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The 8 Best Nonstick Pans Without Teflon

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by Kim Quindlen and Danielle Calma
Updated: 
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Amazon

Maybe you’ve heard that Teflon can release harmful chemicals when heated to high temperatures, and if you’re in the market for a nonstick pan, you'll likely encounter the controversial material. Enter: ceramic cookware. The best nonstick pans without Teflon boast similar stick-proof qualities, but they’re often coated with a silica-based material (commonly referred to as ceramic) instead of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE). In addition to a ceramic pan, you might consider a well-seasoned cast iron one for cooking without Teflon.

Teflon is one brand name for a material called PTFE. PTFE has been produced using perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), a chemical that might have potential health effects, according to the EPA — but today, Teflon-branded nonstick coatings are PFOA-free. More research is needed on the toxicity of PTFE itself, but it can begin to produce toxic fumes when heated above 536 degrees Fahrenheit. While that’s above a typical cooking temperature range (for reference, the smoke point of vegetable oil is 400 degrees Fahrenheit), you might choose to skip PTFE in your cookware altogether. Fortunately, you can find suitable alternatives in ceramic — or, alternatively, well-seasoned cast iron — pans.

To take the guesswork out of finding a quality Teflon-free pan, you’ll find some of the best ceramic-coated nonstick pans Amazon has to offer below. In addition to frying pan options, this list contains a ceramic saucepan, sauté pan, and griddle pan — plus, a cast iron pan you can use with metal utensils. If opting for a ceramic pan, make sure to snag the best cooking utensils for nonstick cookware to preserve the coating.

In a hurry? These are the best nonstick pans without Teflon:

1. The Overall Best Nonstick Frying Pan Without Teflon: GreenPan Chatham Ceramic Nonstick Frypan

2. A Budget-Friendly Pair Of Frying Pans Without Teflon: GreenPan Prime Midnight Nonstick Frying Pan Set (Set Of 2)

3. A Teflon-Free Frying Pan With A Soft Handle: GreenLife Soft Grip Ceramic Nonstick Open Frypan

4. An Editor-Approved Nonstick Pan Without Teflon: ZWILLING Spirit Ceramic Nonstick Fry Pan

5. This Nonstick Saucepan Without Teflon: MICHELANGELO Saucepan with Lid

6. A Nonstick Grill Pan Without Teflon: TECHEF Ceramic Nonstick Grill Pan

7. The Nonstick Sauté Pan Without Teflon: GreenPan Hudson Ceramic Nonstick Saute Pan

8. A Fan-Favorite, Teflon-Free Pan You Won’t Scratch: Lodge Pre-Seasoned Cast Iron Skillet

With these pans on hand, you’ll soon be able to sear your favorite foods without worrying about fumes — and you can use them all in the oven, too.

1

The Overall Best Nonstick Frying Pan Without Teflon

Made with a Thermolon ceramic material, this nonstick pan by GreenPan is free of Teflon and other potentially hazardous materials. Featuring a coating that's designed to facilitate excellent heat conduction, it won't release any harmful fumes or blister or peel into your food — even at high temperatures. Its stainless steel handles are shaped to provide a comfortable grip, and the included glass lid lets you monitor your food, too.

Of the more than 2,700 reviews on Amazon, many fans have praised this cookware for how durable and easy to clean it is.

  • Available sizes: 8 inches — 13.5 inches
  • Oven safe: Up to 600 degrees Fahrenheit

One fan wrote: “Love this lightweight pan. It's very easy to clean and heats up quickly and evenly. Just have to be careful to not heat it on super high heat nor use harsh scrubbers when cleaning.”

2

A Budget-Friendly Pair Of Frying Pans Without Teflon

If you need more than one pan, GreenPan’s set of nonstick frying pans comes at a wallet-friendly price. The nonstick ceramic coating is totally free of PFA, PFOA, and PTFE, and the hard-anodized aluminum pan heats evenly and is safe at up to a whopping 600 degrees Fahrenheit. Plus, the coating is scratch-resistant and easy to keep clean

With a 4.6-star rating, this value set definitely has its fans. Some reviewers claimed it’s just as, if not better, than their Teflon-laden counterparts. One reviewer wrote, “I’ve had a couple lightweight ceramic-lined pans to replace the old Teflon versions, but this set [...] outperforms those. My go-to set.”

  • Available sizes: 8 inches — 12 inches
  • Oven safe: Up to 600 degrees Fahrenheit

One fan wrote: “Just a great pan for a great price. You get the same heat distribution as a much heavier, cast iron pan, except the Green pan heats up WAY faster.”

3

A Teflon-Free Frying Pan With A Soft Handle

This GreenLife pan has a PFOA- and PTFE-free ceramic coating that won't turn toxic at high temperatures, and, when you're cooking with lots of heat, the soft-grip handle is actually made to stay cool. You can even put this pan in the oven (up to 350 degrees Fahrenheit). It has an overall rating of 4.6 stars and more than 2,400 reviews on Amazon, with one user even noting that, after lots of uses, it’s “still as non-stick as the day we bought it.” Some reviewers have warned that it might take a little extra time to heat up — but on the other hand, it comes in six different eye-catching colors to give your stovetop that extra pop.

