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Nonstick Ceramic Cookware: Is the Coating Safe?

Published January 6, 2020 · Last Updated Aug 20, 2020 · HomePage Non Toxic Home· Non Toxic Home· Reviews

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6 Jan
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I have always used stainless steel pots and pans. It has been the safest cookware that I’ve found where I don’t have to worry about chemical exposures coming from non-stick pots and pans. But recently, I started looking into nonstick ceramic cookware and wondering is the coating safe?

turquoise teal blue pot with glass lid on a flower towel

Why would I wonder if cooking with a pan was harmful to my health?

Because non stick pans have previously gotten a bad rap for health and safety reasons. Yet many home cooks love the ease and convenience of nonstick cookware.

Which is why I suddenly found myself falling in love with a turquoise set of nonstick ceramic cookware and wondering whether or not it was safe.

The Problem With Nonstick Cookware

Traditional non-stick cookware often uses Dupont’s Teflon™ coating. This is the nonstick cookware that you are used to seeing in the kitchen aisles of every major store. When you look for non stick cookware, this is probably what you are going to find first.

What is wrong with nonstick cookware?

Teflon is made with a synthetic chemical called PFOA, which stands for perfluorooctanoic acid. Let’s just call it PFOA, okay?

PFOA is then used to make polytetrafluoroethylene, also known as PTFE. Both of these chemicals are part of a group known as Perfluorinated Substances (PFASs). These are the two chemicals that are causing so much concern and questions when using nonstick cookware and wondering if non stick cookware is safe.

There are have been reports of birds dying when exposed to fumes coming from using Teflon-coated pans in the home.

The American Cancer Society also warns of possible flu-like symptoms when using non-stick cookware at high heat.

And the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has linked PFASs to health problems such as cancer, hormone problems, kidney damage, liver problems, thyroid problems, increased cholesterol and more.

Indeed, you might have noticed yourself that when you use a non-stick pot or pan, there is an odor. It’s usually more common with brand new pots and pans, but that doesn’t mean that it can’t happen with older nonstick pots and pans.

Those fumes are chemicals off gassing from the non-stick coating. And no one should be breathing in a synthetic chemical concoction.

PFAS (Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances) accumulates in your body and can stay around for a while. Which means your levels can keep rising even if you are not exposed to a lot of PFAS at one time. Simply because you keep adding PFAS with every exposure and your body is not flushing them out.

PFOA in Nonstick Cookware

While nonstick cookware continues to get a bad rap because of the chemical PFOA, it actually isn’t even a problem in today’s world anymore.

PFOA was mandated by the government to be removed from use by 2015. The entire chemical industry was told to stop producing and using it. DuPont actually removed use of PFOA much earlier, completing elimination by the year 2013.

So worrying about PFOA in new nonstick cookware isn’t even an issue anymore.

The problems for PFOA exposure would be in older non stick cookware sets made before 2013 or 2015, depending on the manufacturer of the non-stick coating.

Is Non-Stick Cookware Safe to Use?

So, if there is no more PFOA in nonstick cookware anymore, then does that mean that all non-stick cookware is safe?

It’s the million dollar question. And it’s one that, quite honestly, scientists and researchers still haven’t determined definitively.

If you are looking for research that proves once and for all that traditional non-stick cookware is harmful to your health, then you’ll be disappointed. Because it’s almost impossible to test how any one of the many chemicals that are in non-stick coatings can impact your health during normal daily use. Especially in combination with all of the other chemical exposures you have every single day.

Here is the common sense, though. Non-stick coatings have to be made from something. They are not natural on their own in nature.

And PFOA and PTFE are just two of many chemicals that can be used to make non-stick coatings.

thermolon sticker with green apple on nonstick ceramic cookware pan against colorful flower towel

And if the chemicals used to make the non-stick coating are being released into the air or into your food in any way, that’s likely not a good thing.

Just because PFOA is not being used anymore doesn’t mean that another type of chemical that might be causing health problems isn’t being used. Because PFOA is banned, but not PTFE.

So PTFE can still be used, it’s just that another chemical is being used to make it, not PFOA.

