What Utensils Should You Use With Non Stick Pans?

Finding the right tool for a job is important—you wouldn’t change a tire with a hammer, would you? Non Stick cookware is no exception, as you have to be cognizant of what tools you use to cook in these pans to prolong their signature non stick coating.

Here, we’ll cover the dos and don’ts of tool selection for your Non Stick Cookware, as well as provide our suggestions for tools that give you the best results and longest life out of your Pan.

Why Should You Use Specific Tools with Non Stick?

If you were cooking in a Stainless Clad or Carbon Steel Pan, you wouldn’t need to worry about what type of tools you use. They are near indestructible and don’t require as much attention to detail.

Non Stick Cookware is a tad different. While our Non Stick line as a whole is incredibly durable, the coating itself is more delicate, meaning you need to be aware of your tool choice when cooking to maintain the surface. If you use a harder utensil material (like a stainless steel spatula), you run the risk of scratching or even chipping the coating, which could result in a loss of non stick properties. But which utensils do you use?

What are the Best Utensils for Non Stick Pans?

There are three categories of utensils we recommend: Wooden, silicone, and nylon. All three of these materials have different properties that are ideal for use with Non Stick Cookware.

Wooden

Wooden utensils have been around for millenia and are widely used as the material of choice for a variety of tools, both in the kitchen and out.  Wood is just hard and rigid enough to break up huge chunks of ground meat or to scrape up fond from the bottom of a pan, but malleable enough that it won’t scratch or gouge it.

It is also a naturally occurring material, and wooden tools can be found most anywhere—you probably have a favorite Wooden Spoon lurking around your kitchen as we speak.While wooden utensils are workhorses of the home kitchen, they do require more maintenance than other materials. For starters, they cannot be run through the dishwasher or left wet for long periods, as this can lead to the wood warping, cracking, or breaking altogether. They also need to be oiled regularly to avoid cracking.

Overall, you have to pay more attention to these utensils than others. While we believe a Wooden Spoon is essential for every kitchen, there are other tools out there if you want something a little more low-maintenance.

Silicone

If you are looking for extremely low maintenance tools, look no further than those made of silicone. This material is incredibly durable, heat safe to high temperatures, dishwasher safe, and fantastic for use in Non Stick cookware. They offer a delicate touch and mold to the shape of your pan to get to every last drop. If you find the right silicone utensil, it makes a world of difference to your cooking.

They are not without some considerations. While most silicone is heat-safe to well over 500F,  some utensils are not designated as heat-safe and could have the potential to melt onto your pan if exposed to heat for long enough. Additionally, many silicone utensils are made of 2 pieces—a handle and a head. Over time, the adhesive used to adhere the head can wear out, causing the head to come loose.

We recommend looking for a silicone utensil that is both heat-safe above 500F and one singular piece, as well as those that have a stainless steel core for better rigidity and durability. Getting the right silicone utensil means it will last a lifetime.

Nylon

Nylon utensils have been around for decades and are a staple in most home kitchens. They are rigid yet flexible, durable yet easy to maintain—they’re dishwasher safe and don’t require special maintenance. They are also incredibly affordable in most cases and come in a variety of shapes. There are some additional things you want to consider with nylon.

While it is safe for Non Stick Pans, nylon is still fairly rigid and has been known to mar the surface of the cookware. It won’t typically leave deep scratches or chips, but it can leave noticeable scuffs and superficial scratches—which don’t affect the cooking performance, but do. Additionally, nylon often has quite a low heat safety rating and could melt if left exposed to heat for too long. Over time, nylon can become brittle and crack, so these tools are not ideal for lifetime use.

While they are easy to maintain, you may find they need to be replaced more often than wood or silicone tools.

Ready to Cook?

With so many different utensil materials on the market, finding one that won’t damage your Non Stick Pans can be a challenge. Luckily, you can never go wrong with having multiple utensils made of different materials for individual uses and different levels of required maintenance. Whether you go with a Wooden Spoon, a silicone spatula, or a nylon flipper, these all can have a space in your kitchen for protecting your Non Stick Cookware.