Teflon pans are on their way out
29/7/2025
Translation: Katherine Martin
An increasing number of customers are ditching their Teflon frying pans in favour of uncoated alternatives. Sales figures published by Galaxus reveal that chemical-free cookware made of iron or ceramic is gaining popularity.
For a long time, Teflon frying pans were the undisputed stars of the kitchen. Their non-stick PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene) coating prevents steak or potatoes from burning as you’re frying them. Plus, they take just seconds to wash. While Teflon is technically just a brand name for the PTFE plastic, the name has stuck – and become the commonly used term for these handy kitchen pans. However, ever since it emerged that PFAS chemicals (perfluorinated and polyfluorinated alkyl substances) permanently pollute the environment and our food chain (page in German), Galaxus customers have been rethinking their kitchen utensils. PTFE, after all, is a PFAS compound.
Sales figures reveal a clear trend
Despite all the negative headlines, PTFE-coated frying pans are still finding their way into many customers’ shopping carts. However, an analysis of the 100 best-selling pans on Galaxus has revealed that sales are taking a downward turn. While 57 per cent of frying pans sold in 2022 were PTFE models, the figure dropped to just 36 per cent in the first half of 2025. That’s a one-third decrease in three and a half years.
Ceramic frying pans have seen a recent upsurge in popularity, with their market share growing sevenfold (from three to 21 per cent) within the last year. «Ceramic has established itself as an alternative to PTFE coating. This is because pans coated with it are PFAS-free, but still have similar non-stick properties if you use them correctly,» says Manuele Candura, Category Manager at Galaxus. «We’ve already sold almost as many ceramic pans this year as we did in the whole of last year – a trend we also saw in 2024. With this in mind, we reckon they’ll become even more established on the market in the long term.»
For the long-haul: iron and steel varieties
Uncoated frying pans made of iron or stainless steel are dominating in the first half of 2025, accounting for 44 per cent of sales. Their plus points? They’re chemical-free, long-lasting and 100 per cent recyclable. The drawback is that they’re heavier than Teflon frying pans, so flipping an omelette with gusto takes a little muscle power. «Iron and stainless steel pans might be hefty, but an ever-increasing number of cooking enthusiasts swear by them. Searing food gives it an excellent flavour profile, and the pans don’t contain any chemicals,» Manuele says.
According to Kuhn Rikon, a pan manufacturer based in Switzerland’s Töss Valley region, quality frying pans with a PTFE non-stick coating last between three and five years if they’re used properly. Meanwhile, ceramic-coated pans have a lifespan of between one and three years. Both varieties are usually less resistant to the wear-and-tear generated by everyday family life. Non-stick coating comes off when poked or scratched by metal spatulas, while ceramic-coated pans lose their non-stick properties when exposed to excessively high cooking temperatures.
Uncoated and hard-wearing
Iron and stainless steel frying pans, on the other hand, are virtually indestructible. Even forks and knives scarcely do them any damage. «A good iron pan can easily hold out for a generation,» Manuele says. «Used with a little cooking know-how, they’re almost as convenient as Teflon and ceramic pans too.» Enamel-coated pans are chemical-free too, but people rarely order them. In 2025, they made up just two per cent of pan sales.
If you weigh up the price of a frying pan against its service life, you won’t need to think too long about your next kitchenware purchase. While PTFE- and ceramic-coated pans are generally cheaper, iron and stainless steel varieties last much longer.
In a nutshell
Galaxus customers are increasingly bearing their health and the environment in mind when shopping for kitchenware. In doing so, they’re quietly ditching their PTFE frying pans. Those looking for a new pan today will be cooking with ceramic, iron or stainless steel tomorrow. Have you thrown out your Teflon pans in favour of ceramic ones? Or do you appreciate the durability and delicious pan-seared flavours you get with iron or stainless steel pans?
Tobias Billeter
Head of Corporate Communications
Tobias.Billeter@digitecgalaxus.chMaking sure employees and media know what's up at Digitec Galaxus is my job. But without fresh air and a lot of exercise, I basically stop functioning. The great outdoors provides me with the energy I need to stay on the ball. Jazz gives me the tranquility to tame my kids.
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