Scratched Teflon Pot Repair Opinions

• 

  scrimshaw on 06/12/2017 - 18:16

  +8

  Teflon coating is a multi-step industrial process that requires, etching, priming of the surface and controlled heating in high temp ovens to 'cure' and set the Teflon.

  You cannot just buy a Teflon spray from Amazon & attempt a DIY repair — the coating won't stick to the original Teflon and you'll end up poisoning yourself.

  In any case, Teflon cookery is for low or medium heat cooking like eggs, vegetables, and may be used for proteins like fish and chicken. It's a beginner friendly type of cookwear that's easy to clean but you need to be delicate with it, and it's not a one-size fits all type of cooking utensil. Usually for high heat I would try a chinese wok, stainless steel pot and cast iron / carbon steel.

  For crabs and other things with bones and hard shells, or other sharp and abrasive objects, always use stainless steel instead of your expensive teflon pots.

• 

  Findo on 06/12/2017 - 19:14

  I’ve turned some of my scratched up Teflon pots and pans into ashtrays. No scrubbing needed to get tarry residue off them.

• 

  madreece on 06/12/2017 - 19:30

  The problem stems from believing "House" marketing that their home brand pans are "premium" because they tell you so.

• 

  tebbybabes on 06/12/2017 - 20:31

  +3

  I'm sorry to say that I don't think there are any feasible ways to recoating your pot.

  As an aside, I no longer believe that "ultra premium non-stick coating" pots & pans will last significantly longer than $20 stuff from the supermarkets. This is just personal experience with gear that costs 10x more. They might last longer, but certainly not 10x longer. At this point in my life, I tend to have the $20 pans last 3-4 years before I feel they're no longer performing 100%. Even if I replace it every 3 years, I'm still way way ahead compared to $200 stuff that I used to keep using even if wasn't happy with it anymore just because they were so pricey.

  • 

    Kangal on 06/12/2017 - 21:09

    +1

    What about a dbrand skin?

  • 

    geek001 on 07/12/2017 - 10:23

    +1

    Thanks for that. I think I will do that from now on.

• 

  JimmyF on 06/12/2017 - 21:54

  +1

  Or should I not bother and just go with stainless steel next time.

  Sadly this

  I no longer believe that "ultra premium non-stick coating" pots & pans will last significantly longer than $20 stuff from the supermarkets.

  and this.

  I've had some MEGA costly no stick pans and both failed quicker than I would like, one got a bit over 12 months.

  Picked up a $20 aldi one while I was deciding what I wanted to buy next and darn me, it lasted longer than the other two!

  In the end, I went a stainless steel one. Its not bad, cleaning can be fun at times!

  • 

    thatonethere on 06/12/2017 - 22:38

    +2

    We've had the same experience - got a really pricey one and it still died. Now we just get 3 packs of Ikea ones for the kids to do pancakes on the weekend and slowly discard them into recycling.

    • 

      geek001 on 07/12/2017 - 10:24

      Ikea is a good idea. Might go with that next time. I find the upper range of their cooking stuff is not bad.

  • 

    Draxxx on 06/12/2017 - 23:30

    +1

    In the end, I went a stainless steel one. Its not bad, cleaning can be fun at times!

    Bar Keepers Friend will get them back to new with a bit of a scrub.

    • 

      JimmyF on 07/12/2017 - 09:21

      Thanks, might check it out!

  • 

    tebbybabes on 06/12/2017 - 23:49

    Another option you can consider is trying out something in bog standard carbon steel. Like the cheap chinese woks. Carbon steel will be even cheaper and it actually rusts like crazy, but a well seasoned one is a joy to use and actually performs pretty darn close to non-stick - but does require a bit of oil.

    A little bit of effort required with the seasoning but if you can live with it, it's absolutely terrific to use.

  • 

    [Deactivated] on 07/12/2017 - 02:48

    +2

    Do you cook using lava piped directly from the deepest rivers of hell as a source of heat or something?

    I have Tefal Teflon pans that are over ten years old and they're golden!

    Cook about six or seven times a week so they do get used heeeeeaps.

    Telfon stuff usually kicks the bucket because people crank the heat up to 11

    • 

      JimmyF on 07/12/2017 - 09:22

      Do you cook using lava piped directly from the deepest rivers of hell

      Why yes I do! The only way to cook steaks!

      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JG9UzR1gHT0

• 

  HighAndDry on 07/12/2017 - 10:14

  -1

  We were quite disappointed that such a premium brand gets scratched so easily.

  Teflon is teflon - more expensive brands may have their coatings last longer in use that the cookery is designed for, or have other features (the coating isn't the only factor affecting quality of a pot). It doesn't magically mean their materials will have different physical properties.

  This is on you for not using the pot as it was designed.

  • 

    geek001 on 07/12/2017 - 10:23

    +1

    A pot is not designed to be used for cooking???

    • 

      HighAndDry on 07/12/2017 - 10:25

      In the same way a car is designed to be used for driving, but if you take a Toyota Yaris off-road, you'd still be doing it wrong.

      As others have said, you don't use teflon coated cookware to cook hard/abrasive ingredients. Edit: Here's a list:

      https://images-eu.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/918ZpsRAfDS…

    • 

      [Deactivated] on 07/12/2017 - 14:24

      +2

      Teflon pans have a long lists of DON'Ts. If you follow all of them, your pan will last you years.

      Among the most common offences I see (from my personal observation) are
      - using the wrong oil
      - scrubbing with scourer
      - using metal spatula or forks
      - setting the temp up too high (doesn't take much to get there)