Is it dangerous if I consume Teflon flakes in frying pan?

Dear Reader,

A worn-down pan may leave you in a sticky situation, but it most likely won’t present a serious threat to your health. There isn’t enough evidence to suggest that simply using a flaky non-stick pan and ingesting the coating can cause health issues. However, if you’re concerned about your pan, you may want to consider only using it on lower heats and replacing it if it’s scratched.

Read on to learn more about the potential health impacts of non-stick pans and how you can reduce your risk.  

Is it harmful to ingest flakes from a non-stick pan?  

The jury is still out on whether ingesting flakes from your non-stick pan is harmful. Teflon is the brand name of the chemical polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE). This chemical is made in a lab, and it's often used in non-stick pans because foods tend to slide right off it. PTFE pans are also very easy to clean.

Some scientists believe that PTFE in its solid state likely doesn’t have an impact on your body. Therefore, if you accidentally consume PTFE flakes, they should just pass through your digestive system.

Are there risks to cooking with a non-stick pan?  

You might have heard people say that non-stick pans cause cancer, but there isn’t conclusive research directly supporting this. Until 2013, PTFE was produced with a chemical called perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), which is no longer used in the US. Studies found that exposure to PFOA could be associated with certain cancers in people and animals with long-term exposure to high levels of PFOA. However, there wasn't enough evidence to suggest that simply cooking with a pan made with PFOA could cause cancer.

Since 2013, some PTFE pans have been made with a chemical called GenX. Research suggests that GenX might have harmful effects on the liver, kidneys, and other organs. However, there’s not enough evidence that using a non-stick pan exposes someone to the chemical in a way that can cause these negative effects. Even so, scientists are continuing their research to understand these risks.

Over the past years, scientists have been increasingly concerned about the invisible particles that are released from plastic products, known as microplastics. They’ve found that cooking with PTFE pans at high heat can release microplastics into the air, which people might breathe in. Microplastics can also enter food directly during the cooking process. Some research has found that scratched or flaking non-stick pans release a much greater amount of microplastics than intact ones.

These tiny particles can enter the body’s cells and produce DNA damage and inflammation to cells, particularly in the gut. Although there isn’t enough research to determine what health impacts this could have, evidence suggests that PTFE microplastics aren’t significantly harmful at normal levels of exposure.

How can you safely use non-stick pans?

If you’re still feeling a bit pan-icky about your pan, there are some steps you can take to reduce any potential health risks, including:  

Avoiding using your pans at very high heat: When pans are heated over 500 degrees Fahrenheit, they can release particles that can cause flu-like symptoms when inhaled. This is called “polymer fume fever” or “Teflon flu,” and symptoms typically go away on their own in a few days. There’s also evidence that the pans can release microplastics into the air at high temperatures. However, most everyday cooking doesn't require the pan to be heated so high.  

Replacing old, flaky, or scratched pans: Older and scratched pans have been found to release more particles into food than newer, intact ones.  

Only using wooden or plastic utensils while cooking: Metal utensils or spatulas can scratch the surface of the pan, increasing the likelihood that particles can enter food.  

Avoiding PTFE pans if you have a pet bird: Even at lower heat, non-stick pans can release fumes that can make birds sick. So, make sure to ventilate the space and keep the heat on “low”.  

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Reader, it’s unlikely that a flaky PTFE pan is a serious harm to your health. However, if this information is making you want to ex-pan-d your pan collection, there are plenty of PTFE alternatives available. Some brands claim to make non-stick pans without “forever chemicals” like PFOA or GenX, but they might not provide information on what they use instead. Consider opting for a ceramic pan if you’re on the hunt for a naturally non-stick alternative. If the non-stick aspect isn’t as important to you, other PTFE-free alternatives include stainless steel, cast iron, and glass pans.  

Hopefully, this pan-dering explanation gives you the information you need,