How to Fix Your Non Stick Pans

It’s always the most dreaded day. You go to scramble some eggs in your Non Stick Frying Pan, and they start sticking to the pan. The effortless cooking on your non stick you’re used to is no longer there and you end up spending as much time cleaning the eggs up as you did cooking them.

But, you don’t need to throw out or recycle the pan just yet. Here are a few tips and tricks to fix your Non Stick Pans.

Why Would a Non Stick Pan Lose Its Stickiness?

A Non Stick Pan would lose its non stick tendencies depending on its surface it is made out of.

Ceramic Cookware features a Sol-Gel coating which has silicone oil impregnated into it. The Sol-Gel coating gets sprayed and cured onto the surface of the pan, and each time a Ceramic Pot or Pan gets heated, silicone oil is released onto the surface of the pan. This is how a non stick surface on ceramic cookware is created.

The problem with this coating is that there is only a finite amount of silicone oil applied, so once you run out, your pan will no longer be non stick.

Unlike Ceramic Cookware, PTFE Cookware does not have oil in its coating. The non stick coating comes from PTFE getting sprayed onto the body of the cookware and then cured. As long as the PTFE coating is present and unscathed, your pan will continue to perform extremely well.

To care for the PTFE coating, don’t use metal utensils or place it in the dishwasher. However, not everyone is perfect, and a scratch or burnt spot is bound to happen eventually.

Here are a few tips and tricks to bring your Non Stick Pan back to life.

Give It a Good Wash

Yes, it’s that simple. Sometimes small food particles or grease can contribute to your pan losing its non stickiness. A good wash can help get rid of these and return your pan to its original state.

Using warm water, dish soap, and the rough side of your sponge, (we like Scotch-Brite) give the pan a good scrub. Dry it immediately and then you’re ready for use. You can even proceed to season your non stick cookware, which helps reduce the cooking oil you need when cooking.

Vinegar and Baking Soda

A simple solution of white vinegar, water, and baking soda is a fantastic way to fix a non stick pan that is no longer performing well.

Simply add 2 tablespoons of both white vinegar and baking soda to your pan, as well as enough water to cover the bottom of the pan. Bring this mixture to a boil over medium heat and using a wooden or silicone utensil, stir the mixture.

Once the mixture has boiled for 5 minutes, allow it to cool to room temperature and pour the water off and wash the pan with soapy water.

Season With Coconut Oil

Another way to help restore your Non Stick Cookware is to season it with coconut oil. Preheat your oven to 350F and give your pan a good cleaning, with warm soapy water. Make sure it is thoroughly dried before beginning the seasoning process.

Over medium heat, melt one tablespoon of coconut oil, and using a kitchen or paper towel, spread it around the surface of your pan. Make sure to wipe out any excess coconut oil, as there should only be only be a very thin layer.

Place your pan upside down in the oven, with a foil-lined sheet pan on the bottom rack to catch any drippings, for an hour. Allow the pan to cool in the oven. Your Non Stick Pan is now seasoned.

Replace Your Pan

If the two methods outlined above didn’t work out, then, sadly it’s time to replace your Non Stick Cookware. Made In’s stands above the rest, featuring a double layer of PTFE on top of our Award-Winning 5-Ply Stainless Clad Construction to ensure that your pan will not burn easily, will last for years, and will cook your food to perfection.