I have a teflon pan that was left on the stove with water in it, set
at high to boil it and left it too long, the water boiled out and now
the bottom area of the teflon is kind of a smooth chalky gray, doesn't
feel anything like the rest of the teflon.

Anything that can be done with it or is it trashed?

Doc wrote:
>
> I have a teflon pan that was left on the stove with water in it, set
> at high to boil it and left it too long, the water boiled out and now
> the bottom area of the teflon is kind of a smooth chalky gray, doesn't
> feel anything like the rest of the teflon.
>
> Anything that can be done with it or is it trashed?

Is the finish ruined or is it just a mineral buildup from the water. Put
some vinegar in it and let it soak.

"Doc" > wrote in message
ups.com...
>I have a teflon pan that was left on the stove with water in it, set
> at high to boil it and left it too long, the water boiled out and now
> the bottom area of the teflon is kind of a smooth chalky gray, doesn't
> feel anything like the rest of the teflon.
>
> Anything that can be done with it or is it trashed?
>

Just use it. The carcinogens are now totally available.

Bob

Doc wrote:
> I have a teflon pan that was left on the stove with water in it, set
> at high to boil it and left it too long, the water boiled out and now
> the bottom area of the teflon is kind of a smooth chalky gray, doesn't
> feel anything like the rest of the teflon.
>
> Anything that can be done with it or is it trashed?
>

Wash it out and continue to use it if you want. Finish may not work as
well but there is no health hazard. You cannot restore the finish.
Hazard of overheating teflon will cause flu like symptoms to you but
maybe kill your canaries, whatever, as birds have higher respiratory
requirements. Same thing could happen to birds in all metal pan burning
food.

On Aug 15, 10:15 am, Frank <frankdotlogullo@comcastperiodnet> wrote:
> Doc wrote:
> > I have a teflon pan that was left on the stove with water in it, set
> > at high to boil it and left it too long, the water boiled out and now
> > the bottom area of the teflon is kind of a smooth chalky gray, doesn't
> > feel anything like the rest of the teflon.
>
> > Anything that can be done with it or is it trashed?
>
> Wash it out and continue to use it if you want. Finish may not work as
> well but there is no health hazard. You cannot restore the finish.
> Hazard of overheating teflon will cause flu like symptoms to you but
> maybe kill your canaries, whatever, as birds have higher respiratory
> requirements. Same thing could happen to birds in all metal pan burning
> food.

Don't worry teflon is now under suspicion in certain countries as a
possible cancer causative.
So no matter what the colour it's probably done it's deadly work
anyway.
If you DO have any doubts however; throw it away!
Yes; during the last 50 years we have had teflon coated cooking pans/
utensils.
One of us has died, probably unconnected to use of teflon? I'm still
here.

On Aug 15, 7:53 am, terry > wrote:
> On Aug 15, 10:15 am, Frank <frankdotlogullo@comcastperiodnet> wrote:
>
> > Doc wrote:
> > > I have a teflon pan that was left on the stove with water in it, set
> > > at high to boil it and left it too long, the water boiled out and now
> > > the bottom area of the teflon is kind of a smooth chalky gray, doesn't
> > > feel anything like the rest of the teflon.
>
> > > Anything that can be done with it or is it trashed?
>
> > Wash it out and continue to use it if you want. Finish may not work as
> > well but there is no health hazard. You cannot restore the finish.
> > Hazard of overheating teflon will cause flu like symptoms to you but
> > maybe kill your canaries, whatever, as birds have higher respiratory
> > requirements. Same thing could happen to birds in all metal pan burning
> > food.


Well, if you generate enough smoke, I guess it's true that food
burning in any metal pan could kill birds at some point. But teflon
heated to high temp generates a specific chemical that is highly toxic
and will kill biirds. A stainless, cast iron, etc will not do that,
so its not all the same.

As for the question, if the pan was overheated on for a considerable
time and won't clean up, then it should be thrown out.




