Nonstick cookware has a couple of different meanings and it is important to understand the difference between the two. The term “non-stick” can be used to describe a characteristic of cookware or it can be used to refer to a kind of cookware (such as Teflon.)
If you are looking at cookware that describes the surface as being nonstick (meaning that food won’t stick to the surface due to the qualities of the construction … ie. titanium, aluminum, etc) then you have nothing to worry about.
But when cookware is made nonstick because of a polymer coating or film that is applied to the surface of the pot or pan (such with Teflon or T-Fal cookware) then there are some things you need to be aware of.
Nonstick coatings have been around for over 50 years but only in recent years have health concerns been raised. A scratched nonstick coating can flake off into your food and a nonstick pan heated to too high a temperature can emit fumes that cause headaches or even cancer.
But when used properly, nonstick-coated cookware is perfectly healthy and can be the best cookware sets for those on a budget. Average cookware life should be three to five years if handled carefully.
Follow these simple guidelines and you should be fine -
- do not preheat an empty pan
- use only low or medium temperature settings
- use non-metal utensils
- if you notice your nonstick coating is flaking, quit using the cookware for cooking your food (use it for boiling eggs, steaming vegetables … anything where the food does not actually touch the pan)
- heavyweight cookware will allow for more even heating at a lower temperature
- store your cookware with a protective layer between the pots and pans or use a pot rack to reduce scratching of the coated surface
Nonstick Cookware Sets -
All Clad Stainless 9 Piece Cookware Set
Calphalon Contemporary Nonstick 10 Piece Cookware Set
Circulon Classic 14 Piece Cookware Set
Cuisinart Chef’s Classic Nonstick Hard Anodized 17 Piece Cookware Set