On current evidence, a scratched non-stick pan is not considered a health risk: Germany's Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) says swallowed flakes of PTFE coating pass through the body undigested and are not expected to cause harm. What is less clear is how the very smallest particles behave, so a badly scratched pan is best replaced as a precaution. Once the coating is peeling or flaking, the pan has reached the end of its life anyway.
Key points
- The BfR does not expect health effects from particles of a scratched PTFE coating that are swallowed by accident.
- The widely shared 2022 study estimated how many particles a damaged coating can release; it did not assess any health effects.
- Overheating an empty pan remains the real risk with non-stick, scratched or not.
- Tefal's guarantees cover defects such as blistering or peeling, but not scratches or overheating.
This article is part of our guide to the healthiest frying pan, which compares every common pan material.
Is it safe to cook with a scratched non-stick pan?
A non-stick coating is a thin layer of PTFE, a fluorinated plastic often called Teflon. When it is scratched, tiny fragments come away, and some can end up in your food. What matters is what those fragments do once swallowed. For a plain-English explanation of PTFE and why it counts as a PFAS, see PTFE, PFOA and PFAS: what's really in a non-stick pan.
The 2022 study: particles counted, not harm measured
In 2022, researchers from Flinders University and the University of Newcastle in Australia examined damaged non-stick coatings using Raman imaging, a technique that can pick out plastic particles. Their model estimated that a single surface crack could release around 9,100 particles. The figure of 2.3 million you may have seen online comes from the same paper: it is a laboratory estimate for a badly broken coating, not an amount measured in food.
Crucially, the study did not look at health effects at all. The authors say only that the particles might be a health concern and need investigating.
What the BfR says
The BfR addresses scratched pans directly in its questions and answers on PTFE cookware, last updated in July 2025. It says that tiny particles coming away from a scratched coating and being swallowed while eating are not expected, on current knowledge, to have any negative effect on health. PTFE is chemically very stable, so the particles are not absorbed and leave the body unchanged.
What we don't know yet
That reassurance rests on how inert PTFE is, rather than on studies of nanoparticles shed by pans, which barely exist. Back in 2016, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) noted in a statement on micro- and nanoplastics in food that toxicity data were lacking for a human risk assessment. That gap is the reason for precautionary advice, not evidence that scratched pans cause harm.
Does a scratched pan cause cancer?
No health authority links scratched pans to cancer. The worry usually stems from PFOA, a chemical once used to make PTFE, which the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classified as carcinogenic to humans in 2023. PFOA has been banned in the EU since 2020, and it is a different substance from the PTFE in the coating itself.
Surface marks, deep scratches or coating coming off?
Tefal itself says that slight surface marks or abrasions are normal and do not affect performance. Use this table to judge your pan:
| Condition | What you see | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Light surface marks | Fine lines, coating still continuous, food still releases well | Keep using it and treat it gently |
| Deep scratches | Grooves showing the metal underneath, noticeably less non-stick | Replace it as a precaution |
| Peeling or flaking | Blisters, flakes, bare patches | Replace it; if it is still under guarantee, contact the manufacturer |
| Everything sticks, no visible damage | Burnt-on residue or a worn surface | Clean it thoroughly, then check again |
A sticky pan is not always a ruined one. If the non-stick doesn't come back after a proper clean, though, the coating is usually worn out. We explain how to tell the difference in non-stick pan sticking: can you get the non-stick back? Don't count on a repair: Tefal states that a scratched non-stick pan cannot be recoated, because the coating has to be applied during manufacture.
How to look after a lightly scratched pan
A pan with light marks can stay in use. These habits come from the BfR, Which? and Tefal's own care advice:
- Never heat it empty. Above roughly 360 °C, PTFE can give off harmful fumes, according to the BfR. On an induction or gas hob, an empty pan heats up very quickly.
- Stick to low or medium heat. Tefal notes that most worn coatings show signs of overheating, scratching or abrasive cleaning.
- Use wooden or silicone utensils. Which? warns that metal utensils can scratch off the non-stick surface.
