Teflon pan

There are a lot of irreplaceable things in modern households, and one of them is a frying pan, because you can cook with it a huge number of dishes, starting with pancakes for breakfast and ending with delicious homemade meatballs. We use them daily, just like our mothers, grandmothers and great-grandmothers. But earlier it was much easier to choose the right dishes, only its size was taken into account, and today the range of such kitchen utensils is so large that you can easily get confused. In addition to the usual cast iron products, not the last place is occupied by a Teflon frying pan and ceramic dishes. But not all the housewives are familiar enough with them, so choosing sometimes one thing is very difficult. In this article we will try to determine how to choose such dishes.

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What is teflon?

This material was invented by the Americans in the thirties of the last century. Initially, in the conditions of one of the laboratories, a polymer was created, called polytetrafluoroethylene. It was too slippery, but incredibly resistant to acids, alkalis and heat.

Today, Teflon pans are smelted from aluminum or steel. This material is very popular among professional chefs and experienced housewives. And this is understandable, because you can fry anything on the dishes with such a coating - not only ordinary fried eggs, but also more complex and sophisticated dishes.

Important! Manufacturers, of course, are trying to assure us that it is possible to fry in such pans without oil, but this is not entirely true, because fish or meat will begin to pester anyway. But? Nevertheless, such dishes are really convenient due to the relief pattern and smooth surface.

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How harmful is teflon to human health?

It is worth noting that Teflon pans are made with the addition of one chemical compound, namely acid, which, accumulating in the body, can adversely affect the state of the immune and endocrine systems, as well as the liver. Naturally, during the production process, the minimum dose of this acid gets into Teflon pans, but this point should not be overlooked, in particular by people who care about their health.

Important! Subject to the temperature indicated by the manufacturer for the operation of such utensils, harmful effects are excluded or there is a risk, but in a negligible dose. If Teflon is heated above 260 degrees, harmful substances begin to be released - this is a fact. In order not to worry about possible health risks - yours and your family members, read about which pan is the safest.

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Advantages and disadvantages of Teflon cookware

This variety of kitchen utensils has a number of positive aspects and they must be considered:

• A Teflon pan heats up almost instantly, so you can start cooking on it without waiting a long time.
• You do not need to add too much oil to the dishes, because due to the smooth surface the food will not burn anyway.And as you know, the less oil will be added during the frying process, the more useful the dish will be. Little oil is added or not used at all in special corrugated pans. Perhaps this option is more useful to you for cooking homemade food. How do they differ - see the details in the article about grill pans.
• It is very easy to wash such kitchen utensils, and this applies even to the most difficult contaminants in the form of oil and fat. Product residues are washed off without problems for several seconds without the use of special detergents.
• Such dishes weigh much less than, for example, ceramic. It’s a pleasure to cook on it, and it’s even easier to take care of it. To have a full understanding of the differences in materials, their properties and what cooking possibilities they give users, find out everything the pros and cons of ceramic pans.

The negative sides of Teflon products include:

• It is impossible to mix food during cooking with spatulas, spoons, metal forks - only wooden or plastic. Non-observance of this rule leads to the formation of scratches, as a result - heavy metals that are harmful to health will fall into food, and Teflon itself will no longer provide such cooking convenience - products will stick to the bottom and walls.
• It is not recommended to overheat the pan. The main reason for this rule is described above. In addition, overheating affects the integrity of the coating, so it is better to cook on medium or low heat.

So that consumers do not forget about the possible overheating of the pan, manufacturers intend to mark the center of the product with a special red indicator, which becomes darker when it heats up. As soon as you see that it has completely warmed up, you must immediately start cooking.

Important! If the non-stick coating is accidentally damaged, then the product can no longer be used. It is better to give preference to models with a double thick bottom, so that it lasts as long as possible. If you have a modern stove model, keep in mind that not every kitchen utensil is suitable for cooking on it. In this case, look for special markings, and we will tell you, which pan is best for an induction cooker. 

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What is the difference between other types of pans?

Teflon pans, of course, are good, but at some points they are inferior to their counterparts. Therefore, it will be wise to familiarize yourself with other types of this dishes:

1. Aluminum pans stand out with minimal weight, but do not last long. Products with a bottom thickness of less than five millimeters can be deformed on electric stoves. They weigh almost as much as Teflon.

