Teflon Coated Electric Fry Pan Safety

History

• In the 1890s, the fry pan was one of the first kitchen items to become electrified. A British version of the electric fry pan dates to 1898 and it had wooden handles, a heating element attached to the bottom, and a socket for the electrical cord. The first electric fry pan with Teflon® was released in 1956. The chemical substance that gives Teflon® its slick, non-stick qualities was created in 1938 by DuPont chemist Dr. Roy Plunkett. Teflon® was trademarked in 1945 and products coated in it were sold in 1946.
  
  

Features

• Teflon® coated electric fry pans are convenient for many reasons. They are versatile, being able to fry, bake, stew, or braise. Using the lid, a roast or casserole can be baked in an electric fry pan. Pans coated with Teflon® or other non-stick surfaces are easy to clean and require the use of less oil or butter when cooking.
  
  

Identification

• Electric fry pans coated with the brand Teflon® will be labeled as such on the packaging. But any electric fry pan with non-stick coating poses the same risks as those specifically coated with Teflon®. All non-stick coatings are made with chemicals that can and sometimes do break down. When they break down, they can enter the food being cooked and therefore be ingested.
  
  

Considerations

• There are serious safety concerns associated with Teflon® or non-stick coating on cookware. Included in these concerns are toxic chemical release, swallowing a chip of coating, and exposure to perfluorooctanoic acid, or PFOA. Used in the manufacture of non-stick coating, PFOA has been linked to tumors and developmental problems in animals.
  
  

Prevention

• While these safety concerns are valid, Teflon® and other non-stick cookware are safe if used properly. If Teflon® is overheated, the chemicals in it can break down and be released. Studies have shown that the Teflon® coating begins to deteriorate above 500 degrees. The time it takes for an electric fry pan to overheat can be short, so avoid heating a pan while it is empty and use a heavier pan when possible. Swallowing a chip of the non-stick coating was once a concern, but it is very likely that the chip will simply pass through the body and will not be absorbed. While PFOA is a valid concern, it is unlikely that the amount an electric fry pan emits is enough to make a difference. Most of the PFOA used in the manufacture of non-stick coating evaporates in the process of manufacture, so the risk to consumers is negligible.