Is it safe to use a plastic cooking spoon in a hot pan?
Avoid it. Hot pans are a poor fit for plastic, especially black plastic utensils.
Short answer
Do not use a plastic cooking spoon in a hot pan. Use wood or stainless steel instead. This matters most for black plastic, scratched plastic, and plastic used in oil or high heat.
What the research says
A 2025 Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry study found polypropylene containers released more nano- and microplastic particles after contact with 90 C water than with room-temperature water. That study tested containers, not spoons, so the careful takeaway is simple: heat increases plastic-particle release from polypropylene food-contact items. For black plastic utensils, a 2018 Science of the Total Environment study measured brominated flame retardants in selected high-bromine kitchen utensils.
What to do at home
Use an olive wood spoon or spatula for most pans. Use stainless steel when the pan surface can handle metal. Keep plastic tools for cool serving only.
The research at a glance
| Study | Journal | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Release of Nanoplastics from Polypropylene Food Containers into Hot and Cold Water. | J Agric Food Chem | 2025 |
| Brominated flame retardants in black plastic kitchen utensils: Concentrations and human exposure implications. | Sci Total Environ | 2018 |
What to use instead
Shop olive wood utensils to replace plastic spoons in hot pans.
Shop Non-Toxic Kitchen