I have a set of 3 Bra Premiere non-stick frying pans that I’ve used for a while. The coating on them says “Teflon Innovations without PFOA”. Recently I’ve noticed that on the most used pan, the 26cm one, the Teflon coating has started to peel off.

I know that Teflon coatings can release harmful fumes and chemicals if overheated, but what about if the coating is physically peeling? Is it still safe to cook with them? Or should I stop using especially the 26cm one? I don’t want to keep exposing my family to anything dangerous unknowingly. Any advice if these types of pans are still safe to cook with if the nonstick surface is peeling would be appreciated!

  • ironeagl@sh.itjust.works
    71·
    1 year ago

    Anodized aluminum is porous, that’s how the dye stays attached. Also aluminum is not recommended for use with acidic foods. I would personally avoid it.

    • Bonehead@kbin.social
      122·
      1 year ago

      Aluminum is porous. Hard anodized aluminum is not. That’s the whole point of anodizing the aluminum, so that it creates a barrier that stops it from reacting with acids.

      • ironeagl@sh.itjust.works
        51·
        1 year ago

        The barrier to acids comes from oxidizing the surface, which anodizing does. But pores do not exist in bare aluminum, and hard anodize actually has the biggest pores! There is technically a sealer on the surface, but sticking it in hot water can sometimes release it, depending on what sealer was used. Here’s an article with more info: https://www.lightmetalage.com/news/industry-news/surface-finishing/introduction-to-anodizing-aluminum/

        • Bonehead@kbin.social
          31·
          1 year ago

          That’s for general anodizing, not hard anodizing for cookware. They aren’t going to use the same process for a chair that will never see water versus a pan designed to be immersed in water. Anodized cookware is fine to use with acids.

          • stevehobbes@lemmy.world
            2·
            1 year ago

            Nope. It’s exactly the same process - it’s just Type III not type II.

            The sealer is what makes it non porous. That sealer is usually teflon that wears off.

            • Bonehead@kbin.social
              22·
              1 year ago

              It’s exactly the same process - it’s just Type III not type II.

              It’s the exact same process, except that it isn’t. Hard anodized aluminum is not teflon.

          • ironeagl@sh.itjust.works
            21·
            1 year ago

            Can you give me an example? Calphalon for instance have “hard-anodized nonstick” but they’re still teflon. Anodizing is actually how teflon is usually made - the anodizing makes a porous surface that the teflon can stick to. So you’right that the sealer is different, it’s just teflon.