Frying pans often come with non-stick coatings (usually Teflon or PTFE) that can help ensure that the food doesn't stick to the surface during the cooking process and is easy to remove from the plate.
Often, however, with time and frequent usage, the non-stick coating might reduce in strength or come out, making it quite frustrating to cook. Is there a solution through which you can make these pans non-stick again?
There are, in fact, a few methods that you can try out to bring back the non-stick coating. You can go through this process below.
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How To Make Pans Non-Stick Again: Steps To Follow
There are multiple ways in which you can make your pans non-stick again that you can learn about through the following process.
1. Deep Clean
No matter which method you use to re-establish the non-stick layer, you should first deep clean the frying pan so that you can get rid of any possible scrapes, stains, or food remains.
To do this, first perform a regular clean using some dish soap and water and rinse the soap out. Then, you should combine water, baking soda and white vinegar and add the mixture to the pan.
Set the frying pan on the stove, turn the heat on, and wait for the mixture to boil. Once this is done, turn the heat off and remove the mixture from the pan, after which you should again use dish soap and water to wash the pan.
Make sure you use a soft sponge to do this. Let the pan air dry, or use a cloth to dry it.
2. Use Sprays
After thoroughly cleaning the pan, one of the methods by which you can add a non-stick coating to your pan is by using a spray designed specifically for this purpose.
Such sprays should be easily available in nearby supermarkets or stores. If not, you can also look for them online, but either way, do some research first to ensure that the brand and product are reputed and suitable for your pan.
After you have your spray with you, use it to form a thick and uniform coating on the base of the pan. Keep the pan aside for up to half an hour, then place it on the stove to adhere the coating to the pan.
You should allow the pan to cool down, then wash it with dish soap and water using a sponge (and nothing rough or sharp).
3. Season The Pan
Using vegetable or coconut oil is a simple method to make your pan non-stick again. To carry this out, you should first turn the heat on to medium and place the pan on it, allowing it to warm up a bit.
After a couple of minutes, apply the oil to the pan and form a layer, but remember not to add too much. Make sure you move the pan around to ensure that the oil coats up the pan’s base uniformly.
Keep the heat on until you notice some smoke. After the smoking starts, turn the heat off and allow the pan to cool down, after which you can use a cloth or dishtowel to spread the remaining oil across the base and wipe off the excess.
You can also carry this process out in the oven but ensure your pan is safe.
4. Ask A Specialist
Not too confident about carrying out these steps or methods on your own?
In this scenario, the best thing to do would be to contact the manufacturing company to see if your warranty period is still in place. If it is, they will send a representative or specialist and perform the process for you without extra charges, or they will send you a new pan.
Even if the warranty is no longer in place, you can still contact another professional to repair the pan, although this will likely cost you a bit of money. However, it might be worth it if it is still more affordable than buying a new pan.
What Makes Non-Stick Pans Sticky?
Several reasons can make non-stick pans sticky, such as the following.
- Quite simply, the non-stick coating might wear off due to frequent use.
- If you clean your pans by scrubbing too hard or using brushes with sharp bristles, this can easily scrub the non-stick coating off.
- Ensure you season your pan regularly, or the stickiness will continue.
- Allowing the pan to become too hot to handle can remove the non-stick coating.
- If you use spray instead of oil or butter, the leftovers might be tough to get rid of and can damage the non-stick layer of your pan.
Tips On Usage And Maintenance
- Season the pan regularly to ensure that this problem does not arise again.
- While seasoning for recoating, you might need to carry out the process 2-3 times.
- Never leave leftovers in your pan for storage since this can affect the non-stick layer and the food.
- If you use sharp accessories or utensils such as knives, forks, metal spatulas or other such utensils, the coating will come off. Avoid this.
- After cleaning and drying the pan, make sure you add a partition or padding between one pan and the other in the storage shelf or cabinet.
- Usually, once you are done cooking, let the pan cool down before you rinse it.
- If your non-stick pan is well beyond its lifespan and if you notice the base layer peeling off and scraping regularly, you should buy a new non-stick pan, especially if the methods we have provided have stopped working too.
Parting Thoughts
Making pans non-stick again is quite simple. You can clean the pan up and either use a coating spray, season the pan or call a specialist. Regular cleaning, maintenance and proper storage are also essential to keep the non-stick layer in place.