After all, many companies started promoting that BPA wasn’t used in their plastics anymore. The substitute was BPS, which it turns out might be more toxic than BPA.

So just because one type of chemical that has been talked about in the news isn’t used doesn’t mean that other nasty chemicals aren’t being used. It’s just that no one is aware of their possible health problems.  Yet.

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Is Nonstick Ceramic Cookware Safe?

This was my question when I found this super cute turquoise nonstick ceramic cookware set.

I’ve heard so much about ceramic nonstick cookware being a more healthy alternative to traditional non-stick cookware.

I started doing research, seeing what I could find about the health and safety of non stick ceramic cookware.

And to check out any greenwashing claims. Especially from the companies that I was considering: GreenPan and GreenLife.

turquoise nonstick pans with white ceramic interior coatings

My research hasn’t found any problems with nonstick ceramic cookware yet.

But I do take that with a grain of salt. Because the non-stick ceramic coating has to be made with something and adhered with something.

That’s not to say that they aren’t healthy. I haven’t found any problematic health claims yet. But I’m always skeptical about everything.

Greenpan and Green Life Ceramic Cookware

The pots and pans that I started looking at were from GreenPan and GreenLife.

After putting all of my stuff in storage to RV across America, I didn’t have access to my normal pots and pans. Since I knew that I’d be getting the pots and pans that I have tested and love back eventually, I thought it was a great time to try out healthy ceramic non-stick pans that I had been hearing about.

Honestly, I was not looking for heirloom quality pots and pans to last for decades. I wanted a nontoxic ceramic cookware set that was good to use for a few years. I generally don’t shop that way. Usually I want something that will last for years on end. But this set in bright, colorful colors made me happy. I wanted to add it to my kitchen for a pop of cheerful color and to test it out.

greenpan and greenlife nonstick ceramic cookware sets in teal color

If I was looking for a major investment, I believe that Xtrema ceramic pots and pans might be the best option overall for serious chefs based on reviews. But they are pricey!

Originally, I bought the two pack of GreenPan turquoise nonstick ceramic pans. Then I discovered that the cost of two GreenPan fry pans was almost half the price of a 16-piece set of GreenLife pots and fry pans.

So I returned my GreenPan purchase and ordered the 16 piece set from GreenLife.

turquoise pan handles

Both GreenPan and GreenLife seemed to be made from the same business, The Cookware Company, when I researched them a couple years ago. They both are located at the same address, using the same ceramic non-stick cookware technology. However, it appears that GreenPan was created by the GreenPan company. The GreenPan company then merged with Anotech International to become The Cookware Company, which in turn created GreenLife pans. 

Complicated, I know. So while they are separate, they share some common background.

GreenLife seems to be a little less expensive than the Original GreenPan products. For my turquoise set, the colors are almost exactly the same with both companies.

Both the GreenPan and GreenLife nonstick ceramic cookware pots and pans say:

  • Use Thermolon™, which is the very first ceramic coating ever invented.
  • Thermolon uses a sand derivative (Silicon – not to be confused with silicone) to create the non-stick coating.
  • The coating is sprayed on and then cured in the oven.
  • No PFOA, PFAS, Lead or Cadmium is used.
  • Both companies state there is “no chance of emitting toxic fumes, even if you accidentally overheat your” pan (either GreenPan or GreenLife)

GreenLife Non-stick Ceramic Cookware Set Review

I bought the 16 piece GreenLife non stick ceramic cookware set and used it for a year.

Before I happily got rid of it. Here’s why.

Let me say, I have NEVER used a nonstick pot or pan before. So the ceramic coated pans were completely new to me! I was amazed at how food just slips off of the pots and pans! No wonder why people love non-stick cookware! LOL!

I cook with electric heat. So I’ve never used these pots and pans on a gas range. I do know that my previous stainless steel pots and pans were fine on an electric range for over a decade. When I brought a couple pieces of pots and pans in the RV to use on our gas range, they got really damaged from the high heat exposure on the sides and handles.

So using nonstick ceramic cookware on a gas range will be different than using nonstick cookware on an electric range.

Would I Buy Ceramic Coated Cookware Again?

We didn’t notice any smell off gassing from using the GreenLife pans for the first time. In fact, we were pretty darn happy with them.

