What are Nonstick Pan Coatings Made Of?

Nonstick coating can be applied to pots as well as pans and skillets.

Nonstick coatings -- silicone, silicone polyester and fluoropolymer formulations -- each are made with different chemicals, and need to be cooked with and cared for differently.

Nonstick Chemicals

Silicone is used in a variety of things, including bakeware. Silicone is naturally no-sticky, but it is not meant to withstand the high heat of stove tops. Polytetrafluoroethylene can be applied in one, two or three layers. The active ingredient in the coating is a waxy solid that is incredibly slippery.

Caring for Nonstick

Nonstick coatings are helpful in the kitchen as long as they are cared for properly. Often, oils are not removed by hand washing and can bake into the pan surface the next time it is heated, which lessens the nonstick effect. Never use steel scouring pads or harsh detergents when cleaning nonstick surfaces. Let the pan cool before cleaning; food is more likely to stick when pans are hot.

Warning

The Environmental Protection Agency has concerns about nonstick cookware because certain chemicals can be released through use of the pan that are dangerous. Polyfluorocarboxylic can accumulate in the human body, Fluorocarbons and CFCs are ozone-harming chemicals, and trifluoroacetate is toxic to some plants.

References

• MissVickie: Nonstick
• CookWare: About coatings