Nonstick cookware has long been a kitchen staple, making cooking and cleanup easier. However, many nonstick pans contain harmful chemicals known as PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances), which have been linked to health risks including cancer and hormonal disruptions, as well as environmental contamination. If you’re looking to make safer choices in the kitchen, here’s what you need to know about the alternatives and which types of cookware to avoid.

The Hidden Toxins Lurking in Your Kitchen

PFAS, often referred to as “forever chemicals,” are synthetic compounds used in nonstick coatings like Teflon. These chemicals take hundreds or thousands of years to break down because of their strong carbon-fluorine bonds and can accumulate in the body over time. Studies have connected PFAS exposure to issues such as weakened immune function, reproductive problems, and increased cholesterol levels. When nonstick pans with PFAS are scratched or overheated, these toxic substances can leach into food and be inhaled through any fumes released.

Safer Options

Fortunately, there are several PFAS-free cookware options that provide convenience without the risks:

• Ceramic-Coated Cookware: Brands like GreenPan offer nonstick coatings free of PFAS, PFOA, lead, and cadmium, making them a much safer choice.
• Cast Iron: When properly seasoned, cast iron pans develop a natural nonstick surface.
• Stainless Steel: While not inherently nonstick, stainless steel is a durable and safe option for cooking, and sticking can be minimized with proper cooking techniques.
• Carbon Steel: Similar to cast iron, carbon steel pans can be seasoned to create a nonstick-like surface without harmful chemicals.

How to Choose

When selecting nonstick cookware, look for cookware explicitly labeled as PFAS-free, like GreenPan’s products. Stainless steel pots and pans are often recommended for people new to cooking because of their durability. Although new sets of cookware are a good value, make sure you aren’t buying pieces you’ll never use.

What to Avoid

Here are some cookware brands and materials to avoid because of their potential PFAS content:

• Pans using PTFE or PFOA in their nonstick coatings may release toxic fumes when overheated. Try not to buy anything with Teflon in the name.
• Many low-cost nonstick pans lack transparency about the chemicals used to make the coating, so opt for high-quality pieces despite the higher cost.
• If you have Teflon pans purchased before 2013, they likely still contain PFOA, which wasn’t banned in the US until 2014. It is okay to throw these pieces away in the trash, although it poses a pollution risk in landfills.

It may take some work to replace your nonstick items, but it’s important to make the switch to avoid potential health risks. Traditional nonstick cookware isn’t guaranteed to be safe because of how easily they get scratched up or overheated. There are many safe cookware items on the market to choose from, so start shopping!

Wild Virginia fights to protect and connect Virginia’s wildlife, lands, and waters. PFAS, a toxic threat that harms us and the natural world, is being found with increasing prevalence and danger in our environment and communities, demanding that we act now. Learn what Wild Virginia is doing to prevent PFAS pollution at its source 👇

Wild Virginia’s Work Preventing PFAS Pollution

Per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are toxic, synthetic chemicals that are present throughout Virginia in the air, water, and soil. They linger in the environment and build up in organisms, taking so long to break down they have earned the name forever chemicals, leading to widespread contamination and long-lasting risk of exposure.

Virginia water regulators begin process of identifying PFAS sources

Following a law the legislature passed this year, Virginia’s water regulators are beginning a process to identify sources of chemicals known as PFAS or “forever chemicals,” which were found above regulatory limits in drinking water in 28 water systems across the state.