I don't think 20/20 has been entirely honest. I happened to catch about 10 minutes of 20/20 yesterday, where they were exposing the dangers of Teflon. It was a good report, except for one part, where they fried bacon to show that just by frying bacon a Teflon-coated pan will get up to more than 500 degrees. Perhaps this is true, but I doubt it. From the short video segment I saw of them frying bacon, I think what is more likely is that they just put the pan on high and put bacon in. The pan overheated before the bacon is cooked, which is unsurprising. 20/20 made it sound like this was normal for cooking bacon, however I believe the normal way of cooking bacon is not to put it on high heat, but on medium heat. The pan would not reach 500 degrees with normal cooking. Putting a teflon pan on high heat for minutes on end is not recommended by anyone, and I think 20/20 was fairly dishonest with this test.
Not that I'm trying to defend the Teflon industry. I think they are guilty as hell. But misleading demonstrations by 20/20 should be pointed out.
Posted by ahyatt at November 15, 2003 11:23 AMI don't know. My old roomie used to cook everything on high heat, as does my mom. I don't, but then, I know how to cook. I think a lot of people may very well use high heat with their Teflon pans, because a lot of people I know think high heat means it's going cook faster (which is so not true).
Personally, I hate Teflon pans.
Posted by: Orb on November 15, 2003 08:26 PMGood point. I wasn't trying to say that it's not a problem, but I just found that 20/20 presented their test as if just cooking bacon was dangerous under normal conditions, but that probably is not true. Cooking bacon would only be dangerous if the pan is overheated. Which is still bad. Just not as bad as presented.
Posted by: Andrew Hyatt on November 15, 2003 09:05 PM20/20 must have really overstated it. My mom called me earlier having a panic attack about using her Teflon pans. I told you not to use the high setting on her stove, and she'd be fine. After a moment of silence she said "But how am I supposed to cook anything if I don't use high?"
I love my mom. Really, I do. :D
Posted by: Orb on November 16, 2003 01:40 AMUnder normal cooking temps, I don't feel that teflon poses significant danger. We are exposed to hundreds of chemicals every day and our body is able to break them down with no long term health problems. Teflon outgases toxic fumes when it is overheated as does any other polomer. Don't use the pan on high heat and don't let it go dry. Common sense.
Posted by: Gary Hallock on November 26, 2003 12:31 PMNo it's not a misleading Teflon test...
Hummm... sounds like to me that everyone here so far isn't afraid of any long-term effects. There will always be close minded people who live in denial. Sure there are plenty of things in this world that can harm us. But when I hear that teflon pans can be dangerous at a certain temperature, and I don't care what temperature, it makes me wonder what else Dupont is not telling us. Dupont has known about this for many years and still manufactured the pans anyway. Why? there is big profit in Teflon. As long as the product solves a consumer problem and they are first to the market with it, they know they will be #1 in that category. Companies don't give a heck about your health as long as they make money and get rich. They don't care if you get sick, die, get cancer or whatever. I'm sure there are some executives at Dupont who really know the story behind Teflon who won't touch it with a ten foot pole. You can bet on that! Personally I don't want to take the risk at any temperature. Would you point a revolver at your head and pull the trigger if you knew there was only one bullet in the cylinder? If I learn that something has the potential to kill me, and it's as easy as using a different pan, I'll avoid it. Wow, what a concept!
I totally agree with Dan's comments. I usually cook with stainless steel or cast iron pots and pans. I wish I had one of those Vision pots that my mother has too. In any case, any adverse effects from daily exposure to teflon is bound to accumulate, which translates to long term effects on a person's health.
Posted by: greta on January 28, 2004 03:39 PMI have this problem with Teflon and I'm hoping someone will read this. Teflon is getting into everything we're using lately. Now, if it's in everything, where does it eventually end up- where does everything eventually end up? You got it- the water supply. Ever wanted a teflon coated stomache? I'm thinking no one will be safe from this crap- and the company is full of such greedy liars, we'll never get real scientific answers out of them. Doesn't anyone give a damn anymore? This stuff is lethal! It can and will kill. Just hoping someone else has thought about this. By the way- I hate cooking with teflon too.
Posted by: H on February 15, 2005 05:31 PMI agree with most of what I've read here, on both sides, as there is no concrete proof either way. What surprises me is that no one seems to have realized the truely scarry thing here. Forget that everything ends up in the water, DO YOU REALIZE THAT THERE IS VIRTUALLY NO ONE IN THIS COUNTRY WHO'S BLOOD CAN NOT BE TESTED FOR THE C-8 COMPOUND IN TEFLON. WE ALL HAVE IT!! The only other thing we all share is the fact that we have DNA and not even that is the same for all of us:) Here's a substance who's long term affects are either not fully know or are not fully investigated, one who's various parts have been used in chemical warfare and we all use it every day in every:) If ignorace isn't bliss, it sure makes life easier;)
Posted by: Thea on April 11, 2005 07:50 AM