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We Tested Nonstick Cookware: Coatings Don't Need to Look Worn to Shed Particles

rtings.com

11–20 of 103 posts

Re: We Tested Nonstick Cookware: Coatings Don't Need to Look Worn to Shed Particles

#11
post #4
post #2

I’m the founder of RTINGS.com. A few notes about this investigation: - For each piece of cookware, we purchased and tested three separate units - Before taking the “new” measurement, each unit was washed three times with dish soap and rinsed with isopropyl alcohol - Oil blanks and uncoated cookware were included as controls - We did not chemically identify the particles that were released - This investigation measure…

Thank you for doing this. The conclusion from the text is: > For consumers who wish to minimize potential exposure to PTFE coating particles, the simplest approach may be to treat nonstick cookware as a specialized tool rather than a default choice. Instead, reach for uncoated cookware, such as stainless steel, cast iron, carbon steel, or glass, whenever practical. If we follow that advice: For which type of food/dis…

I think the advice is to avoid using it as a daily driver. If you only have nonstick and carbon steel pans, you might not want to cook something acidic in the carbon steel as it will kill the seasoning. If you have nonstick and stainless steel, you can use the SS for that.

On the otherhand, cooking eggs in nonstick might be easier/require less fat than working with stainless steel.

Nonstick also generally has a lower rated max temp, so avoid using it in the broiler...

All this is to say, it's a trade-off for convenience. With the right technique, or if you want to spend time to rebuild seasoning, you can pretty much use whatever pans you want to cook whatever you want. These types of non-stick pans are relatively new in the world of cooking.

Re: We Tested Nonstick Cookware: Coatings Don't Need to Look Worn to Shed Particles

#12
post #9

Thank you for these tests! I've recently tossed all my coated pans (my favourite were the Anolon, but those too shed) and moved to stainless steel, save for a cast iron and carbon steel pan. In the journey here the best I could find was a Hestan nanobond pan, which unfortunately laminated and has shown some pits after few months of use. They refunded me but titaniums isn't yet where stainless steel is. Now I'm using…

> Leidenfrost effect

Okay for a steak, not great for eggs!

Re: We Tested Nonstick Cookware: Coatings Don't Need to Look Worn to Shed Particles

#13
post #9

Thank you for these tests! I've recently tossed all my coated pans (my favourite were the Anolon, but those too shed) and moved to stainless steel, save for a cast iron and carbon steel pan. In the journey here the best I could find was a Hestan nanobond pan, which unfortunately laminated and has shown some pits after few months of use. They refunded me but titaniums isn't yet where stainless steel is. Now I'm using…

Thanks! I’m getting into cooking and have basic teflon pans (Rachel ray pans given to us by my MIL) and I’m looking to get nice ones and be done with it

Re: We Tested Nonstick Cookware: Coatings Don't Need to Look Worn to Shed Particles

#14
post #5

If you're looking to switch, difficulty around cooking technique for stainless steel, carbon steel & cast iron is overblown. Same with seasoning/cleaning the latter two. Trust me, if I can figure it out, you can too.

Carbon steel is amazing - durable self repairing non-stick surface that after the inital seasoning is trivial to maintain: wash the pan with a brush when its still hot without any detergent - cleans in seconds. Cast iron is good too but takes longer to heat the pan. You only have to look in any professional kitchen - they don't use non-stick pans.

I have seen non-stick pans for eggs.

Re: We Tested Nonstick Cookware: Coatings Don't Need to Look Worn to Shed Particles

#15
post #9

Thank you for these tests! I've recently tossed all my coated pans (my favourite were the Anolon, but those too shed) and moved to stainless steel, save for a cast iron and carbon steel pan. In the journey here the best I could find was a Hestan nanobond pan, which unfortunately laminated and has shown some pits after few months of use. They refunded me but titaniums isn't yet where stainless steel is. Now I'm using…

> Leidenfrost effect Okay for a steak, not great for eggs!

Maybe not for creamy scrambled eggs, but for most eggs that's entirely doable.

