Sandwich Maker Coatings - How Safe?

All  sandwich makers have non-stick coatings. You may be aware of reports suggesting that some non-stick surfaces - for example, Teflon - can give off harmful chemicals.

It’s true that chemicals such as trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) can be given off by some coatings at extraordinarily high temperatures. But it’s unlikely to happen during normal cooking: whatever is in your sandwich maker will be burnt and smoking well before the temperature is potentially high enough for the coating to decompose significantly - your whole press would be ruined. So best not to leave your sandwich press unattended.

Research hasn’t shown harmful long-term effects of TFA on people. At this stage there’s no evidence that non-stick cooking poses any safety risk, though some manufacturers suggest you keep any pet birds out of the kitchen  because they have very sensitive respiratory systems and can be affected by many types of household fumes, not just that remote possibility of TFA.

As for the safety of eating any bits of  non stick coating that peel off, they simply travel straight through your body with no ill effects.