Find answers to common questions about our products, orders and delivery.
Non-stick pans are kitchen workhorses, but even the best coatings have a natural lifespan. As a rule of thumb, most good-quality non-stick pans last around five years with regular use. If you’re using a pan daily, you may need to replace it a little sooner; occasional cooks may see their pans last longer.
The clearest sign that a non-stick pan needs replacing is when the coating starts to flake, peel, or blister. At that point, the pan has reached the end of its life and should be retired straightaway. Deep scratches that expose the metal beneath the coating are another strong indicator. Even before visible damage appears, you may notice that food begins to stick more often — that’s usually the first sign that the coating is wearing out.
Certain habits can shorten a pan’s lifespan: consistently cooking on high heat, using metal utensils, putting pans through the dishwasher, or scrubbing them with abrasive pads. These all degrade coatings more quickly. Whilst pans are dishwasher safe, I liken it to cleaning your car with seawater! Gentle hand-washing, using wooden or silicone tools, and cooking on medium heat will help extend the life of any non-stick cookware.
In terms of value, budget pans often last one to two years, mid-range pans typically reach three to five years, and premium, reinforced coatings can go eight or even ten years with proper care. But regardless of price, once a coating starts to degrade, replacing the pan is the safest and most effective option.
Ultimately, the goal is safety and performance. A functioning non-stick pan should make cooking and cleaning effortless. Once it stops doing that — it’s time for a new one.
From the A365 range, my favourite pan when cooking eggs is the 20cm frying pan in our Cermalon K438 Blue Cookware set. This has a high gloss environmentally friendly PTFE/PFOA free ceramic coating that provides an amazing non-stick performance without using excessive oil or butter.
One-pot cooking is a style of cooking where an entire meal is prepared usinag a single piece of cookware – such as a frying pan, casserole or slow cooker. All the ingredients are cooked together in stages in the same pot, allowing flavours to build while keeping washing-up to a minimum.
The Durastone 28cm Shallow Casserole with Lid is very much a family pan, perfect for one-pot cooking! It features a ceramic non-stick interior coating and can be used in the oven as well as on the hob. Ideal for stir fry, curry and casseroles, the Durastone Casserole is dishwasher-safe and suitable for all hobs including induction.
PFOA-free means that a product is made without using perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) during its manufacture.
PFOA is a man-made chemical that was historically used in the production of some non-stick coatings. It belongs to a group of substances often called PFAS (“forever chemicals”) because they do not break down easily in the environment.
All cookware in the Qudos Home range is PFOA free, including the Cermalon 3-piece frying pan set. These stylish pans are constructed from two stainless steel layers sandwiching an aluminium core for maximum durability. This allows for fast and even heat distribution for optimal cooking results. The pans are scratch resistant with a non-stick PFOA-free, Hex Coating whilst also being metal utensil safe. They work with all hob types, including induction and are oven safe to 260ºC.
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