# Acids and Teflon (need answer fast) **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 26, 2016, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/acids-and-teflon-need-answer-fast/775671 "2016-12-26T23:29:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2016, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/acids-and-teflon-need-answer-fast/775671/1 "2016-12-26T23:29:31Z")
So, I am going to try out some, um, experimental-ish fish recipes and want to know if acidic substances such as lemon juice, orange juice or vinegar would harm Teflon cooking pans or make stuff leach out. Anyone know? ---
**Author:** ![si\_blakely](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d9b06d/32.png) [@si\_blakely](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/si_blakely)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2016, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/acids-and-teflon-need-answer-fast/775671/2 "2016-12-26T23:53:17Z")
[Polytetrafluoroethylene](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polytetrafluoroethylene) is very non-reactive: [QUOTE=Wikipedia] PTFE is used as a non-stick coating for pans and other cookware. It is very non-reactive, partly because of the strength of carbon–fluorine bonds, and so it is\*\* often used in containers and pipework for reactive and corrosive chemicals.\*\* [/QUOTE] You should not have trouble with vinegar, lemon juice or other food grade acids. ---
**Author:** ![Ruken](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f475e1/32.png) [@Ruken](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruken)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2016, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/acids-and-teflon-need-answer-fast/775671/3 "2016-12-27T00:22:24Z")
Thermal and mechanical issues aside, I’ve only had chemical issues with PTFE with prolonged exposure to aqua regia and to anything that wants to dump electrons into it, e.g. NaK. You should be fine. ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2016, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/acids-and-teflon-need-answer-fast/775671/4 "2016-12-27T00:45:04Z")
Thanks!! ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2016, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/acids-and-teflon-need-answer-fast/775671/5 "2016-12-27T00:58:55Z")
Here’s the deal. The Teflon is essentially impervious to any chemical you will find in a household, but the pan itself is not, and I can guarantee that the Teflon coating is not pinhole-free, so you might end up attacking the base metal. ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2016, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/acids-and-teflon-need-answer-fast/775671/6 "2016-12-27T01:58:28Z")
The strongest acids can only be stored in Teflon lined containers. [Cite](https://youtu.be/cbN37yRV-ZY?t=3m48s). ---
**Author:** ![Channing\_Idaho\_Banks](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/channing_idaho_banks/32/250_2.png) [@Channing\_Idaho\_Banks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Channing_Idaho_Banks)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2016, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/acids-and-teflon-need-answer-fast/775671/7 "2016-12-27T02:43:51Z")
Are you sure the pan is Teflon? ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2016, 5:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/acids-and-teflon-need-answer-fast/775671/8 "2016-12-27T05:29:51Z")
It’s actually a bigger problem with using high heat, and even that’s not that bad, especially if you have a fume hood.