Scrambled eggs sliding cleanly off a pan, a fish fillet lifting away in one piece, a five-second wipe instead of a soak — that's the promise of non-stick cookware, and for the most part, it delivers. Millions of U.S. kitchens rely on it daily. But walk down the cookware aisle and you'll find pans that look nearly identical wearing very different coatings underneath, priced anywhere from $15 to $150, with wildly different health claims stamped on the box. This guide sorts through what non-stick cookware actually is, how the coatings differ, what current safety guidance really says, and how to pick a pan — or a full set — that actually fits your kitchen.