Unveiling the mystery of non-stick pan coatings: the ultimate guide for camping cooks
Introduction: Why do we need to pay attention to non-stick pan coatings when camping?
For camping enthusiasts, outdoor cooking is a great pleasure, but choosing the right cooking utensils can be a headache. Non-stick pans have become the first choice for many campers due to their lightweight and easy-to-clean characteristics. However, there are many types of non-stick pan coatings on the market, and the quality varies. This article will analyze the material, safety, durability, and applicable scenarios of non-stick pan coatings from a scientific perspective, helping camping enthusiasts make wise choices and ensuring that outdoor cooking is both convenient and healthy.
The Overlord of Non-stick World - "King of Plastics" Teflon
The coatings of non-stick pans are mainly divided into two types: PTFE coating and ceramic coating. Most of the non-stick pans we see now use PTFE coating. Below, we will explain these two coatings in detail.
Teflon, scientific name polytetrafluoroethylene, abbreviated as PTFE in English.
In 1932, during an experiment with a new type of refrigerant, Roy Plunkett of DuPont Company accidentally generated some small white wax-like flakes. Plunkett immediately studied their characteristics through experiments, which proved that this new substance was a unique lubricant with a high melting point. It was not afraid of heat, water, or acid, and had extremely strong stability. This was the first appearance of "Teflon" in front of the world.
In 1954, Ke Laite (Colette), the wife of French engineer Marc Gregoire, had a sudden idea and used Teflon, a non-stick material that her husband used to apply to fishing lines to prevent knots, on a frying pan. Thus, the "non-stick pan" that saved countless modern housewives was born.
PTFE has strong stability and can withstand the action of all strong acids (including aqua regia, etc.), strong bases, strong oxidants, reducing agents, and various organic solvents. This makes it irreplaceable in industrial fields such as atomic energy, national defense, aerospace, electronics, electrical, chemical, machinery, and instruments. Therefore, it is also known as the "king of plastics".
The toxicity controversy of Teflon coatings
Teflon has very stable physical and chemical properties under normal conditions at room temperature. It can be used for a long time at -180~ 260oC, but after the temperature exceeds 260oC, the coating gradually changes to an unstable state; when the temperature exceeds 360oC, it will decompose. The harmful substance it produces is "polymer smoke heat", which may cause symptoms similar to influenza such as chills, headaches, fever, and coughing.
According to the International Agency for Research on Cancer's list of carcinogens, polytetrafluoroethylene is classified as a Class 3 carcinogen, and its carcinogenic effect on humans is not yet clear. Therefore, PTFE-coated non-stick pans are still safe to use at temperatures below 260 ° C.
The "controversy" caused by Teflon mainly comes from its "accomplice" perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), which is mainly used as a dispersant in the polymerization of polytetrafluoroethylene and fluororubber, and is a standard carcinogen. Although PFOA is an emulsifier that mixes two different liquids in the production of PTFE, it is mostly absent in PTFE finished products (it is an intermediate process substance), but PFOA will be discharged by factories, directly causing pollution of natural resources such as water. The famous movie "Blackwater" is based on this. In 2014, Europe and the United States banned PFOA, but our country has not yet introduced relevant policies. In response to the ban of PFOA, many substitutes have emerged, the most famous one is called GenX, but its safety needs to be verified. This is also why many cookware have the PFOA FREE logo.
Teflon coating is still safe to use at temperatures below 260 ° C. However, in order to protect the environment, many manufacturers still use substitutes without using PFOA throughout the entire process. If you are not confident about the cookware you purchased, the best way is to carefully read the product manual.
Is there a relationship between the Maifanshi pot and the Maifanshi?
Many friends will ask if there is any relationship between the non-stick pan of Maifanshi and Maifanshi?
Yes, the relationship is like the relationship between "rainbow candy" and "rainbow". It's just that the merchant makes the pattern of the non-stick pan look like Maifanshi, essentially using Teflon coating.
Introduction to ceramic coatings and their advantages and disadvantages
Ceramic coated non-stick pan is not actually a "pot made of ceramics", but refers to spraying inorganic particles (such as silica) similar to ceramic components onto the metal surface, and forming a covered surface coating through drying or heat treatment. This coating has properties similar to ceramics, with high hardness, low friction, corrosion resistance, and high temperature resistance. Ceramic coated non-stick pan is essentially a metal pan with a silicon-based coating.
