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plasticfreehome
Kitchen & cooking

Non-stick pan → stainless steel or cast iron

Non-stick coatings are a fluoropolymer plastic that wears off over time. Steel and iron pans last decades.

A round wooden chopping board with fresh vegetables
Swap Priority
57/100
Worth doing
Swap Priority 57 out of 100: Worth doing
Plastic avoided
≈ 30 g a year
Typical cost
£25 – £80
Swap from
Non-stick (PTFE-coated) frying pan
Last reviewed
26 September 2026

How strong is the evidence?

How the dials work
Exposure evidenceHow strong is the evidence that the plastic version exposes you to microplastics or plastic chemicals?
Emerging · 2/4
Environmental evidenceHow strong is the evidence that this swap cuts environmental harm over the product's whole life?
Moderate · 3/4
Claim verificationHow well has the alternative's plastic-free claim been verified?
No product yet

Why swap

PTFE is a plastic. Scratched and worn coatings shed particles into food, and the PFAS chemistry behind fluoropolymers is highly persistent in the environment.

What to look for

  • Fully clad stainless steel, cast iron or carbon steel
  • Metal or wooden handles
  • Pre-seasoned iron if you want an easier start

Watch out for

  • "PFOA-free" does not mean PTFE-free
  • "Ceramic" non-stick is usually a sol-gel coating that also wears; check what it is
  • Plastic handles on steel pans don't touch food, but check oven limits

Evidence and sources

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