Organic cooking: is your cookware safe?
the Cast Iron Skillet, made in the USA
Live Green New Orleans has covered how to buy organic food (see previous post HERE). Now, you may want to double check just how safe is your cookware? Why go to all the trouble of buying organic foods only to cook them in toxic pans?
Cooking tip: traditional nonstick coatings can actually emit potentially cancerous particles and gases.
Try these cookware alternatives:
- Cast Iron ~ Grandma always knew that a well-seasoned cast-iron pan is the closest you can come to nonstick without coating. Knick one of hers if you can, otherwise it takes some work to get cast-iron there. Bonus: cooking with this will put some iron back into your food
- Enamel-coated iron ~ great for slow-cooking
- Stainless steel ~ super-durable and noncorrosive, will need some oil to keep from sticking
- Anodized aluminum ~ known for its ability to heat evenly, it is also scratch-resistant, lightweight and easy to clean. Somewhat nonstick.
- Thermolon ~ this new cookware uses a ceramic-based nonstick surface that is free of PFOAs. Look for the GreenPan brand in the US
- Silicone ~ this workhorse kitchen material is nonstick, durable and can withstand extreme temperatures. Silicone is a n inert material that doesn’t react with food or beverages, or produce any hazardous materials.
December 24th, 2009Great gift idea: Pick up a used cast iron pan at a thrift shop or antique store. You’ll be saving resources by purchasing previously owned, and it may bring some seasoning lagniappe!
Topic: Green House Tags: how safe is your cookware?
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