Are you unknowingly cooking with microplastics?

Non-stick pans and pots belong in almost every kitchen - after all, they promise stress-free cooking and quick cleaning. But new studies show: Your favorite cookware could be secretly releasing microplastics and nanoplastics into your food.

How do microplastics get from the pan into the food?

Researchers at the University of Newcastle have discovered that even the smallest scratches in the Teflon coating of your pan are enough to release thousands of microplastic particles during cooking. Using Raman spectroscopy, a high-precision method of surface analysis, they investigated how cooking utensils - from metal spatulas to wooden spoons - damage the non-stick coating and release tiny plastic particles.

The result: a single scratch is enough to release around 9,100 microplastic particles. In more severely damaged pans, the researchers were even able to detect up to 2.3 million particles.

Why is this problematic?

The released particles mainly consist of Teflon, a substance from the group of per- and polyfluorinated alkyl compounds (PFAS). These so-called "forever chemicals" are not biodegradable and are suspected of causing adverse health effects such as hormone disruption, an increased risk of cancer and damage to the immune system.

How can you protect your health?

Although the exact health consequences of ingesting these microplastic particles are still being researched, the following already applies: The less you come into contact with them, the better. Avoiding damaged non-stick cookware or heating food in plastic containers is an easy way to reduce the risk.

Are there safe alternatives?

Yes, there are. During our research and intensive testing of various cookware sets, we looked for clear criteria:

• No use of PFAS or other "Forever Chemicals"

• No chemical coating that could come off

• Heat resistance even at high temperatures

• Easy to clean in everyday life

We were particularly impressed by the Titanium Cookware Set from Our Place. It is made entirely of ultra-hard titanium - without any chemical coating. This means that nothing comes off the surface, even under heavy use. In our three-month practical test, it showed no signs of wear, withstood high temperatures without any problems and impressed us with its ease of cleaning - both by hand and in the dishwasher.

Our recommendation for you

To give you the opportunity to keep your home free of harmful substances, we have organized a discount for our readers: You get a 10% discount on the complete Titanium Pro Cookware Set from Our Place, including free shipping and risk-free returns.

Want to play it safe in the future and ban microplastics from your food?

Sources:

• Fang, Y., et al. (2022). "Microplastics and Nanoplastics Released from Teflon-coated Cookware: A Raman Imaging Study". Environmental Science & Technology.

• Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), USA (2023). "Basic Information on PFAS".

• World Health Organization (WHO) (2019). "Microplastics in drinking-water".