What about Scanpan?
“What about Scanpan?” asked one of our readers after reading our guide to nonstick cookware. ‘Isn’t it a healthier alternative to the usual Teflon® pan?’, he said.
“What about it?”, I asked myself. And why does this brand Scanpan keep popping up on my radar?
After needing to replace yet another regular non-stick fry pan because it lost its ‘non-stickness’, I decided to have a serious look at Scanpan Classic skillets.
Was this going to be my next fry pan? After all, these pans are not cheap and easily over $50-60 per pan for the smaller sizes.
Scanpan, the company was established in 1956 in Denmark and the products are all made there. It is an environmentally friendly company who say they use absolutely no PFOA/PFOS in the making of their non-stick coating and use recycled aluminium in their pans.
So far, so good.
BUT WHAT IS THE NON-STICK COATING THEN?
According to the Scanpan website, its a patented Ceramic Titanium surface that is 10x harder than steel and get this, ITS METAL UTENSIL SAFE! That makes it a very scratch resistant pan!
SO ITS NOT TEFLON THEN?
Technically, Teflon is a brand name for PTFE (a plastic non-stick coating) owned by Dupont. It’s like saying Kleenex instead of tissue paper, or Xerox for any photocopier. The coating on Scanpan, like MOST non-stick coatings, does contain the chemical PTFE. The SCANPAN formula works with a patented ceramic titanium surface construction which makes the surface more abrasion resistant, meaning it will last for a long, long time.
People, this is not your grandma’s Teflon!!
SO ITS NO HEALTHIER THAN A REGULAR NONSTICK PAN THEN?
The food release in a Scanpan is provided by PTFE, the base compound for any and all nonstick coatings. On its own,PTFE is an inert plastic that would pass harmlessly through the body even if ingested. The issue was with PFOA which was deemed toxic and is not used in the process of making of these pans.
Scanpan, or any nonstick pan, would have to be heated to temperature of 660F for the coating to break down and emit fumes which are harmless but annoying for humans but have been found harmful for birds. Cookware doesn’t reach that temperature in the course of normal cooking, frying or baking. According to one report, fumes released from margarine are in the same category and are potentially more harmful to certain species of birds.
So in a nutshell, Scanpan is a safe cookware and seems to have a much stronger and more durable nonstick surface than the ordinary pan.
SO WHAT ARE SCANPAN SKILLETS MADE OF?
Scanpan Classic skillets are made of pressure cast aluminium. Pressure cast means that they use 200 tons of pressure to squeeze the liquid aluminum alloy into the perfect pan shape. This makes sure that there is no trapped air or other inclusions. What this does is give you a perfectly flat pan base, perfect heat distribution, no hot spots and superior heat retention. According to the company, the thickness of the pan base has scientifically been determined to provide fast and even heating.
ARE THESE PANS OVEN AND BROILER SAFE?
According to Scanpan, ‘These pans can be used to make just about everything!” They are oven and broiler safe up to 500° F. The pans base thickness combined with the ceramic titanium surface allows for browning, searing and deglazing!
Finally, a non-stick pan that can do everything a cast iron pan can do!
WHAT ABOUT THE HANDLES?
Each handle is attached using a patented locking system that does not use screws or rivets. This ensures that the handle does not become loose over time. Plus its easier to clean since no food is getting stuck around the rivets.
ARE THESE PANS DISHWASHER SAFE?
Yes they are. Though as your Cookware Advisor, I would advise you to always wash cookware with hand no matter what the manufacturer says. These are so easy to clean, it takes hardly any time to soap, sponge and wash off.
CAN SCANPAN PANS BE USED ON INDUCTION RANGES?
No, they are not induction compatible.
WHAT ABOUT THE WARRANTY?
Scanpan pans come with a full lifetime warranty.
WHAT ARE OTHERS SAYING?
Users love their Scanpan pans! Long time users vouched for the longevity of the pans and the non-stick finish.
In the end, if a non-stick pan lasts for at least a few years, that saves the hassle and expense of replacing a pan every year.
So in my books, Scanpans are an excellent choice for your non-stick frying needs! I’m sold. Are you?
While these pans are expensive, I can always find a good deal on Amazon.
Disclosure: I get commissions for purchases made through links in this post.
