(Yes, even that one that's been faithfully by your side since 2003)
We get it. You've got history with that pan. It was there when you botched your first risotto, when you moved in together, or when you cooked for your in-laws for the first time (and just barely avoided burning it).
But let's be honest: it's time for a kitchen divorce.
Here are 10 rock-solid reasons why your old pan should head straight out of the kitchen – preferably today.
1. Your pan has PFAS. And no, that's not a spice mix
PFAS is in many old non-stick coatings. Sounds chemical? It is. These substances are linked to serious health risks. Think: hormone disruptions, reduced fertility, and other uncookable discomfort. Not the kind of "extra flavor" you're looking for.
2. Every scratch = a micro-toxic surprise
See those little scratches? That's not character. That's the pan slowly shedding its toxic coat – right into your omelet. How lovely.
3. The bottom is more warped than your mother-in-law's judgment
After twenty years, even your pan is burned out. Heats unevenly, burns on the edges, and leaves the middle raw. No wonder your potatoes are always "stubbornly cooked."
4. Hygiene? Haha. No.
Old pans have tiny cracks that even your dish brush can't reach. Bacteria? They throw a party there every day.
5. It's heavier than you'll ever admit
Remember when you thought, "I'll just whip something up"? And then you were lying on the couch with a sore wrist? Time for something lighter – and we don't just mean your dinner.
6. You yourself have grown
You eat more consciously, healthier, more sustainably. But your pan? It's still stuck in 2004. High time to match your tools with your lifestyle.
7. You cook for your family. Not for a lab
Unless you're doing hobbyist chemical research at the stove, no dubious substances belong in your kitchen. Period.
8. You deserve better
After years of cooking hard, working, caring, comforting, and multitasking – it's time you got something that feels really good. A pan that makes you happy. One that gives your kitchen a little color (and safety).
9. You secretly already have your eye on something new
We saw you scrolling. Beautiful ceramic layers, contemporary colors, easy to clean – yes, we're talking about our pans. 😉
10. Away with the guilt
No, you don't have to ceremonially bury your old pan. Take it to the waste disposal center, give it a final thank you, and give yourself that stylish, PFAS-free gift. Your kitchen – and your body – will thank you.
