How safe is the non-stick coating in cookwares?

I don’t use them. They all cause cancer. Go with cast iron! Or stainless steel! You just need to use enough butter/oil.

@emily: Let’s not be dramatic. Non-stick cookware is just as connected to cancer as plastic food storage containers, cell phones, and breathing in air.

As long as non-stick coating isn’t scratched, marred, cracked, peeled, etc… it’s safe to cook on. If you want a non-stick, non-coated pan, try a seasoned cast-iron skillet. You can buy them pre-seasoned or you can season them yourself, but it’s a bit of a pain.

@poof—-not actually true. Haven’t you ever heard the stories of peoples’ pet birds dying because they used teflon? The fumes are bad enough to have that impact. I agree that cast iron is great.

@emily: everything causes cancer.

The one thing about LIFE: It’s 100% fatal.

Um, the teflon toxicity does not cause birds to die acutely of cancer. But there may be reason for concern if the equipment (pots and pans) is used improperly.

http://www.mindfully.org/Plastic/Teflon/Canary-Teflon-ToxicosisAug03.htm

by the way i know the mindfully.org guy. whatever. y’all can use whatever you want. i am wedded to my cast iron!

The problem with teflon is that eventually the coating wears down, and you end up consuming bits of teflon, and in addition it loses it’s nonstick properties. I’ve just posted a small article on my blog here about the benefits and care of cast iron, feel free to check it out!

I really love cast iron :)