non stick questions & answers

Hi Andrew

Your report on frying pans was very useful. I have a few further questions you might be able to answer for me?

Firstly my mum’s last frying pan started to lose its non-stick coating so she threw it away and bought a stainless steel one but now I am considering buying a very good non-stick frying pan. If a frying pan loses its non-stick coating does that mean we have eaten it with our food and is it in any way harmful?

Secondly I have read on the web that professional chefs in restaurants etc do not use non-stick frying pans. Do you know the reasons why they don’t use non stick pans? Which branded/types of frying pans do professional chefs use? Also is it ok to boil food (vegetables etc) in non stick pans.

Thank you for your help,
Ray

Comments

[Andrew Bluett-Duncan]

Hi Ray,

Thank you for getting in touch. To answer your first question about non-stick pans being harmful, I’m afraid that is probable you have eaten it, however so far as I know, eating non stick is not harmful.

To say that chefs in restaurants don’t use non-stick frying pans is a bit of a generalization but it is true that most non sticks don’t stand up to the abuse that chefs will give them … remember they don’t usually pay for their pans and many, unlike you haven’t read my report and therefore don’t really know non sticks limitations.

It’s impossible to answer fully which brands professional chefs use, but certainly any of the stainless pans we sell will stand up to professional use.

Yes it’s most certainly ok to boil food in non stick pans … non stick only becomes toxic at over 270 degrees Centigrade, whereas water boils at 100 degrees C (when frying however and certainly if you see blue smoke coming from your frying pan then you can be sure you’ve over done it?)

As a general recommendation I think you should try one of the GreenPan ranges …

http://www.aolcookshop.co.uk/acatalog/Kyoto.html

Kyoto 24cm or 28cm frying pans are very good and very reasonably priced, with the one caveat of noting my comments about fried eggs sticking.

Hope this helps.
Andrew