Not Just a Flash in the Pan: Why We’re Obsessed With Alva’s Nonstick Frying Pan

October 21, 2024

In partnership with Alva. Editor’s Note: We only select and work with partners that meet our quality standards, so you can rest assured we only endorse products we believe in.

Growing up, many of us were taught that eventual “adulting” would include some form of nonstick cookware that would allow for optimal cooking and cleanup. Afterall, you can’t make sunny side up eggs or pancakes in a regular pan… blasphemy!

Over the past decade, however, many brands have brought PFAS—per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances—to the forefront of the nonstick conversation, underscoring that these forever chemicals are not only harmful to our health, but an absolute carcinogenic detriment.

As a result, we’re seeing a ton of non-toxic, nonstick products show up on the market. However, in a sea of proliferating choices, how do you even begin to choose a pan that is going to cook and clean well, while also being well-made?

For us, the answer is resoundingly easy. Alva’s Maestro Nonstick Frying Pan is cooking with gas. Since 1949, Alva has been the ultimate cookware expert, refining its products to be the most sustainable, durable, efficacious, and high-quality.

Here’s what’s cooking.

See What Sticks

Now, let’s get back to this PFAS conversation.

These “forever chemicals” are a group of over 9,000 chemicals that can resist heat, water, oil, and grease—great for nonstick cooking, right? While they can be found in a ton of conventional nonstick cookware, you can also find them within your closet, bathroom shelf, and cleaning products as well.

You might be wondering, “how bad are they, really?” Given that they’re everywhere, it’s easy to imagine that they can’t be that bad for you. However, exposure to some PFAS has been directly linked to endocrine system disruptions, hormonal dysfunction, immune system effects, and even cancer.

Cleaning Up Cookware

If you’re detoxifying your life, and therefore your kitchen, what you reach for next carries some serious weight.

Alva’s Maestro Nonstick Frying Pan is the only non-toxic, nonstick pan we’ve tried that genuinely leaves no food residue behind. With a ceramic, non-toxic coating free from PFAS and PFOA, Alva’s pan allows you to achieve a premium sear without living in fear (yes, we liked that rhyme too). The Maestro offers 20% more usable cooking surface, so you can easily cook a full meal with multiple components on one plan (which optimizes flavor, by the way). “But how does the heat compare to a regular pan?” Alva designed the Maestro to have a thick aluminum base for peak heat conductivity and superior heat distribution, so all of your food can be evenly cooked to perfection.

If you’re looking to really turn up the heat, the Maestro can sustain oven temps up to 392°F, allowing you to take your dishes from day to night (or really just stove to oven) in an instant.

Turn Up the Heat

In our society, we’ve been told that cost takes precedence over investing in our health (which obviously doesn’t work out when we end up with shortcut-driven, chronic health issues).

In the case of Alva, more is just…more. Ranging between $119 and $159, the Maestro Nonstick Frying Pan is a premium pan. However, according to our #Math, this do-it-all pan is more than worth its weight in non-toxic gold. Beyond its sustainability, cleanability, durability, and cookability, Alva’s pan is versatile enough to consolidate your kitchen appliances into a health-forward essential that supports an overall healthier lifestyle.

There are never too many cooks in the kitchen.