The lifecycle, maintenance and recycling of Tefal pans
Lifecycle, care and recycling
Tomorrow's Tefal pan is already in your kitchen
From their design to their use in our kitchens, our utensils go through some crucial stages combining know-how, innovation and quality requirements. Tefal encourages responsible recycling so that another phase begins when their life comes to an end.
One Tefal pan is worth two (almost)
Our tip: correct care and use can extend the life of your pan.
Cleaning made easy
Use the non-abrasive side of your sponge and a gentle detergent.
Avoid thermal shock
Putting your hot pan in cold water directly after use can cause the base to distort. Best to leave it to cool first!
Avoid using a knife in your pan
Your Tefal pan will stand up to almost anything. Our most resistent coatings can handle a scrape from a metal spatula, but will not withstand a knife, which could damage the coating and, over time, will affect its non-stick properties.
Discover our eco-tips
for reducing your environmental impact
Save water by soaking your cold pan before washing
Cut your food into small pieces to speed up cooking and save energy.
To sear your meat perfectly, use the Thermo-Signal® indicator: it shows when the pan has pre-heated for long enough, so you can then reduce the heat and not waste energy.
How to recycle your pan?
How to clean your pan correctly?
How to keep your cookware longer?
How to clean your Ingenio pan and removable handle?
Too many scratches means lower non-stick performance of your pan
Whatever its coating, once your pan is scratched, distorted or cracked, it can no longer do its job properly, even though it will still be as safe to use. You should replace it as the coating will become less effective. If you can no longer use it without adding fat, it's time to replace it.
Aluminium is a material which can be recycled again and again. We are committed to doing everything we can to use more recycled aluminium in our products. We regularly ask our partner retailers to collect our old pans for recycling, so we can give them new life.
Discover Tefal in a few clicks!
Tefal: secrets of manufacture
Discover the fascinating process whereby our experts transform simple aluminium discs into frying pans and saucepans.
PTFE in coatings is approved for food contact by health authorities accross the world (and
particularly in Europe and the USA) based on their assessments that the material's properties do
not pose a safety risk during normal use.
PTFE coatings are chemically inert, and studies have confirmed that PTFE is not absorbed into
the body, even if it is ingested accidentally.
SEB is also pursuing a strategy of diversifying its offering to meet the diverse expectations of
all its customers.
Finally, the Group is engaged in a constant process of innovation aimed at improving our
products. This is particularly the case for the resistance of coatings, which are increasingly
durable over time.
2. PTFE / PFAS AND OTHER SUBSTANCES
a. What is PTFE?
PTFE or polytetrafluoroethylene is a fluoropolymer. It is used in non-stick coatings and
consists of a chain of thousands of carbon atoms, with two fluorine atoms attached to each
carbon atom. This structure makes PTFE not absorbed by the human body and therefore safe for
health. It also makes it exceptionally resistant to high temperatures and highly "sliding,"
giving it non-stick properties that are ideal for producing a highly effective coating for
cooking and frying pans. Our PTFE coatings are suitable for cooking. Always use according to
instructions. Health organisations such as the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the
European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) have recognised PTFE in coatings as a material that is
suitable for contact with food.
b. Where is this PTFE produced?
PTFE is one of the basic materials used in the formulation of non-stick coatings. It is
produced by leading international chemical companies, selected as part of Groupe SEB's
responsible purchasing policy (according to ethical, social and environmental criteria) and on
the basis of strict specifications. These companies are regularly inspected.
c. What reference studies are used by health authorities to demonstrate that PTFE coatings
do not pose a risk to human health?
PTFE coatings are chemically inert, and studies have confirmed that PTFE is not absorbed into
the body, even if it is ingested accidentally. Health organisations such as the World Health
Organisation (WHO) and the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) have recognised PTFE in
coatings as a material that is suitable for contact with food (link to studies).
d. Do your pans contain PFAS?
Yes, it contains PTFE, wich not pose any safety risk, and it is important to understand why. Our
non-stick coating contains PTFE, which is a specific type of PFAS. But not all PFAS are the
same. Our pans do not contain the types of PFAS that health organisations consider harmful.
Studies have concluded that PTFE coatings do not pose a safety risk because they consist of
molecules that are polymerised and tightly bound to the kitchenware.
e. How do you control PFAS in your products?
Our non-stick coating contains PTFE, which is a fluoropolymer and therefore a specific type of
PFAS. We have consciously chosen PTFE as the chemical for our coating and PTFE coatings are
approved for food contact by health authorities. In addition, we conduct active quality control
for for several other PFAS substances:
We impose strict chemicals specifications to our PTFE raw materials and coatings
suppliers
We perform regular tests on finished products made with PTFE coatings, for many
unintended PFAS compounds
Our tests are carried out by independent and accredited laboratories that use the
market's most advanced test method
f. Does the new RENEW range contain PFAS?
Our RENEW cookware range features an INOCERAM ceramic coating which, by its chemical nature,
contains no PFAS.
3. CONSUMER SAFETY
What is the risk of using a scratched non-stick pan? Or of ingesting pieces of the
coating?
PTFE in coatings is approved for food contact by health authorities in Europe and the USA based
on their assessments that the material's properties do not pose a safety risk during normal use
of intact kitchenware. PTFE coatings are, however, chemically inert, and studies have confirmed
that PTFE is not absorbed into the body, even if it is ingested accidentally. However, scratches
can reduce the kitchenware's non-stick properties, so we advise you to use it in accordance with
the instructions for use and replace it if the coating is damaged.
4. REGULATORY ISSUES
What is the Group's position in relation to a regulatory context that is likely to evolve
in the United States and Europe in the coming years?
Groupe SEB always places the wellbeing of its customers at the heart of its concerns. In this
respect, our Group is consistently acting to be ahead of current national and international
regulations.
We therefore reassure you that we follow with great attention the updates from all qualified
authorities on the compliance of our products and claims, and are always acting accordingly. Our
teams are currently closely monitoring the developments following the publication of the draft
of the PFAS restriction report, as published by ECHA.
5. EMPLOYEES SAFETY IN OUR PLANTS
a. What are the criteria for exposure to PFOA?
For chemicals in general, there are three routes of exposure: ingestion, inhalation, skin
contact.
For a line worker, the most likely route of exposure is by inhalation due to other personal
protective equipment (gloves, work clothing) and the rules at the station (prohibition of eating
at the station). Wearing respiratory protection was made compulsory in 2015 for the handling,
formulation and coating of PTFE-based coatings, de facto reducing this risk.
b. What risk prevention policy do you put in place on your sites?
We are committed at all stages of our manufacturing processes to respecting prevention
principles:
Selection of the most suitable raw materials from a health-safety-environment point of
view
Capturing emissions and protecting employees at source. For example, our PTFE spray
lines are all equipped with source suction at all emissive stages of the process.
Devices make it possible to continuously monitor the proper functioning of these
measures.
To learn more about the assessments of the relevant authorities regarding PTFE, please click here.
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recommended Price
This price is the price recommended by Tefal to distributors