  • Available sizes: 8 inches — 12 inches
  • Oven safe: Up to 350 degrees Fahrenheit

One fan wrote: “These pans are great. With a little oil foods dont stick. So easy to clean. Let it cool and then cleans up perfectly. Caution: read instructions because these cook at a lower temp than standard pans and the pans get plenty hot for all cooking.”

4

An Editor-Approved Nonstick Pan Without Teflon

The 8-inch version of ZWILLING’s Spirit ceramic fry pan has been put to the test at home by Bustle Editor Carina Finn, who describes it as a “versatile pan you can use for everything from making perfect soft-scrambled eggs to searing steaks.” Plus, it “heats evenly, and it really doesn’t stick!” Like the ZWILLING Spirit pan that Finn recommends, this version is made with cast aluminum and heats evenly while the handle stays cool to the touch. As a bonus, it comes with a lid that can withstand temperatures up to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Just be mindful of the utensils you cook with and how you clean the pan because it can be susceptible to scratches when used with metal, according to Finn.

One fan wrote: “Great frying pan. Has a lot of weight to it. Very happy with this pan, is non stick and easy to clean. Totally worth the money”

5

This Nonstick Saucepan Without Teflon

Made with an aluminum core and coated in PFOA and PTFE-free ceramic with a copper-hued sheen, this saucepan from MICHAELANGELO is a go-to choice for many reviewers. One fan wrote that it “comes clean so easily,” even with cheese sauces. It heats quickly and is safe to use for temperatures up to 450 degrees Fahrenheit and on all types of stovetops. It’s replete with double-riveted handles, which are comfortable to hold, and a heat-resistant lid. To top it off, it comes with a lid.

  • Available sizes: 1 Quart — 3 Quart
  • Oven safe: Up to 450 degrees Fahrenheit

One fan wrote: “This saucepan makes it much easier for me to make Almond Roca which needs to achieve hard crack 290° which is a nightmare to clean in a stainless steel saucepan due to some burning especially on the bottom inside the pan. With this new nonstick saucepan I can get to that hot temperature without anything burning and it cooks evenly. What a great buy this was.”

6

A Nonstick Grill Pan Without Teflon

Made from ceramic-coated aluminum and without PFA, PFOA, and PTFE, this nonstick grill pan can be used to sear meat and char your favorite veggies. It’s designed for indoor stovetops, but the grooves on the pan mimic the effect of using a standard grill outdoors. Though the pan is made to get hot (and it’s made to be heated up to 450 degrees Fahrenheit), the double-riveted stainless steel handle won’t. Reviewers have recommended washing it by hand between uses to lengthen its lifespan.

  • Available size: 12 Inches
  • Oven safe: Up to 450 degrees Fahrenheit

One fan wrote: “Very high quality product, and seems durable [...] handle seems top quality and doesn’t get overly hot when cooking.”

7

The Nonstick Sauté Pan Without Teflon

GreenPan’s saute pan features a layer of nonstick ceramic coating that’s designed to stand up to cooking wear and tear. It is safe to use in temperatures up to 320 degrees Fahrenheit, and on most stovetops, except for induction burners. It comes with a heat-resistant lid, and the handle stays comfortably cool while the pan heats up. Most importantly, though, it’s free of PFA, PFOA, and PTFE. According to one reviewer: “I absolutely love this pan. [It] has replaced my fry pan along with smaller sauce pots.”

  • Available sizes: 1.75 Quart 3 Quart (including some without lids)
  • Oven safe: Up to 320 degrees Fahrenheit

One fan wrote: “My MIL turned me onto the green pan. I love it, truly non stick. I have two seasoned cast iron pans that I use for most things (and love) but the green pan is amazing for eggs, pot stickers, and other things you just don’t feel like having to scrape/boil off of a regular pan.”

8

A Fan-Favorite, Teflon-Free Pan You Won’t Scratch

Ceramic pans, like Teflon ones, can be delicate to scratches. If you’re looking for a pan that’s practically invincible, opt for a pre-seasoned cast iron pan. With cast iron, you yourself create the nonstick surface by seasoning it regularly and cleaning it properly. While it might stick more than a nonstick coating would, shoppers have been impressed by the pre-seasoning on the pan. One described, “Pre seasoned so you just wash and cook. Eggs slide around the pot nicely (with oil). This is my go to pot for everything now!” Plus, you can use any kind of cooking utensil on it, even those made of metal.

While Lodge doesn’t specify the maximum oven temperature for the pan, cast iron is famously hardy — and one reviewer attested that it “works perfectly on high heat and in a 500 degree oven.”

  • Available sizes: 3.5 inches — 15 inches

One fan wrote: “Finally I got the pan I always wanted, to make pancakes. Now I make perfect pancakes, not burnt, but not [raw] either. It’s easy to clean as well. This is your best option if you don't want to use ‘non-stick’ chemical pans but need something that doesn’t stick. This is it! Love it!”

Studies referenced:

Shuster, K. A., Brock, K. L., Dysko, R. C., DiRita, V. J., & Bergin, I. L. (2012). Polytetrafluoroethylene toxicosis in recently hatched chickens (Gallus domesticus). Comparative medicine. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3276392/.

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