You swapped your Teflon pan. What about everything else?
Most people make one swap and feel done. But PFAS non-stick coatings are in your air fryer basket, baking sheets, and rice cooker pot too. Here's the full audit — ranked by risk, with the best replacements for each.
What PFAS actually does — and when it matters
Short answer: Intact PTFE coatings have negligible food migration per FDA data. The risk is scratched or overheated coatings — above 260°C, PTFE degrades. If it's scratched or flaking, replace it.
PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) is a chemical family used in non-stick coatings because it's extremely slippery and heat-stable. PTFE (Teflon) is the most common cookware variant. Minnesota became the first US state to ban intentionally added PFAS in cookware from January 2025 — a signal that regulatory pressure is building even as FDA says intact coatings are low-risk.
The honest position: the science on intact coatings supports low concern. The precautionary argument — especially with children in the household — supports swapping anyway. Both positions are reasonable.
The audit — what to check and what to replace
Short answer: Most people only swap the frying pan. The overlooked items are the air fryer basket, baking sheets, and the rice cooker inner pot — all have coatings, all see high heat.
If you bought your cookware as a set, a scratched frying pan usually means scratched pots too. The full audit covers three categories: cookware (pans and pots), appliances (air fryer basket, rice cooker), and bakeware (baking sheets). Risk increases with scratch depth, heat level, and acidic food contact.
| Risk | Item | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| High | Scratched non-stick frying pan | Direct food contact, high heat, acids |
| High | Scratched non-stick pots (same set) | Sets scratch together — if one is gone, check all |
| High | Air fryer basket (scratched) | High heat + forced air accelerates coating breakdown |
| Medium | Non-stick baking sheet | Oven heat + oil residue degrades coating over time |
| Medium | Rice cooker inner pot | Long moist heat exposure on acidic grains |
| Low | Non-stick spatulas/utensils | Indirect contact, not heated directly |
Every product with an honest reason to be here
Organised by what you're replacing. Nothing recommended without a specific reason tied to the audit category.
The science, answered plainly
What to read next
Best PFAS-free cookware — the full replacement kit
Ceramic, cast iron, stainless, carbon steel. The honest picks for every item in your kitchen.
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All 5 guides — cookware, appliances, food science.
Guide 02Your air fryer is lying to you — and it still wins.
The airspeed science, PFAS-free basket picks, and honest trade-offs.
Guide 05Cast iron: the PFAS-free everyday pan.
Zero coating, dietary iron transfer, $35 entry point.
Guide 04Why does your sous vide steak still taste worse than the steakhouse?
Carbon steel and cast iron are the sear pans — the PFAS-free finishing tools.