Is non-stick cookware safe?
Non-stick coatings are a plastic that wears off. Look after them, replace them when scratched, and consider steel or iron next time.
By PlasticFreeHome Research Team · Reviewed by Khalid · Updated 21 October 2026 · 1 min read
Most non-stick pans are coated with PTFE, a fluoropolymer plastic. Used gently and replaced when damaged, the risk is modest, but scratched coatings shed particles, and the PFAS chemistry behind them is a growing environmental concern.
What non-stick coatings are made of
The classic non-stick coating is PTFE (often sold as Teflon). It's a plastic under our definition. "Ceramic" non-stick coatings are different: usually a silica-based layer that also wears over time.
Scratched pans shed particles
A 2022 study used Raman imaging on scratched non-stick pans and identified PTFE micro- and nanoplastic particles coming off the damaged surface. Metal utensils, abrasive scourers and very high heat all speed up wear.
What "PFOA-free" means
PFOA was a chemical once used to make PTFE. "PFOA-free" means that particular chemical wasn't used; the pan is still coated with PTFE, a PFAS-family plastic. The UK Government's 2026 PFAS Plan sets out work to reduce the risks of these highly persistent chemicals.
If you keep your non-stick pans
- Use wooden utensils, never metal ones, on the coating.
- Avoid heating an empty pan at high temperature.
- Replace pans once the coating is scratched or flaking.
When you replace them
Stainless steel, cast iron and carbon steel last for decades. Cast iron and carbon steel become more non-stick as they're seasoned. See the full swap: non-stick pan → stainless steel or cast iron.
Sources
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