Polymer-fume fever is the name given to temporary flu-like symptoms including chills and headaches caused by exposure to airborne PTFEs. Once these atomic bonds are disrupted, potentially dangerous particles can be released into the air. At temperatures above 500 ☏, the molecular compounds that comprise nonstick coating begin to break down. The main concern with using nonstick cookware is the release of toxic gasses that may result from overheating pots and pans. As a product-testing and recommendation company, we don’t want to focus on this aspect of the products, but we do believe that sharing the following information will help consumers. Having spent several weeks immersed in the subject, we are well aware of the concern of possible health effects of using PTFE-based nonstick surfaces for food preparation. Other materials that used to be popular in cookware construction, like lead and cadmium, have also been largely phased out. This practice has been nearly eliminated by major producers because PFOA is now understood to be a toxic pollutant linked to cancer. In the past, the process of manufacturing PTFE required the use of Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA). Only one of our six finalists, Gotham Steel, uses a coating that is not PTFE-based. Teflon, which is often misused as a generic descriptor of nonstick cookware, is the brand name for that very specific PTFE compound discovered by DuPont. Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) is a type of fluoropolymer most often used in cookware. Fluorine is the key to producing a slippery surface because it’s highly resistant to reacting with other chemicals and it has a low coefficient of friction. These coatings are almost universally made of fluoropolymers - large molecules in which fluorine atoms insulate carbon atoms. By bonding these chemicals to the cooking surface of pots and pans, they become incredibly resistant to sticky foods, making both cooking and cleaning easier and more enjoyable. It wasn’t until the 1960s that we started to see Teflon and other similar chemicals being used in the construction of cookware. Dupont trademarked the compound Teflon, and for the next 30 years sold it for various military and industrial uses. Roy Plunkett stumbled on a combination of molecules that created a very slick, slippery surface. In the late 1930s, while working on a new alternative refrigerant at the DuPont company, Dr. Stainless steel base, hard anodized (PFOA, lead, cadmium free)Īluminum, porcelain enamel exterior, Dupont Teflon non stickĪluminum, titanium and ceramic finish (PFOA, PTFE, PFOS free)Īluminum and sturdy hard enamel porcelain exteriors certain colors PFOA-free Safety: Are the materials used in the nonstick coating safe for my family and the environment?.Versatility: Can the items go in the oven? Can metallic utensils be used on the pans?.Aesthetics: Will the cookware look great in my kitchen?.Variety: Does the whole set cover all my cooking needs?.Cleaning: Are the pots and pans easily washed and cared for?.Durability: Is the cookware likely to hold up to years of use?.Heating: Does the surface heat evenly, avoiding cool spots and unevenly cooked food?.Release: Do food items easily slide off the cooking surface without the use of oils?. From the 20-something progressing from cooking a late-night grilled-cheese sandwich to the proudest home chef, everyone has something to say about why they either love or hate their current cookware.įrom our research, we found that the following characteristics and standards define what people are looking for in nonstick pans: Then, we crowdsourced to discover common complaints, experiences and expectations. Posts from the Environmental Working Group and forums on WebMD also helped us begin to understand some of the concerns regarding particular nonstick surfaces. Articles and reviews from Bon Appetit, Good Housekeeping, and Cooks Illustrated provided a great foundation. Compare the best nonstick cookware setsīefore diving into this project, we check out some reputable food and home publications.It’s easy to clean, safe to use, and likely to stand up to years of use. The cooking surface of these pieces is incredibly resistant to sticky foods. After frying dozens of eggs, flipping stacks of pancakes and sizzling several pounds of fish using six of the most popular nonstick cookware sets, we concluded that the Circulon – Symmetry 11-Piece Set is the best nonstick cookware.
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