Food - Drink
How Often Should You Replace Non-Stick Pans?
By KAREN HART
Non-stick pans have a chemical coating of Teflon that makes it easy to scramble eggs, make the perfect grilled cheese sandwich, or flip flapjacks without using an excessive amount of oil or fat. As great as this type of kitchen gear is, its non-stick properties don't last forever, meaning you need to buy a new pan now and then.
Cooking with damaged non-stick pans can cause foods to stick, defeating the whole purpose, so you should inspect your cookware for signs of aging beyond just scratches on the surface. If the shape of your pan appears warped or uneven, it will also cook foods unevenly, and another bad sign is dark discoloration on the metal.
If your pan has turned dark, the non-stick coating has not only lost its non-stick effects, but the chemicals could be leaching into the food you cook. If you take good care of your non-stick cookware, chances are it could last you for between five and seven years, but this depends on the material, and you should always inspect them.