It’s difficult to find a non-stick pan that is not coated with Teflon. But, is Teflon safe? Websites like Mercola.com got me concerned about it. Jokes about how to get Teflon to stick to things when nothing will stick to it come to mind but I did a bit of research and found out that there’s a mixed bag of responses as to whether or not it is safe to use this material.
Non stick is helpful when cooking and cleaning but at what price? The non-stick coating made by the company DuPont more than 70 years ago is considered safe according to them and many experts but most say that you should only use it at lower temperatures. You’ll find a lot of information stating that it can be toxic and poison and even cause birth defects though. How do you separate myth from fact? I tend to err on the side of caution in life.
I’ve read that when you cook at very high temps it can emit toxic fumes that can even kill birds. On the other hand I’ve also read that it is completely safe. My thoughts are as follows: I prefer not to use any non-stick coated products unless they are ceramic coated.
One safety caution would be to use non stick coated items only at lower temperatures. When you fry food, you typically fry at high temperatures. Perhaps it is better to not use it for frying anything higher than 350 degrees.
What could you use instead?
Ceramic coated cast iron is becoming popular. While it is a bit on the expensive side in contrast to other non-stick coatings, it can do well for preventing sticky food and allowing you to cook at a higher temperature. The pans can also last a very long time where Teflon pans seem almost disposable to me since they show wear and tear quickly.
I also find that using regular pots and pans can be effective provided you cook longer at lower heats to prevent food sticking and prevent sticking by using cooking sprays, butter or oil. My favourite cooking oil is coconut oil which can cook without burning at high temperatures and doesn’t release Trans fats plus has multiple added health benefits. (Dig into my archives to learn more about benefits of coconut oil)
One bit of consensus I’m finding is that if any of your non-stick pans coated with Teflon are flaking and showing excessive wear it is not advisable to continue using them. When you use them at brand new try to use non metal utensils to prevent scratches and the minute they show signs of wear, get rid of them.
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3 comments:
I've heard things like this. The Alzheimer's epidemic is something that concerns me. It use to be a disease of the old - now it is seen in people as young as 20 years old.
The medical community thought we'd stop seeing the problem when aluminum was removed from cooking pots. But the problem just got worse.
We use glass (corningware) when possible and iron. But, we do have 2 frying pans that are lined with Teflon.
I've not tried ceramic coated. I'll give it a try. But, I would wonder if you'd run into the same problem as 'chipped' coffee cups which can leach toxins into the coffee.
My favorite type of pan is Corning Ware, which is something that isn't sold now. I rummage through garage sales and on ebay to find them. You can find the ones that go from the stove to microwave, but they don't make the stove top ones. I guess it's most like ceramic pans. They require a lot more oil/butter than Teflon pans but my Teflon pans are wearing out after a year and need to be replaced. I've had the same Corning Ware for like ten years!
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