Bread Machine with a Non-Teflon Pan? Yes, Please!
Consumer demand for non-toxic, non-Teflon kitchen equipment made of PTFE-free and PFOA-free materials keeps growing, but bread machine manufacturers have been extremely slow to react. That said, there are some options and alternatives for those who are worried about preparing and baking dough in a bread maker with a standard Teflon pan. But before we explore these options in detail, let's take a look at the problems related to the use of non-stick cookware made of Teflon/PTFE.
The Problem with Teflon in the Context of Bread Machines
Cookware made of Teflon, also known as polytetrafluoroethylene or PTFE, has been popular because it's non-stick, which makes it very convenient to use and clean. However, despite its benefits, Teflon is losing popularity among health-conscious consumers for two main reasons. First, the manufacturing process for Teflon cookware uses perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), a chemical that appears to promote the development of certain types of tumors in laboratory animals and that may increase the risk of thyroid disease in humans. When released into the air, PFOA fumes have also been shown to kill birds and to cause people to develop flu-like symptoms (called "Teflon Flu"). Second, in most non-stick pans, the Teflon coating is used to cover aluminium, a toxic metal implicated in dementia and Alzheimer's disease.
The good news is that Teflon itself actually becomes problematic only when heated to high temperatures – this is when it begins to release toxic gases. According to DuPont, a leading manufacturer of PTFE non-stick coatings and the owner of the Teflon trademark, PTFE can be safely heated to 500°F/260°C. However, Environmental Working Group (EWG) reports that a number of tests and personal accounts suggest that Teflon may off-gas toxic substances at temperatures as low as 325°F/163°C. Ingesting particles that flake off scratched Teflon cookware, on the other hand, doesn't pose a health risk because solid PTFE flakes are inert and pass harmless through the digestive tract.
The maximum baking temperatures modern bread machines can reach are typically (but not always) somewhere around 300°F/150°C, which is below the lowest temperatures that have been reported to trigger the release of toxic gases from Teflon/PTFE-coated products. This means that in many cases, bread machines with PTFE-lined pans only become potentially dangerous when the non-stick surface is scratched and the underlying metal – usually aluminum – gets in contact with the dough/bread.
So What Options Are Out There?
If you're looking for a non-toxic bread machine, the ideal option, of course, is getting a bread maker with a non-Teflon pan. There's a good chance, however, that the few shops that sell these rare gems don't have them in stock when you'd like to order one, or that the machine cannot be shipped to where you live. If that is the case, you might want to get a stand mixer with a stainless steel bowl as an alternative solution (for easy dough making) – or go for a bread machine with a PTFE-lined pan that fulfills the below-listed "safety" criteria:
- The manufacturer discloses the maximum baking temperature and the maximum temperature is below 325°F/163°C (see the Comparison Charts below)
- The bread machine has a customizable program which allows you to set the baking temperature, so you can ensure it won't get anywhere near the potentially harmful levels (see the Charts below)
- The PTFE-coated pan is of high quality and made using technology that increases its durability and makes it more scratchproof (see Panasonic's bread machines, or the Charts below)
Chart 1: Safer Alternatives to Regular Bread Machines (US/Canada Models)
The chart below compares bread machines that have been build to North American electrical standards and that have one or more characteristics that make them potentially safer (in terms of PTFE/PFOA toxicity) than your average bread machine. For similar products available in the US, scroll down to the next chart. Note: Certain settings/options – such as crust color control, delay start function and keep-warm function – may be available on select bread/dough programs only.
| Breville BBM800XL | Virtuoso BB-PAC20 | Supreme BB-CEC20 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Image |  |  |  |
| Why you should consider this machine if you are worried about the non-stick coating of the pan |
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| Customizable program(s) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Gluten-free program | Yes | Yes | No |
| Jam program | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Crust options* | Light Medium Dark | Light Medium Dark | Light Medium Dark |
| Keep warm function* | Up to 60 min | Up to 60 min | Up to 60 min |
| Delay start function* | Up to 13 hours | Up to 13 hours | Up to 13 hours |
| Kneading blade system | Single blade | Dual blade | Dual blade |
| Dispenser for add-ins | Yes | No | No |
| Viewing window | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| User reviews, price information, etc. |  Click here Click here | Click here Click here | Click here Click here |
Chart 2: Safer Alternatives to Regular Bread Machines (UK Models)
The following chart compares automatic breadmakers that are normally available for UK customers through Amazon and that have one or more characteristics that make them potentially safer than a regular bread machine. Note: Certain functions – such as crust color control, delay timer and keep-warm function – may be available on select cycles only.
| Panasonic SD-ZB2502BXC | Beem 5-in-1 Bread Maker | Breville Twin Paddle | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Image |  |  |  |
| Why you should consider this machine if you are worried about the non-stick coating of the pan |
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| Design | Stainless steel, black plastic | Stainless steel, black plastic | White plastic |
| Custom cycle | No | No | Yes |
| Gluten-free cycle | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Jam cycle | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Crust options* | Light Medium Dark | Light Medium Dark | Light Medium Dark |
| Keep warm function* | Yes | Yes | Up to 1 hour |
| Delay start function* | Up to 13 hours | Up to 15 hours | Up to 13 hours |
| Kneading blade system | Single blade | Single blade | Double blade |
| Dispenser for add-ins | Yes | Yes | No |
| Viewing window | No | Yes | Yes |
| User reviews, price information, etc. |  Click here | Click here | Click here |
