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.
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 1930s 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.
SummaryNonstick 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 2013.
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. 1999–2000 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) (11).
The PFOA Stewardship Program, launched in 2006 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 2015.
All companies met the program targets, so all Teflon products, including nonstick cookware, have been PFOA-free since 2013 (12).
SummaryPFOA 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 2013.
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.
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.
SummaryAbove 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:
SummaryThere 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.
Modern nonstick cookware is generally considered safe. The American Cancer Society states that there are no proven risks to humans from new PFOA-free nonstick cookware (24).
However, if you’re still concerned about any of the potential health effects, you can try an alternative.
Here are some great Teflon-free alternatives:
SummaryMost modern nonstick cookware is safe if you use it correctly. You can also choose from several nonstick alternatives, including cast iron, ceramic, and stainless steel.
Nonstick cookware is found in many kitchens worldwide.
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 2013.
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.
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