Can metal utensils be used on non-stick pans?

We all love using brand new pans, especially those of us who are passionate about cooking, like you and us. The reason for this is very simple: food slides off easily, we hardly need to use any oil in our recipes, and cleaning is a matter of seconds. But there is one detail that often goes unnoticed and can make the difference between enjoying our beautiful pan for years or having to replace it in a very short period of time. Do you know what we mean? Exactly! The kitchen utensils we use to prepare our food.

One of the questions we are most often asked is whether you can use metal spatulas in non-stick pans. The answer is quite short and concise: no, or at least it is not advisable. We are going to explain in detail why, the risks involved and the best alternatives for taking care of your pans without having to sacrifice convenience in the kitchen. Let’s get started!

The first thing you should know is that the non-stick coating on frying pans is designed to prevent food from sticking. However, it is delicate, and depending on the type of pan, very delicate. A simple scrape from your stainless steel spatula can leave small scratches on them. Something that neither you nor we want to happen.

At first, you probably won’t notice it, but over time and with continued use, the surface will begin to lose its effectiveness and food will start to stick, food debris will accumulate and cleaning will become more difficult, not to mention the premature deterioration of your pan.
In short: metal spatulas and non-stick pans are not the best combination and, therefore, they are not a perfect match.

Now that we know metal spatulas are not the best choice for your kitchen, what can we use instead? The key here is to choose utensils that will not scratch the surface of your pan. Among all these utensils, we recommend you opt for:

1. Silicone spatulas: flexible, heat resistant and very easy to clean.
2. Nylon spatulas: lightweight and safe, perfect for cooking at medium temperatures.ç
3. Wooden or bamboo utensils: the most traditional, as well as durable and with a very special charm.

Any of these options more than fulfil their function of stirring, turning or serving without compromising the useful life of your pan. In the Arcos catalogue, you will find a wide variety of kitchen spatulas specially designed to be gentle on your non-stick utensils, while also being practical and very durable. Take a look and you can renew those kitchen utensils that are so important to us.

The truth is that yes, there are alternatives that are much more resistant and tolerant to the use of this type of utensil. In this case, we are talking about stainless steel or cast iron pans. Even so, you know that they do not usually have the same non-stick properties as pans with ceramic or Teflon coatings, so they require a slightly different and more specific cooking technique.

Between us, the best thing to do is to choose a pan that suits your needs and always use the right utensils for each of these pans.

If you are looking for a non-stick frying pan spatula, it is important to pay attention to a number of details. You may not notice them at first, but once we explain them to you, you will keep them in mind for your future choice.

1. Made of food-grade silicone or highly heat-resistant nylon.
2. Ergonomic handle for comfortable use.
3. Withstands high temperatures without warping.
4. Easy to clean and, as far as possible, dishwasher safe.

We assure you that if these characteristics are met, they will make a big difference in your everyday use.

Just in case you still have some doubts about choosing the right utensils, here are a couple of recommendations that you should follow to the letter:

1. Avoid overheating: heating an empty pan over low heat is one of the most common and quickest ways to damage it.
2. Wash them by hand: yes, we know that many of them are labelled as dishwasher safe, but heat and strong detergents end up shortening their useful life. Better safe than sorry.
3. Use a little oil, but enough: a couple of drops of oil will help protect your surface and improve the cooking process.
4. Store them carefully: we know we all tend to stack pans on top of each other, but it’s better to place a cloth or protector between them to avoid scratches.

After all this, we can say that metal spatulas are durable and practical, but they are not very friendly to non-stick pans. You know, if you are looking for utensils that will last much longer and remain effective, it is best to opt for alternatives such as silicone or nylon spatulas, which are specially designed for this type of surface.