Anyone with a very common item in their kitchen has been warned by experts that it could be worth replacing it with something different – as they could be negatively impacting your food.
When you’ve spent ages carefully crafting a meal, you obviously want it to taste perfect. So when something does go wrong, it’s a real annoyance, especially with all of the ingredients going to waste.
But it may not be your culinary skills that are the problem – the equipment could be at fault here. This is according to the experts at Plumbworld, who suggest it might be time to ditch your non-stick pans, despite their convenience.
Non-stick cookware is a staple in many kitchens, often prized for its ease of use and convenience. However, these pros warn that this popular tool could be compromising the quality of your meals and potentially damaging your health.
As the name suggests, these pans are designed to prevent food from sticking, which is perfect for delicate items like eggs and pancakes. However, this non-stick surface can inhibit the Maillard reaction – a process that creates deep, rich flavours through browning, reports the Mirror.
Because of this, meats and vegetables cooked in non-stick pans may not achieve the same level of flavour and texture as those cooked in stainless steel or cast iron, where the food can stick slightly, allowing for better browning and searing.
The non-stick coating on these pans can degrade over time, particularly if they’re subjected to scratches from metal utensils or repeated high-heat exposure. As the coating wears down, food may begin to stick, diminishing the pan’s efficiency and require earlier replacement compared to more durable cookware such as stainless steel or cast iron.
While modern non-stick coatings like Teflon are generally considered safe when used according to guidelines, misuse can pose dangers.
Overheating a non-stick pan can cause the coating to decompose and emit fumes that could be toxic if inhaled. Despite advancements in reducing certain chemical risks with safer alternatives, the potential for inhaling harmful vapours remains a concern when non-stick cookware is used improperly.
A Plumbworld spokesperson commented: “Non-stick cookware certainly has its place in the kitchen, but it’s important to recognise its limitations if you want to elevate your cooking. One way to get the most out of your kitchen tools is to match them to the right tasks. For example, reserving your non-stick pans for low-heat dishes like eggs or pancakes can extend their lifespan and prevent wear and tear, saving you money in the long run.
“To improve your results with high-heat cooking, consider investing in a good-quality stainless steel or cast iron pan, which can handle higher temperatures and help you achieve better browning and flavour development.”