Is Nonstick Cookware Like Teflon Safe to Use? - Healthline

Today’s nonstick and Teflon cookware is considered safe for everyday home cooking, as long as temperatures do not exceed 500°F (260°C). At high temperatures, Teflon coatings may begin to break down, releasing toxic fumes into the air.

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People around the world use nonstick pots and pans for their everyday cooking.

The nonstick coating is perfect for flipping pancakes, turning sausages, and frying eggs. It can be useful for cooking delicate foods that might otherwise stick to the pan.

But there’s controversy around nonstick coatings, such as Teflon.

Some sources claim they’re harmful and linked to health conditions such as cancer, while others insist that cooking with nonstick cookware is completely safe.

This article takes a detailed look at nonstick cookware, its health effects, and whether or not it is safe to cook with.

Nonstick cookware, such as frying pans and saucepans, gets coated with a material called polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), commonly known as Teflon.

Teflon is a synthetic chemical made up of carbon and fluorine atoms. It was first created in the s and provides a nonreactive, nonstick, and almost frictionless surface.

The nonstick surface makes Teflon-coated cookware convenient to use and easy to clean. It also requires little oil or butter, making it a low fat way to cook and fry food.

Teflon has several other applications. It is also used to make wire and cable coatings, fabric and carpet protectors, and waterproof fabrics for outdoor clothing such as raincoats (2, 3).

However, over the past decade, the safety of nonstick cookware has been under investigation.

The concerns have centered on a chemical called perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), which was previously used to produce nonstick cookware but isn’t used today.

The investigations have also looked into the risks associated with overheating Teflon.

Summary

Nonstick cookware is coated with a material called polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), also known as Teflon. The safety of nonstick cookware has been under investigation for the past decade.

Today, all Teflon products are PFOA-free. Therefore, the health effects of PFOA exposure are no longer a cause for concern.

However, PFOA was used in the production of Teflon until .

While most of the PFOA on pots was normally burnt off at high temperatures during the manufacturing process, a small amount remained in the final product (3, 4).

Despite this, research has found that Teflon cookware is not a significant source of PFOA exposure (3, 5).

PFOA has been linked to a number of health conditions, including thyroid disorders, chronic kidney disease, liver disease, and testicular cancer. It has also been linked to infertility and low birth weight (6, 7, 8, 9, 10).

What’s more, it was found in the blood of more than 98% of people who took part in the U.S. – National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) (11).

The PFOA Stewardship Program, launched in by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), spurred the elimination of PFOA from Teflon products (12).

This program involved eight leading PFOA companies, including the maker of Teflon. It aimed to reduce the health and environmental risks associated with PFOA exposure by eliminating PFOA use and emissions by .

All companies met the program targets, so all Teflon products, including nonstick cookware, have been PFOA-free since (12).

Summary

PFOA is a chemical that was previously used to manufacture Teflon. It has been linked to health conditions such as kidney and liver disease. However, all Teflon products have been PFOA-free since .

While PFOA has been removed from Teflon products, there are still other components, namely PFAS (per- and polyfluoroaklyl substances), that are not fully understood.

These and other ingredients in teflon products may pose a health risk. Research is ongoing to more fully understand the nature of those ingredients and how they impact the human body.

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Much is still unknown about the safety of the fluoropolymers that are used currently. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission just put out a statement on the potential risk of PFAS in products, as the EPA just warned about them in drinking water (13, 14).

The FDA has published information on what is known so far on the safety of PFAs and research is ongoing to more fully understand the nature of those ingredients and how they impact the human body (15, 16, 17).

Generally speaking, Teflon is a safe and stable compound.

However, at temperatures above 500°F (260°C), Teflon coatings on nonstick cookware start to break down, releasing toxic chemicals into the air (18).

Inhaling these fumes may lead to polymer fume fever, also known as the Teflon flu.

Polymer fume fever consists of temporary, flu-like symptoms such as chills, fever, headache, and body aches. The onset occurs after 4–10 hours of exposure, and the condition usually resolves within 12–48 hours (19, 20).

A small number of case studies have also reported more serious side effects of exposure to overheated Teflon, including lung damage (20, 21, 22, 23).

