What? Are nonstick pans toxic?

Many people like to use non-stick pans, which have less fuel consumption, less oily smoke, and are not easy to burn. However, in recent years, the saying that "non-stick pans cause cancer" has been overwhelming, and many people are always worried that the coating of non-stick pans is poisonous. So, are non-stick pans toxic and carcinogenic?

What exactly is the coating on a nonstick pan? The reason why non-stick pans can be "non-stick" is because "Teflon" is used to fill the uneven gaps on the surface of the pan to form a genuinely smooth "film". Teflon is a polymer made of PTFE as a monomer. It has good heat resistance, cold resistance, acid resistance, alkali resistance, and strong stability, and is hardly eroded by any substance and is known as the "King of Plastics".

Whether it will cause cancer depends on whether it meets the standards. Because Teflon has labels such as "polymer" and "plastic", it is easy to think that it is toxic and carcinogenic, which is also an important reason for the spread of non-stick carcinogenic rumors. Teflon itself is not poisonous, but in the production process of Teflon, some unscrupulous manufacturers will use a processing aid called PFOA, which has been associated with thyroid disease, high cholesterol, and Associated with ulcers associated with colitis. Currently, PFOA has been banned by China and most countries. Therefore, Teflon-coated non-stick pans purchased in regular supermarkets that meet national standards are still very safe.

If the coating peels off, can the nonstick coating still be used? Most nonstick pans tend to flake or get scratched over time. Can it still be used at this time? With regular use, Teflon is very stable. Even if a small amount of coating particles that fall off are eaten by mistake, they will generally be excreted by the human body and will not seriously affect health.

The most taboo thing when using a non-stick pan is "dry frying". Some people worry that the Teflon coating of non-stick pans will decompose into harmful substances at high temperatures, which will cause cancer after being inhaled by the human body. PTFE has remarkable thermal stability, does not melt at high temperatures, can withstand high temperatures of 300°C in a short period of time, and can be used for a long time below 260°C. During daily cooking, the temperature that the pot can reach is basically around 200°C. Even for frying and frying, the temperature is generally below 250°C, so you can use it with confidence.

However, although Teflon is resistant to high temperatures, be careful not to dry the pan when cooking. Boil in an empty pot for 5 minutes, the temperature can reach 800°C. At this time, the toxic gas of PFIB may be decomposed, which is harmful to human health.