The 12 Most Common Non Stick Questions, Answered

Non stick cookware is appealing for its promise of culinary convenience. However, if you look even slightly beyond its reputation, you’ll discover that it’s so much more than “easy”—and definitely not just for novice cooks. Even in three Michelin-starred restaurants, you’ll find non stick frying pans in regular rotation.

To highlight what makes ours so special, we’ve answered all your frequently asked questions below. From where it’s made to what it's best for cooking, keep scrolling for everything you need to know before choosing the non stick cookware that’s right for you.

What Is Non Stick Best For Cooking?

Non stick is our go-to for cooking eggs, pancakes, grilled cheeses, and even fish. It’s the perfect tool for foods with a high potential for sticking, or for when you want to minimize cleanup. Some professional chefs prefer non stick over other cookware for delicate proteins like fish or scallops, speedy pasta prep on the line, or picture perfect omelettes.

Non stick is also the best way to reheat leftovers—better than your microwave. Reheating in a non stick skillet allows you to restore de-crisped proteins and dried out pastas to their former glory, thanks to the 5-ply stainless steel construction developed specifically for even heating. Eating microwaved leftovers, on the other hand, is a game of Russian roulette.

How Does Non Stick Compare to Stainless Clad and Carbon Steel?

Non stick has an unfair reputation as being lower-quality or less serious than carbon steel and stainless clad, but it’s simply not true. High quality non stick pans (like ours) are versatile and powerful pieces of equipment—they just have to be made correctly.

• Non Stick vs. Stainless Steel: Our non stick pans are built from the same body as our Stainless Clad line, making these two materials very similar—and equally non-negotiable in a well-stocked kitchen. Non stick is better for delicate ingredients like fish and eggs, while stainless steel is great for searing and high temperature cooking. We cover these differences (and more) in our in-depth guide to non stick vs. stainless steel.
• Non Stick vs. Carbon Steel: We’ve also compared non stick versus carbon steel and found that—as with non stick and stainless clad—neither is definitively better than the other. Carbon steel, as a naturally non stick alternative, is better able to tolerate higher temperatures and can recover from pretty much anything you put it through. Non stick is typically better suited to medium-low temperatures, is non stick from day one, and doesn’t require any seasoning.

In the end, all three materials are used daily by professional chefs, and all three are incredibly valuable and versatile tools for the home cook.

How Long Does Non Stick Cookware Last?

On average, our Non Stick Cookware lasts 70 times longer than your average ceramic non stick from a competitor. While ceramic cookware begins eroding the second you start cooking with it, our durable non stick cookware has the potential to last for years if it’s properly maintained.

Typically, non stick cookware will last between two to four years, but exact numbers will range based on construction quality and usage. For example, a pan used once very two weeks for scrambled eggs will outlast one used every night of the week over high heat.

What Is Our Non Stick Cookware Made Of?

The base of our non stick is our Award-Winning Stainless Clad Cookware. Each piece is layered with five sheets of four different metals to maximize its temperature control and heat retention ability. These pots and pans are then coated with two additional layers of a professional-quality non stick coating, to result in an easy-to-clean, fast-heating pan with remarkable temperature control and response.

Where Is Your Non Stick Cookware Made?

Our non stick cookware is produced by multi-generational artisans in the USA and Italy. From Saucepan to Saute Pan, we work very closely with our partners to turn top-quality raw materials into the best non stick cookware available.

How Do You Care For Non Stick Cookware?

Stovetop Cooking

Always preheat your pan with fat or oil in it. Non stick cookware is not ideal for dry frying. Do not use cooking sprays, which cause harmful buildup that can damage the coating over time.

In the Oven

While non stick is best suited to medium-heat stovetop cooking, our non stick pans are completely safe up to 500F—even in the oven.

Use the Right Utensils

Do not use metal utensils or knives, as they may scratch the surface and compromise both the non stick capabilities of your pan.

Hand Wash Only

Allow your pan to cool completely before hand washing with warm soapy water and a soft sponge. Dry immediately, and never put your non stick pan in the dishwasher.

Store Correctly

If you stack your pans during storage, layer a dish towel or other protective layer in between the pans to protect the non stick coating. Never use your non stick for storing food.

Do Chefs Use Non Stick Cookware?

It may seem surprising—because non stick cookware is typically associated with home cooks—but professional chefs use non stick cookware in professional kitchens every single day. In fact, professionals who don’t use non stick often refrain from doing so simply because it is pricier than other options—not because it’s “worse” than stainless or carbon steel.

Does Non Stick Cookware Come With Lids?

Across materials, Saucepans and Saute Pans come with lids, while our Non Stick Frying Pans do not come with a lid. However, they’re compatible with our Frying Pan Silicone Universal Lid, which is in turn compatible with all sizes of our stainless steel frying pans, the 10" and 12" Carbon Steel Frying Pans, and the Carbon Steel Wok.

Is Non Stick Compatible with Induction Stoves?

Thanks to its stainless clad body, our non stick collection is compatible with induction stovetops. Many ceramic non stick pieces have a cheaper aluminum core that will not work on induction cooktops, so always check the product materials and reference our guide to The Best Type of Cookware For Induction Cooking for a more specific breakdown.

What Utensils Can Be Used With Non Stick Cookware?

Never use metal utensils—especially knives—as they can scratch the surface of your pan. Using wood and silicone utensils will protect your non stick coating and ensure your pan lasts as long as possible.

Can Non Stick Go in the Oven?

Whether non stick is oven-safe or not depends on the manufacturer. While our Non Stick is oven-safe to 500F, plenty of other pans are made cheaply with ceramic coatings or plastic handles, so any time in the oven risks melting, ruining the non stick coating, or even releasing dangerous fumes. Always check the manufacturer’s product information before using non stick in the oven.

Can You Recycle Non Stick Cookware?

Recycling non stick can be tricky, but Made In offers a mail-back recycling program that makes it easier to dispose of and repurpose old pans that you no longer use. We accept all non stick pans, whether they’re made by us or not. We’ll buff your spent pans so they can be rehomed via a Habitat for Humanity Restore.

Alternatively, you can donate to a Goodwill or Salvation Army location or a neighbor through a Buy Nothing group.

Is Non Stick Sustainable?

We’ve spent a long time thinking about whether non stick cookware is sustainable, and it’s why we made sure ours is so high-quality that it lasts 70 times longer than a ceramic non stick pan. Where cheap non stick needs to be replaced within months, ours last for years, meaning there are fewer produced and even fewer in landfills. We also set up our mail-back recycling program to make them even greener.

Ready to Shop?

There you have it: Non stick cookware can be a sustainable, powerful, and versatile tool that does so much more than make perfect scrambled eggs (though it definitely does that, too). Head to our Non Stick Cookware collection to try it for yourself.