Alternatives to Nonstick Cookware
By Sara Butler
You work hard to make your home healthy, so don’t ignore a major source of danger to your health that may be hiding in plain sight: Teflon cookware. This nonstick cookware is pretty prevalent, but many people remain unaware of the dangers to their health by cooking with it. Here’s why you should avoid Teflon, and what you should be using instead.
What’s the Big Deal?
There have been several studies over the last several years that have found links between perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and problems with female and male fertility, thyroid disease, and high cholesterol. In fact, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has PFOA listed as a likely carcinogen. It can hang around in the environment and your body indefinitely once introduced, but there are no current restrictions of this acid in consumer products. The place you’re most likely to find it is in nonstick cookware.
Alternatives
If you’re looking to use cookware that is more eco-friendly and without questionable ramifications on your health and wellness, then you need to get nonstick cookware and Teflon out of your kitchen for good. You just need to make sure you know what to look for to avoid it, since many nonstick pans will say they don’t contain Teflon, but are still coated with a chemical that is essentially the exact same thing. Be wary of purchasing anything that is advertised as:
- Supra
- Fluron
- Greblon
- Duracote
- Xylon
- Autograph
- Unison
- T-fal
- Swiss diamond
- Resistal
Some better alternatives to nonstick pans are:
- Enameled cast iron – Cast iron has seen a resurgence in recent years and for good reason: It’s naturally nonstick. Enameled cast iron basically has a glass coating over the iron to ensure your food won’t stick to it. They have a great track record of durability and safety.
- Stainless steel – When in the market for pots and saucepans, you can't go wrong with stainless steel. They are made from layers of heat-conducting metals such as copper or aluminum, which means they won’t react with foods or pose any threats to your health.
- Glass – For baking dishes, glass is affordable and safe. It can also be used in the microwave, freezer, refrigerator, and is dishwasher safe – so it’s incredibly versatile too!
- Stoneware – This is ceramic cooking vessels that are great for baking since they heat evenly.
So, there you have it – safer alternatives to nonstick cookware in your kitchen!
To learn more about your health and wellness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic.