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.
