6 things to note when using non-stick pans to avoid cancer 'knocking on your door'
Experts warn that if you do not know how to use and preserve non-stick pans, it will have negative effects on your health.
Recently, many opinions say that non-stick pans are very toxic to health and can cause cancer because the coating on the surface of the pan contains Ammonium Perfluorooctanoate (PFOA) - a substance that can cause cancer when used for cooking. Therefore, many opinions say that instead of using non-stick products, we should go back to using cast iron or iron pots to protect our health in the long term. However, is this opinion right or wrong?
Nutritionists have come out to "clear" that non-stick pans are not as toxic as we think. The reason why food does not stick to the pan when cooking is because of the coating on the bottom. The most commonly used non-stick coating is Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), commonly known as Teflon, and to fix PTFE to the stovetop, PFOA is needed.
In recent years, Teflon has been widely regarded as a toxic substance that is not good for health, but in fact, below 300 - 400ºC, Teflon will not cause any changes, and will not release toxic substances. If cooked properly, the temperature on the pan is usually below 250°C, so it does not have any harmful effects on the human body.
Also pay attention to proper use of non-stick pans as it will seriously affect your health:
1. Cook at moderate temperature
Do not use too high heat when cooking food, especially frying, to protect the non-stick coating and avoid food changes that are harmful to health.
2. Do not clean the pan with metal scouring pads.
Cleaning the pan with a metal scrubber will scratch the surface of the pan, peel off the non-stick coating, causing the pan to deteriorate quickly and allowing toxins to easily seep into the food.
3. Do not wash the pan when it is too hot.
Sudden temperature changes can cause the pan to deform and the non-stick coating to peel off. Therefore, you should let the pan cool before cleaning. If the stains are difficult to remove, you should wait for the pan to cool and soak it in water for about 30 minutes before washing.
4. Do not leave the pan at high temperature without food.
Too high a temperature causes the non-stick coating to break down and release carcinogenic toxins. When cooking, you should keep the pan on medium or low heat, and never leave an empty pan on a hot stove without any oil or food.
5. Do not use metal spoons to stir food.
Metal spoons can scratch the non-stick coating, which is extremely harmful to your health. When using a non-stick pan, it is best to use a wooden spoon to avoid damaging the pan surface.
6. Replace the pan when the non-stick coating is damaged.
When the non-stick coating of the pan is peeling off, you need to replace it with a new one immediately. Normally, after 1-2 years of use, you should replace the pan with a new one. Because when cooking at high heat for a long time, the non-stick coating is transformed into a layer of smoke that is harmful to health and the non-stick ability is also lost.