Reached For

Articles · A disputed claim

Non-Stick Cookware Safety: What 29 People Actually Say

Fourteen of the 29 people quoted fault the safety of non-stick cookware, but one chemist quoted uses Teflon pans and judges any risk minute.

About Non-Stick Cookware.

We have not used any of these ourselves. We read 45 sources and structured what 29 people said. Of the 17 quotes below, 12 are complaints. Every one of them links to the person who said it and the second they said it.

Based on 29 people, 45 sources and 78 recorded claims.

The answer

Joe Schwarcz, a chemist who hosts The Dr. Joe Show, uses Teflon-coated pans and judges any risk minute, while 14 of the 29 people quoted fault non-stick cookware on safety. Yvonne Burkart, who publishes as Yvonne Burkart, PhD, says research shows new and old pans leach PTFE into food, and Schwarcz places the concern in manufacturing residues. Both are relaying research, so neither settles how much risk a pan in normal use carries.

The 3 quotes behind this, from 2 people · 2 objecting
12:55 supports Dr. Joe of The Dr. Joe Show
i'm very often asked if i use non-stick pants coated with teflon given the controversy swirling around the polyfluoroalkyl substances the so-called pfas i do because if there's a risk i think it is minute especially compared with other risks in life

performance about Non-Stick Cookware The Dr. Joe Show: The conundrum of teflon pans

Cites safety

the worry is not about teflon itself which is an inert safe material
A consumer's union study looked for the presence of PFAS in Teflon by scraping some off from a pan, grinding it up, and subjecting it to a test. A number of perfluoroalkyl substances were detected, including PFOA, but this does not reflect realistic cooking conditions.
I'm not aware of any study that has shown higher levels of PFAS in food cooked in Teflon pans or higher blood levels in people who eat such food.
Any PFAS released from cookware would be an insignificant addition to our overall exposure to these substances.
While I do not see a problem with cooking in a Teflon pan, there is an issue with the manufacture of such items.
like teflon keep food from burning which is a very good thing because it is burned food that contains a large variety of of carcinogens
frying itself creates a number of nasty compounds that are a bigger concern than the traces of fluorinated compounds that may leach out from a teflon surface
13:16 objects Dr. Joe of The Dr. Joe Show
the concern is about chemicals used in the manufacturing process residues of which may be found in the finished product as well as about decomposition products that may form when teflon is heated to high temperature

performance about Non-Stick Cookware Passing on someone else's experience The Dr. Joe Show: The conundrum of teflon pans

Cites safety (against)

The classic emulsifier used in nonstick pan production used to be perfluorooctanoic acid, or PFOA, which performed well but turned out to have unacceptable toxicity.
Higher body levels were found to be associated with elevated cholesterol, changes in liver function, reduced immune response, thyroid disease, and increased kidney and testicular cancer.
Consequently, PFOA was phased out and replaced with smaller fluorinated compounds in the Gen X family that in studies proved to be less toxic. Still, these are not beyond reproach because they do show up in water systems near Teflon-producing plants and may be producing effects of their own.
The other concern is that when Teflon is heated to very high temperatures, it can break down and produce a variety of perfluoroalkyl substances, including the notorious PFOA.
It is during production that chemicals used can find their way into the environment, and from there, into our bodies. It is in this roundabout way that Teflon pans can have an effect on our health.
2:30 objects Yvonne Burkart speaking on Yvonne Burkart, PhD
But research shows that both new and old non-stick pans leech PTFE into food, even when a silicone whisk is used, which is a lot of what people try to do to prevent scratching in the first place.

performance about Non-Stick Cookware Passing on someone else's experience Toxicologist Reveals: Are Non-Stick Pans Slowly Poisoning You?

Cites safety (against)

We now know that PAS exposure is linked to kidney and testicular cancers in people, suppressed immune response, developmental and metabolic disruptions especially during pregnancy and early childhood and
In 2023, a major study found that people with elevated PAS levels in their blood had a significantly higher risk of developing kidney and testicular cancer.

Where do people disagree about non-stick cookware?

  • Papa Mau, who owns non-stick pans, wants to help people "transition away from non-stick cookware", and Yair decided in 2026 to throw out the non-stick pans over the forever chemicals. The chemist Joe Schwarcz uses Teflon-coated pans despite the PFAS controversy, and judges any risk minute next to the other risks in life.
  • Yvonne Burkart says research shows new and old non-stick pans "leech PTFE into food", and that a PFOA-free label does not clear a pan of other PFAS compounds. Schwarcz places the concern in manufacturing residues and in what forms when Teflon is heated to high temperature, and Kenji López-Alt, who has a financial partnership with Our Place, puts the threshold for harmful vapors at around 450°.
  • Prudent Reviews, a cookware reviewer who tests large numbers of pans head-to-head, says ceramic non-stick has no PFAS and "won't release harmful fumes if you accidentally overheat it", then calls its durability the big drawback. Schwarcz names ceramic-coated pans among the options for anyone concerned, alongside enamel-coated, stainless steel and seasoned cast iron.
  • None of the 29 people quoted says a non-stick coating lasts. David Gafford, co-host of The Barbecue Lab, usually got 12 months from a non-stick pan before chips or scratches appeared, and Quality Collapse says three years about non-stick in general without having timed a pan.
The 12 quotes behind this, from 8 people · 9 objecting
1:00 objects Yair speaking on Yair's Time Capsule Home Cooks
The reason why I decided that it's time to throw all my nonstick pans is because I'm sure you, just like me, heard about all the forever chemicals that are in nonstick pans and that it's not good for you health-wise. And I decided I don't want to eat and cook from pans that are bad for you.

