Safest Nonstick Pans
Nonstick pans can allow you to cook with less fat and make kitchen clean up easier. Unfortunately, non stick coatings may also wear poorly and many people are concerned about the possible safety of Teflon and similar products when exposed to high heat. Making safe cookware choices is just one piece in the puzzle of keeping your family safe; however, with a bit of care you can make cookware choices that are safe, practical and easy to use. Does this Spark an idea?
Other People Are Reading
-
History
-
Teflon is the most common material used in nonstick cookware. Teflon was discovered in 1938 by Roy J. Plunkett. He found the waxy coating on the inside of a freon cylinder that had not discharged. The gas had polymerized, becoming polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) resin.
Function
-
Nonstick pans allow you to cook sticky, hard to cook foods easily and have them release from the pan. This makes low fat and non fat cooking much easier, as well as simplifying harder to cook foods like omelets and pancakes. Plastic, silicon and flexible utensils must be used on nonstick pans. Clean up is also easier, although you do need to avoid abrasives.
-
Safety
-
While the EPA has declared Teflon coatings to be safe, one of the chemicals used in the manufacture is considered dangerous. Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) has been linked to cancer in rats and low birth weight in humans. Other concerns associated with Teflon nonstick pans include fumes associated with the exposure of Teflon to heat. This is, of course, a concern since the intended use of non stick pans requires exposure to heat.
Alternatives
-
One of the best and safest alternatives to Teflon nonstick pans is cast iron. Well seasoned cast iron is safe and durable. It provides a stick resistant finish, is easy to maintain and is nearly indestructible. Enamel lined iron is also a good choice for a stick resistant surface. These classic cookware choices remain as practical as they have always been and can assure you of your family's safety. Anodized aluminum and stainless steel cookware are not nonstick, but are both inert and widely considered quite safe.
Using Teflon Safely
-
If you do choose to use Teflon cookware, choose good quality name brands. The coating is apt to be sturdier and more durable. Watch for any signs of wear or damage and replace your nonstick pans at the first signs of flaking, peeling or bubbling. Avoid overheating your nonstick pans, and follow the manufacturer's care instructions carefully.
-
