Myth: "Teflon” is the same thing as PFOA. Fact: The Teflon™ brand is not PFOA. Teflon™ is a brand, owned by
PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene) is a polymer used to make coatings of kitchen utensils non-stick. It is more commonly known as Teflon™. PFOA is a chemical substance that was used in the past as an additive for the production of PTFE.
The use of PFOA in the manufacturing of Teflon-coated cookware has been completely stopped. But, even when PFOA is used, it poses little or no harm to your health. Teflon on its own is safe and can't harm you when you ingest it.
Nonstick cookware is likely safe to use if people follow precautions. A 2024 study tested six types of aluminum-based cookware coated in Teflon or granite, commonly known as ceramic-coated.
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. A good rule of thumb is to replace them approximately every five years. Look at your pans frequently.
In general, you want to replace nonstick pans after five years.
Ceramic: Indeed the healthiest material for frying pan and ideal if you're cooking delicate foods like eggs or fish. Its nonstick and toxin-free surface makes ceramic a must-have in your kitchen.
Tefal Pans Are Not Made With TEFLON™
Historically, Tefal used TEFLON™-branded coatings for its non-stick pans. However, when Groupe SEB acquired Tefal in 1968, it chose to internalize the production of its own non-stick coatings to better control and manage all stages of production.
The coating that makes food not stick to the pan is delicate. Scratches from metal utensils can cause it to eventually peel off, and cooking over high heat can damage the surface permanently. Busy professional kitchens need pots and pans that can withstand years of heavy-duty use, meaning durable, uncoated metal items.
All that was enough for most manufacturers to halt the production of nonstick coatings using PFOA around 2002. Teflon using PFOA wasn't officially banned in the United States until 2014. Europe banned it in 2008. That means if you own Teflon nonstick cookware from 2013 or earlier, there's a chance it contains PFOA.
A: Calphalon stopped manufacturing our nonstick using PFOA back in the third quarter of 2012. We have then since moved to a formula that is completely FDA approved.
Is HexClad cookware safe? HexClad describes its nonstick coating as a "Japanese coating infused with diamond dust." The company states that its pans are PFOA-free, though they do contain PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene), commonly known by the brand name Teflon.
For decades, DuPont used perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA, or C8) during production of PTFE, later discontinuing its use due to legal actions over ecotoxicological and health effects of exposure to PFOA. Dupont's spin-off Chemours today manufactures PTFE using an alternative chemical it calls GenX, another PFAS.
Not exactly, but it's definitely under the microscope. While Teflon itself isn't banned, the chemicals used in its production, like PFOA, have faced restrictions due to health concerns. The EU is working on broader regulations to limit PFAS, which includes Teflon's main component, PTFE.
Fritaire: A Safer, Non-Toxic Air Fryer Alternative
If you're looking for a safer option, Fritaire's air fryers offer a non-toxic solution that is free from Teflon, PFOA, and PTFE.
Try HexClad and see why Gordan Ramsay loves it — and you'll love it too. If you're a home cook worth your salt, you deserve the latest innovation in cookware. Try our revolutionary cookware for your next big meal, or start with a few of your favorite cookware items to stock your cabinets slowly.
All cast iron, whether natural or coated, has a much higher carbon concentration than other popular food-safe metals like stainless steel and aluminum. This means that natural cast iron is more susceptible to corrosion because when carbon combines with oxygen and water, rust forms.
We advise replacing your nonstick pans whenever the coating starts to degrade or is scratched—or about every three to five years.
A surface scratch on Teflon coating may shed more than 9,000 micro- and nanoparticles, potentially contaminating food with harmful chemicals, according to a study by researchers from the Global Centre for Environmental Remediation.
Telfon (PTFE) is still used in most non stick cookware. A binding chemical to help teflon stick to the pan was PFOA, which hasn't really been used since 2013.
Then, we removed GreenPan entirely from our list of non-toxic cookware. There were two primary reasons: Competing brands began providing independent laboratory testing to prove their products are non-toxic. We became aware of lawsuits against GreenPan that cast doubt on the company's marketing claims.
Our products are safe, and compliant with with all applicable federal and state safety regulations. We are proud to be able to offer our customers a variety of cookware materials to choose from, including stainless steel and nonstick ceramic.
You can find nonstick cookware at much lower prices than HexClad. If you have the budget, however, HexClad is the better option. It's nonstick, it's more durable, and it provides a superior cooking experience.