I am afraid to cook on any non-stick pan I don’t care what the company says. I am going to give a cast iron a try.
I’ve loved my 3 Scanpans for 10 years now. A 10″ saute, and 2 – 8″ saute pans. I still love them, but both of my 8″ saute pans developed a loose handle that I could not fix, until I took JB Weld epoxy filler and attached them to the main pan. Kinda ugly, and getting pissed of every time I think about this $2 fix on a couple of $60 pans.
Like I say, I still love them, but they are more like a really cool DeLorean car that won’t start unless I jump start the starter to engage. I love driving those cars, and everybody raves about how I have 2 great cars … until I turn them off and have to pull out a $2 screwdriver to make them run again.
Pretty harsh ,,,, but really???? The handle attachment is the weak link of all this great technology that claim to have????
My next pan purchase will be a Toyota. Nobody argues with the quality of a Toyota. And they don’t have glue holding them together. Too bad Toyota doesn’t have gull wing doors ……
I’ve been using my scanpan for 8 years at least, and it is still sturdy, and super functional. Non-stick still works great.
The black coating on my scanpans is failing. It has bubbles and is flaking. Is it safe to use the pans if the silver color is showing through, on the cooking surface?
Hi Joan, in theory its safe since the aluminum underneath (the silver metal you can see through the coating) forms an aluminum oxide layer which makes it non-reactive (Read more about aluminum pans here). But in all honesty, I would say the life of the pan is over, time to replace.
Hi, you mention cast iron and ceramic coat as good non-PTFE options. There is also plain carbon steel which seasons like cast iron but with less weight, I find it great in smaller sizes for pancakes, omelettes etc. Quicker learning curve because it holds a bit less heat if you overdo the preheating! You do need to search for them in professional catering supply shops though.
And to the aluminium toxicity people, the paper on AD was discredited when they found the brains were dissected on…Al chopping blocks…oops!
I have a large scan pan frying pan and despite what you say above the handle is loose and no facility to tighten it this is the second pan the previous one was replaced by scan pan as the Teflon coating came off
My Scanpan handle has come loose. Can it be repaired?
Lynne
We purchased a full set of ScanPan about 4 years ago, and have had at least 3 of the pieces replaces because of pitting and flaking in the pan. They do replace the pan, but when I bought it I didn’t expect to have to go through the replacement process one pan at a time every year. I’m guessing the ‘quality’ of the product is hype, and it is just a regular old drug store as-seen-on-tv pan. If you like going through replacing these pans continuously – this company is for you.
I forgot to mention – broken handles are not covered by Scanpan’s warranty. No wonder this is the case – they are so flimsy.
We’ve had 2 Scanpan frypans and wouldn’t bother buying new ones – the accountants seem to have got control and cheapened them. Let me explain: the first Scanpan lasted over 30 years – then it was dropped and the handle broke. There’s no way to repair or replace the handle but we thought that given the age and reliability we’d get another Scanpan to replace it. Well within a few months the handle broke off the new one when I was flipping pancakes. Here’s why: the handle attachment system has changed. It looks the same as the original one from the outside, but internally the system has got cheaper and weaker. Where on the first frypan there was a strong stainless steel base extending about 2-1/2″ into the handle, the new frypan has a puny little forged or cast stub of frypan material (aluminium I guess) about 1″ long. The handle is retained on the stub by a little metal clip. No wonder the handle broke. I notice that there are a lot of queries on the internet by people looking for new handles for Scanpan frypans – based on my experience I know why. I wouldn’t waste my money on them again.
As a scientist, I take issue with Arnold Kruger’s comment that it has been proven that aluminum causes Alzheimer’s. First off, there is no way to PROVE cause and effect with something like this. Secondly, some studies have shown higher levels of aluminum in the brains of people with dementia, but others don’t show any higher levels.
Our Scanpan CTX set was purchased in late 2009 as wedding gifts. The saucepans are still okay, less sticky but not flaky. However, the coating on the fry pans was significantly deteriorated after a few years – the non stick went away in perhaps two years, and the flaking started perhaps two more years later. My wife and I both have developed rare autoimmune disorders in the past five years. Not saying it’s caused by the pans, but that was one environmental thing that changed before our illnesses. We have switched to enamel-coated cast iron.
