Are teflon pans bad for you if you only use plastic and wooden spatulas?

Question

I have read even in National Geographic that telfon pans with PFOA might be carcinogenic. Can anyone clarify this some more, or give me a better answer about teflon pans and the dangerous proposed?

Answer 1

The teflon is bad for you, but only if you eat it. Regardless of what type of spatula you use, if the pan looks scratched, throw it away and buy a new one. $20-$100 for a new pan might sound expensive, but medical bills for cancer are even more expensive. I would concur with using a plastic or wooden spatula as you suggest.

If you want some more details, basically the reason teflon is bad for you is the exact reason that it's used on those non-stick pans: it won't burn, it won't react with anything, basically nothing interacts with it. That also means that when it gets in your body you have no way to get rid of it. It's the same thing with the CFCs that were/are destroying the ozone layer: they were completely unreactive and non-flammable, which is why people used them, until the managed to get to the really harsh conditions of the upper atmosphere where they started eating away the ozone.

So basic conclusion, as long as you're not eating it, you're fine. If a pan looks scratched, and by which I don't mean one tiny scratch, but a lot of scratches, throw it away.

P.S. - Cirric, that's an awesome avatar.

Answer 2

wood utensils are wonderful on Teflon, yet making scrambled eggs with a spoon? attempt a heatproof Rubbermaid spatula (darkish purple handle) with a sprint milk and herbs from Penzey's.

Answer 3

yeah, even if u use wooden or plastic spatulas, with time the chemical on its top base starts coming off and you might not even notice it in the beginning, and if u continue its use then u ingest that chemical which is harmful for health.

Answer 4

Hi. You do not want to ingest it and any tool that minimizes your ingestion is a better tool. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/8404384/