Should I throw away my pan if I accidentally melt plastic on it?

I have a pan/wok that I use for toasting flatbreads.

Yesterday, I placed it in my cupboard while it was still hot and it accidentally touched a plastic bag full of salt. The plastic immediately melted off and stuck to the pan.

I was able to peel off the plastic after it had solidified, but am worried there may still be some "invisible" remnants left (I have no idea if that's possible). I'm not sure what plastic the bag was made out of or anything: should I discard the pan? Or is it sufficient to wash it well?

Best Answer

You do not need to throw out the pan

Metals tend to be impervious to absorption of much in the way of plastics (or anything else), which is part of the reason they make great cooking implements.

If the plastic is on the cooking surface and that surface was seasoned, to be absolutely sure, I would recommend that you remove the seasoning and re-season.

If you touched the outside of the pan to the bag, then anything that remains after you peeled the plastic off will burn off next time you heat the pan.

Pictures about "Should I throw away my pan if I accidentally melt plastic on it?"

Should I throw away my pan if I accidentally melt plastic on it? - Bread and utensil near bottles and basket on grass

Should I throw away my pan if I accidentally melt plastic on it? - From above of blue crumpled plastic bottle thrown on green park lawn on sunny summer day

Should I throw away my pan if I accidentally melt plastic on it? - High angle of metal pan and wooden spatula placed on plastic plate on table

Quick Answer about "Should I throw away my pan if I accidentally melt plastic on it?"

If the plastic is on the cooking surface and that surface was seasoned, to be absolutely sure, I would recommend that you remove the seasoning and re-season. If you touched the outside of the pan to the bag, then anything that remains after you peeled the plastic off will burn off next time you heat the pan.

What do you do when plastic melts on pan?

For melted plastic on the interior of a pot or pan, add a few inches of water and a generous scoop of baking soda. Heat the water and allow it to simmer for several minutes. Scour with a scrubbing brush when the water cools a bit.

Is plastic toxic when melted?

When plastic is burned, it releases dangerous chemicals such as hydrochloric acid, sulfur dioxide, dioxins, furans and heavy metals, as well as particulates. These emissions are known to cause respiratory ailments and stress human immune systems, and they're potentially carcinogenic.

Is it safe to use oven after plastic melted?

The short answer is probably not. While the jury is still out on this one, some organizations do point out the potential dangers of fumes from burning plastics. The USDA points out that any food permeated by any toxic fumes should be thrown out.

How do you get melted plastic off metal?

Use a dull knife, such as a metal or plastic butter knife, to try and peel off as much melted plastic as you can. How To Clean Stuff recommends spraying any plastic that is still stuck on the stove with WD-40. Allow the WD-40 set in for several minutes. Next, use a razor blade to scrape off the plastic.

Beginners' Guide to Melting HDPE - How to Make a Recycled Plastic Pen

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

Images: SHVETS production, Rachel Claire, Karolina Grabowska, Uriel Mont