Do you want to avoid chemicals forever? Here are nine of the best PFAS-free frying pans

Do you want to avoid chemicals forever? Here are nine of the best PFAS-free frying pans

whether you’re making pancakes, seared steaks or fluffy omelettes, a frying pan that sizzles food without sticking to it is a kitchen necessity.  Yet health and environmental concerns about non-stick coatings and “forever chemicals” are making it increasingly complicated to pick the perfect pan.

 Despite the fact that non-stick coatings are advertised as PFOA- or PFOS-free, a growing number of businesses maintain that they are completely safe. So what are these controversial chemicals, and what’s the alternative if you don’t want your food to stick?

 What are forever chemicals, or PFAS?

 For the uninitiated, per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS) are a group of chemicals that have been added to various consumer products, including cookware, since the 1950s.  There are thousands of these chemicals, and they’re extremely useful, allowing dirt, grease – and eggs – to slide off surfaces.  But once thrown away, it can take hundreds or even thousands of years for PFAS to degrade, which is why they are often referred to as “forever chemicals”.  They can also leach out of landfill to contaminate soil and water, and accumulate in the tissues of living things over time.  That can “threaten the wellbeing of species already struggling under mounting environmental pressures,” says Hannah Evans, a project manager at the environmental charity Fidra.

 vials labeled with a bunch of science jargon and also "PFAS"

 PFAS increase likelihood of death by cardiovascular disease, study shows

 A handful of PFAS that have been researched in depth have been linked to health issues such as cancer, immune system disorders and fertility problems.  This EPA report is a reputable source and provides a good overview of the knowns and unknowns.

 The majority of these chemicals, on the other hand, haven't been studied enough to know how they affect health or the environment. Some may be perfectly safe, including the PTFE- or Teflon-based coatings that are often sprayed on to pans to make them non-stick – although additional PFAS may have been used to manufacture them.

 There are questions about their toxicity.  For example, tetrafluoroethylene is used to make PTFE and the US National Institutes of Health lists it as “reasonably anticipated to be a human carcinogen”.  GenX is another chemical used to make Teflon and other types of PTFE.  The US Environment Protection Agency has concluded that it may also be carcinogenic, based on animal studies.

 Because we can be exposed to PFAS in so many ways, and it is difficult to identify specific “causes and effects” for individual chemicals, many campaigners believe it is better to be safe than sorry – particularly when PFAS-free alternatives exist.  Fidra and others are calling for a group-based restriction on all non-essential uses of PFAS in the UK, including frying pans.  The good news is that alternative non-stick coatings are available, as are other types of frying pans that have no coatings at all, such as stainless steel or cast iron pans.

 Here’s our roundup of the best PFAS-free crepe pans and all-purpose frying pans for Pancake Day and beyond.

 The best PFAS-free crepe pans

 Best carbon steel crepe pan:

 De Buyer Mineral B crepe pan

 Crafted in France from carbon steel, which heats up quickly and conducts heat well, fans of the De Buyer Mineral B crepe pan say it helps make an authentic French-style crepe with crispy edges.  Like cast iron, it can withstand high temperatures, but it’s lighter, making it easier to toss pancakes.  It can also be used for cooking dosas, injera and searing vegetables.  The pan can be baked in the oven at 200C for up to 10 minutes. Carbon steel needs regular seasoning with oil, and this pan needs to be pre-seasoned before its first use.  It should be cleaned only with a damp cloth and must be thoroughly dried and oiled before storage.  Follow these instructions, and you’ll be rewarded with a crepe pan that builds up a dark patina and becomes more non-stick with time.  This pan comes with a two-year guarantee.

 Best non-stick crepe pan:

 GreenPan Copenhagen pancake pan

 This specialist crepe pan is light and shallow and helps create delightfully flippable pancakes that slide off the surface with ease.  It features GreenPan’s Thermolon non-stick coating, and it is suitable for all hob types.

 GreenPan is verified PFAS-free by Fidra, and the key material in its non-stick cookware is silicon dioxide – which is also found in natural sand.  The brand claims its non-stick coating is heat-resistant up to 450C (850F), oven-safe up to 220C (425F) and dishwasher-safe.  Even so, it recommends using its pan on a low to medium heat, using a small amount of oil – but not olive oil – or butter rather than cooking sprays, hand-washing with a soft cloth, and avoiding metal utensils to help preserve the coating.

 If you’re after a low-maintenance crepe pan, GreenPan’s is a great alternative to a carbon steel one.

