Nonstick cookware has been getting a lot of attention in the news lately, but not for good reason. Many people enjoy the convenience of not having to spray down their pots and pans when cooking, but rising cases of polymer fume fever (also known as Teflon flu) have some people rethinking their cookware. According to the Washington Post, 267 cases were reported in 2023, the most since 2000.
Teflon is the chemical used in Teflon and other nonstick cookware, and is commonly found in air fryers, pots and pans, and other kitchen appliances. How serious is Teflon Flu? As long as your cookware was manufactured after a certain age and used correctly, it should be fine. Here’s explained everything you need to know about Teflon Flu and how to use kitchenware with confidence without getting sick.
Read more: Can air fryers cause Teflon flu?
What is Teflon Flu?
Polymer fume fever, or Teflon flu, has reignited the debate over the safety of nonstick pans. The disease occurs when fumes from overheated Teflon or non-stick pans are inhaled. Nonstick pans are made of polytetrafluoroethylene (also known as PTFE). PTFE is known as a “forever chemical” because they take decades or even centuries to break down.
Under normal use, PTFE poses no health risk, but when heated above 500 degrees Fahrenheit, emissions can increase and generate polymer fume heat. Polymer fume fever can cause a range of reported symptoms, including fever, chills, muscle tension and headache. Teflon Flu symptoms are temporary and usually appear within 12 hours of exposure, but may take up to 24 hours to appear.
How to Avoid Teflon Flu
Teflon and nonstick cookware are easy to use, clean, and maintain, but should only be used for medium-low heat cooking. Never heat a nonstick pan over high or medium heat for an extended period of time. Try to keep surface temperatures at or below 450 degrees Fahrenheit, otherwise emissions from the PTFE coating may increase.
What is Teflon?
Nonstick or Teflon pans are popular choices for home cooks. The biggest draw is that food won’t stick to Teflon-coated pots and pans like other metal materials, so it’s easy to flip pancakes or remove hard-boiled eggs. Nonstick pans are also very easy to clean, and hand washing usually takes no more than a few seconds.
Teflon is the brand name for a synthetic chemical called polytetrafluoroethylene, which is also used in many household products, from wire coatings to fabric protectants and kitchen cookware. Criticisms of PTFE are that it is unsafe if eaten or absorbed into the body and increases the chance of cancer and other diseases. Studies show some links (more on that below), but PTFE still exists and is used to make cookware, but the safety concerns surrounding PTFE are mostly a thing of the past.
I emphasize most. that’s why…
Teflon brand may be linked to cancer risk, but it’s actually a chemical before used in the manufacture of Teflon, known as perfluorooctanoic acid This is the culprit. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, PFOA is a perfluorinated chemical developed in the 1930s to make fluoropolymer coatings and products that are resistant to heat, oil, stains, grease and water.
Due to the federal ban, all Teflon and nonstick pans manufactured after 2013 should be free of harmful PFOA. Europe enacted the same ban in 2008.
What are the negative effects of PFOA?
In some studies, PFOA has been linked to cancer, immune deficiencies, and many other medical problems. It has also been shown to affect growth and development and damage the liver in laboratory animals.
As recently as 2017, chemical giant DuPont paid out more than $670 million in a lawsuit over PFOA, also known as C-8, contaminating drinking water in the central Ohio Valley. A 2004 class-action lawsuit in the same district sparked a study that found PFOA was linked to cancer and impaired immune function, even at small doses.
Teflon cookware manufactured before 2013 may be toxic
All this was enough for most manufacturers to stop producing nonstick coatings using PFOA around 2002. It was not until 2014 that the United States officially banned the use of PFOA in polytetrafluoroethylene. If you own Teflon nonstick cookware from 2013 or earlier, it’s possible it contains PFOA. Nine years is generally longer than the average lifespan of a nonstick pan, but if you’re not sure, it’s a good idea to replace any pot or pan with a Teflon coating.
If you’re worried, look for PFOA-free cookware
Because of the ban, all nonstick cookware made in the United States should be PFOA-free, but you’d better make sure. Be extra careful when buying cheap or off-brand cookware, especially if it’s not made in a country that actively bans PFOA. PFOA is still produced elsewhere, mostly in China, and used to make consumer products.
the good news is PFOA free Non-stick cookware is cheapso there’s no reason to take any chances with anything that might contain this chemical. You can buy a 10-inch frying pan from a trusted cookware brand such as Mixon sells for $33 or tramontina About $25. Created by luxury cookware brand All-Clad Two-piece nonstick cookware set on sale for $50.
Always Pan is a non-stick ceramic alternative to Teflon cookware.
The Best Natural Non-Stick Pan Alternatives
If you’re ready to ditch Teflon and chemical-based nonstick pots and pans altogether, there are plenty of more natural nonstick alternatives.
The least sticky among them is ceramic cookwareEver since concerns about Teflon first surfaced, the material has exploded in popularity. Some popular ceramic cookware options include pan forever (read my Full review here), coriander and Greenpan.
cast iron is another cookware material that develops a natural nonstick coating over time, especially if you season well and take good care of it. It’s unlikely to be as nonstick as Teflon, but cast iron has many other cooking advantages that make it worth a few extra seconds of scrubbing in the sink after use. Lodge is a proven producer of cast iron cookware: you can buy 10-inch frying pan Only $24.
Cast iron develops a non-stick patina over time and is a natural alternative to PTFE.
carbon steel is another option that functions similarly to cast iron cookware, although it is not as heavy, is slightly more susceptible to corrosion, and is generally more expensive. Carbon steel hasn’t really caught on in the U.S., but it’s a favorite among professional chefs, as well as your true self. Cookware startup Made In makes excellent blue carbon steel The frying pan sells for about $80, but there are cheaper options.