Important! Cast models weigh more, but also serve, respectively, longer.

2. Stainless steel cookware has been used for quite some time in the kitchen. This metal is completely safe for health, does not emit toxic substances in contact with food. But if you put an empty frying pan on the fire, then stains will immediately appear on its walls, but this does not happen with Teflon models. Another “scourge” of such utensils is constant soot, which is formed even from too much flame.
3. Cast iron pans retain heat perfectly and warm evenly. But for the surface to warm up enough, you have to wait a bit. This metal has natural non-stick properties, intensifying over the years. A huge disadvantage of such utensils is the large weight, high probability of cracking in the event of a fall, and a tendency to rust.

Important! Do not store the cooked dish in a cast-iron pan. If the food will be in contact with cast iron for a long time, then it will turn dark and saturated with harmful metal substances.

4. Ceramic pans are quite popular today. They surpass their Teflon counterparts in terms of safety, because they produce them from environmentally friendly materials.They also heat up much faster and are more resistant to damage. But ceramics can darken if they are not washed immediately after cooking, or cracked due to the temperature difference.

Important! As a rule, for home use they buy several options for cooking utensils for cooking various dishes - you can choose a good pancake pan, and also separately for meat, fish, fried eggs.

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How to choose a quality Teflon pan?

1. The first thing you should pay attention to is that a Teflon pan should not weigh too much. That is, it should be lighter than cast iron, but at the same time, and quite weighty. Otherwise, it will quickly deform.
2. Be sure to check the thickness of the bottom - as mentioned above, it should not be less than five millimeters. If you have a gas stove in your kitchen, you can also purchase a model with a thin bottom.
3. Then carefully inspect the coating so that it does not show cracks, chips, pits, bumps and bulges. The material should be dense and uniform.
4. Be sure to pay attention to the handle so that it is cast, and not bolted to the product, otherwise - it may one day simply fall off.

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Teflon cookware life

Typically, Teflon products last no more than four years with daily use. By the way, manufacturers indicate a longer warranty period, but the main thing is to use it correctly and follow the recommendations for care.

Important! Before using this frying pan for the first time, wash it thoroughly with soap and, better, pour a little water into it and boil it. Then drain the liquid and apply a small layer of fat on the surface.

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Teflon Pans Care Rules

In order for your favorite Teflon pans to serve you as long as possible, you need to properly and regularly take care of them, namely, take into account such recommendations and rules:

1. Never clean them with metal sponges and abrasive particles, otherwise they will simply damage the surface.
2. Keep metal blades away that could damage Teflon.
3. Do not heat the dishes over two hundred degrees so that it does not begin to delaminate and release substances hazardous to humans.

Important! Such pans can be washed even in a dishwasher, but at a temperature not exceeding fifty degrees.

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The most famous teflon pan manufacturers

Now we will consider some of the most popular brands that supply such dishes to the modern market:

• Rondell is a German brand that produces not only Teflon pans, but also high-quality pots, knives and French presses. All products, without exception, are of excellent quality, affordable for many consumers.
• Tefal - this brand can rightly be called the benchmark for the quality of kitchen utensils. Even despite the fact that the products of this manufacturer are far from cheap, they still remain popular and do not give anyone their leadership position. The manufacturer also produces Tefal cookware for induction furnaces, stainless steel and non-stick.
• Tescoma is a Czech brand no less famous than the previous ones, and its product range is also quite wide and diverse, in particular, it includes pans with ceramic and teflon coating.

Important! Decided what kind of dishes you need? Now is the time to go shopping and try the pan in action. Here you will find our recipes useful:

1. What kind of fish is better to fry in a pan?
2. How to deliciously fry pork in a pan?
3. Whiskey cookies in a pan.

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Stock footage

From this article you got a complete picture of the Teflon pan, you understood how it differs from ceramics, aluminum, cast iron, stainless steel, and you also learned which is better and how to choose the right utensils for your home so that it is comfortable and durable.Now it remains only to experiment with dishes and delight your loved ones with delicious and healthy homemade food.