But after a couple months, we started noticing something really strange. 

Every time we cooked in our GreenLife pans, our air purifier would go crazy. I have an AIRDOCTOR Air Purifier. It has a VOC sensor that automatically adjust the air purification depending on what’s going on in the house. 

When the air was relatively low in VOCs, the air purifier would be green and run silently. But as VOC levels increase in the air, the AIRDOCTOR changes color and speeds up the fan, which becomes very loud. 

We had an open concept kitchen and living room. And EVERY TIME we used our GreenLife pans, the air purifier would go into what we called “death con” mode. The lights would become red and the fan would be so loud that it was hard to hear the TV over it. And the air purifier would remain that way for up to an hour after cooking.

While I realize that it could be a variety of things increasing the VOC levels while cooking, we did try all kinds of cooking, from pan frying to just heating up liquids in the ceramic coated cookware. And every time the air purifier went crazy.

Can I say for sure it was the GreenLife pans? Nope.

But what I can say for sure is that the GreenLife pans definitely had a chipped coating not too long after we started using them. While I tried to use the plastic utensils (which I HATE but are necessary with non-stick cookware) included in my GreenLife cookware set as much as possible (even though they were shredding and melting after a while), my husband would sometimes use metal cooking utensils. So that’s a problem, for sure.

And we put our cookware in the dishwasher, too. Because I don’t have time to pamper pots and pans.

We also soon found that food stuck onto the ceramic coated pans very easily. Frying onions would leave a black residue that was extremely hard to get off. And over time I realized that baked-on food was just not coming off very well.

For all of these reasons, plus the fact that these pans simply won’t stand the test of time as an investment, I wouldn’t buy ceramic coated cookware again.

What Pots Am I Using?

After going back to stainless steel pots and pans for a while, I found Smithey Ironware recently.

This hand forged ironware is made in America. And I love the heirloom quality.

cast iron dutch oven pot

I got a Dutch Oven Roaster from Smithey Ironware and have to say I was surprised at how well I can cook in it without having to scrub away baked on food. Their polished interior is naturally non stick and beautiful. The pots and pans are gorgeous. And it makes me happy that this piece will last for generations.

 

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28 Comments

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Comments

  1. AvatarKate says

    December 30, 2020 at 7:36 pm

    Xtrema was tested by Lead Safe Mama and is toxic. I was sad to learn this.

    Reply
    • Kimberly ButtonKimberly Button says

      January 3, 2021 at 7:21 pm

      Xtrema was also tested by Wellness Mama and was found to be safe by her standards after reports of lead were talked about.

      Reply
  2. AvatarMichelle says

    December 13, 2020 at 9:53 pm

    Thank you very much for sharing your research on non stick cookware. I have not cooked with stainless steel, but now plan to purchase in the near future especially after reading your information.

    Reply
  3. AvatarStephanie says

    November 10, 2020 at 11:12 am

    I’ve been wary of non-stick for a long time, too. I just use my stainless steel (mainly Revere Ware) and Visions cookware.

    Reply
    • Kimberly ButtonKimberly Button says

      November 10, 2020 at 3:15 pm

      I want to love non-stick. But whenever I use it, I end up using oil anyway. So, what’s the point of not using my tried and true stainless steel pots and pans? LOL

      Reply
  4. AvatarFarhana Bithi says

    September 9, 2020 at 11:24 pm

    Fortunately, I come across to your website and it helps to make my decision.
    It’s really made my day.
    Thank you again for this great article.

    Reply
  5. AvatarMax says

    July 25, 2020 at 1:05 pm

    Hi Kimberly,
    Thanks so much for this really helpful article! I’m in the market for nonstick cookware and with so many options out there wasn’t sure what to buy. Nonstick ceramic was one consideration until I read your article. Your thorough insights were extremely helpful because I was about 50-50 on ceramic. I was curious about GreenPan because it was one of the recommended brands (Consumer Reports and CNN). Oddly enough, it didn’t make the Good Housekeeping list of Best Nonstick Cookware for 2020.

    Did you replace your GreenPan set with another nonstick set? If so, may I ask which brand or set you purchased? Thank you again for sharing your research with us!