Advantages:
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High safety, free of PTFE and PFOA, resistant to high temperatures up to 450 ℃. Even if the temperature exceeds 450 ℃, no harmful smoke will be produced.
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High appearance value, ceramic coated non-stick pans usually have a higher appearance value.
Cons:
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The biggest drawback is that it wears out quickly. After using it for a period of time, the non-stick effect will decrease, and the non-stick lifespan is lower than that of Teflon.
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The bottom of the pot is easy to turn yellow and black, and this discoloration is not easy to remove.
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It's best to buy big brands. Small brands may have excessive lead and cadmium levels.
The real pure ceramic pot has another name: sand pot.
What are the coatings for diamonds, titanium crystals, ceramic crystals, black crystals, titanium black...?
All non-stick pans face the biggest problem: easy wear and tear, so many merchants add some wear-resistant particles (diamonds, titanium, etc.) to the Teflon coating to increase the wear resistance and firmness of the coating, and take many fancy names. This approach can extend the life of non-stick pans. These pans are essentially Teflon-coated non-stick pans (some merchants also call ceramic coatings "ceramic crystals").
Is the honeycomb non-stick pan really physically non-stick?
Honeycomb pot is a new type of cookware made by applying patented honeycomb etching technology. Fine textures are etched into the pot wall to form a honeycomb-like structure. This design ensures that the non-stick layer only covers the texture depression, while the protruding part forms an uncoated honeycomb mesh structure, thereby reducing direct contact between the spatula and the coating and reducing the problem of coating peeling off. Because the etched texture is similar to the honeycomb shape, it is called honeycomb pot.
Honeycomb non-stick pans are also coated pans. The main function of the honeycomb structure is to protect the non-stick coating and allow food to heat evenly, rather than being physically non-stick.
The three major "taboos" of using non-stick pans.
The damage to the coating of non-stick pans mainly comes from two aspects: "scratching by hard objects" and "sudden changes in temperature". Therefore, there are three "taboos" when using non-stick pans.
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Avoid shovel
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Avoid steel wire ball
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Avoid high temperature and rinse directly with cold water
Factors affecting the quality of non-stick pans
There are three main factors that affect the quality of non-stick pans: the number of composite layers of the pot body, the brand and thickness of the coating, and special processes.
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Non-stick pan body materials are mainly divided into: single material, multi-layer composite material.
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Single material: Generally, some high-performance alloys are used, such as hard titanium aluminum, high-purity aluminum, 316 stainless steel, etc., which have higher material requirements.
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Multi-layer composite material: Different metals have different physical properties. Some have good thermal conductivity (copper, aluminum), while others have strong corrosion resistance (stainless steel). Therefore, in order to integrate the advantages of various materials, non-stick pots are usually composed of multiple metals. The more composite layers, the more complex the process, and the better the quality.
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The brand and thickness of the coating: Many non-stick pan companies use coating products from some coating companies, such as DuPont and Huafu. Some are self-developed coatings. The design thickness of different grades of coatings is different (the thicker, the more expensive). For example, DuPont's Prima grade is generally used for low-frequency products such as baking pans, while the Select grade is thicker and suitable for cooking once or twice a day. Different thicknesses of coatings are also key to affecting the lifespan of non-stick pans.
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Special processes: Special processes can also increase the lifespan of non-stick pans. For example, adding synthetic sapphire and diamond particles to the coating, mixing silicon carbide wear-resistant particles in the coating, and using honeycomb etching technology to protect the coating.
Common "bonus" special processes for non-stick pans
In order to improve the performance of non-stick pans, many manufacturers will add some special processes.
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Fire red dot: visible oil temperature, appears warm at the bottom of the pot.
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Fire Longan: The oil temperature is visible and appears warm on the handle.
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Three-dimensional flame guide groove: gather flames.
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Lotus leaf biomimetic non-stick;
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Honeycomb etching: scratch-resistant, protective coating.
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Sunflower pot base: energy gathering and heat storage.