Frying: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BYpYK1DV_SU

Scrambled: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dFtkmInrlWw

Re: We Tested Nonstick Cookware: Coatings Don't Need to Look Worn to Shed Particles

#16
post #9

Thank you for these tests! I've recently tossed all my coated pans (my favourite were the Anolon, but those too shed) and moved to stainless steel, save for a cast iron and carbon steel pan. In the journey here the best I could find was a Hestan nanobond pan, which unfortunately laminated and has shown some pits after few months of use. They refunded me but titaniums isn't yet where stainless steel is. Now I'm using…

> Leidenfrost effect Okay for a steak, not great for eggs!

If you cannot cook eggs that do not stick in stainless steel you are doing it wrong. I never have an issue. Over easy, non-stick, every time.

The trick I found is to take the pan off the heat after the droplets start jumping and add a bunch of butter and then add the eggs and put it back on low heat.

Re: We Tested Nonstick Cookware: Coatings Don't Need to Look Worn to Shed Particles

#17
post #9

Thank you for these tests! I've recently tossed all my coated pans (my favourite were the Anolon, but those too shed) and moved to stainless steel, save for a cast iron and carbon steel pan. In the journey here the best I could find was a Hestan nanobond pan, which unfortunately laminated and has shown some pits after few months of use. They refunded me but titaniums isn't yet where stainless steel is. Now I'm using…

If you cook with extra virgin olive oil, having the pan temperature reach the Leidenfrost effect will lead to the oil smoking.

Re: We Tested Nonstick Cookware: Coatings Don't Need to Look Worn to Shed Particles

#18
post #11
post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Thank you for doing this. The conclusion from the text is: > For consumers who wish to minimize potential exposure to PTFE coating particles, the simplest approach may be to treat nonstick cookware as a specialized tool rather than a default choice. Instead, reach for uncoated cookware, such as stainless steel, cast iron, carbon steel, or glass, whenever practical. If we follow that advice: For which type of food/dis…

I think the advice is to avoid using it as a daily driver. If you only have nonstick and carbon steel pans, you might not want to cook something acidic in the carbon steel as it will kill the seasoning. If you have nonstick and stainless steel, you can use the SS for that. On the otherhand, cooking eggs in nonstick might be easier/require less fat than working with stainless steel. Nonstick also generally has a lower…

> cooking eggs in nonstick might be easier/require less fat

I don't understand why anyone would want to cook eggs with less fat to begin with.

Re: We Tested Nonstick Cookware: Coatings Don't Need to Look Worn to Shed Particles

#19
post #9

Thank you for these tests! I've recently tossed all my coated pans (my favourite were the Anolon, but those too shed) and moved to stainless steel, save for a cast iron and carbon steel pan. In the journey here the best I could find was a Hestan nanobond pan, which unfortunately laminated and has shown some pits after few months of use. They refunded me but titaniums isn't yet where stainless steel is. Now I'm using…

If you cook with extra virgin olive oil, having the pan temperature reach the Leidenfrost effect will lead to the oil smoking.

Yes, EVO smokes at ~190C, and you need 200C-230C for Leidenfrost. Heating up good EVO is a waste anyways.

I do mostly cook in ghee, beef tallow and coconut oil.

If you're ok with refined/seed oils there's plenty more you can use.

Re: We Tested Nonstick Cookware: Coatings Don't Need to Look Worn to Shed Particles

#20
post #9

Thank you for these tests! I've recently tossed all my coated pans (my favourite were the Anolon, but those too shed) and moved to stainless steel, save for a cast iron and carbon steel pan. In the journey here the best I could find was a Hestan nanobond pan, which unfortunately laminated and has shown some pits after few months of use. They refunded me but titaniums isn't yet where stainless steel is. Now I'm using…

Rare (but not outlandish) warning - A friend's entire family had ongoing symptoms of fatigue and upset stomach. They ran blood panels and found that everyone had off the charts iron levels. They had switched to cast iron only in the kitchen a few years back, and switching to stainless pans solved the problem.
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