PFAS in frying pans: what is it, and should you switch pans?

By Mads Andersen

By Mads Andersen, Fjordliving.dk · April 2026 · Reading time: approx. 6 min.

Are you looking for a frying pan without PFAS, but not quite sure what PFAS actually is – and whether you even need to worry? We get that question a lot. In this post, we cover it all in one place: what PFAS is, why many pans contain it, and what you can actually do about it.

What is PFAS?

PFAS is a collective term for more than 10,000 synthetic chemicals that all share the same property: they hardly break down in nature at all. That's why they are also called forever chemicals.

Since the 1940s, they have been used in all sorts of things, from carpets and food packaging to firefighting foam and – yes – frying pans. The reason is simple: PFAS is fantastic at making surfaces water- and grease-repellent. That makes them perfect for creating the smooth non-stick effect we know from traditional Teflon pans.

The problem is that the chemicals that make the surface non-stick are the same chemicals that:

  • Don't break down in nature
  • Accumulate in the food chain – and in the human body
  • Are suspected of being endocrine disruptors and carcinogenic at high exposure

The best-known PFAS substance in cookware is PTFE, better known as Teflon™. Two others, PFOA and PFOS, are already banned in the EU – but they both belong to the PFAS family, and there are many hundreds of other substances in the same group.

How does PFAS end up in your frying pan?

Most classic non-stick pans – regardless of brand – use a chemical coating to create the non-stick effect. That coating is typically made of PTFE (Teflon) or a variant of it.

Under normal use, the coating is not released into the food. The Danish Consumer Council Tænk and the Danish Veterinary and Food Administration have both confirmed this. The problem arises primarily in three places:

  • During production – factories producing PFAS coatings pollute local water and soil
  • When the pan is worn or scratched – and the coating starts to flake off
  • At extreme heat (above 250°C) – PFAS fumes can be released

So it's not necessarily your frying pan today that's the direct problem. It's rather the bigger picture: PFAS is now found in groundwater, in animal blood, in seabirds and in humans all over the planet. And we all play a part through the demand for products that either use it or don't.

Is PFAS in frying pans dangerous?

Here's the honest answer: under normal use, your existing non-stick pan probably doesn't pose an acute health risk to you. The coating stays in place, and PFAS is not released into the food.

But research shows that we as a population have already accumulated PFAS in our bodies – and that high exposure over time is associated with:

  • Endocrine disruption
  • Reduced immune function
  • Increased cholesterol
  • Elevated risk of certain cancers

In September 2024, the Danish retailer Coop chose to ban PFAS entirely from all frying pans in its shops. Not because the pans are acutely dangerous – but based on the precautionary principle. And that's actually the right approach: when the alternatives exist, it makes sense to choose them.

The Danish Environmental Protection Agency does not recommend throwing out your existing pan. But next time you're buying a new one – consider what it's made of.

What's happening with PFAS rules in 2025 and 2026?

A lot. Over the past two years, PFAS has gone from academic debate to political priority in Denmark – and regulation is accelerating.

Already happened:

  • Denmark banned PFAS in clothing, footwear and impregnation products from 1 July 2025 – the first country in the EU to do so
  • In September 2024, Coop removed all frying pans with PFAS from its shops and replaced them with PFAS-free alternatives
  • The Nordic region's largest Teflon factory, Accoat in Kvistgård, shut down all production during 2025 – partly due to increasing regulation, partly following massive media criticism over PFAS pollution in a residential area with a nursery and school right next to the factory

Upcoming regulation:

  • From 12 August 2026, the EU introduces limit values for PFAS in food packaging – covering cardboard, plastic and other materials used to wrap food. Many types of baking paper, food wrapping and disposable containers are directly affected
  • For frying pans and pots with PTFE coating, regulation happens separately under the EU's REACH chemicals legislation. Denmark and four other countries (Norway, Sweden, Germany and the Netherlands) have submitted a joint proposal to the EU's chemicals agency ECHA for a broad ban on all PFAS substances across consumer products. ECHA is expected to deliver its assessment in late 2026, after which the EU Commission and Parliament will decide
  • The market is already moving towards PFAS-free alternatives – regardless of exactly when a frying pan ban arrives

What does this mean for your pan?

Your current non-stick pan is not illegal, and you don't need to throw it out. But the market is clearly moving in one direction. When it's time for a new pan anyway, PFAS-free alternatives are fully available and work well.

👉 See Lotus Cookware – natural non-stick without PFAS

Who should particularly consider switching?

Anyone can benefit from choosing a pan without PFAS, but for some groups it makes extra sense to prioritise it:

Families with children and babies Children are generally more vulnerable to chemical exposure because they are growing and have a developing immune system. The less exposure the better – and the kitchen is one of the places where you can actually do something.