Where do I send my pans to get them replaced. Can you call me and let me know .269 532 1611.
Carl, you should contact the store where you bought them from or contact Scanpan directly.
All these Scanpan non stick pans are made of aluminum, with a non stick coating. And the non stick coating always wears off, leaving the aluminum surface to cook on. So you are absorbing aluminum into your body with the food, and ALUMINUM IS POISONOUS. It has now been proven to cause Alzheimer’s Disease. Use only glass cookware if you value your health. Google alzheimer’s + aluminum for the information.
Thanks for the input Arnold.
I could be totally wrong but from everything I’ve read and researched, there is no proven link between aluminum and Alzheimers. From alz.org (Alzheimer’s association): “studies have failed to confirm any role for aluminum in causing Alzheimer’s”.
I also did a full review of aluminum cookware and came to the conclusion that Aluminum cookware is safe. Please read it if you are interested.
As per my comments made under “What Everyone Needs to Know about Aluminum Cookware“, Aluminum (Al) is a proven neurotoxin. There is evidence that points to Al. However, I am not aware that its link to Alzheimer’s has been proven conclusively.
What is known is that above a certain concentration, we cease to eliminate Al effectively and then it can start to accumulate in several organs including the brain.
On a better safe than sorry basis, it would be prudent to try to minimize exposure to significant sources of Aluminum and its compounds.
However, unless damaged or scratched, coated Aluminum cookware is not a significant source of exposure whereas drinking water is reported to account on average for around 5% of daily intake.
Accordingly, rather than discard perfectly serviceable pots and pans, it might be more sensible to fit an RO (Reverse Osmosis) filter to your drinking water tap.
If still worried, other non-Al options include stainless steel (coated or, more commonly, uncoated) and cast iron (seasoned or enameled).
BTW, other potential sources of Al include inoculations, personal care products, certain medications, dialysis solutions, our diet, etc, etc
Aluminum is a recognized neurotoxin that is believed to be at the root cause of AD. Aluminum becomes more toxic when combined with a high-cholesterol diet – they work together by means that have yet to be fully determined to create the senile plaques and ultimately the mental deterioration known as AD.22 However, there are at least two recognized synergistic ways that these factors contribute to brain damage:
First, an acid-forming diet – one high in meat, poultry, eggs, and cheese – leads to increased serum and brain concentrations of aluminum.23
Second, aluminum enhances inflammation. The immune enhancing properties of aluminum were discovered after immunization with diphtheria and tetanus vaccines in studies performed in the 1930s, 1940s and 1950s, and aluminum is used today to enhance the effectiveness the inflammatory response of most vaccines given to adults and children. In the brain, aluminum enhances the inflammation that may result from the formation of senile plaques driven by cholesterol build up. Just as important, aluminum may also be a source of initial injury – this metal is a known toxin to the nervous system – that starts the disease processes, leading to brain cell death, senile plaques, and neurofibrillary tangles.24
The Evidence That Aluminum Causes AD Is Compelling25
Aluminum was found to be toxic to the nervous system of animals over 100 years ago. Injecting aluminum into the brains of sheep was reported in 1965 to result in changes in the brain that showed a “striking resemblance” to AD in people. In 1973, brains of AD patients were found to contain more aluminum than people dying without this disease. About the same time, kidney patients on dialysis were found to suffer, sometimes fatal, brain damage (encephalopathy) from aluminum in their antacids (these antacids are used to bind phosphates in their intestines). More than 100 toxic actions of aluminum have been identified and many are damaging to the human brain.
You can read more here:
https://www.drmcdougall.com/misc/2004nl/040600puAlzheimer.htm
I have had my Scanpan for 1 year, and have used it almost every day, being very careful to clean it only with hot water and Dawn. My pan was never in the dishwasher or the oven. It did the job as advertised, browning, de-glazing, stir-frying, etc., but it began to lose its non-stick feature after 6 months of use, and gets worse with each passing month. It is most noticeable with scrambled eggs, which I cook in melted butter.
I purchased this Scanpan from Sur la Table and their Customer Service tells me to return the pan to Scanpan. I read on your web site that Scanpan refused to accept the return of a pan from one of your reviewers, so I am asking if you have a way to contact them. Thank you.
