Teflon frying pan: how to remove carbon deposits inside and outside at home, how to remove teflon

What is Teflon? How harm is the Teflon coating in a frying pan? What are the advantages of Teflon pans? What is the correct way to use a new frying pan? How to clean and care for a non-stick Teflon pan?

What is Teflon material

Long gone are the days when the weight was considered an indicator of the quality of cooking utensils. After all, it was in a heavy frying pan that the products did not burn, it was convenient not only to bake, but also to stew vegetables and meat on it. Modern cooking utensils are lightweight and practical. It can be used to cook even without oil, which makes homemade meals not only tasty, but also healthy.

There are many types of non-stick coatings, but Teflon is the most popular and widespread. Let's consider the main features of this material.

Teflon is a very interesting material. It was created before the start of World War II by the American company DuPont. Basically, it is a gas that has polymerized and become a polytetrafluoroethylene resin.

It was used in many fields of science and industry, even prosthetic joints were made from it. Teflon gained its greatest popularity when they began to produce frying pans with a non-stick coating. Here he took one of the first places.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of Teflon pans

Any material combines positive and negative qualities. On the one hand, it is simply irreplaceable, but on the other, it requires special care or handling skills. This also applies to such a common material for non-stick pans such as Teflon.

Let's consider them in more detail.

Advantages:

• Teflon-coated pans heat up quite quickly. This makes the cooking process more convenient and not very time consuming.
• The Teflon coating prevents the growth of pathogenic organisms.
• Cooking with them is also convenient because you don't need to use a lot of oil. It is enough to lightly grease the pan with a whisk, or you can do without it altogether. Such food, moreover, becomes more wholesome and low-calorie.
• Teflon-coated pans are easy to clean as the food does not stick and can be removed with a soft sponge without much effort.
• Such dishes are lightweight. The lightness makes it more convenient to use.
• Teflon pans are quite durable, provided the non-stick coating is intact.

Flaws:

• The Teflon coating is quite fragile. It can be easily damaged if misused or cleaned. For such a frying pan, it is better to use wooden, plastic or silicone devices: spatulas, tongs, spoons.
• Using such pans, you should monitor the temperature. Violation of it can lead to damage to the coating.
• At the slightest violation of the integrity of the Teflon coating, the pan becomes unusable.

What properties are harmful to humans Teflon coating

The Teflon non-stick coating is very smooth, even slippery. It allows you to make the cooking process easier and more comfortable. However, it should be noted that in recent decades, the question of its toxicity has been increasingly raised.

Despite the fact that Teflon has long been considered safe, laboratory studies have shown that this material can negatively affect human health. Consider what is its danger.

The "insidiousness" of Teflon is as follows: at temperatures up to 200 degrees, it does not represent exactly no threat, but after exceeding this temperature limit, this material begins to decay into components. And so they are carcinogens. The most dangerous of these are the gas perfluoroisobutylene and perfluorooctanoic acid.

These substances affect the functioning of the thyroid and pancreas, disrupt the functioning of the immune system. They also contribute to cell mutation and cancer. Their negative impact is the cause of the development of hormonal disorders.

How to properly use a new Teflon frying pan

In order for a new Teflon-coated pan to serve as long as possible and perform well, a special procedure must be performed before using it for the first time. Wash it well, removing all unnecessary, (without using abrasives and metal scrapers, and washcloths), dry and hold for half a minute on low heat. After that, it is advisable to lightly grease the pan with sunflower or other vegetable oil.

These simple steps will prepare the non-stick coating for further cooking processes and protect it from damage.

Which coating is better, Teflon or ceramic

Ceramic, along with Teflon, is one of the most popular non-stick coatings. To figure out which one is better, consider the pros and cons of the first.

The advantages of ceramic coating:

• Withstands very high temperatures - about 450 degrees.
• More resistant to mechanical damage than Teflon.
• During the cooking process, you can use a small amount of oil (only the necessary minimum).
• Easy to clean.
• Does not emit carcinogenic substances when heated.

Disadvantages of ceramic coating:

• Afraid of too strong changes in temperature (hot frying pan under cold water).
• Do not use metal devices, only wooden, plastic, silicone.
• You should not soak such products for a long time. Better to wash immediately.

Based on the characteristics of the ceramic coating, we can conclude that it is an environmentally friendly alternative to Teflon, while having all its positive characteristics.

Recommendations for choosing a quality Teflon-coated cast iron pan

The non-stick cast iron skillet is a very important cookware item. A number of functions are assigned to it, and therefore, buying it, every housewife wants to receive a practical and convenient product as a result. In order for the purchase not to become a disappointment, you need to pay attention to important recommendations.

• The bottom of such a pan should be as thick as possible. The same applies to the walls.
• To control the heating level, it is recommended to buy pans with a special indicator. It is located on the bottom inside and changes color depending on the temperature.
• It is best to choose pans with a very embossed bottom. Moreover, the more bulge, the better.
• If the bottom is smooth, without relief, then it should be perfectly flat. Pits or bumps indicate defects in which such a product cannot be used.
• When choosing an external coating, it is recommended to give preference to enamel. It is more resistant to mechanical damage (including when trying to clean). Lacquer quickly scratches and burns.
• The size of the base must correspond to the diameter of the cooking zones. If it is less, the food near the side walls will burn, if more, it will remain uncooked.
• The handle is more comfortable and will last longer if it is cast, that is, to represent a single whole with the entire pan. The material for it must be with low thermal conductivity. This will prevent burns.
• Before buying a cast iron skillet, you need to inspect it thoroughly. It may be damaged during transportation.
• You should not buy Teflon pans in stores without a special license for the product and a certificate of conformity. Such products can be counterfeit and be harmful to health.

