Retro Indoor Grill & Panini Press CGH800 De'Longhi
Skip until De'Longhi discloses the non-stick coating chemistry.
The Delonghi CGH800 features non-stick cooking surfaces, but the brand won't disclose the coating type or PFAS content. Without confirmation that Teflon-type coating, PFOA, or other Teflon-family coating are absent, the non-stick coating remains a concern.
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Material
Non-stick coated cooking plates (composition unspecified)
Brand disclosure
Brand is silent on PFAS
Lab data
No public lab test
What’s concerning
Non-stick, chemistry undisclosed
Advertised as non-stick but coating type is not explained.
Category baseline
PFAS exposure happens more often with clothing products.
No PFAS disclosure
The company has not publicly discussed PFAS in this product.
Teflon-type coating fume release (conditional on coating type)
If the CGH800 uses Teflon-type coating, overheating above ~300°C can release fumes; composition is unconfirmed, so risk cannot be ruled out. Proper ventilation and moderate heat use mitigate this.
Non-stick coating degradation and peeling
Generic panini press non-stick coatings commonly degrade after 1-3 years with regular use. Peeling coating particles pose ingestion risk; inspection and timely replacement are necessary.
Aluminum leaching (if housing or plate substrate contains aluminum)
De'Longhi has not disclosed whether cooking plates are aluminum-based; if so, prolonged contact with acidic foods could leach aluminum, though risk is low in typical panini use (non-acidic breads and meats dominate).
Thermal injury risk from uninsulated housing
Panini presses reach high external temperatures during use. The CGH800's thermal design is not specified; verify handles and exterior cool adequately before each use to avoid burn risk.
What’s reassuring
Lead
No recalls or documented cases of lead or cadmium in De'Longhi non-stick coatings. Modern manufacturing standards make this unlikely, but lack of third-party testing disclosure means it cannot be fully ruled out.
Source: ATSDR ↗The full breakdown
What it's made of and why it matters
The CGH800 uses non-stick coated cooking plates, but De'Longhi has not publicly specified whether the coating is Teflon-type coating (Teflon), ceramic, or an alternative chemistry. This matters because Teflon-type coating coatings can degrade at high temperatures and release fumes if overheated, while ceramic coatings may be more durable but sometimes chip over time. Without disclosed composition, you cannot assess long-term safety or replacement intervals reliably. The housing and handle materials are not detailed in standard product documentation, so potential aluminum or plastic leaching risks remain unquantified.
The brand's record and disclosure
De'Longhi has not made a public commitment to PFAS-free non-stick coatings or disclosed the specific chemistry of their cookware coatings. The brand has no known major safety recalls or formal transparency statements on non-stick coating composition in their small appliance line. De'Longhi's website and product manuals typically do not specify coating type, which is below industry best practice for informed consumer choice. This silence on a standard panini press safety question is a red flag for oversight rather than a known safety breach.
How it compares in its category
Many budget panini presses use generic non-stick coatings without disclosure, so the CGH800 is typical in this regard, not an outlier. Premium brands like Breville often specify ceramic or proprietary non-stick chemistry and provide clearer durability data. Mid-market alternatives from brands with PFAS transparency policies (e.g., some GreenPan models in cookware) offer more peace of mind, though true panini-specific options with full disclosure are rare. The CGH800's lack of specification puts it in the lower-confidence tier of its category.
If you buy it
Use on medium heat, not maximum temperature, to reduce Teflon-type coating fume risk if the coating contains Teflon-type coating. Ensure adequate kitchen ventilation during use, especially on first use when any coating odor is most likely. Inspect the cooking plates every 3-6 months for chips, peeling, or discoloration; if visible degradation occurs, discontinue use to prevent coating particles in food. Clean with soft, non-abrasive cloth and mild detergent; avoid metal utensils and dishwasher, which accelerate coating wear.
What we don’t know
- Basis
- Model estimate, 35% confidence, not a lab result
- Lab test
- None on record for this exact product
- Brand statement
- Delonghi has made none
Formulations change between production runs, so check the current label. How we grade.
Safer alternatives in Panini Presses
Delonghi
decg6601 grill for 220-240 volt 50/60 hz
stainless steel cooking plates
Lower concern with stainless steel plates; standard kitchenware has minimal PFAS risk, though Delonghi discloses nothing.
⚠Risky category by default
More panini presses grades
How we score: every product runs through the same public 0–100 rubric based on materials, coatings, brand disclosure, lab findings, and recalls. See the full methodology → Spotted a mistake? Report an error.