Article

Teflon® and Nonstick Cookware: Safe or Risky?

Published on Thursday, December 12, 2024
by Rebecca Ledford

Wellness

From Nonstick to Health Risks: The Teflon® Truth Uncovered

As an (extremely) amateur chef, I can confidently say that I have found myself in a few common kitchen conundrums. Burned cake to a pan? Yep. Overcooked an over-easy egg? Absolutely. Accidentally sizzled the cheese on a pizza to the oven? Also, yes. Thankfully, the nonstick sprays and surfaces I cook with have always come in handy, making cleanup a breeze. Unfortunately, some of the nonstick solutions we use, like Teflon products, can land us in some sticky health situations.

In the late 2010s, I became curious about Teflon and its ingredients thanks to the GenX/Chemours scandal in my hometown in southeastern North Carolina (more on that below). I asked my parents and grandparents if they knew what Teflon was. Unsurprisingly, they had different opinions. My grandparents remembered Teflon as it was perceived in the 1960s, a handy kitchen essential that helped prevent big kitchen messes. On the other hand, my parents recalled Teflon as a danger to the ozone layer, a common belief held in the 1980s and 1990s.

That led me to wonder: Is Teflon safe or an environmental nightmare?

Come along, Foodguides family, as we investigate the tenacious Teflon and other precarious PFAS mysteries.

The Teflon Controversy: Understanding the Concerns

The Rise of Nonstick Cookware: A Convenient Kitchen Essential

As the name suggests, nonstick cookware is known for its ability to make notoriously difficult-to-cook foods slide seamlessly from the pan to your plate. This can come in handy in several sticky situations (like the ones mentioned above) but has other benefits. Nonstick cookware is easy to clean, healthier to cook with (due to the lack of cooking oil needed to lubricate the pan), and relatively affordable. It comes in many different colors to give your kitchen an aesthetically pleasing quality. Looking around your cupboards or in your parents’ and grandparents’ houses, you’ll find tons of nonstick pans, trays, bowls, spatulas, and other essential cookware.

If non-stick cookware is so prominent, how is it considered dangerous?

PFOA and PTFE: The Chemicals Behind the Controversy

To make a pan nonstick, you must first make the nonstick coating. Most nonstick coatings are composed of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, known as PFAS. This serves as an umbrella term for several specific chemicals, including the aforementioned Teflon (polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE)) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA).

PFAS have been around for decades but were first seen in everyday household use in the 1940s. Before this time, PFAS were mainly used in military and industrial projects. PTFE was discovered in the 1930s as a helpful chemical in making refrigerators and was later used to coat and seal pipes that housed the chemicals that helped create the atomic bomb. Once this technology was declassified, manufacturers (primarily DuPont) began using Teflon, PFOA, and other PFAS to create easy-to-clean cookware.

Fun fact: Roy J Plunkett, one of the inventors of Teflon, received the John Scott Medal for his discovery. This award was previously bestowed upon the Wright brothers, Marie Curie, Nicola Tesla, and Thomas Edison for their inventions.

Is Teflon Safe? The Science Behind the Claims

For many years, Teflon was regarded as the crowning jewel of American kitchens. Teflon could also be found in other products such as raincoats, dental floss, and even artificial heart valves! In 1986, a Teflon-coated pan known as the “Happy Pan” designed by Marion Trozzolo was donated to the Smithsonian Museum in Washington, D.C. Around this time, the not-so-happy qualities of Teflon and other PFAS began to leak into the mainstream media.

One of the unique qualities of PFAS is its hydrophobic nature, meaning it can repel water efficiently. While this is an amazing feature in the products mentioned above, it's not that great for the environment or the human body. Since PFAS are hydrophobic, they cannot break down easily when no longer needed. This led to PFAS, including Teflon and PFOAs, being classified as “forever chemicals.” When ingested, PFAS are known to increase the risk of testicular and kidney cancer. There are also studies being conducted to connect PFAS to an increased risk of developing bladder, breast, thyroid, ovarian, and prostate cancer.

