Comparing teflon and ceramic coating

The choice of dishes, kitchen appliances and other utensils that help to manage the household is a responsible undertaking. Firstly, all these items will come into contact with food, so they must be made from high-quality, safe materials. Secondly, the taste and appearance of cooked dishes often depend on what utensils and household appliances were used in the cooking process.

Teflon and ceramics are materials that have recently been increasingly used as coatings for pans, pots, multicooker bowls. It is sometimes difficult for housewives to decide which coating is better. It is impossible to answer this question unambiguously, since both materials have their own characteristics, pros and cons. To make it easier for you to make a choice before buying, expertology.ru journalists conducted a small investigation and prepared material about the properties, advantages and disadvantages of Teflon and ceramics. And also about the rules for caring for products with such a coating, the features of cooking.

Everything you wanted to know about Teflon

Initially, Teflon coating was used in medicine, the military industry, aerospace engineering, in the production of radio and electrical parts. This material, which was invented in 1938 in the USA, has unique properties that make its characteristics close to those of metals, including noble ones.

Teflon is polytetrafluoroethylene, a polymer containing fluorine. The second name is fluoroplast. In fact, it is plastic, but very durable and completely non-toxic. It surpasses all known synthetic materials in its chemical resistance.

Teflon substance — safe or not?

Before listing the characteristics of this material, you need to dispel doubts about its safety for the body. Suspicions of carcinogenicity arose due to the fact that independent experts noticed that the personnel who work with the material at DuPont factories (the company that patented the invention) are required to wear protective masks. Which, according to experts, indicates the toxicity of the material. Indeed, the volatile or liquid Teflon substance is toxic. In production, the evaporation of this substance is increased. Therefore, employees must wear masks.

But in everyday life it is almost impossible to convert Teflon into a volatile state. To do this, it needs to be very hot. If you follow the rules for using products with a Teflon layer, there will be no harm to health.

According to the results of studies conducted by official specialized centers, WHO experts concluded that even the addition of 25% Teflon to the total amount of food cannot harm human health. The safety of Teflon material has been documented by approval from the US Food and Drug Administration and a number of other European countries.

Teflon coating — characteristics and properties of the material

The main characteristics of the Teflon substance:

1. Resistant to chemicals such as alcohols, acids, organic solvents. This means that the Teflon coating will not be damaged by regular cleaning with dishwashing detergents.

2. Zero hygroscopicity — this means that the Teflon substance does not absorb water. This is a good property for dishes that are constantly in contact with water.

3. The Teflon coating is completely biologically compatible with the tissues of the human body. To confirm this, an experiment was carried out with the implantation of Teflon into living tissues. Implants made of this material took root no worse than titanium implants. This means that the Teflon coating of the products makes them completely safe to use. Even if the inner layer in contact with food is scratched and the spray particles mix with food, this will not cause any harm to human health.

4. Teflon coating is heat-resistant, withstands heating up to 270 degrees (for some types of Teflon, the melting point is 327 degrees), tolerates temperature extremes well. There is no possibility of fire or explosion of such products. At the same time, the material remains flexible and elastic even at a temperature of -70. This means that it is also frost-resistant. The Teflon coating of the dishes makes them suitable for storing food in the freezer.

5. Low adhesion and special non-stick properties. Food in Teflon-coated cookware can be cooked without oil, and it will not stick to the surface or burn. That is why a high-quality Teflon substance is used in the manufacture of pans, pots, baking sheets, multicooker bowls.

6. Teflon coating has the lowest coefficient of friction among solids. This contributes to the fact that, with proper operation, products made of this material wear out very slowly and will last more than one year, or even more than one decade.

7. Unpretentiousness in care. After use, Teflon-coated dishes can simply be wiped with a damp cloth or rinsed under running water. The use of detergents is not necessary, which enhances the benefits of food cooked in such a pan or saucepan.

8. Light weight dishes and a very large range of products for every need.

Versatility of use is another advantage. Teflon-coated utensils are not only frying pans and pots, but also extrusion molds and baking dishes, baking sheets. The main thing is to use them at the right temperature and not overheat. Teflon coating is widely used in the production of such household appliances:

1. Heating appliances, including portable ones.

2. Electric grills.

3. Breadmakers.

4. Forms for ice cream.

5. Waffle irons.

6. Coffee pots.

7. Rolling pins for rolling out dough with anti-stick coating.

8. Boilers.

9. Devices for making hot sandwiches (mini-presses).

Lightweight and water-repellent Teflon coating is used not only for kitchen appliances, but also in the production of fabrics. A towel, potholder or tablecloth with Teflon is not affected by grease, dust, dirt. All harmful particles can settle on the surface, but they do not get stuck in the fibers of the fabric. If you pour water, wine, juice on the tablecloth, the liquid will simply collect in small droplets that will not be absorbed, but will roll onto the floor. The tablecloth will stay clean. Cleaning such a fabric is very simple, just wipe it with a sponge or wash it as usual, soaking and washing is not required.

