The New Nonstick Coatings

 
    There is a tremendous demand for high quality pans with nonstick coatings for convenience in making foods such as fried eggs, omelets, and crepes; for convenience in clean up, and necessity in low fat cooking.

    The classic nonstick surface commonly known as "Teflon^®" was originally created in the 1960's by the DuPont company.  Its fundamental ingredient is the molecule polytetrafluorethylene, or "PTFE".  Fluorine is the critical atom in the molecule.  Of all the atoms, fluorine holds its electrons the tightest.  Because of that, it will not bond easily with other substances and is very non-stick.

    Nonstick coatings have come a long way since they were first introduced.  They are now reinforced in different ways to resist abrasion, thus permitting the use of metal utensils.  One of the most popular tough coatings is Excalibur.  Excalibur is a superb nonstick surface.  This is how it is produced:
 

Tiny particles of stainless steel are shot into the interior stainless steel surface of the pan.

Swiss Diamond Pans are produced similarly except they are diamond-reinforced.  Actual diamond particles and fused to the pan and PTFE applied.  The result is that Swiss Diamond Nonstick pans are virtually indestructible.  In addition, diamond conducts heat more efficiently than any other medium, even copper.  So it will always render optimum heat transfer.

While metal utensils can be used with the Excalibur surface, common sense will tell you that nylon and wooden utensils will preserve the surface.

Pan washing:  If oils are not removed due to inefficient washing, they will bake into the pan surface the next time it is heated up, and create a residue which retards the nonstick effect.  Thus, it is important to thoroughly clean nonstick pans after using them.

A note about overheating:  PTFE is inert; it typically does not react with other substances and, if ingested by a human, will pass through the body without being absorbed into it.  However, if heated above 530° F, the PTFE molecule becomes unstable and will begin to react with other substances.  Thus undue heat will cause it to deteriorate.  But with proper care, PTFE pans will last for years and years and for most of us, our lifetime.