Everyone loves having a nonstick pan around but taking care of one can be extremely challenging. That’s because if not taken care of, it starts giving off a bad smell, which ruins the meals’ flavors as well. So, if you are using Teflon pans and they smell, we are here to provide our assistance by telling you how to get smells out of them.
How To Get Smells Out Of Teflon Pans?
There are different reasons why a Teflon pan would create smells, but everything is fixable. In the section below, we are sharing the solutions!
Heat
Whenever you are using Teflon pans, you have to use low flames and temperature. This is because these pans are designed to operate at a lower temperature (we know manufacturers don’t share this information, but it’s true). This is because when the pan is exposed to a higher temperature, it will damage the coating and result in a chemical-like smell. So, if your Teflon pan is giving off such smells, you know it’s time to reduce the heat.
Cooking Oils & Sprays
Sure, cooking oils and sprays can be convenient, but they aren’t good for your Teflon pans. That’s because these products can lead to bad smells since they start seasoning the pan over the course of time. Also, using cooking oils and sprays is another reason why the nonstick coating starts coming off. So, if there is a smell and you used any of these products, you know who the culprit is!
Foods With Strong Smell
When you are cooking something that has strong flavors, it could be another reason why the Teflon pan is giving off weird smells. For instance, if you are cooking onions and garlic, their odor tends to stick to the pan’s surface, and it will drive you crazy. So, if you recently cooked some of these food items, you need to clean up the pan. The ideal cleaning method is to soak the pan in warm water to ensure the smell is eliminated.
Vinegar & Water Mixture
This is a cleaning method that will help you clean the Teflon pan while taking away the smell. For this purpose, boil vinegar and water mixture (use one part of vinegar and three parts of water) in your pan. When it comes down to the boiling point, take it off and wait for it to cool down. Then, use a brush with soft bristles and clean the pan. Lastly, just rinse the pan and let the pan dry. Once it’s dry, we are sure the smell will be gone.
Is Your Pan Old?
When it comes down to Teflon pans, people literally use them for decades, and they aren’t meant to be used for such a long time. So, if your pan has scratches, there are chances that food particles are trapping inside, and that’s causing the smell. In this case, you have no choice but to buy a new Teflon pan.
The bottom line is that solutions can help take away the bad smell. However, we do want to say that prevention is better than cure, so take care of the pan rather than worrying about the smell later!