Does olive oil destroy non-stick pans?

Author: Maegan Kuhlman  |  Last update: Wednesday, August 6, 2025

The Olive Wellness Institute team often gets asked questions about this common myth, and the answer is NO, cooking in extra virgin olive oil will NOT ruin your non-stick pans.

Does olive oil ruin non-stick pans?

You can use both olive oil and butter in a nonstick pan without causing damage. The only type of oil that damages nonstick (PTFE only) is that in an aerosol can, because the aerosol propellants react with the PTFE and cause it to degrade. There is no cooking oil, butter, ghee, tallow, or lard that does this.

What oil is best for a non-stick frying pan?

Use a minimal amount of oil, such as canola, olive, vegetable or corn oil, as well as butter. Never use high heat when cooking with a nonstick pan. If you're worried about calories, use an oil atomizer to spray the least amount of oil possible. Cooking spray is incompatible with nonstick cookware.

What will ruin a non-stick pan?

  • Using Metal Utensils : Scratching the non-stick surface with metal spatulas, spoons, or forks can damage the coating, leading to peeling and reduced effectiveness.
  • Overheating
  • Improper Cleaning
  • Cooking with Oil or Butter
  • Storing Improperly
  • Using in the Oven
  • Ignoring Manufacturer Instructions

Is extra virgin olive oil safe for pan frying?

Pan frying with extra virgin olive oil is perfectly fine. The only consideration you need to take in are cost and flavor. Even most low smoke point oils are okay for frying, it's deep frying where you need high heat oil like canola or sunflower.

Does olive oil ruin ceramic pans?

What is the healthiest oil to fry with?

Oils high in monounsaturated fats are best for cooking with due to their stability when heated, as well as their potential health benefits. Examples include olive, avocado, and canola oil. Coconut oil is also a stable fat to cook with.

Why can't you deep fry with olive oil?

It's a common myth that olive oil has a low smoke point, making it inadequate to deep fry with, but it is also a myth that oil needs to reach extreme temperatures in order to fry food. High-quality extra virgin olive oil has a smoke point of upwards of 425°F, well beyond the desired 350°F to 375 F range.

When did Calphalon stop using 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.

Are wooden spoons safe for non-stick pans?

Wooden utensils are gentle enough to use on nonstick cookware, cast iron skillets, and other materials that can't always handle metal or even hard plastic. They can deal with hot liquids and high temperatures in any situation. The best wooden spoons are usually pretty inexpensive, too.

Can you use butter in a nonstick pan?

For the sake of the pan, use a minimal amount of oil, such as canola, olive, vegetable or corn oil, as well as butter. If you are trying to cut calories, invest in an oil mister, which allows you to coat a pan with a small amount of oil.

What oil do chefs use for pan frying?

Canola Oil

With its neutral flavor and low price point, canola is another popular oil among chefs. It has a smoke point of 400-450°F. It works very well for general-purpose frying and is ideal for a pan of fried potatoes.

Do chefs use non stick frying pan?

Nevertheless, if heated at high temperatures for a long time, the uppermost layer of non-stick pans still releases toxic fumes. This is why chefs are reluctant to use non-stick pans.

What is the best oil to use in a non-stick pan?

Four of our favorite types of oil to use with GreenPan pans are peanut oil, canola oil, coconut oil and grapeseed oil.

Why does food keep sticking to my non-stick pan?

Perhaps the simplest reason that some non stick pans start to stick, especially if the pan isn't very old, is that there's a layer of stuck-on food residue getting in the way. Even the thinnest layer of dried egg white or residual starch from stir-frying potstickers can cause food to stick.

Is a scratched non-stick pan toxic?

You should avoid using any scratched or dented nonstick pan to avoid exposure to potentially toxic chemicals. “It can be very difficult for consumers to understand which pans have 'forever chemical' coatings,” says Pelch.

Are non-stick pans banned in Europe?

Teflon cookware made before 2013 may be toxic

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.

Why do we no longer recommend GreenPan?

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.

Why you should stop using non stick pans?

Chemicals in non-stick coatings

PFAS are found in many consumer products, including packaging, clothing, and cookware. Unfortunately, PFAS is known to accumulate in the environment and has been linked to human health impacts such as abnormal thyroid and hormone function, reduced immune system response, and cancer.

What is the safest cookware for your health?

ceramic is among the safest material for pans

From dishes, to glasses, bakeware and cookware, ceramic bakeware is our pick for the best cookware material for health thanks to its non-reactive nature and resistance to high temperatures and acidic foods. Plus it's so pretty!

What is the life expectancy of a non stick pan?

Not all non stick pans are created equal, so they can range in length of life. While most non stick pans last an average of two to three years, pans of a poorer quality may yield fewer uses before the non stick coating wears off. Alternately, higher quality pans may last longer than three years with the right care.

Why is extra virgin olive oil not good for frying?

Smoke point and acrolein production

Exceeding the smoke point results in the production of acrolein, a toxic liquid chemical. Extra-virgin olive oil has a very high smoke point, on average 180°C. In some cases it can even exceed 200°C.

What is the healthiest oil to deep fry with?

For deep frying in the home, better oils include refined olive oil (light olive oil) and rice bran oils. Many takeaway operators (including some chains) have switched to using deep frying oils that are lower in saturated fat but stable at prolonged high temperatures.

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