If you have looked at cookware recently, you may have noticed labels like "PTFE-free" or "PFAS-free" appearing more often. These terms are showing up on pans, air fryers, and baking trays, but they are not always explained clearly.
This article covers what PTFE and PFAS are, how they relate to cookware, and what to keep in mind when choosing kitchen appliances in Singapore.
What Is PTFE?
PTFE stands for polytetrafluoroethylene. It is the chemical compound behind most non-stick coatings on cookware, most commonly known under the brand name Teflon.
PTFE creates a low-friction surface that prevents food from sticking during cooking. It has been widely used in cookware since the 1960s. At standard cooking temperatures it is considered stable. The concern arises at higher heats, typically above 260°C, where PTFE can begin to degrade and release compounds into the air.
What Are PFAS?
PFAS stands for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances. It is a broader category of synthetic chemicals, of which PTFE is one type.
PFAS compounds are sometimes called forever chemicals because they do not break down easily in the environment or in the human body. They have been found in water supplies, soil, and human blood samples globally. Research into their long-term health effects is ongoing, but several PFAS compounds have been associated with concerns around immune function, hormone levels, and other health markers.
Regulatory bodies in the United States and European Union have been tightening restrictions on certain PFAS compounds. In Singapore, regulations on food contact materials are governed by the Singapore Food Agency, which follows international food safety standards.
How Do They End Up in Cookware?
PTFE coatings are the most direct PFAS connection in the kitchen. A standard non-stick pan or air fryer basket is likely to have a PTFE-based coating unless it specifically states otherwise.
In normal use, at lower to medium heat with an undamaged coating, the risk from PTFE coatings is considered low by most food safety authorities. The concern increases when coatings are scratched or overheated, or when the cookware ages and the coating begins to degrade.
The practical challenge is that it is not always easy to know when a non-stick coating has degraded enough to be a concern. Scratches are visible, but chemical degradation is not.
What PTFE-Free and PFAS-Free Mean on a Label
When a product says "PTFE-free" or "PFAS-free", it means the coating or material does not include these compounds. This is increasingly a selling point for cookware marketed toward health-conscious buyers.
It is worth checking exactly what the claim covers. Some products remove PTFE but use other synthetic compounds in its place. A glass cooking vessel, for example, has no coating at all and therefore sidesteps the question entirely. Glass vs plastic air fryers explains how glass compares to coated alternatives in more detail.
What to Look for When Choosing Cookware
If you want to avoid PTFE and PFAS, the clearest path is materials with no synthetic coating. Cast iron, stainless steel, and borosilicate glass all cook without a chemical layer between the food and the surface.
For air fryers specifically, most models use a PTFE-coated basket or drawer. Glass air fryers are an exception: the cooking vessel itself is glass, so the primary cooking surface has no coating at all. Is Air Frying Actually Healthier Than Deep Frying? covers the broader health context of air frying as a cooking method.
If PTFE-free is the goal but a glass option is not practical, look for products that specifically state their grill racks or baskets are PTFE and PFAS-free. "Non-stick" describes performance, not materials. The two are not the same claim.
Worth Knowing
PTFE and PFAS are widespread in conventional non-stick cookware. The risks at normal cooking temperatures are debated, but the concerns around long-term exposure and environmental persistence are well-documented enough that many cooks are actively choosing alternatives.
Glass is the most straightforward alternative for air frying because it has no coating to scratch, degrade, or question.
CrispGo by Durra uses borosilicate glass as its cooking vessel. The grill rack does have a non-stick coating, but it is PTFE and PFAS-free. If that matters to how you cook, it is worth a closer look at thedurra.com.
