Don’t eat off Teflon, Gertrude?

The average consumer understands non-stick coating as Teflon. A lot has been said and written about its potential danger in recent years, when the production and sales of cookware are trying to put on an “environmental track. So is Teflon dangerous or not dangerous??

Teflon is becoming more and more competitive!

In American there is virtually no independent research confirming the harm of Teflon – the free encyclopedia has many references to Western sources, and no company denigrating Teflon and advertising alternative environmentally friendly and simply other coatings, does not give reasoned and documented independent data.

On their websites and in their ads you can read or hear about the following: “Teflon is known to be harmful toxic, carcinogenic, etc. “.p. “, “Teflon contains releases perfluorooctanoic acid PFOA , which has carcinogenic properties”.

In the manufacture of Teflon by the way, this is a trade name, but “scientifically” it means polytetrafluorethylene PTFE , really uses PFOA – as a humectant during application of.

But the consumer can never figure out, for example, at what temperature and under what conditions the very same PFOA begins to secrete from Teflon, which is really toxic and almost does not decompose in the environment.

According to some sources, it’s already 200 ° C, according to others it’s almost 450 ° C according to Tefal , and such temperatures can’t be achieved in the home. According to some people, the slightest scratch on the coating causes PFOA emissions, but others say it’s no big deal.

In any case, the use of PFOA has committed itself to a gradual reduction and nullification of many leading

– do not overheat – do not scratch with metal accessories and harsh dish sponges – do not wash with aggressive acid-based cleaners – do not buy cheap cookware of unknown origin at bargain prices.

Global manufacturers, such as those who have joined the UN Global Compact and listened to the American Environmental Protection Agency, which has reached an agreement to phase out acid production by 2015.

In general, when there is too much information and it is contradictory, look for the truth somewhere in the middle. If you use Teflon or any “classic” coating based on polytetrafluoroethylene, follow four simple rules.

Teflon – I know, what else?

Whether or not Teflon is harmful – in any case, this debate has led many companies to use non-stick coatings other than polytetrafluoroethylene Teflon . All of them are called ceramic, though of course they are composites with a ceramic base.

Depending on the additives and manufacturing technique, they may be called titanium-ceramic, diamond-ceramic, marble, metal-ceramic.

Most of them do not contain PFOA, as the manufacturer will certainly mention, and are considered environmentally friendly.

In addition, they can withstand heat up to 400-450°C, distribute the heat very evenly, which allows for less stirring and faster cooking and makes it possible to do with a minimum amount of oil when cooking.

Moreover, according to Bergner representatives for example, the design of cookware with a ceramic coating saves up to 33% of the energy required for cooking – precisely due to the uniform distribution of heat and its better retention.

Cookware with “ceramic”, as its manufacturers claim, is not afraid of mechanical stress – it can often be washed in the dishwasher, but almost all manufacturers stipulate that, to extend service life, it is better to wash it by hand.

Many of these products are resistant to metal accessories not knives! , but we still wouldn’t recommend. Such cookware is expensive and it is better not to take the risk: complaints about its insensitivity to mechanical stress are not uncommon on consumer forums.

The most resistant coatings are ceramic-titanium and diamond-ceramic composite coatings, in the latter case the layer is composed of titanium or diamond sputtering diamond chips .

There is another kind – marble coating, but the marble chips included in the composite can also be sprayed on Teflon, which is partly decorative, partly increasing wear resistance element.

A standout is the silicone-based coating ECO-NanoPlex, invented and patented by R&ouml It can withstand temperatures of up to 300°C, is resistant to damage, and permits the use of metal accessories other than knives and sharp objects.

Cookware with ceramic coating is available under a variety of brands and has its own name from each manufacturer:

GreenPan and Welen – Thermolon,

CALVE – Excilon,

Moneta – Ceramica,

Frybest – Ecolon,

Ballarini – Iseo Ceramic, Ceravis Titanium Base,

Neva-metal cookware – polymer-ceramic coating TITAN PC, metal-polymeric non-stick system ALMAZ NEO,

Woll – Titan Titan Plus titanium-ceramic and Diamond Belt diamond coating,

Tvs titano – Titan Granit,

BergHOFF – steel and ceramic alloy FERNO Ceramic,

DeHUV – Diamond Ceramic coating,

Bergner – Ceramic Coating and Marble Coating.

How nonstick coatings are made?

Tefal

In search of truth we turned to brand manager of Tefal brand Julia Logvinenkova.

“BT: Tefal cookware coating is positioned as PFOA-free. Do you realize that Tefal cookware does not use PFOA?

ju.l.: All nonstick coatings use perfluorooctanoic acid as a humectant – it acts as a catalyst. The finished Tefal products do not contain it at all, as confirmed by laboratory tests.

PFOA is used in the production of our cookware, but it escapes during the firing process so that if the coating is damaged it cannot be released and be detected.

If the non-stick coating is damaged, only the non-stick properties of a Tefal frying pan are lost, but it remains completely safe.

Neva-metal cookware

“Solid particles are applied to the body of the pan in a special way to form a solid, porous layer. A water-based non-stick layer is then applied: the non-stick agent enters the pores of the solid layer.

When we use metal utensils to cook food, we affect only the top layer of the coating.

Frybest

“The Ecolon coating is harmless to the environment and the human body, since its main components are soil, sand and stones. No perfluorooctanoic acid is used in the manufacture of the coating. The coating is free of heavy metals such as cadmium, lead and mercury.”.

GreenPan

“Thermolon is derived from materials originating from natural sand. The raw materials contain only three elements: silicon, oxygen and carbon.

Two key processes for obtaining Thermolone are hydrolysis and condensation. The last of these removes the carbon-containing component. The result is a ceramic-like material.