performance about Non-Stick Cookware Stopped using it I Switched to Stainless Steel Pans 3 Years Ago. No Regrets

Cites safety (against)

1:30 objects Yvonne Burkart speaking on Yvonne Burkart, PhD
Just because your cookware says PFOA free doesn't mean it's free from other PAS compounds, many of which carry similar or identical toxic concerns.

performance about Non-Stick Cookware Passing on someone else's experience Toxicologist Reveals: Are Non-Stick Pans Slowly Poisoning You?

Cites safety (against)

When PFOA came under scrutiny, manufacturers didn't eliminate the risk. They replaced it with Gen X,
Gen X has been linked to liver toxicity, immune dysfunction, and reproductive harm.
So yes, your pan might be labeled PFOA free, but that doesn't mean it's P fast free or risk-f free.
4:31 objects J. Kenji López-Alt
However, the nonstick [clears throat] coatings that we know of, whether they are traditional Teflon style or modern ceramic, they're not very heat resistant. So, they tend to they tend to break down over time as you cook with them. So, they can flake off when you scratch them too much. They're not that hard. And as…

durability about Non-Stick Cookware I Answer All Your Wok Questions

Cites heat resistance (against), safety (against), scratch resistance (against)

2:31 objects David Gafford speaking on The Barbecue Lab Cookware Reviewer
If you're like me and have used a nonstick pan, you know once they're scratched or you get a divot, it's time to throw those things away. I found that I usually got 12 months with a nonstick pan before I started seeing chips or scratches in many cases.

durability about Non-Stick Cookware Owns it HEXCLAD Cookware Review | Worth The Hype After 18 Months of Testing?

Cites durability (against)

Owned 12 months

I don't think anything that has a nonstick coating is capable of lifetime service, but that's just my opinion.
0:00 objects Quality Collapse
We showed you how the cookware brands you used to trust now coat cheap aluminum with Teflon that flakes into your food within 3 years.

durability about Non-Stick Cookware Passing on someone else's experience The Only 5 Cookware Brands That Still Last (The "Buy It For Life" List)

Cites coating (against), heat resistance (against), safety (against)

Those chemical coatings are fragile. You cannot use metal utensils. You cannot get them too hot. And no matter how careful you are, within 3 years, the coating scratches and flakes off.

What the evidence suggests

  • Choose a single non-stick pan if eggs and delicate food are all you want one for: Prudent Reviews says most kitchens need only one, and Ian Fujimoto, who owns a non-stick pan, would rebuild the collection around three pans, one of them a 12-in non-stick.
  • Choose non-stick only if you are content to replace the pan: David Gafford usually got 12 months, and Lisa McManus, a cookware tester with 30 years combined experience, says a couple of years.
  • If the PFAS worry decides it for you, Joe Schwarcz, who uses Teflon-coated pans, names ceramic-coated, enamel-coated, stainless steel and seasoned cast iron pans as options for anyone concerned. Choose a ceramic-coated pan only if you accept the trade: Prudent Reviews says ceramic coating has no PFAS but wears down fast.
  • Choose something other than non-stick if you keep pet birds: Zoe Carter has two parrots and says regular non-stick cookware is toxic to them.
The 10 quotes behind this, from 6 people · 5 objecting
14:03 supports Ian Fujimoto
But I can tell you with 100% certainty that if I was going to start my pan collection over again today, it would be made of three [music] pans. A 10-in stainless steel skillet, a 4Q pot, and a 12-in non-stick pan.

recommendation about Non-Stick Cookware Owns it Top 10 Most Needed Kitchen Tools

What the evidence doesn’t tell us

None of the 29 people quoted says they owned a non-stick pan longer than 12 months, and that figure is David Gafford's, on the pans being complained about. Every longer figure in these 45 sources is an estimate about the class, not a record of a pan someone kept.

The safety evidence is relayed on both sides. Yvonne Burkart's safety claims and Joe Schwarcz's account of the concern are both marked as relayed, so each reports what research is said to show, and Schwarcz's judgement that the risk is minute states no basis for it.

