Scratches, dents, or pits in the coating won't affect the safety or performance of your pan. HOW CAN I DEEP CLEAN MY PAN?
No, scratched ceramic pans and pots are not safe to use. The materials under the ceramic coating can be harmful to health, so it's recommended that once your ceramic coated cookware shows signs of wear that you dispose of it.
From a safety standpoint, it's an inert silicon coating so it's not a huge concern if you continue using it for a bit. If the coating starts flaking off or if the nonstick performance degrades, then I would personally replace it.
Reviewers on Amazon have warned wear and tear on GreenPan's cookware can build up quickly if you don't clean it with care. Ceramic cookware is prone to chipping and scratching, which is why the brand recommends cooking with silicone utensils over harsh metal spatulas or tongs.
In 2019, a lawsuit was brought against GreenPan claiming false advertising and concluded with no findings of liability by the company. The case was dismissed. What we said about our products is true. Thermolon coating is free of PFAS, PFOA, lead, and cadmium.
MY PAN'S SURFACE IS SCRATCHED, IS THAT A PROBLEM? Scratches, dents, or pits in the coating won't affect the safety or performance of your pan.
GreenPan frying pans lack harmful chemicals and toxins such as PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances), also known as forever chemicals, as well as PFOA, lead, and cadmium. GreenPan products came onto the culinary scene in 2007, boasting a reimagined and healthier ceramic non-stick coating.
Be Careful with olive oil
Please remember that olive oil, extra virgin olive oil, butter and oil sprays quickly start to smoke and burn when the pan is hot. This causes carbonization of the pan, which can damage the non-stick layer.
“The most nontoxic cookware that you can buy is stainless steel, cast iron or carbon steel; things that don't have a coating on them,” says Alexis Pisciotta, culinary purchasing and events manager and cookware consultant for Food Network.
Overheating + oils= carbonization (a.k.a. those little spots that cause your food to stick to the pan). But don't worry! You can use a melamine sponge (e.g. our Restore Sponge) to wipe them away.
So, Should I Keep Using A Scratched Pan? No. While they don't necessarily present a safety concern, you still shouldn't hold onto your scratched nonstick pans. If the scratches are fresh, you may end up with flakes of the coating in your food, which we can all agree is not delicious.
The short answer, No!
Chipping is a natural occurrence with Ceramic Non-stick. Chipping up to 1 to 2 mm is a perfectly normal occurrence because Ceramic coatings are very hard – i.e. in the same way as Porcelain Ceramics are hard but not very flexible.
The type of scratch most likely to cause problems is one that goes all the way through the coating to the underlying substrate. Such scratches can compromise the coating's protective properties and allow corrosion or other damage to occur.
Deep Scratches
Superficial scratches on the coating happen with use, but scratches that cut through the coating down to the metal beneath can be hazardous to cook on and can harbor harmful bacteria.
Average ceramic cookware will last for about a year, whereas quality ceramics can last for up to 3 years when well taken care of. The main reason ceramic cookware may need to be thrown out is that it loses its nonstick coating.
In the past, Teflon coating included an ingredient called perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA). PFOA is a type of PFAS that has been linked to kidney and liver problems. The FDA banned the use of PFOA in cookware in 2014. If you have a Teflon pot or pan that was made before 2014, you should get rid of it.
Are scratched ceramic pans safe? As long as they're made without potential toxins, then yes. A scratched surface will just make your ceramic nonstick pan less, well, nonstick. To preserve the ceramic coating, hand wash your cookware with warm, soapy water and a soft sponge.
Some cooks rely on ceramic cookware because of its non-stick properties, but for the seasoned home cook, ceramic lacks the durability and versatility of stainless steel cookware.
Avoid all oils in spray form, as the tiny particulates will heat up quickly and burn, creating a layer of carbonization on your pan.
Our pans are toxin-free!
It is often the case that the Bakelite handle of the pan has been exposed to extreme heat (if the pan has not been placed on the hob correctly). Exposing the Bakelite handle to such extreme heat will cause the smell and possibly even some burning of the handle.
GreenPan's Lawsuit
A lawsuit initiated in 2019 alleged the pans contained potentially harmful silane, aluminum oxide, tetraethoxysilane, methyltrimethoxysilane, and potassium titanate (amongst other claims that their advertising was false or misleading). According to an attorney, the lawsuit was dismissed.
TL;DR: With about the same lifespan (2-5 years) as other high-quality nonstick cookware, GreenPan uses a “healthy ceramic nonstick” coating (Thermolon) that is PTFE, PFAS, Cadmium, and PFOA free, giving chefs the peace of mind that their nonstick cookware is safe to use.
For our recommendations, we stick to stainless steel, cast iron, and enamel or ceramic coatings. If you're making the switch from traditional nonstick cookware, you should look into ceramic or enameled cookware. These coatings tend to hold up for years, especially if you cook over medium to low heat.