Hi Robin, unfortunately not, we are not affiliated with any manufacturer or supplier. Your best bet would be to contact Scanpan directly. I found this contact page for Scanpan USA : https://www.scanpan.com/contact-scanpan-usa
There lifetime warranty is crap because they they make it impossible to return the pan. I have only used this pan with plastic only and sticks and has developed cracks and they won’t except the return. I am going back to Calaphon which has a no questions asked return policy See some of the Amazon complaints to verify the claim
the handle on my scanpan frying pan has come very loose i can see no rivets or screws to tighten i cant even see how it comes apart
Hi John, I’m sorry to hear that, I would suggest contacting Scanpan to see if there is a solution or replacement. Do let us know what happens.
I got my Scanlan in March of 2016 from Sur La tab and it is already sticking to anything I cook.I have never used it in an oven, only on the cooktop. How can I get it replaced or get a refund?
hi there, I’m sorry I can’t really help you there, we are just an information site and are not affiliated with any manufacturer or supplier of cookware. You should contact the retailer where you bought the pan from or contact Scanpan directly.
are you heating the pan first before adding the fat/oil to fry? that might be the key.
The latest CTX scanpan pans are ceramic coated and work on induction.
Thanks so much for your contribution Julia!
You are absolutely right, Scanpan CTX pans are induction friendly. In fact Scanpan CSX (stainless steel) and IQ pans also work on induction stoves.
The Scanpan Classic pan that this review is based on is not induction compatible.
I’m a little confused. Does the super hard ceramic titanium surface make the PTFE any safer? I’m looking for non-stick cookware that doesn’t have a PTFE coating because I’m not entirely convinced of its safety, even if used properly and under 500f. However, if I find a set that is less likely to be toxic for some reason, I might consider it. By the way, your explanations are the simplest, easiest to understand, most comprehensive of all I’ve read over the past month of shopping for cookware. Thank you for that. Even so, my thinking is a bit fuzzy these days and I get confused easily. My problem, not yours, but thanks for any help!
Hi Nancy,
Firstly thank you for the comments! I’m so glad you found my site helpful.
As for your question about making PTFE safer, in my researched opinion, PTFE is PTFE, it is a plastic that will break down at a higher temperature no matter what the manufacturer claims. Sure Scanpan states it is a patented non-stick finish which it probably is with the ceramic-titanium blend and there is no doubt it is a high quality pan. But I always try to look through the marketing clutter and what is important to know is that the non-stick release is provided by a final layer of PTFE just like any other non-stick. So if you don’t want to use PTFE, then it might not be the right pan for you.
Consider ceramic coated pans or even cast iron. Both have their pros and cons so you would have to weigh what is better for you.
I hope that helps!
Nothing lasts forever. I have had to replace 2 Scanpans after about 4 years
I take excellent care of mine….hand wash and use a towel between pans so they don’t get scratched when stored. I never use metal utensils when cooking……and yet they eventually start flaking and start to stick.
I’m going to try something else this time.
Thanks for sharing your experience Marilyn, though I would say that if a non-stick lasts 4 years, that’s pretty good.
But do let us know what you are thinking of trying as an alternative, I’m always interested!
Seriously? 4 years is “pretty good”? I’d say that was pretty terrible for such a “reputable” brand and such an expensive product. And as for your CTX range being induction safe, that’s all well and good except that they’re not non-stick. Is there a brand for induction stoves that is aluminium-free, PTFE-free and non-stick?
hi Di, thanks for your comments. In my experience and opinion, yes, getting 4 years out of a non-stick coated pan is good, I always have a Tefal non-stick pan in use and at best I get 2 years out of one pan, usually just one before it loses its ‘non-stickness’. That’s my experience, others will, of course, vary.
Have you thought about using Cast Iron cookware? It builds up non-stick abilities over time though there is a learning curve to using them.
There are also some Ceramic coated stainless steel options, but I’m not big fan of ceramic non-stick coatings, they don’t last.
Unlike numerous non-sticks and several less expensive pans which have plastic handles, it is possible to place all of the Scanpan Expert pans in the stove when needed without being concerned. The pan even was included with just a little container holder that slides on the handle for when you utilize it this way.