Teflon coating has found application in the household, not only in the kitchen. This material is used in the manufacture of irons and ironing boards. They are coated with razor blades, which significantly prolongs their life and facilitates shaving.

Disadvantages of Teflon Coating:

1. It is easy to scratch it with a sharp or just an iron object. Therefore, the use of products from this material excludes the use of metal spoons, forks, knives, spatulas, washcloths, brushes. The Teflon must be in contact with wood or plastic. However, many manufacturing companies improve the quality of Teflon, increase many basic characteristics. For example, they increase resistance to mechanical stress or heat resistance.

2. Teflon-coated pans and pots are expensive. But given the long service life, this cannot be considered a significant minus.

Features of caring for Teflon coating:

1. If you buy such products, then the iron spatulas can be hidden in a distant drawer. And not only spatulas, but also other kitchen utensils — ladles, scoops, tongs, whisks, stirring spoons should be made of soft materials. It can be wood or plastic. Iron accessories covered with a layer of plastic are also suitable.

2. Washing — in warm water, soft sponge. If desired, you can use liquid detergent. Do not use hard and abrasive sponges, cleaning pastes, steel wool.

3. During cooking, overheating should be avoided, so frying over high heat is not recommended. Some types of Teflon-coated cookware, in particular those from Tefal, have a special heat indicator that indicates that the product is ready for use.

Ceramic coating — characteristics, properties, advantages, disadvantages

Ceramics in the culinary field began to be used relatively recently. But this material quickly gained popularity due to its non-stick properties and natural composition.

Advantages of ceramic coating:

1. High environmental performance. Since ceramics are made from sand, stone and other natural ingredients, it can be considered that the ceramic coating is still more acceptable for use in the kitchen. Even with strong heating, the material does not emit any substances hazardous to human health.

2. The heat resistance of the ceramic coating is higher than that of Teflon. Ceramics can withstand heating up to almost 500 degrees. Therefore, ceramic dishes can be safely used when cooking in the oven.

3. The ceramic substance is many times harder than Teflon, it is more resistant to scratches, so there are no restrictions on the use of metal spatulas and forks when cooking.

4. Non-stick properties on a par with Teflon, as well as ease of care, a large selection of products of different shapes and sizes.

Disadvantages of ceramic coating:

1. Does not tolerate sudden changes in temperature. If you accidentally put a hot ceramic-coated pan into cold water, it will simply crack. The same thing can happen if you put a piece of frozen meat on a hot pan.

2. Poor resistance to chemicals, especially alkalis.

3. Fragility — products often do not survive bumps and falls.

4. Not every ceramic pan is suitable for use on an induction cooktop or hob. For such stoves, dishes with a metal bottom are needed, which many models of ceramic frying pans do not have, since both the outer and inner surfaces of the dishes are covered with ceramics.

5. Cleaning ceramic products in dishwashers is not recommended.

6. Relatively short service life, combined with the high cost of even budget models.

7. Multilayer ceramics with a metal base weighs a lot. This creates an additional burden on the hands (especially for the elderly) and a threat to glass surfaces, including hobs.

Features of care for ceramic coated dishes:

1. Protect from temperature fluctuations.

2. Restrict access to dishes for children. They can not only drop and damage the product, but also injure themselves, since the product is heavy.

3. Clean only by hand, using gentle detergents.

Popular manufacturers of ceramic dishes

Expertology.ru journalists found out which manufacturers sell the best, according to users, products with ceramic coating:

1. The Italian company Ballarini has patented the fast heating technology and is constantly innovating in the production process. For example, ceramic products of the Cortina series have heat indicators on the handles.

2. The German company «Brener» produces ceramic products with a core of pure aluminum. Therefore, their frying pans are light.

3. The TVS company produces high-quality products with an original design. Ceramic coating is one of the highest quality today — Ceramit.

4. Maestro produces a wide range of products for every taste and every need. There are models with removable and built-in handles, with different types of bottom (smooth, corrugated), different shapes and sizes, colors.

The cost of dishes with ceramic coating — an average of 500 to 15$. You can find models for 50 dollars, but usually professional chefs use such expensive products.

Teflon or ceramic coating — which is still better?

The answer to this question can be formulated by prioritizing:

1. Ceramic coating is suitable for neat and thrifty housewives who prefer natural materials and like to cook food in the oven.

2. Teflon coating is the best option for a hostess who wants to buy dishes for years to come, appreciates durability and reliability.

3. Cost also matters. Teflon is more expensive than regular enamel cookware, but cheaper than ceramic-coated items.