Teflon flu: Know how to use non-stick cookware safely

Modern kitchens have modern utensils, and non-stick cookware has become a versatile addition to our kitchens. These utensils help you cook the perfect scrambled or sunny-side-up eggs, and cleaning them is as seamless as cooking in them. But do you know that toxic fumes from your non-stick pan may have the potential to make you sick with flu? An illness named Teflon flu, also known as polymer fume fever, led to the hospitalization of 250 Americans in 2023, as per reports. In case you are not aware of the precautions to use while cooking in non-stick cookware, read on.

What is Teflon?

Teflon is a synthetic chemical that contains carbon and fluorine called polytetrafluoroethylene. It is this chemical that is responsible for the non-stick and frictionless surface of the special cookware that makes cooking convenient for people.

What causes Teflon flu?

As the name suggests, your Teflon cookware that can make you more prone to catching this disease if you do not use your utensils the right way. When we overheat or scratch our Teflon pans, the chemicals in the coating tend to break down. These chemicals get released in the air when the cookware is heated and inhalation of these toxic fumes can lead to flu-like symptoms, explains consultant physician Dr Roohi Pirzada.

The non-stick coating is made from ‘forever chemicals’ which when ingested, go deep inside your body where they are unable to break down. While there is no proper evidence of why this happens, it could be due to the irritation triggered by the chemicals in the lungs leading to flu-like symptoms.

Symptoms of Teflon flu

Symptoms of Teflon flu usually take a few hours to develop after exposure but can be delayed up to 24 hours. Some of the common symptoms of this fever include:

• Fever and chills
• Cough
• Chest tightness
• Difficulty in breathing
• Dizziness
• Headaches
• Nausea
• Muscle and joint aches

Why non-stick pan cause illness?

Using a nonstick pan coated with a material PTEE, also known as Teflon, is considered safe. However, it only becomes an issue of concern when the pan is heated at a temperature above 500 degrees Fahrenheit. At the temperature, the coating on some non-stick pans starts to deteriorate, and it starts releasing a very complex mix of oxidized, fluorinated substances in the air.

If you inhale these toxic substances in the form of fumes regularly, it can expose your health to greater risks.

To avoid this, people should refrain from healing Teflon pans to a high temperature. Also, preheating non-stick pans should be avoided as empty nonstick pans can surge to high temperatures in a very short time. Therefore, make it a point to always add heat to the pan with food, butter, or oil already in it.

Who is at a greater risk of catching Teflon flu?

People who work at metal welding factories or industries without wearing masks or having the right protective equipment to minimize exposure to fumes, are at a greater risk. Their exposure is to a wide variety of metals like iron, copper, aluminium, and tin while doing the welding work.

Also, people who overheat PTEE (Teflon)-coated cookware are also at a greater risk of suffering from Teflon flu. So, to avoid this illness, people should avoid catching the fumes from the source itself.

Precaution while using non-stick cookware

Bearing in mind the risks associated with cooking in nonstick cookware, the ICMR-National Institute of Nutrition (NIN) issued an update through its Dietary Guidelines for Indians. A key recommendation is the promotion of using earthen cookware, for it is the safest option for cooking. Earthen pots need less oil for food preparation, are eco-friendly and also help preserve the nutritional value of food. Apart from that, here are some do’s and don’ts of cooking with nonstick utensils for your safety, according to Dr Roohi Pirzada:

1. Never preheat your empty pan

Non-stick pans tend to release toxic fumes when heated to high temperatures without using any oil to protect their non-stick coating. You should always add oil, water, or food to it before you turn on the burner. Oiling the nonstick surface not only helps in retaining its non-stick properties but also enhances the longevity of your pan.

2. Refrain from cooking on high heat

Start heating your cookware at low to moderate heat to allow your nonstick cookware to slowly rise to the cooking temperature you are aiming for. If you subject your non-stick cookware to high heat, the coating on it can break down rapidly. Non-stick cookware can rapidly rise to the maximum recommended temperature for cooking of 260 degrees Celsius or 500 degrees Fahrenheit. So, avoid using your non-stick cookware for slow cooking or in applications where your utensils could be exposed to heat for longer durations.

3. Avoid using steel spatulas

The coating on the non-stick cookware is very fragile and too much friction on the surface could lead to its deterioration. Also, do not use sharp-edged cooking utensils like metal spoons, forks, whisks, spatulas tongs, or knives. The thumb rule is to not use any metallic object on the pan’s interior as they scratch and pierce the nonstick coating. Only keep round-edged objects like wooden spoons and silicone spatulas and even those should not be used vigorously for cooking purposes. The gentler you are with your cookware, the better it is.

4. Let your pan cool before washing

It is not recommended to put your pans straight in the sink right after you are done cooking in it. Allow the pan to cool down slowly on the stovetop itself, or keep it somewhere else. If you suddenly put the hot cookware right under running tap water in the sink, the rapid temperature change in the hot cookware can potentially ruin the nonstick coating.

5. Do not put the pan in the dishwasher

Dishwashers surely offer great convenience, but the nonstick coating can deteriorate when your cookware is subjected to high temperatures and strong dishwashing detergents inside it. It is always advisable to hand wash the cookware in the sink and dry it with the help of a soft towel or tissue paper.