Life After PFAS

You’ve probably seen “forever chemicals” make headlines in the past few years. This class of compounds known as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have long been used to make nonstick cookware and high-performance raingear. And they’re being phased out in certain product categories because of their health risks.

This episode, Wirecutter sustainability editor Katie Okamoto explains the potential health risks of everyday exposure to these slippery synthetic compounds. And she breaks down the new wave of PFAS-free cookware, cosmetics, and outdoor gear, revealing which replacements are actually worth buying—and why your most sustainable bet is often to just keep using the gear you already own. 

This episode covers:

• What PFAS actually are: Developed in the 1940s, these compounds are used to make things slick and waterproof. They’ve been used in nonstick cookware, raingear, and even dental floss.
• The real health and environmental risks: Because they don't break down and spread easily through the environment, PFAS have contaminated drinking water and soils, and bioaccumulate up the food chain. These chemicals have been linked to a range of health issues, including liver damage, immune system impacts, and certain cancers. But experts say that exposure from using a single frying pan is low.
• The truth about ceramic cookware: After extensive testing, Wirecutter’s kitchen team doesn’t recommend ceramic pans, which are often marketed as an alternative to Teflon. The ceramic loses its non-stick properties far too quickly to justify the price. Instead, they recommend investing in cast iron, stainless steel, or carbon steel.
• PFAS in makeup and outdoor gear: The beauty industry is phasing  PFAS out of cosmetics, and makeup is not a primary source of PFAS exposure,. For outdoor gear, brands are switching to new PFAS-free coatings, and some are reviving Ventile, a densely woven, highly water-resistant cotton fabric.
• Don't toss your old gear: The most sustainable choice you can make is to keep using your older, well-made products—like a rain jacket—until they actually need to be replaced.

Products we recommend: 

• The best cast-iron skillet: Lodge Chef Collection 12-Inch Cast Iron Skillet
• The best stainless steel skillet: All-Clad D3 Stainless 12″ Fry Pan with Lid
• The best carbon steel skillet: OXO Obsidian Carbon Steel Frypan with Silicone Sleeve
• Katie loves: Lemnos Plywood Clock

Additional reading:

• It’s Time to Give Up on the Nonstick Pan as We Know It
• Everything You Need to Know About PFAS in Your Beauty Products
• In the Quest for PFAS-Free Rain Gear, Cotton Is Making a Comeback
• The PFAS-Free Cookware Our Kitchen Editor Recommends

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The Wirecutter Show is executive produced by Rosie Guerin and produced by Abigail Keel.Engineering support from Maddy Masiello and Nick Pitman. Episodes are mixed by Catherine Anderson, Efim Shapiro, Rowan Niemisto, Sophia Lanman, and Sonia Herrero. Original music by Dan Powell, Marion Lozano, Elisheba Ittoop, and Diane Wong. Wirecutter’s deputy publisher and general manager is Cliff Levy. Ben Frumin is Wirecutter’s editor-in-chief. Hosted by Rosie Guerin, Caira Blackwell and Christine Cyr Clisset.

Find edited transcripts for each episode here: The Wirecutter Show Podcast

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