>
> Don't worry teflon is now under suspicion in certain countries as a
> possible cancer causative.
> So no matter what the colour it's probably done it's deadly work
> anyway.
> If you DO have any doubts however; throw it away!
> Yes; during the last 50 years we have had teflon coated cooking pans/
> utensils.
> One of us has died, probably unconnected to use of teflon? I'm still
> here.

terry wrote:
> On Aug 15, 10:15 am, Frank <frankdotlogullo@comcastperiodnet> wrote:
>> Doc wrote:
>>> I have a teflon pan that was left on the stove with water in it, set
>>> at high to boil it and left it too long, the water boiled out and now
>>> the bottom area of the teflon is kind of a smooth chalky gray, doesn't
>>> feel anything like the rest of the teflon.
>>> Anything that can be done with it or is it trashed?
>> Wash it out and continue to use it if you want. Finish may not work as
>> well but there is no health hazard. You cannot restore the finish.
>> Hazard of overheating teflon will cause flu like symptoms to you but
>> maybe kill your canaries, whatever, as birds have higher respiratory
>> requirements. Same thing could happen to birds in all metal pan burning
>> food.
>
> Don't worry teflon is now under suspicion in certain countries as a
> possible cancer causative.
> So no matter what the colour it's probably done it's deadly work
> anyway.
> If you DO have any doubts however; throw it away!
> Yes; during the last 50 years we have had teflon coated cooking pans/
> utensils.
> One of us has died, probably unconnected to use of teflon? I'm still
> here.
>

Now, I wouldn't say you're all here If you can lead me to a primary
source that says teflon may cause cancer, I'd like to see it. You are
more likely to generate carcinogens just by cooking food.

I think teflon cookware is safe to use but lifetime is limited. Teflon
is plastic, you know. We have a 45 year old stainless Revereware frying
pan that we still use.

Frank

Frank wrote:

> Now, I wouldn't say you're all here If you can lead me to a primary
> source that says teflon may cause cancer, I'd like to see it.

Try a google search for "teflon coating carcinogen epa". The issue is
not the teflon itself, but the perfluorooctanoic acid used in making the
coating.

Chris

Chris Friesen wrote:
> Frank wrote:
>
>> Now, I wouldn't say you're all here If you can lead me to a primary
>> source that says teflon may cause cancer, I'd like to see it.
>
> Try a google search for "teflon coating carcinogen epa". The issue is
> not the teflon itself, but the perfluorooctanoic acid used in making the
> coating.
>
> Chris

PFOA is absent in the fry pan finish. It most likely gets blasted out
during the cure cycle where the finish is baked on the fry pan. I've
heard of dead birds near the fume vents. At one time DuPont used to put
out pamphlets in pet shops with teflon warnings.

Not sure of the status of DuPont getting it out of the teflon process
but concern started at Parkersburg, WV plant where, I believe, women
workers thought it responsible for miscarriages.
PFOA is/was used in the teflon polymerization process and was retained
in the finished polymer emulsion.

Frank

According to Frank <frankdotlogullo@comcastperiodnet>:

> Now, I wouldn't say you're all here If you can lead me to a primary
> source that says teflon may cause cancer, I'd like to see it. You are
> more likely to generate carcinogens just by cooking food.

While not specifically authoritive, the summary and references should suit:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teflon

> I think teflon cookware is safe to use but lifetime is limited. Teflon
> is plastic, you know. We have a 45 year old stainless Revereware frying
> pan that we still use.

One of the biproducts of heating teflon over 660F is carbon tetrafloride (CF4).
Given how nasty carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) is (including being a known
carcinogen), CF4 can't be good for you, carcinogenic or otherwise.

The FDA's appears to have concluded that teflon pans are perfectly safe,
unless they're overheated, at which point they emit toxic fumes which can
cause adverse effects relatively quickly.

All that said, there was some research published a year or two ago that
pointed out that fried food (regardless of pan type) causes an increased
cancer risk.

