We induce tips from pros to consider before turn over for the can again .
Adam Albright
So you ’re about to fire up the stove with your trustworthy nonstick skillet to make anomelet . You ’ve believably heard ametal spatula is a no - gofor a nonstick pan ’s coating , but what about nonstick spray ? It would on the face of it make signified to double up your betting odds of go on food from sticking to your cooking pan by coating it first with a layer of nonstick spray . But unfortunately , this is n’t helping you — or your pans — out in the long test . To find the actual deal with using nonstick cooking spray on nonstick pans , we tap a distich of cookware experts to help us out .

Credit:Adam Albright
What’s in Nonstick Spray, Anyway?
When you buy a can of nonstickcanola oil , olive petroleum , butter - flavor oil , the independent ingredient is the oil ( or a combo of oils ) , yes , but there are some extra ingredients in there , including soy lecithin , which aids in the nonstick process . " The majority of cooking sprays contain an emulsifier , typically lecithin , that has a tendency to become quite sticky and is hard to remove over many uses , " says Bobby Griggs , frailty chairman ofHeritage Steel . " This creates a buildup and ultimately creates a slightly yellow / bronze sticky open that is hard to cleanse and makes for a stickier cooking surface . " The component list also unremarkably includes dimethyl silicone ( anti foaming agent ) and a propellant natural gas such as nitrous oxide , C dioxide , or propane , which are deemed dependable to use by the FDA .
Can You Use Nonstick Spray on Nonstick Pans?
The unsubdivided answer is no , but why is it a spoiled thought to give your nonstick cooking pan an extra layer of protection when cooking with food for thought that usually sting ? " Many cooking spray are not design for in high spirits - temperature preparation , " says Melissa Ledbetter , vice president of einsteinium - commerce sales and selling atKuhn Rikon . " When exposed to high passion , the nebulizer can burn and form a polymerized level on the pan ’s surface , potentially damaging the non - stick coating . " Once hardened to the Earth’s surface , that polymerized layer feels impossible to remove . And if you do materialise to remove it , you ’ve credibly damaged the Earth’s surface coating of the pan anyway .
Not only is nonstick sprayer harmful for your pan ’s nonstick properties , it can also impact your intellectual nourishment . " Cooking sprays typically have a low smoke level that can go to biting flavor , " Griggs says .
Are My Pans Ruined If I Used Cooking Spray on Them?
Using cookery spray on your non - stick genus Pan does n’t necessarily mean it ’s ruined , but it can cause some issues . Here are a few tips from Ledbetter to help get your genus Pan in cultivate society again .
Hopefully these step will aid restore the surface of your pan . " If the coating is importantly damaged , " Ledbetter pronounce . " It might be time to look at supervene upon the pan . "
What to Use Instead of Cooking Spray
So if you ca n’t reach for the can of cooking nebulizer , what should you apply ? " Not a spray , but if you are run short to employ a widget , sample an oil mister , " Griggs read . " This will avail give nonstick properties without oversaturation . However , I always recommend usingbutteror other avoirdupois ( like duck’s egg fat , for instance ) , and butter andflour for bakingor intellectual nourishment like Dutch baby . "
When Can I Use Cooking Spray?
Cooking nebuliser is a very ready to hand tool in broil to supply a thin , even coat on yourbaking pansor dishes . However , if given a selection , Griggs highly recommend stay forth from cooking spray and keeping to oil color , butter , and fat on all types of cooking utensil . If you do use cooking atomizer , exhaustively wash the pan or dish in warm , unctuous water using a non - abrasive sponge .
https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-21/chapter-I/subchapter-B/part-184/subpart-B/section-184.1655