    Reply
    • Kimberly ButtonKimberly Button says

      July 26, 2020 at 10:50 am

      Hi Max! What I found was that my non-stick cookware still needed oil to cook some things. And if I’m going to be using oil, why would I bother with a non-stick pan and all of it complications (especially not being able to use stainless steel utensils in a non-stick pan – that was a big frustration). So we went back to our stainless steel pans and I’m super happy. I have to say, I am looking into cast iron cookware more, and just got a Smithey cast iron cookware dutch oven. They are a little more expensive, but hand made in Charleston, SC. The heirloom quality will be nice to have! Another suggestion is Xtrema. People seem to love them, but they are too delicate in my mind for the cost associated with it.

      Reply
  6. AvatarAda says

    May 3, 2020 at 4:45 am

    Hi kimberly, i’m looking into non-stick cookware which brought me here. May I ask, have you heard about marble coating cookware/stone costing? What do you think about these?

    Reply
    • Kimberly ButtonKimberly Button says

      May 3, 2020 at 1:31 pm

      Ada, I don’t have enough research on them. Personally, I’m sticking with time-tested stainless steel and cast iron that have been used for decades 🙂

      Reply
  7. AvatarLisa Kircher says

    February 8, 2020 at 12:19 pm

    Any pan can be non stick by rubbing the hot surface of the pan with a salt bag. Eggs slide out easily from my iron or stainless steel pans with only a small amount of avocado oil spray (any oil would do). try it you’ll like:)

    Reply
    • AvatarAl Karp says

      February 19, 2020 at 2:39 pm

      Hello Lisa, what is a “salt bag”? A bag of salt? Something you purchase?

      Reply
  8. AvatarJenn says

    January 13, 2020 at 5:20 pm

    Thank you so much for this article. I recently purchased a countertop convection oven and I was shocked to find that pretty much all of them are made with a nonstick interior coating. I’ve always been a cast iron, stainless steel kinda gal and never had to even think about these things. As of recently I am living in a tiny house which made it impractical to have a full sized oven so I have been thrust into the nonstick cookware world via my countertop oven. I’m with you, so they took out the MAIN toxic chemicals that they determined to be the source of people’s complaints but what about the rest? As you said, just like the “BPA FREE” everything that people are buying like crazy because they think it’s some kind of magical sticker that makes plastic good for you..lol Also, I listen to my intuition and I’m very wary of things that haven’t been tested on people for 50yrs or more. I was considering a GreenLife cook pan but it didn’t feel right. This article, and the link posted in the comments confirmed my gut feeling. I’m sticking with the tried and true stainless steel.

    Reply
    • Kimberly ButtonKimberly Button says

      January 16, 2020 at 4:42 pm

      Jenn, I’m old school, too! I’d like to try everything new out there, but it’s got to be tested and proven first! Always stick with your gut!

      Reply
  9. Avatarbrian says

    December 30, 2019 at 4:18 pm

    There was recently a class action lawsuit filed against greenpan since it turns out the coating is not just sand – its half sand and the rest is a mix of numerous toxic chemicals to make the silica bind to the surface. This doesn’t mean all ceramc cookware is bad but greenpan seems to be probably a bad case of consumer fraud.

    https://www.classaction.org/news/class-action-seeks-to-debunk-numerous-allegedly-false-greenpan-product-claims

    Reply
    • Kimberly ButtonKimberly Button says

      December 30, 2019 at 8:51 pm

      Brian, Thanks for the link. I will be updating the post soon and I appreciate you sharing with readers.

      Reply
  10. AvatarKris says

    April 5, 2019 at 8:15 pm

    Hello Kimberly, Would you please share what kind of air purifier you use? I would love to know what kind has the feathure to come one when VOCs are detected.

