When I was young and innocent, I knew nothing of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE). Well, it’s not the kind of thing a nicely brought up girl should have to deal with.
Instead, I went out met a man, got married and got given some very nice, very expensive wedding pans. Lovely non-stick pans.
Which brings us right back to polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) .
- This is what the non-stick coating on pans is made from.
- Teflon is perhaps the best known manufacturer of polytetrafluoroethylene (non-stick) linings.
- Polytetrafluoroethylene is a plastic and, like other plastics, has a down right nasty side.
Over to wise geek…..
The nonstick coating used in DuPont’s Teflon® pans has been found to release one or more of 15 different toxic gases when heated to certain temperatures, but is generally safe when used according to manufacturers’ specifications. Which chemicals are released depends on the temperature of the pan. This outgassing can be fatal to pet birds and can cause “polymer fume flu,” also known as “Teflon® flu,” in humans.
Teflon say if you use the pans properly(?), there shouldn’t be a problem. Try telling that to the budgie.
Whatever, the pans are too good to throw out, and I feel bad about giving them away, so I am still using them – but in future I will not be buying any more non-stick.
New Non Stick Pans
More info
You can find out about the other sorts of plastic here