How to clean a Teflon pan from carbon deposits at home

Despite the non-stick Teflon coating, these pans are prone to carbon deposits over time. Its presence not only interferes with cooking, but can also release harmful substances into food. Therefore, the question arises: how to clean the Teflon cast iron pan from the resulting carbon deposits?

The complexity of the process of its removal is explained by the fact that when cleaning the non-stick coating, you cannot use abrasive products or devices that can scratch it. Therefore, only gentle cleaners should be used for this procedure. Let's consider the most effective ones.

Inside

As a rule, for cleaning the inner surfaces of the dishes, they use products that are not toxic or carcinogenic, because they will penetrate, albeit partially, into the prepared foods. The most gentle and safe are:

• Laundry soap.

Recipe: Grate the fourth part of the bar, put in the pan, add water. Bring the mixture to a boil, but do not let it boil. Leave on for 2-3 hours. After that, it is necessary to drain the solution and wash the surface with an ordinary dish detergent. Remove residues with a sponge. Rinse.

• Soda.

Recipe: Mix 5 teaspoons of baking soda with 1 liter of water. Pour into a frying pan, boil for 20 minutes. Drain. Rinse with clean water, if necessary with detergent.

• Soda and dish detergent.

Recipe: Dissolve 1 tablespoon of baking soda in 1 liter of water, add a couple of drops of detergent. Pour them over a frying pan. After boiling, set aside from heat and let cool for 40-50 minutes. Rinse.

• Soda and stationery glue.

Recipe: Mix 1 bottle of stationery glue with a third of a pack of soda. Pour into a skillet half filled with water. Boil for 40-45 minutes. Set aside from heat for 2-3 hours. If the deposit is very strong, the settling time can be increased up to 24 hours. Wash well with detergent.

Outside

The outside of the pan is just as important as the inside. In the presence of a thick layer of carbon, its heating will be uneven, and burning out will contribute to the formation of smoke. When removing carbon deposits from the outside of the Teflon pan, make sure that no detergent gets inside during cleaning. Since household chemicals can affect the quality of the prepared food.

For such purposes, concentrated or spray gels and liquids are most often used. They are left for 15-30 minutes, after which they are removed with a sponge and rinsed.

If the use of cleaning chemicals is undesirable, then more conservative products can be used. Here are some of them.

• Laundry soap and baking soda.

Recipe: Grate 2.5 bars of soap and melt together with 2.5 packs of soda in water. This is best done in a bucket or deep pot. Boil a frying pan in this solution for 2 hours. Rinse with water and detergent. Rinse.

• Soda, detergent, stationery glue.

Make a solution of 3 liters of water, 150 grams of dishwashing liquid, 200 grams of baking soda, 50 grams of office glue. Soak the pan in it for 24 hours without boiling. Wash off with hot water.

How can you remove Teflon from a frying pan

If the Teflon coating has been damaged, some users try to remove it with abrasive materials such as sandpaper, sandblasting. However, it should be remembered that such a pan becomes unusable. After removing all Teflon residues, it cannot be used for cooking. Even in the absence of residual harmful substances in such a pan, fry practically impossible, since during the removal of Teflon, the upper layer of the cast iron is severely damaged, which leads to burning. Therefore, the question "How to remove a damaged Teflon coating from a frying pan?" there is an answer-question "Is it worth it?".

Is it possible to restore the Teflon coating

Damaged non-stick coating can only be repaired in dedicated service centers. However, when applying new layers of Teflon, various types of defects may appear, which will shorten the lines the service of such a product, and such "resuscitation" will be expensive and such workshops are not in every city. It's easier to buy a new frying pan and be sure of its safety.

Teflon pan care

Teflon, like any other non-stick coating, requires special care. In order for it to remain intact, a number of recommendations should be followed.

Rules for using Teflon-coated pans:

• Detergents should not contain scratching components (granules, microparticles).
• Do not use alkaline cleaners.
• You can wash such a frying pan only with soft rags or sponges.
• During cooking, it is prohibited to use metal devices: forks, spoons, shovels. Only wooden or made of special plastic.
• A sharp change in temperature is strictly not allowed: a hot pan should not be placed under a stream of cold water.
• You can cook on the non-stick coating without oil, but this will shorten its lifespan. It is still better to lightly grease the bottom of the pan with a whisk moistened with oil.
• After cooking, the food should be transferred to another container. The pan itself must be thoroughly washed and a little greased with oil.

How long do Teflon pans last?

The service life of a Teflon pan depends on its thickness.

• 3-4 years old - with a thin bottom and side walls.
• 5-6 years - with a cellular (not smooth) coating and a fairly thick bottom.
• About 10 years - with a thick bottom, side walls and multi-step Teflon coating (it has a rough texture).

Popular manufacturers of teflon pans

The most famous companies engaged in the production of such dishes, from year to year, delight with their new products and improved models. The leading among them are the following.

• Tefal.
• Rondell.
• Fissler.
• NMP (Neva-Metal Cookware).
• Gipfel.
• Vitesse.

Teflon coating is a handy invention designed to make cooking easier. However, one should not forget that everything has two sides: positive and negative. When choosing a pan with such a non-stick coating, be very careful and careful. And keep your kitchen safe.

VIDEO: How to check the Teflon coating of a frying pan.