Prudent Reviews holds 13 of the 78 claims, more than anyone else quoted.

The 7 quotes behind this, from 5 people · 6 objecting

Who says so

Authority here is scoped to the subject, never to how large someone’s audience is. Where we hold no domain expertise for a person, the page says so rather than implying one.

Prudent Reviews

quoted on 4 points 2 against

Cookware Reviewer, Gear Review YouTube, Home Cooks

Domain expertise: titanium cookware (1.00), skillets (1.00), cast iron skillets (1.00), stainless steel cookware (1.00)

Our mission at Prudent Reviews is to help you find the best products for your home. We take the stress out of shopping by testing, analyzing, and comparing the top products. Our reviews, comparisons, and product guides are in-depth, carefully researched, and completely unbiased. Since launching, we've helped millions of people across the globe find the best products and improve their lives at home. If you have questions or want to partner with Prudent Reviews, email Andrew@PrudentReviews.com. As an Amazon Associate Prudent Reviews earns from qualifying purchases.

Joe Schwarcz

quoted on 3 points 1 against

No domain expertise derived for this person yet.

Chemist (PhD, McGill, 1973), founding director of McGill University's Office for Science and Society, and host of The Dr. Joe Show on Montreal's CJAD 800.

Yvonne Burkart

quoted on 2 points 2 against

No domain expertise derived for this person yet.

David Gafford

quoted on 1 point 1 against

Cookware Reviewer, Home Cooks

No domain expertise derived for this person yet.

Ian Fujimoto

quoted on 1 point

No domain expertise derived for this person yet.

👇🏼Written Recipes👇🏼 ✉️: ianfujimoto@palettemgmt.com

J. Kenji López-Alt

quoted on 1 point 1 against

Domain expertise: non-stick cookware (1.00), cast iron skillets (1.00), carbon steel pans (1.00), kitchen knives (1.00)

Lisa McManus

quoted on 1 point 1 against

Cookware Reviewer, Home Cooks, Professional Kitchens

Domain expertise: skillets (0.50), stainless steel cookware (0.50)

Executive editor for ATK Reviews and co-host of America's Test Kitchen's Gear Heads series on YouTube.

Papa Mau

quoted on 1 point 1 against

Cooking YouTube, Home Cooks

No domain expertise derived for this person yet.

Cooking with Healthy and Durable Cookware: Cast Iron, Carbon Steel, Stainless Steel, etc I’m PapaMau, a dad with roots in Argentina, living in Australia for the past 15 years. I’m here to inspire families to choose healthier, long-lasting, and undeniably cooler cookware that's making a massive comeback. Specializing in cast iron and carbon steel, I create How-To and Tutorial videos to help you care for your cookware, master cooking techniques, and replace Teflon with sustainable, durable alternatives. I share cooking tips, tools, and recipes to help home cooks impress family and friends—whether in the kitchen or around the fire pit. Together, let’s cook better, eat healthier, and make the world a better place, one meal at a time. Join me on this journey to make cooking an adventure and forge unforgettable memories with cookware that’s built to last! 🔥

Quality Collapse

quoted on 1 point 1 against

No domain expertise derived for this person yet.

Quality Collapse exposes why modern appliances, RVs, and home systems fail early — from factory shortcuts and weak parts to repair traps, builder-grade design, and “replace-not-fix” economics. We break down what changed, why service got worse, and what still lasts.

Yair

quoted on 1 point 1 against

Home Cooks

No domain expertise derived for this person yet.

Learn to cook simply and efficiently when you don't have hours to spend in the kitchen.

Zoe Carter

quoted on 1 point 1 against

Home Cooks

No domain expertise derived for this person yet.

Welcome to my world of luxury and health! Hi, I'm Zoe. I have always been fond of the finer things in life and have been on a wild journey to get to a place where I can enjoy them. I’m all about up-leveling life in ALL areas. I also went through a 100 pound weight loss journey, during which I became very passionate about health and fitness. This channel is a blend of my love for luxury and my love for having a healthy lifestyle. I hope to spread inspiration through my videos and show that you truly can create whatever life you desire, no matter your current circumstance. We all deserve to feel luxurious and healthy. ❤️ I can’t wait to share all my fitness and luxe tips with you! Instagram: @zoecarterluxe @finejewelrychronicles

What this piece cites evidence about

Every product, brand and category named in a claim behind this article, not only the ones with a section of their own above. Where we hold a full page for one, it is linked; the rest are named as text because the evidence has not cleared that bar yet.

Category

Sources

Short quotes and deep links only. We publish no transcripts, and every quote above opens the original at the second it was spoken.

How this page was made

The prose above was written by a model from a fact sheet assembled out of the evidence, then checked line by line: every quote verbatim against the evidence table, every name against a claim, every number against the sheet. Prose that fails is not published. It is derived data, not testimony. The testimony is the quotes.

Verified 2026-10-03