[We use both teflon and cast iron pans, and are very careful about not
overheating teflon. Aside from possible toxicity, it shortens the
lifetime of the pan. Even without overheating, most teflon pans have
a useable "non-stick" lifespan of only 2-4 years. Tho, higher end
pans (much thicker substrates, eg: Analon) will last considerably longer.]
--
Chris Lewis,

Age and Treachery will Triumph over Youth and Skill
It's not just anyone who gets a Starship Cruiser class named after them.

On Wed, 15 Aug 2007 21:53:13 -0000, (Chris
Lewis) wrote:

>According to Frank <frankdotlogullo@comcastperiodnet>:
>
>> Now, I wouldn't say you're all here If you can lead me to a primary
>> source that says teflon may cause cancer, I'd like to see it. You are
>> more likely to generate carcinogens just by cooking food.
>
>While not specifically authoritive, the summary and references should suit:
>
>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teflon
>
>> I think teflon cookware is safe to use but lifetime is limited. Teflon
>> is plastic, you know. We have a 45 year old stainless Revereware frying
>> pan that we still use.
>
>One of the biproducts of heating teflon over 660F is carbon tetrafloride (CF4).
>Given how nasty carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) is (including being a known
>carcinogen), CF4 can't be good for you, carcinogenic or otherwise.
>
>The FDA's appears to have concluded that teflon pans are perfectly safe,
>unless they're overheated, at which point they emit toxic fumes which can
>cause adverse effects relatively quickly.

Does anyone actually believe one word the FDA publishes? With their
track record???!!!!
>
>All that said, there was some research published a year or two ago that
>pointed out that fried food (regardless of pan type) causes an increased
>cancer risk.
>
>[We use both teflon and cast iron pans, and are very careful about not
>overheating teflon. Aside from possible toxicity, it shortens the
>lifetime of the pan. Even without overheating, most teflon pans have
>a useable "non-stick" lifespan of only 2-4 years. Tho, higher end
>pans (much thicker substrates, eg: Analon) will last considerably longer.]

On Wed, 15 Aug 2007 18:18:35 -0700, aspasia wrote:

>Does anyone actually believe one word the FDA publishes? With their
>track record???!!!!

What alternate source of information do you recommend?

-- Larry

On Tue, 14 Aug 2007 18:24:34 -0700, Doc > wrote:

>I have a teflon pan that was left on the stove with water in it, set
>at high to boil it and left it too long, the water boiled out and now
>the bottom area of the teflon is kind of a smooth chalky gray, doesn't
>feel anything like the rest of the teflon.
>
>Anything that can be done with it or is it trashed?

I would not worry about the pan. Just be thankful you and other
family members are still alive. Burned teflon is known to kill small
animals, especially birds. People can become extremely ill, and
possibly die. Get yourself a new pan, one without teflon.

On Wed, 15 Aug 2007 13:48:41 -0000, wrote:

>
>As for the question, if the pan was overheated on for a considerable
>time and won't clean up, then it should be thrown out.

Or used for mixing plaster, etc. It even has a handle.
>

After reading all these posts I would throw it out just to be safe.
Mind you I think everything gives you cancer these days. I am sure
someone will tell us breathing and drinking water will give us cancer
soon!

Stu
www.cateringappliancesltd.co.uk

According to <aspasia>:
> On Wed, 15 Aug 2007 21:53:13 -0000, (Chris
> Lewis) wrote:

> >The FDA's appears to have concluded that teflon pans are perfectly safe,
> >unless they're overheated, at which point they emit toxic fumes which can
> >cause adverse effects relatively quickly.

> Does anyone actually believe one word the FDA publishes? With their
> track record???!!!!

Heck, I'm Canadian, and as nonsensical as the FDA often is, the FDA
is a lot more trustworthy than most of the rumor mill/tinfoil hat/FUD
going around.
--
Chris Lewis,

Age and Treachery will Triumph over Youth and Skill
It's not just anyone who gets a Starship Cruiser class named after them.