Caring for Non Stick CookwareUpdated a year ago

With its sleek coating, non stick cookware not only gives us the flaky fish, custardy eggs, and fluffy pancakes of our dreams, but it also makes clean-up almost effortless.

While non stick has earned a permanent place in our kitchen cupboards for its low-maintenance convenience, we know it doesn’t last forever.

The Do's of Maintaining Non Stick Cookware

Much of proper non stick maintenance comes down to protecting the often-delicate non stick coating. Here’s how to safely store, clean, and cook with your pan.

Clean After Each Use

Are you the type of cook who leaves pans in the sink overnight “to soak”? We see you—and we can relate. When it comes to non stick, however, we’d recommend against doing that. For one, any acidic ingredients left in the pan, like wine or tomatoes, could gradually eat away at the coating if left long enough.

Two, allowing food residue to sit for too long might make it harder to remove without scrubbing aggressively, which can damage your pan's coating. After letting your pan cool, wash it well with soap and water and dry it thoroughly before putting it away.

Be Gentle

It’s safest to use a soft sponge when cleaning your pan, and steer clear of abrasive tools like steel wool. For tackling everyday messes like oil or food residue, warm water and a mild dish soap should be all you need. Occasionally, you may need a wooden or silicone spatula to gently scrape off stuck-on residue.

If you’re dealing with burnt-on food or discoloration that won’t come off with a quick scrub, your next step should be boiling your pan with a mixture of baking soda and vinegar—check out our dedicated guide to cleaning non stick cookware for a more detailed guide.

Another thing to remember is that most non stick cookware is not dishwasher-friendly. The same high-pressure, high-heat environment that helps dishwashers thoroughly clean your dishes can also degrade the coating on your pans, causing it to discolor, warp, and/or peel.

Store Correctly

While we're advocates for hanging our cookware up when we’re not using them, not everyone has the space or kitchen setup for that. You can safely stack your pans in the cupboard as long as you place a dish towel, trivet, oven mitt, or other thick cloth between each pan to prevent scratching.

Make sure to also store them away from anything abrasive, such as silverware, knives, or metal cooking utensils, that could damage the surface.

Use the Right Utensils

Remember: while non stick may be stick-proof, it isn’t scratch-proof. Tools made from wood, silicone, and nylon are all fair game when it comes to cooking with non stick, as they’re sturdy enough to scrape up fond yet soft enough to leave the coating intact. You should never use metal tools on your non stick pan as they can scratch or chip the coating.

Reference our guide to non stick-friendly utensils to learn more about which tools you should, and should not, use on non stick.

The Don'ts of Maintaining Non-Stick Cookware

Now that you know what to do when caring for your non stick, here are a few things you should try to always avoid.

Cooking Over High Heat

While many non stick pans are safe to use on high heat (our Non Stick Collection, for example, is oven-safe up to 500F), exposing lower-quality pans to high heat for prolonged periods of time can cause the coating to degrade and become less non stick.

To prolong the life of your pan as long as possible, it’s good practice to use medium-low heat with non stick. With some pans this may limit what you’re able to make in them, but because our pans feature a 5-Ply Stainless Clad body that heats quickly and evenly without any hot sppts, there’s no reason to crank the heat up—it’s rare that you’ll need to consistently use your pan over the highest heat setting.

Use of Abrasive Products or Utensils

Like we mentioned earlier, metal tools are a no-go when it comes to cooking with non stick. Even when handled gently, your favorite stainless steel fish spatula, tongs, or even a metal serving spoon can scratch or chip the coating and leave permanent damage. That also goes for cleaning tools—avoid using steel wool, even with really stubborn messes. The rough side of a sponge will do the trick.

We’d also recommend using a gentle dish soap for regular washing, opting for the baking soda-and-vinegar method for burnt-on food and stains.

Cleaning with Harsh Chemicals

Aside from the hot, high pressure jets of water, another reason to avoid the dishwasher is the harsh detergents—while these work to get your dishes squeaky clean, they can cause the coating to deteriorate.