However, in all of the reported cases, individuals were exposed to fumes from overcooked Teflon cookware at extreme temperatures of at least 730°F (390°C) for extended periods of at least 4 hours (20, 22, 23).

While the health effects of overheated Teflon may be serious, using commonsense cooking practices will help you avoid exposure.

Summary

Above 570°F (300°C), Teflon coatings may begin to break down, releasing toxic fumes into the air. These fumes can cause temporary, flu-like symptoms known as polymer fume fever.

If you follow basic safety precautions, cooking with nonstick cookware is safe, healthy, and convenient.

You can minimize your risk when cooking by following these tips:

• Don’t preheat an empty pan. Empty pans can reach high temperatures within minutes, potentially causing the release of polymer fumes. Make sure you have some food or liquid in pots and pans before you preheat.
• Avoid cooking on high heat. Cook on medium or low heat and avoid broiling, since this cooking technique requires temperatures above those recommended for nonstick cookware.
• Ventilate your kitchen. When you’re cooking, turn on your exhaust fan or open up windows to help clear any fumes.
• Use wooden, silicone, or plastic utensils. Metal utensils can lead to scuffs and scratches on the nonstick surface, reducing the life of your cookware.
• Hand wash. Gently wash pots and pans with a sponge and soapy, warm water. Avoid using steel wool or scouring pads, since they can scratch the surface.
• Replace old cookware. When Teflon coatings start to visibly deteriorate with excessive scratches, peeling, flaking, and chipping, they are ready to be replaced.

Summary

There are a number of ways to reduce your risk when cooking with nonstick cookware, including cooking on low-to-medium heat, using ventilation, and taking care of your cookware.

The nonstick coating is made from a chemical called PTFE, also known as Teflon, which makes cooking and washing up fast and easy.

Health agencies have raised concerns about the compound PFOA, which was previously used to make Teflon. However, Teflon has been PFOA-free since .

Today’s nonstick and Teflon cookware is considered safe for everyday home cooking, as long as temperatures do not exceed 500°F (260°C).

So, you can use your nonstick cookware on the stovetop at low-to-medium heat, but don’t use it at maximum heat or for hotter cooking methods like broiling.

At the end of the day, Teflon cookware is a convenient way to cook your food that is safer for everyday use than it was previously. However, research is ongoing on other substances used in the making of Teflon, and emerging evidence suggests there may still be safety issues.

Go Beyond Pots and Pans

When seeking out safe cooking practices, here are a few other tips to keep in mind.

1. Be mindful of utensils
Some spatulas and stirring spoons can also contain toxins. Plastic utensils may contain Bisphenol-A (BPA) and other hormone disruptors, which can leach into your food when cooking. And just because something is BPA free, doesn't mean it's safer.

"BPA is Bisphenol-A and a lot of times when it's removed, they'll replace it with Bisphenol-S (BPS) or F (BPF), which may have just as strong, if not higher, endocrine disrupting or hormone disrupting properties as BPA,” says Tonya Harris, an environmental toxins expert.

Be aware that metal utensils can scratch up your pans, potentially creating more opportunities for chemicals to trickle into your food. “I personally use wooden utensils for cooking,” says Steven Gundry, M.D., a cardiothoracic surgeon and author of The Longevity Paradox: How to Die Young at a Ripe Old Age. Harris says silicon can be a good option if you use high quality, food-grade versions.

2. Turn on the fan
Since cooking with chemical-laden nonstick pans can create harmful fumes, it's a good idea to turn the exhaust fan on when cooking. The fan can also help dissipate any smoke or gas from cooking on high heat.

3. Use parchment paper
If you can't find a nontoxic baking sheet, or aren't sure if yours contains harmful chemicals, Bradley suggests lining it with parchment paper before putting food on top. “That's going to minimize the actual absorption of the chemicals,” she says.

4. Avoid takeout containers 
Experts like Gundry warn that takeout containers made from foam or plastic often contain endocrine disrupters. Even paper cartons may have a plasticized lining containing some toxins, he says.

"When in doubt, and you have to have take out, bring your own glass containers from home and transfer [the food] immediately.”

For more information, please visit teflon food safe.