When to Throw away Non stick Pans? Tips and Guide

Nonstick pans are important cooking utensils that have become an integral part of kitchen appliances. If you’re in possession of one and wish to know when to throw away nonstick pans, then stay with me till the end of this article.

The health issue is very important, while doing cooking it is necessary that we should throw away a non-stick pan if we know that it can cause any type of health issue. While considering the health issue we must know that we should not use the pan which has any scratch or crack on its surface because this is unhealthy for cooking.

The non-stick pan is the perfect pan for healthier cooking and reduces a lot of fats in your dish. There are many questions that may exist in your head that how do you decide the time of throwing away the non-stick pan? How can you find out whether your non-stick pans are still good for cooking or not? Is It Safe To Use Scratched Non Stick Pan ?

Therefore, if you have this kind of question, please carefully read on and see if you can get any help in your daily life.

When to Throw Away Non stick Pans

When you use the nonstick pan for induction with more care then it will last for a longer time. The life of pans depends on your style of using them. If you will take proper care, and not use metal utensils and wash them properly in time then the life of your nonstick pans and pots will increase.

You want to know when to replace non stick cookware. There are different factors on the basis of which the product’s life can be judged or we can guess when to throw away nonstick pans and replace a new one.

The Nonstick pan Warps

This is not a health threat, it is a threat to the taste of your food and is difficult to use.

Normally the pans do not warp because of high-quality material, but it can be possible also. When the pan gets warp, its shape becomes irregular, if the dent is bigger then the pan will not be stable over the stove and there will be no even heat reach to the pan. Sometimes the pans are bent and get a twist out of their original shape, the food can not get cooked properly in these bend pans because the heat does not reach properly to the food.

If your food is cooking well due to a small dent and you have no issue with the taste and quality of food then it’s not a big problem. You can continue to cook food on your nonstick pans.

The Nonstick pan is Scratch

The nonstick pans are the favorite of everyone because the food is easy to cook in nonstick pans, the food does not stick into pans, and is very easy to clean.

Contrary to the benefits, the Nonstick pans also have a threat to your health. In homes normally people use metal utensils for cooking, from time to time these utensils create scratches inside the nonstick pans.  As a result, nonstick pan coating comes off.

When the nonstick pan is getting heated, the coating of the pan can get into food that is dangerous for your health. Nonstick coating is derived from different chemical substances that get into the body can cause cancer, lungs problems, low birth rates, and other diseases.

A Hard Layer of food stuck to the pan

When you cook food into the pan sometimes the food gets stuck into the pan and from time to time it gets stronger and makes a layer over the nonstick coating. This is because of carelessness when you do not clean your pan properly in time. T this stage if you try to remove the hard layer of food from the pan, the nonstick coating can also be removed from the pan along with food.

So if the layer of food is small, then you should try to remove it softly to regain its shine and work. But if it is bigger then you can change your nonstick pan while throwing away the existing one.

The Nonstick Pan Broken

Sometimes the quality of the pan is not good, the pan can get a hole while cooking over a high temperature or suddenly if the hard thing applies to the pan it can get damaged or even face a hole. In this way, the nonstick pan can not perform like before. If The handle broke out, also in this way you will face difficulty in using that pan. So you should throw away the pan if it Breaks out, the handle broke out or the nonstick pan gets a hole inside.

Read More: Is it Bad to Use Aluminum Cookware?

Things to remember while using Nonstick Pans

• Never put your nonstick pan over the very high temperature
• Always use wood or silicone utensils and avoid using metal utensils
• Always try to wash the pans and pots with your hands and avoid using the dishwasher
• Use a light sponge or soft cloth to wash your nonstick pan
• Avoid washing the pan immediately after cooking. Keep the pan to cool down after that you can wash
• Do not use hard chemicals to wash, use a soft soap or dishwashing liquid
• Never Scratch your pan while cooking or cleaning, if the food stick in the pan, try to remove it smoothly and softly. Otherwise, if you will try to remove it by force, it can scratch your nonstick coating
• If there are scratches on your nonstick pans, you can use non stick cookware repair spray to regain its performance

Watch the video to know more about when to throw away non stick pans

Why do we call the Pan a Nonstick?

If we discuss about the science of non stick pans, there are different things we need to know. When the pan is manufactured, its surface is hard and rough. We can say that a pan is not slippery, due to this the food sticks into the pan and is also difficult to clean.

There are different chemicals like Teflon, PFOA, PTFE, PFAS, and many others. When these are applied over the rough pan, a layer develops. That layer is fixed to the pan permanently and is slippery in nature. The food does not stick into these pans, the food can get cooked easily and are easy to clean. That’s why we call these pans nonstick pans. From time to time the coating becomes weak and in this way, non-stick pan coating comes off.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can You Repair Your Nonstick Pan?

From time to time the performance of the pan becomes down, its durability Increases if you care and clean them properly in time. If your nonstick pan has not a big problem then you can recover to regain its working and performance. When the nonstick coating has been removed you can spray your pan with nonstick coating, the pan can regain its performance.

If the handle does not fit properly, you can take this to the iron man to fix the handle. Again you can continue to cook in that pan. You can also use non-stick cookware repair spray to regain its shine and performance.

Is non-stick cookware harmful to health?

All nonstick cookware on the market uses some kind of coating that makes washing easier with less risk of damaging the nonstick surface. It usually takes very little effort to remove dirt from a nonstick surface, but you should never use harsh abrasives. In some cases, you can damage the finish by using steel.

Experiments have shown that high-temperature cooking results in the release of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) into food. However, researchers found that the amount of PFOA released with normal cooking is very small and is unlikely to harm people. Manufacturers have largely removed PFOA from nonstick products, but some low-cost imported brands still use it.

Is it safe to use scratched non stick pan?

Scratches on nonstick pans are a common kitchen problem. Using Any hard material or metal utensils may scratch the Teflon coating. Cleaning scratched nonstick cookware can be difficult. If you use too much force, you risk further scratching the pan and even removing more of its nonstick coating a scratchy pot is a sticky pot

If your nonstick pans are scratched or chipped, the problem is even worse. These scratches expose the aluminum which reacts with food and creates substances that are toxic. PFOA and PFOS are not safe at all, even at very low levels. The best thing you can do is buy new pans every few years if you use nonstick cookware regularly.

How to fix scratched non stick pan?

There are lots of tricks and tips that people use to improve their cleaning techniques depending upon what kind of challenge lies before them.

This simple remedy can help get rid of a sticky pan and prevent food from sticking to it. When you pour hot water on a scrubby surface, the atoms in the water bunch up against the food and become stuck. Baking soda and vinegar dissolve this outer layer of dirt, allowing the food to slide right off the surface and down into the saucepan or sink. Over time this process will help scrub acidic foods from surfaces that may be difficult for people with allergies to handle.

You may also read Can You Use a Regular Pan Over a Fire

Final Thoughts

In a nutshell, you should throw away non-stick pans whenever you notice that the surface has any scratch or crack on it. Based on my opinion about the time of throwing away of a non-stick pan. I would like to say that a non-stick pan is useful for the cooking purpose then only we should use it. If the cookware gets damage than throw it and buy a new one.

If it is getting scratches or cracks and you are using any scratch pads or sharp objects then it is also bad for you as these will cause damage to the non-stick surface. In addition, if you have been using the pan for a long period of time and it has been used in excess heat then also it is not good enough to use as it may become harmful to you.

So it is important that if you feel that your cookware gives a burning smell after cooking then you should be thrown away as soon as possible. Throw away non-stick pans which have scratches or cracks in it can be dangerous for your health.