Kitchen

[bargainsgirl]

Do you use non-stick pans?  Lately been reading lots of mixed theories about PTFE. PFA and PFOA being possibley harmful to health.  I guess we are doomed cause I've been using non stick for many years and still have many pans.  I do replace as soon as they get scratched or get that fuzzy interior.

[SaveTheTurtles]

Yes, oxo pans and I also get rid of them when they start to get bad.

[SilleeMee]

The PFOA nonstick pans were banned in 2014. No longer made but people still have and use their old pans today. I threw mine out and bought ceramic ones.

[Mz iMac]

Well, I must be a zombie.  I've been using T-Fal since they were invented.

[Jersey Born]

@bargainsgirl - I got rid of all my non-stick pans many years ago (like 18 - 20 years ago, I think?) and replaced them with stainless steel and copper pans from Cuisinart and from a company that no longer exists - Technique Ti. Titanium - which made the most wonderful stainless steel interior pots and pans. I wish they were still in business. I think QVC used to sell them.

To reduce the "sticking" of things cooking in a stainless pan, you need to heat the pan first. Cleanup is much easier when this is done. Regardless, I appreciate that there is no chemical residue added to the food I cook on my stovetop, even if cleaning the pots and pans takes a bit longer to achieve.    

[ciao_bella]

I got rid of those types of coated pans years ago.  I either use cast iron or ceramic pans.  

[Still Raining]

It has been many years since I owned one.  Tossed them years ago.  The last thing I need is more chemicals.

[gardenman]

As long as you use nonstick cookware properly it's probably safe. You don't want to use it at very high temperatures and I'd be hesitant to use it with highly acidic or highly alkaline foods that might be more inclined to break down the coating, but it's been in use so long that any major negative health effects would have likely already shown up and been thoroughly documented by now. If you cook tomato sauce (a highly acidic food) in a Teflon pan every day, you'd probably be smarter using something else. If you make soft Pretzels and dip them in a lye or baking soda solution before baking (a highly alkaline situation) you probably don't want to use Teflon for that. 

And you're never going to avoid Teflon exposure as it's used everywhere. Teflon tape is a commonly used sealant on plumbing fixtures. It's also used in car parts, medical devices, and more. It's likely that anything you drink (water, soda, coffee, etc.) has come into some contact with Teflon at some point. Teflon in one form or another has been around since 1938. That's 86 years. I'm pretty sure if it was killing gazillions of people, someone would have noticed by now. 

[wagirl]

I use non stick ceramic pots and pans. Got rid of the old black stuff 10+ years ago----I bought a set of Curtis Stones durapan  from HSN, that are still looking and performing as they did when new. I have one electric pot in the old nonstick that I still use--the surface is still pristine--no scratches or dings and I use it at lower temps too. But if I see any damage to the surface, then I will retire it.

[ID2]

I just got rid of 2 complete sets of All Clad cookware. I hated them. Everything stuck..yuck. My dh just got me a complete set of HexClad. LOVE!! Best thing since baked bread!