which is no longer used after it was banned by the FDA. In fact PTFE (Teflon) is used in medical implants.



Nonstick Pan Safety ANSWERS




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