Pregnant women PFAS is suspected of potentially affecting foetal growth. Pregnancy is a good occasion to make the kitchen as chemical-free as possible.

Those who cook for many The more you use your pan, the faster the coating wears. If you cook daily for a whole family, it makes sense to have a pan without a coating that wears off and potentially ends up in the food.

What should you look for when buying a frying pan without PFAS?

Here it's important to know the right terms – because marketing can be misleading.

Avoid these phrases (they are NOT a guarantee of PFAS-free):

  • "PFOA-free" – PFOA is just one PFAS substance. The pan may well contain PTFE
  • "PFOS-free" – same problem
  • "Free from harmful chemicals" – too vague and non-binding

Look for these instead:

  • PFAS-free
  • PFC-free
  • Free from fluorinated substances
  • Fluorocarbon-free
  • No chemical non-stick coating

And feel free to ask the manufacturer directly if you're in doubt.

What are the alternatives to traditional non-stick?

Today there are real alternatives to the chemical non-stick coating. Here are the most common:

Cast iron Classic and durable. Develops natural non-stick over time, but requires regular maintenance (seasoning with oil) and is heavy to lift.

Carbon steel Lighter than cast iron, good heat distribution and gets better with use. Also requires seasoning and shouldn't be used for acidic food.

Ceramic coating Very popular right now. Free from PFAS, relatively easy to use. The downside is that the ceramic coating is a coating on top of the metal – it can wear off over time, just like any other surface protection.

Stainless steel with natural non-stick technology The newest on the market. Instead of applying a chemical coating on top of the steel, the steel surface itself is processed – for example via micro-dotted structures that reduce the contact area with the food. There is no coating that can wear off – the material itself has the property.

Our approach to non-stick – why we chose Lotus Cookware

At Fjord Living, we're quite conscious about what we put our name on. When we found Lotus Cookware, it was precisely the natural non-stick technology that settled it.

Lotus Cookware doesn't use a ceramic or chemical coating. Instead, the pan's stainless steel surface is processed with a micro-dotted pattern – inspired by the lotus flower's natural surface, which makes water and dirt bead off. That effect is called the lotus effect.

The result is a non-stick effect that cannot wear off – because it's the steel itself that has the property. 100% free from PFAS, PTFE and all other chemicals.

It takes a little getting used to (scroll down to the FAQ for our best tip), but in return the pan is extremely durable and requires no special maintenance or seasoning.

👉 See the Lotus Cookware frying pan here

Frequently asked questions about PFAS and frying pans

Should I throw out my current non-stick pan? No. The Danish Environmental Protection Agency and the Danish Consumer Council Tænk do not recommend throwing out a well-functioning pan. Use it until it's worn, and choose a PFAS-free pan when you're buying a new one anyway.

Is PFAS in frying pans about to be banned? Regulation is on the way, but the timeline isn't simple. An EU ban on PFAS in food packaging takes effect in August 2026. For frying pans with a chemical non-stick coating, regulation happens separately under the EU's REACH chemicals legislation – here, ECHA's overall assessment is awaited, expected in late 2026. The market is already moving, though: Coop has removed PFAS pans from its shops, and many manufacturers are switching coatings.

When is a pan "worn" enough to discard? When the coating starts to flake off, is scratched up, or food starts sticking like it never used to. Then it's time for a new one.

Are ceramic pans free from PFAS? Yes, ceramic coatings are free from PFAS. But a ceramic coating is still a coating that can wear off over time – albeit more slowly than Teflon. You avoid PFAS, but not the mechanical wear.

Can a stainless steel pan really be non-stick? Yes – but it works differently from a classic non-stick pan. The secret is proper preheating: Heat the pan on medium heat for 2–3 minutes, then add fat and wait until it's hot before adding the food. Test with the little "water-drop test": drip a little water onto the pan – do the drops dance around like beads? Then the temperature is right. When it's properly preheated, food usually releases just fine.

Is PFAS the same as PFOA and PFOS? PFOA and PFOS are two specific PFAS compounds that are banned in the EU. But PFAS is a group of more than 10,000 chemicals. So a pan being "PFOA-free" or "PFOS-free" is not a guarantee that it's free from all PFAS – it's misleading marketing, which the Danish Consumer Ombudsman cracked down on in January 2025.

What do "fluorinated substances" and "PFC-free" mean? They are alternative names for PFAS. PFC-free, fluorocarbon-free and free from fluorinated substances all mean the same thing: no PFAS in the product.

In short

PFAS in your existing pan is not necessarily acutely dangerous under normal use. But there are good reasons to opt out next time:

  • They accumulate in nature and in the body
  • Children and pregnant women should minimise exposure
  • The alternatives are fully available and work well
  • Look for "PFAS-free" or "PFC-free" – not "PFOA-free"

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