How good is your nonstick cookware?

It is rather frustrating to invest in a good nonstick pan and then see the coating come off within a few weeks’ time, isn’t it? While most of the times the pan just needs a good dose of scrubbing and cleaning but sometimes it time to say good bye. Read on to find out how to make the most of your nonstick cookware and when it’s time to get rid of it!

It is rather frustrating to invest in a good nonstick pan and then see the coating come off within a few weeks’ time, isn’t it? While most of the times the pan just needs a good dose of scrubbing and cleaning but sometimes it time to say good bye. Read on to find out how to make the most of your nonstick cookware and when it’s time to get rid of it!

The blessing of no oil cooking 

It’s not rocket science to see why nonstick cookware is so popular. Being able to cook with just a few drops of or no oil at all is truly a blessing – for your health and for your pocket. It is also a breeze to clean and definitely look stylish. 

Why is it harmful ?

Well the thing with nonstick cookware is that once the Teflon (nonstick) coating gets scratched its starts to flake and come off. Subjecting the pan to extreme high heat causes the coating to break down resulting in the release of harmful chemicals in your food, some of which are believed to be carcinogenic. So preheating an empty nonstick pan for too long is a strict no-no. 

What you are doing wrong ?

Don’t stock them up in a haphazard pile in a shelf and definitely don’t put other metal bowls, pans, plates, lids inside to save space. Don’t subject your nonstick cookware to extreme temperatures or scrub them with a harsh scouring pad - it causes the pan to warp and the coating to come off. A warped pan will not have even heat distribution and cooking abilities will be reduced. 

What you should do instead.

Store them properly, treat them with care and keep away from metal. The best utensils to use along with nonstick are wood, plastic and silicone. Even occasional fork-turning can nick and scratch your pan so invest in good spatulas and spoons and also get a handy silicone whisk.

Cleaning up is usually simple. Allow your pan to soak in water for a couple of minutes which helps to get rid of most food particles and then just wash it with warm water and mild soap. Dry with a soft cloth.

Time to change 

If you haven’t really taken note of these tips before and your nonstick cookware is scratched and not nonstick any more, it’s time to invest in a new set. There are a number of options you can select from. Wonderchef products for one are branded, top quality, reliable, safe to cook with and come with Sanjeev Kapoor’s stamp of approval. 

Other alternatives

If you have had a bad experience cooking with nonstick, and are weary of using it again then you can take your pick among a wide variety of cookware- right from copper to cast iron to clay. 

Browse through sanjeevkapoor.com to find out more about keeping your kitchen in top shape.