Is Teflon Safe? What You Need To Know about Nonstick Pans and the Risk of ‘Teflon Flu’

If you’ve ever felt flu-like symptoms after sauteing, stir-frying or searing, your Teflon coated pan could be the culprit. Cooking with nonstick cookware can sometimes bring on a condition dubbed “Teflon flu”, with reported cases on the rise in the United States. It begs the question: Is Teflon safe? And do you really need to replace all your nonstick cookware? Read on to find out.

Is Teflon safe for cooking?

A chemical coating called polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) is used to make certain pans nonstick. And a brand called Teflon is perhaps the best known nonstick coating. But is Teflon actually safe to use?

Yes, as long as you’re using it correctly, says Joey Skelton, MD , a pediatrician, obesity specialist and an instructor in culinary medicine at the Wake Forest University School of Medicine in Winston-Salem, NC. “Proper use of Teflon means you know how much it can withstand and that it has a limited lifetime of about five years, which is when it typically shows signs of wearing down,” says Dr. Skelton.

Using your Teflon nonstick cookware correctly is mostly about not exposing it to very high levels of heat. “Teflon pans can become dangerous when the temperature exceeds 500 degrees Fahrenheit,” says Monisha Bhanote, MD , a culinary and integrative medicine physician in Jacksonville Beach, FL and author of The Anatomy of Wellbeing .

“At this point, the nonstick coating can start to break down, releasing chemicals into the air that may pose health risks” such as Teflon flu, she says.

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Teflon flu symptoms

Polymer fume fever, aka Teflon flu, occurs when someone inhales toxic fumes from overheated pans coated in Teflon. When a nonstick pan gets too hot, it can cause the coating's chemicals to break down and vaporize into the air, where you may breathe them in.

“These fumes are in the form of a noxious gas, which can irritate the lungs and upper airways, causing coughing, chest tightness and shortness of breath, which are some of the symptoms of polymer fume fever,” says John W. Downs MD MPH , a medical toxicologist and internal medicine physician, and an associate professor of emergency medicine at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, VA.

Other flu-like symptoms include body aches, painful headaches , fever, chills, fatigue and nausea, notes Dr. Downs, who is also the associate director of the Virginia Poison Center at Virginia Commonwealth University.

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How long does Teflon flu last?

You may feel sick anywhere from 12 to up to 24 hours after inhaling the fumes. However, symptoms can hit even quicker. “When we’ve gotten calls into the Virginia Poison Center, people will contact us 30 minutes or less after cooking, saying they don’t feel right and have a burning in their nose or chest,” says Dr. Downs.

Although it’s not entirely clear how many people contract polymer fume fever, cases of Teflon flu are becoming more common. In 2023, there was an increase in calls of suspected polymer fume fever to America’s Poison Centers , an organization representing the 55 accredited Poison Centers in the U.S. In fact, America’s Poison Centers reports the uptick in calls last year was the highest since 2000.

Dr. Skelton suspects it’s because people are watching more cooking shows and eating at home more often. This may increase exposure to unsafe amounts of Teflon if you’re using older pans or cooking on too-high heat.

How to treat Teflon flu

For most people, the Teflon flu is short-lived and can be treated similarly to having a real case of influenza . “In general, people are going to work their way through it and will come out of it somewhere over the course of 24 to 72 hours,” says Dr. Downs.

He recommends keeping hydrated , resting and easing symptoms with over-the counter acetaminophen or ibuprofen.

There are some people, however, who may experience more serious symptoms after  inhaling the toxic vapors. “Individuals with underlying respiratory illnesses such as asthma, emphysema and COPD may experience more difficulty breathing because their lungs already don’t have a backup reserve,” notes Dr. Downs.

Anyone who is having more severe symptoms, such as serious breathing problems or an intense chest tightness, should seek immediate medical attention, he adds.

4 ways to make cooking with Teflon with safe

Using your nonstick pots and pans properly can keep you safe and ward off Teflon flu. Here’s what you need to do:

1. Lubricate your pan prior to cooking

Putting a dry, empty Teflon pan on a high heat can cause the cookware to become hotter quickly and release those harmful fumes, says Dr. Skelton. Instead, he advises adding some oil, butter or water to the pan before heating. Why? An empty pan reaches high temperatures quicker .

Using one of these ingredients will also serve as an alert if the flame is too intense. “The benefit of butter and cooking oils is they will smoke before you get to 500 degrees fahrenheit,” adds Dr. Downs. “This can indicate you’re letting the pan get too hot and need to turn down the temperature.”

2. Cook in a well-ventilated area

Turning on a vent hood, fan or opening a kitchen window can help dissipate fumes. If you feel you’ve taken some in, remove yourself from the area and get some fresh air, advises Dr. Bhanote.

You can also take the pan outside with you to air out, says Dr. Downs. “This allows for the gaseous fumes from the dish to evaporate in the air rather than inside the home.”

3. Use Teflon-friendly utensils

Steer clear of using metal utensils, which can cause chipping, scraping or flaking on the pan’s surface. Over time, this degrades the coating. The damage may make it easier for toxins to release and cause food to stick to the pan.

Instead, opt for gentler alternatives. “It’s better to use wood, silicone or plastic utensils, which can all help protect the nonstick surface from scratches and extend the life of the pan,” says Dr. Bhanote.

4. Consider safe alternatives to Teflon

One foolproof way of avoiding polymer fume fever is to simply not use Teflon and other brands of nonstick cookware. In her own kitchen, Dr. Bhanote chooses to veer on the safe side and avoid using Teflon altogether.

“I like using stainless steel, cast iron or ceramic cookware,” she says. “These materials don’t release harmful fumes when heated and can be just as effective for cooking, especially when properly seasoned or maintained.”

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This content is not a substitute for professional medical advice or diagnosis. Always consult your physician before pursuing any treatment plan .