What I learned about non-stick pans

I recently went to Bed, Bath and Beyond to find out what I did to destroy one of my Calphalon pans I got as a wedding present. I learned a ton from the guy who helped me, so I thought I'd pass on the info to save others the grief I've gone through. To briefly explain, the fry pan has lost its non-stick coating, so now everything sticks to the pan and burns much easier than before. Well, what I found out is to ask how many layers of non-stick your pots and pans have. We registered for the low-end set, which only have 1 layer of non-stick coating, which means they cannot withstand as much abuse as the higher end set. Even though most pans are listed as dishwasher safe, the BB&B employee told me it's better to wash them by hand, especially if the dishwashing detergent I use has a lemon/citrus scent because the acid from the lemon can eat away at the non-stick coating over time. Dwayne, the employee, also told me to never use a really rough, abrasive sponge on these pots and pans, such as an SOS pad, which I did know already. Phew, one less reason to feel like an idiot. One thing I am guilty of though is not pre-heating the pan before putting the cold items in. He recommended that I put some heat on the pan first for a few minutes and then to put food, particularly cold meat, in to cook. Also, you should let a hot pan cool completely before running it under water. Again, something I don't always do. When cooking with non-stick pans, he recommended never putting them under extreme heat and instead, suggested I only go to a medium flame. Lastly, he said to NEVER use Pam or other type aerosol sprays on non-stick pots and pans because it can eat away at the coating. Only use olive oil, butter/margarine, or spray pumps like I Can't Believe It's Not Butter come in. The good news is I was able to get two new Calphalon pans for $50 when they usually have just one for $50. When I was checking out, I recommended they give Dwayne a gold star for the day. He was so helpful and didn't make me feel like a complete idiot in the kitchen. I've learned my lesson when it comes to my pots and pans though that's for sure.