---
title: "Do not use metal utensils — what it means"
description: "Use wood, silicone or nylon tools with this surface. What the symbol looks like, what happens if you ignore it, and where its meaning differs by country."
url: https://atoneplace.net/symbol/cookware-no-metal-utensils/
site: "At One Place"
---

# Do not use metal utensils

**Do not use metal utensils: Use wood, silicone or nylon tools with this surface.**

## What it looks like

A fork or spatula with a cross through it, moulded into the base or printed on the handle of a non-stick pan.

## What it means

Non-stick coatings are a few tens of micrometres thick and a metal edge cuts straight through to the aluminium beneath, after which the surface flakes and the pan stops working. The exposed metal is the practical problem rather than the flakes themselves, which pass through unabsorbed. Overheating an empty non-stick pan is a separate and more serious matter: PTFE begins to break down above roughly 260 °C and the fumes are dangerous to pet birds well before a person notices anything.

> Defined by Manufacturer declaration. Where a symbol differs between standards, the difference is described above rather than resolved — both versions are in circulation on real labels.

## Other cookware and containers symbols

| Symbol | Means |
| --- | --- |
| Microwave safe | The maker states the material is suitable for heating food in a microwave. |
| Do not microwave | Do not heat this container in a microwave. |
| Dishwasher safe | The item survives a normal dishwasher cycle. Some versions specify the top rack only. |
| Not dishwasher safe — hand wash only | Wash this by hand. |
| Oven safe | The item can go in a conventional oven, up to the stated temperature if one is given. |
| Not oven safe | Do not put this in a conventional oven. |
| Freezer safe | The container can be used in a freezer without cracking or failing. |
| Induction compatible | The pan has a ferromagnetic base and will work on an induction hob. |
| BPA free | The item contains no bisphenol A. It is a marketing claim, not a certification. |

## Common questions

### What does the do not use metal utensils symbol mean?

Use wood, silicone or nylon tools with this surface.

### What does it look like?

A fork or spatula with a cross through it, moulded into the base or printed on the handle of a non-stick pan.

## Related pages

- [Dishwasher safe](https://atoneplace.net/symbol/cookware-dishwasher-safe/)
- [Oven safe](https://atoneplace.net/symbol/cookware-oven-safe/)
- [Microwave safe](https://atoneplace.net/symbol/cookware-microwave-safe/)
- [Do not microwave](https://atoneplace.net/symbol/cookware-do-not-microwave/)
- [Dishwasher safe](https://atoneplace.net/symbol/cookware-dishwasher-safe/)
- [Not dishwasher safe — hand wash only](https://atoneplace.net/symbol/cookware-not-dishwasher-safe/)
- [Oven safe](https://atoneplace.net/symbol/cookware-oven-safe/)
- [Not oven safe](https://atoneplace.net/symbol/cookware-do-not-oven/)
- [Freezer safe](https://atoneplace.net/symbol/cookware-freezer-safe/)
- [Induction compatible](https://atoneplace.net/symbol/cookware-induction/)
- [BPA free](https://atoneplace.net/symbol/cookware-bpa-free/)

## Sources

- Typical range compiled from manufacturer specifications — At One Place (/about/)