Food - Drink
Are Scratched Nonstick Pans Safe To Use?
By MOLLY HARRIS
Nonstick pans seem appealing to many home cooks, but they are not necessarily the most durable pans you can use in the kitchen, and can be unsafe under certain circumstances. In fact, Reader's Digest reports that some older nonstick pans are no longer safe to use, especially if they're scratched.
This new report only applies to Teflon pans that were made before 2013, and therefore contain Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), which carries chemicals known to cause cancer. If your older pans have noticeable or significant scratches from using metal utensils, it's time to toss and replace them.
On the other hand, newer nonstick pans with minor scratches can be repaired at home, but only if they're oven-safe. Start by cleaning the pan gently but thoroughly, then apply several layers of nonstick spray, and finally bake the pan at 500 degrees Fahrenheit for 40 to 45 minutes to seal in the spray.