    Reply
    • Kimberly ButtonKimberly Button says

      April 10, 2019 at 7:21 am

      Yes, Kris. It is amazing. It’s an Airdoctor, found here (affiliate link): https://amzn.to/2UqK5A0

      Reply
  11. AvatarKaren Buckley says

    January 11, 2019 at 2:14 pm

    Hi Kimberly. My search for new ceramic coated cookware brought me to your blog. What cookware are you using presently, and are you happy with it? Thank you. Karen

    Reply
    • Kimberly ButtonKimberly Button says

      January 11, 2019 at 11:14 pm

      Hi Karen! Thanks for checking in. I have used GreenLife pans now for about 6-8 months. At first I was very happy with them. Then we got an air purifier that responds to VOC levels in our home automatically. Lately, when we cook with the pans, the air purifier goes into danger mode halfway through cooking. Which makes me wonder what’s going on. (If we cook with different stainless steel pots, it doesn’t do that.)

      Also, the coating is definitely chipping off and scratched. My husband loves to use stainless steel utensils while cooking, so some of that might be the reason it’s chipping so fast. But we do have a lot of plastic spatulas and stuff to protect the coating ( I HATE using plastic spatulas and spoons, so that’s one of my biggest complaints) that are used more frequently, so we have more gentle use than others.

      I honestly can’t recommend ceramic nonstick cookware based on my experience with what I have. I think it’s just too new and once the coating is compromised, it’s done. Also, the nonstick properties have pretty much disappeared. Our pans are stained and stuck with stuff from sautéing meat, and we have to scrub to get food off now. Which definitely shouldn’t happen with nonstick cookware. I don’t know if that’s a problem with all brands or not.

      I do plan to only have stainless steel again. My original pans are in storage as we are in a rental home right now. I had Cuisinart stainless steel and couldn’t be happier. They lasted almost a decade before we packed them up, and I look forward to using them again.

      I bought new stainless steel pots and pans for cheap at HomeGoods in the meantime and hate them. They are stained and pitted already after one use. Also, the handles conduct heat so it’s a safety hazard. My experience has shown that spending a little money on inferior pots and pans means you end up spending more money in the long run replacing them.

      Reply
      • AvatarJen says

        January 12, 2019 at 2:13 pm

        I still love cast iron, but as I get older the weight of them can be a bit daunting!

      • Kimberly ButtonKimberly Button says

        January 12, 2019 at 6:22 pm

        Jen, I’ve tried to love cast iron and can’t. I feel that it’s a love or hate thing. I think the fact that I can’t put it in extremely hot water in the dishwasher and don’t use soap is the reason! Have you had your cast iron pots and pans for years?

  12. AvatarLisa says

    May 23, 2018 at 5:21 am

    I tried the ceramic non stick pans and felt they didn’t retain the non stick property very long. I am now using a copper coated pan on the stovetop and I really love it.

    Reply
    • Kimberly ButtonKimberly Button says

      May 23, 2018 at 4:28 pm

      Lisa, I looked into those. I knew these would be for a short term solution. I agree, the non-stick coating won’t probably last long. Then it’s on to finding something more permanent.

      Reply
      • AvatarDavid Lee says

        November 25, 2018 at 11:38 am

        Hi Kimberly,

        I’d like to know how your new ceramic pots and pans have held up, basically asking for an update after several months of use. Do they still retain their nonstick quality or notice any other issues?

        I am in the same boat looking into alternatives to teflon, as it seems pots using this material shouldn’t be used for more than one or two years, or something like that.

        Thank you in advance.

      • Kimberly ButtonKimberly Button says

        November 25, 2018 at 3:50 pm

        David, Just this week I’ve been thinking about updating this post. All of a sudden, I’m noticing a lot of little scratches and dings in the coating. And the finish is not really cleaning that well. Plus, I have a air purifier that comes on when it detects too many VOCs in the air. When I cook with this set, the air purifier goes on full blast. I have a feeling it’s from the coating.

        These pots and pans were fine for so long. Then they weren’t. I truly do really just believe in stainless steel after my first try with ceramic non-stick coating. They just require way more care than stainless steel. And clearly the coating doesn’t last as long as I’d want. Hope this helps.

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Hi! I’m Kimberly

Kimberly ButtonAs a Certified WELL AP, I'm passionate about helping you create a home that promotes wellness. I overcame childhood cancer, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Fibromyalgia and Chemical Sensitivities by detoxing my home. I show you how I did it and what products I use today in my own home. Read More…

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