[Sharon C.]

Do I need to get new pots and pans if my regular pots and pans are teflon coated? I have read others mention things about this. A warm soapy washing isn't enough? Thanks-

Sharon

[Coulter]

You should definitely replace TEFLON pots and pans. Just plain old steel is the best cause you can really scrub it and it usually doesn't retain the gluten. Teflon is hard to get completely clean and while it's okay to use for a dedicated pot or pan, you definitely should avoid it for shared pots/pans. Stick with steel

[jaimek]

You should definitely replace your teflon pans. I was staying at my parents house one weekend over the summer and I happened to make eggs in a teflon pan. Little did I know that my brother had made french toast in the same pan the previous weekend. He cleaned it but it apparently didn't matter because I was bedridden for the rest of the night. It was awful. You do not want to go through what I went through.

[FreyaUSA]

I guess this just doesn't make sense to me. Are we talking about teflon that is pitted and chipped or are we talking about the expensive cookware that is available now? I did replace all my cookie sheets and muffin pans, but I would think my pots would be okay (expensive stuff )

I haven't noticed any problems with my pots and pans, btw. But I do have a cheap, dedicated crepe pan that I used without thinking and... it was not good in my house for a few days. Got all four of us.

[Coulter]

If it's chipped and old, definitely replace. When I got a new pot for my stuff, it was teflon, which didn't matter since only I used it. However, I recently started finding pieces of teflon in my meal--yuck!--it peels very easily and if it hadn't been a dedicated pot, I could've been contaminated. Just buy a cheap pot...preferably not telfon ...for dedicated cooking.

[ashlee's mom]

Are there any actual studies about the Teflon retaining gluten that anyone knows about? I just don't understand how it would retain gluten. Can anyone explain?

[jaimek]

I know the pan that I used was not chipped, but I don't think it was one of the high quality pans. I bought a whole new set of Teflon, high quality pots and pans, but I do not have any gluten in my house. I don't need scientific evidence to tell me Teflon retains gluten. I got violently ill the one time and that was enough for me. Funny cause I had used them before and never had a reaction, but it only takes that one time that someone doesn't clean it that well!

[kabowman]

I have a dedicated teflon pan and I haven't had problems yet...I am pretty dilligent about it, some, meaning my husband, might even go so far as to call me parianoid! However, I have had reactions to one of my old cast iron skillets...so I have stopped using those. That is one of the things I will be requesting for Xmas - a new cast iron skillet I can use as dedicated gluten-free!

-Kate

[Coulter]

Yes ....if it's dedicated, it probably wouldn't cause a problem, but since the teflon can peel, it's probably just better to have stainless steel--and then if anyone ever accidentally uses it, you can clean it thorougly and have confidence that there's no gluten left in it.

p.s. I'm ultra-paranoid as well......more than you can imagine