Frying pans have an expiration date too!
Even though your kitchen cabinets might be full of pots and pans, you still probably have a favorite frying pan that you like to use for everything. And it makes sense! Frying pans can be used for meat, seafood and pancakes; what’s not to love? So, yes, frying pans are versatile. But they don’t last a lifetime. Find out when you should replace your frying pan.
Non-stick coating
Even though your frying pan might feel sturdy and like it will last forever, it unfortunately will not. A lot of frying pans have a non-stick coating that might damage your health overtime. That is why you can not use them forever. You should always check your non-stick coating for damages and cracks. Those damages and cracks can occur when a sharp object (like a knife or fork) pokes into the coating. But it could also happen when you wash your dishes in the dishwasher. Even one small crack in your non-stick coating can cause thousands of plastic particles to end up in your food. Jennifer Snyder, a certified professional organizer at Neat as a Pin, told Realtor:“The coating starts to flake off and may work its way into your food—and that’s not safe.” Yikes! Time to buy some new frying pans and get rid of the old ones!
Lifespan
When your frying pan is damaged, it is better to throw it out. But if your pan isn’t damaged, it would be best to throw it out after five years of using it. If you want to use your frying pans longer than five years, you can use a cast-iron skillet. Those have a longer lifespan than regular frying pans with a non-stick coating. According to Realtor, a cast-iron pan will last for generations. All you have to do, is make sure you lose a little more oil to keep the food from burning, since you don’t have the non-stick coating to help you out. But with a cast-iron pan, you won’t have to worry about plastic coating in your food.
Read more: The 4 signs that it is time to replace your sponge
Source: Realtor, Kookfans | Image: Unsplash, Towfiqu Barbhuiya