 Best cast-iron crepe pan:

 Le Creuset small cast iron crepe pan

 While owners of conventional cast iron pans may be wary of cooking pancakes in them, this classic-looking Le Creuset pan has a PFAS-free enamel coating, which users describe as a gamechanger – provided it is heated up slowly and a smear of oil or butter added before the batter.  The pan is a little heavy for tossing but pancakes can be easily flipped using the wooden spatula provided.  It can also be used for frying french toast, chapatis, naan bread, or grilling meat and vegetables (the pan is grill- and oven-safe).

 Provided the pan is used in normal, domestic conditions and the care and use instructions are followed, Le Creuset offers a lifetime guarantee covering faulty workmanship and materials.

 The best all-purpose PFAS-free frying pans

 Best non-stick frying pan:

 GreenPan Barcelona Pro

 With its deep, sloped sides, and elegant styling, this frying pan is perfect for cooking eggs, fish and vegetables with minimal oil, or simmering sauces such as bolognese, although it is a little too deep for pancakes.  It features the same non-stick coating as GreenPan’s Copenhagen pancake pan and if used following the instructions, is covered by a two-year warranty for manufacturing and material defects.

 Best small non-stick frying pan:

 Earth Pan ceramic non-stick frying pan

 The Earth Pan range is made without PFAS and uses a lead- and cadmium-free non-stick coating.  Its handle – made from recycled plastics – is designed to stay cool to the touch throughout cooking.  It also comes with a five-year guarantee, provided it’s used following the manufacturer’s instructions.

 This 20cm frying pan has gently sloping sides, making it ideal for cooking omelettes and other small to medium-sized meals.  However, it’s not oven-safe, so it’s not as versatile as some other non-stick pans.

 Best stainless-steel frying pan:

 ProCook Elite tri-ply frying pan

 Professional chefs often opt for stainless-steel cookware, due to its durability, resistance to scratches and corrosion, good heat conductivity, and ability to handle high temperatures.  These pans are excellent for most cooking, from searing meat to frying.  There’s no non-stick coating to wear off, so such pans should have a long lifespan – ProCook’s Elite tri-ply pan comes with a 25-year guarantee.  Its construction comprises a stainless-steel exterior, aluminium core and stainless-steel interior, which ensures even cooking without hotspots.  It’s also oven-safe to 260C and dishwasher-safe, although cleaning is best done in hot soapy water with a non-wire scouring pad.

 The lack of non-stick coating means chefs should add a glug of oil or smear of butter to the pan before cooking to prevent food from sticking.  To cook pancakes in a stainless-steel pan, ProCook’s food expert Steven Carter-Bailey recommends preheating it over low to medium heat and testing if it’s ready by sprinkling a few drops of water on to the surface: “If they dance and sizzle, you’re good to go.”  You should then add a thin layer of oil, butter or ghee before pouring in the batter.  Between batches, lightly reapply oil and adjust the heat, if necessary, to prevent burning.

 How do you identify a PFAS-free pan?

 For now, it is up to consumers to decide whether to buy a conventional non-stick pan or a PFAS-free alternative.  However, selecting the latter is not as simple as it may appear. Many pans are labelled “PFOA-free” or “PFOS-free”, referencing two PFAS with proven health concerns, but these chemicals are already banned under a global treaty called the Stockholm Convention.  According to Eleanor Hawke, a spokesperson for the environmental organization Chem Trust, "Neither do these labels necessarily mean the pan is free from all PFAS, only those specific named PFAS." Many highly rated non-stick pans that made it on to our longlist were rejected after closer inspection revealed that they contained PTFE or Teflon.  This was also true of some “ceramic” coated pans, which also contained PTFE.  Teflon and other types of PTFE are considered inert below about 260C, but there are concerns that they may release harmful chemicals when heated to high temperatures.  In addition, as was mentioned earlier, the PFAS chemicals that are used to make these products have the potential to enter drinking water and rivers, accumulate in the plants and animals we consume, and so on. There are also worries about what happens to PTFE when it is thrown away and begins to degrade over the coming centuries.  For these reasons, I have avoided reviewing pans coated with PTFE or Teflon.

 “To know whether the pan is PFAS-free, we would recommend consumers ask the retailer,” Hawke says.  However, because manufacturers are not required to disclose if PFAS is contained in their products, retailers may not know.  Evans of Fidra recommends checking product labels for mention of PFAS, as well as PFOA or PFOS, but a PFOA/PFOS label is largely meaningless: a PFAS-free label is more helpful as this covers PTFE.