While the government has yet to assess the safety of nonstick cookware, we the people have gotten word that Teflon is taboo. On a conventional stovetop, it only takes two to five minutes to exceed temperatures at which the coating breaks apart and emits toxic particles and gases that can expose us, our children and our pets to chemical dangers.
According to Natural News, Dupont denies that Teflon is unsafe for use in households, even though those fumes it gives off are well known to kill parrots and other pet birds. In fact, the company faces new charges from the EPA that it concealed research showing pregnant women exposed to the chemicals passed them on to their babies. It has also accused the company of hiding evidence it’s manufacturing plant had contaminated water supplies affecting 12,000 people. Teflon reassures customers of the safety of its products on its web site, saying that even the EPA doesn’t believe the cookware is bad for you.
We cannot rely on these companies to do the investigating for us – they’ve got pots and pans to sell. A better choice would be to seek out an iron or stainless steel pan you like. Unfortunately, that requires using oil which consumers try to avoid because of our national fat phobia.
Cuisinart might have the first, good alternative. It has introduced an eco-friendly nonstick line of cookware called Green Gourmet, shown above, which sells for $249 for the 12-piece set, $49.95 for a 10″ skillet. The nonstick technology is a petroleum-free, ceramic-based interior to conserve oil consumption and the coating is applied at a temperature one-half that of conventional nonsticks. The cookware is also free of PTFE and PFOA and boasts riveted stainless handles made from 70% recycled stainless steel. It also helps save energy via its anodized construction that provides superior heat conductivity. The company goes one further with by packaging the cookware in 100% recycled materials printed with soy ink.
Best of all, the cookware comes with a limited lifetime warranty. Now that’s green.