Glossary · 8 terms

Cookware Labels & Safety — PFAS, PFOA, Dishwasher Safe

What the claims on a pan actually mean, and how to check them.

Able to withstand dishwasher detergent and heat without damage.

Heating by magnetic field; it requires a ferromagnetic pan base.

A surface property that reduces food adhesion, achieved by coating or seasoning.

Able to withstand oven temperatures, often limited by handle or lid materials.

A family of fluorinated compounds; some nonstick coatings historically used them.

A PFAS compound previously used in nonstick manufacturing; largely phased out.

Polytetrafluoroethylene, the inert fluoropolymer behind Teflon nonstick coatings.

Permanent deformation of a pan base, often caused by thermal shock or thin metal.

Definitions are maintained by the site editors; "products in our corpus" counts come from the offline product database (2023 vintage).