Bonus Section: PFAS Contamination in Major River in North Carolina

In 2018, the Chemours/Dupont plant in Fayetteville, North Carolina, was sued for disposing of a PFAS chemical known as GenX into the Cape Fear River. This river serves as a major source of drinking water for many families in southeastern North Carolina. Several studies, including one funded and launched by NC State University, discovered human exposure to PFAS as well as air, soil, and plant contamination in the Wilmington, North Carolina area. These studies remain ongoing today, and PFAS contamination remains a hot topic for several residents of North Carolina.

The Evolution of Nonstick Coatings: From PFOA to Safer Alternatives

Thanks to the diligence of several researchers and the FDA, PFOA and PFOS are no longer used by United States manufacturers. Several companies are beginning to phase out all PTFE products and lean towards more environmentally friendly options. Additionally, five EU members—Germany, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, and the Netherlands—are currently working on a restriction to ban the use of over 5,000 PFAS substances. Hopefully, future inventions will be safer for both human consumption and the environment.

Healthy Alternatives: Exploring Cookware Options

Thankfully, there are other options for nonstick cookware. The most common types are stainless steel, cast iron, ceramic, and stone-coated kitchen gadgets. Aside from being PFAS-free, they are also great for those classic kitchen catastrophes.

Stainless Steel: Durable and Versatile

Stainless Steel is a mix of various metals, usually iron and chromium. When mixed with an aluminum or copper base, stainless steel makes an excellent nonstick surface for cookware. Additionally, stainless steel materials are known for their heat transfer qualities (meaning they will cook your food evenly), durability, strength, hygiene, and corrosion resistance. An added bonus of stainless steel is its inability to transfer its metallic properties to your food. That means better flavor!

Cast Iron: Traditional and Long-Lasting

Cast Iron (yes, the same material the cowboys use in Bonanza) is another mixture of metals, primarily iron, carbon, and silicon. Some cast iron products also contain manganese, sulfur, and phosphorus. Like stainless steel, cast iron is best known for retaining heat and keeping food hot for extended periods. It can also be used in various cooking settings, from stoves to campfires.

Ceramic and Stone-Coated Cookware: A Greener Choice

Ceramic and stone-coated cookware are considered environmentally friendly, thanks to the complete absence of harmful metals in their composition. Most ceramic and stone-coated appliances have a core of stainless steel or aluminum that serves as the cookware's main base. The ceramic or stone coating ensures the pan remains non-stick, easy to clean, and compatible with various stoves, ovens, and microwaves.

Caring for Your Cookware: Maximizing Lifespan and Safety

As with any kitchen appliance, proper care is essential for nonstick cookware. Although these pans are infamous for being easy to clean, they often need a little extra TLC to increase their longevity.

Proper Cleaning and Maintenance: Extending Cookware Life

Nonstick cookware has different properties than traditional kitchen gadgets. Thanks to their composition, most non-stick pans (especially cast-iron products) require thorough washing and seasoning prior to use. You’ll also want to avoid using nonstick cooking sprays, which can ruin your dishes by creating a residue that can damage the nonstick surface. Additionally, knives and other sharp utensils should not be used on nonstick cookware. Scratches not only ruin the aesthetically pleasing look of nonstick pans but can also chip away at the coating.

The Importance of Proper Cookware Usage: Preventing Overheating

Overheating can also cause damage to your nonstick pans. Excess heat can sometimes melt the nonstick coating and ruin the dish's integrity. This can be prevented by avoiding preheating nonstick cookware, using a burner on the stove that matches the size of the pan, turning on the oven’s exhaust vent when cooking, and removing all cookware before using the stove’s self-cleaning feature.

Signs of Wear and Tear: When to Replace Your Cookware

Eventually, you’ll have to replace your trusty non-stick pan. Here’s what you need to look for: (1) deep scratches that cause the pan’s coating to flake off, (2) warping, dents, divots, or any other odd shapes in the pan, and (3) dark spots caused by food build-up. If any of these qualities are present in your cookware, it usually means the non-stick coating has been compromised and could transfer to your food.

No matter what pan, skillet, tray, or baking sheet you use, research to ensure it is a healthy choice for you and your family. The Foodguides website has many tasty recipes to try on your cookware. Just don’t forget to clean up the mess!

Do you have any questions about PFAS, PFOA, PTFE, Teflon, or other chemicals? Want to learn more about them? Use our comments section below and let us know what you’d like us to write about next!

Teflon® is a registered trademark of Chemours. This article is not affiliated with or endorsed by Chemours.