- Wash by hand with a soft sponge rather than a scourer. Which? advises hand washing even for pans sold as dishwasher safe.
- Protect it in the cupboard with a tea towel or pan protector between stacked pans.
Tip: Warm the pan over a medium heat with a little oil and add the food promptly. As long as there is moist food in the pan, it stays well below the temperature at which PTFE starts to break down.
When should you throw away a non-stick pan?
It is time to replace it if any of these apply:
- the coating is blistering, peeling or flaking, or has bare patches;
- deep scratches run across the cooking surface;
- the pan is warped or cracked;
- food sticks even with oil and after a thorough clean.
There is no standard lifespan for a non-stick pan: it depends on the coating, how often you cook and how the pan is treated. If you would rather not replace pans every few years, our guide to how long a frying pan lasts compares materials.
Non-stick coating coming off: will the guarantee cover it?
It depends on the brand, the range and the cause. Taking Tefal as an example: its international guarantee covers the non-stick coating for two years against blistering and peeling. Its UK and Ireland guarantee covers pans for two years against material or manufacturing defects, and excludes scratches, overheating, heating when empty, thermal shock and normal wear and tear. Some ranges come with longer guarantees, so check the paperwork for your pan. A coating scratched by a metal spatula will not be covered; one that blisters after a year of normal use may be.
You also have statutory rights against the retailer. Citizens Advice explains that you have up to six years to claim for a fault (five in Scotland), but that it is usually easier within the first six months; after that, you may have to show that you didn't cause the problem. Keep your receipt and photograph the damage before you get in touch.
How to dispose of an old frying pan
An old pan is mostly metal, so it is worth recycling rather than putting in the general bin. What is accepted, and where, depends on your local council. We cover the options in how to dispose of an old frying pan.
Replacing it with an uncoated pan
If you would rather not buy another coating that will wear out, uncoated frying pans are worth a look. Stainless steel, cast iron, carbon steel and titanium have no applied layer to scratch or flake. Each has its trade-offs: cast iron and carbon steel need seasoning, and stainless steel takes some practice with preheating. Our guide to the best uncoated frying pan materials sets out the differences.
One option is the Untitan pan: titanium cooking surface, uncoated, PFAS-free. The hammered surface, well preheated with a little oil or butter, helps food release. A stainless steel base makes it suitable for all hobs, including induction. To be straightforward about its limits: titanium conducts heat much like stainless steel, so it needs preheating, and it costs more than an entry-level non-stick pan.
Frequently asked questions
Is a scratched Teflon pan toxic?
There is no evidence that it is. The BfR does not expect swallowed particles from a scratched PTFE coating to affect health, because they pass through the body unchanged. The real risk with any PTFE pan is overheating it when empty.
Should I throw away my scratched non-stick pan?
Not for light surface marks. If it is deeply scratched, peeling or flaking, replace it: the coating is worn and uncertainties about the smallest particles remain.
What happens if I eat a flake of non-stick coating?
According to the BfR, PTFE flakes are not digested and are excreted unchanged, with no health effects expected on current knowledge.
Can a scratched non-stick pan be repaired?
Tefal says its pans cannot be recoated, as the coating is applied during manufacture.
Sources
- BfR: Selected questions and answers on cookware, ovenware and frying pans with a non-stick coating made of PTFE (updated 2 July 2025)
- Luo et al.: Raman imaging for the identification of Teflon microplastics and nanoplastics released from non-stick cookware, Science of the Total Environment, 2022
- Flinders University: Not-so-tough Teflon (31 October 2022)
- EFSA: Presence of microplastics and nanoplastics in food, with particular focus on seafood (2016)
- IARC Monographs Volume 135: PFOA and PFOS
- Which?: Best non-stick frying pans
- Tefal UK: user manual and frequently asked questions, Titanium Force non-stick frying pan
- Tefal: limited guarantee for cookware, bakeware and pressure cookers (international, PDF)
- Tefal: limited guarantee for UK and ROI (PDF)
- Citizens Advice: Return faulty goods