Did you know that your pots, pans, and cooking utensils could be health hazards because of what they’re made of? What you use for cooking your food may impact your health more than the type of food you eat.
Cooking at home can be a fun, frugal way to ensure you and your family stay healthy. However, there are certain toxins in your cookware that are potentially making you sick.
Fortunately, you can avoid these health hazards by following best practices and swapping out dangerous cookware for safer options. Keep reading to learn more about the safest cookware for your and your family’s well-being.
How To Select the Right Cookware
Selecting the right cookware should involve price, operation, durability, and, more importantly, safety. Unfortunately, many people focus on the first three factors when purchasing cookware because they want quality products at an affordable price. But what about the safety aspect?
You may unknowingly be buying pots and pans that are leaching toxic chemicals into your food. And these same toxins can be released into the air when you add heat to specific cookware.
So which of your pots, pans, and cooking utensils cause the most harm? That depends on the primary components that make up your cookware. Here are some of the worst offenders:
Teflon and Other Non-stick Cookware
Most people prefer using non-stick pans because it saves them the trouble of using oil or butter before cooking, and cleanup is usually a breeze. However, when you heat non-stick cookware, it emits toxins into the air.
Manufacturers tried to “solve” this toxicity problem by adding labels warning consumers not to add high heat to the product. But unfortunately, tests from the Environmental Working Group (EWG) found that non-stick cookware only needed a few minutes on a standard stove before it surpassed the temperatures that caused the coating to split and release toxic chemicals.
Teflon cookware is the most widespread non-stick product with the highest health risk. After its accidental discovery over 70 years ago, Teflon was deemed a health hazard by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
The EPA found Teflon’s non-stick properties consisted of a plastic polymer coating called polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE). When exposed to high heat, PTFE unleashes toxins that can lead to polymer fume fever or Teflon flu. This illness is not only dangerous to you and your loved ones, but it’s fatal to pet birds.
If your Teflon cookware was made before 2013, it might also have a cancer-causing chemical compound called perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA). Even though there are claims that the traces of PFOA is too small to pose any health risk, it’s best to reduce your exposure to Teflon since it’s found in many other products, including eyeglasses, carpeting, and personal care items. It’s also worth noting that the US has banned the use of this “forever chemical,” but it can still be imported from other countries.
If you want to continue using Teflon or other non-stick cookware, you can still reduce chemical exposure when cooking by adding it to low or medium heat and using a wooden spatula or spoon. Also, you can swap your older pots and pans for non-stick cookware with the label “PTFE and PFOA-free.” Remember that these products are only safe to use when the coating is undamaged.
Aluminum Cookware
Aluminum cookware is another popular choice in the kitchen that also contains hidden dangers. This metal may be abundant, strong, lightweight, and versatile, but its neurotoxic properties can leach into your cooked food, especially tomato-based or other acidic products. In addition, too much aluminum exposure harms your internal organs, like your brain, liver, and heart, causing central nervous system diseases such as Alzheimer’s and ALS.
Even if you use anodized aluminum, the protective layer over aluminum, you’re still not completely safe. Over time, that layer may break down and release contaminants into your food.
Copper Cookware
Copper cookware is another toxic option, and it can be costly, as well as high maintenance. If it’s not lined with stainless steel or has a thin coating that gets scratched off, this soft metal can find its way into your food.
Now, it’s true that small amounts of copper can be beneficial to your health. However, if you ingest excessive copper, you may suffer heavy metal poisoning, potentially causing neurodegenerative disease.
While copper may conduct heat well, it can lose its shiny appearance and outer layer from scrubbing and cleaning. Additionally, the coating comprises nickel, another hazardous element.
Even though copper cookware can enhance your kitchen’s decor with its attractive appearance, it may serve you well to swap your copper pots and pans for stainless steel with copper bottoms. That way, you will have a safer option with the conductive benefits of copper.
Ceramic-coated Cookware
Some may mistake ceramic-coated cookware as a safe option when it’s the opposite. If your pots and pans aren’t 100% ceramic, you risk chemicals, like lead and cadmium, leaching into your food.
Because the ceramic coating isn’t very durable, you may notice it chipping away only after a few months of daily use. However, if you continue to cook with that pot or pan as it’s losing its ceramic layer, you’re inviting toxic chemicals into your food and eventually into your body.
These chemical leaks can cause lead poisoning, resulting in abdominal pain, headaches, infertility, and, in extreme cases, coma and death. And even if the ceramic layer is lead-free, a chipped coating can still pose a health threat, mainly because neurotoxic aluminum can be found underneath.
Safer Cookware Options
You can find better, healthier cooking alternatives to keep the PFAS and microplastics out of your food. Here are some cookware options that are not only safer and better for the environment but also have longevity and deliver delicious results:
Glass Cookware
You can bet on glass cookware to not release anything toxic into your food when heated. That’s because this durable, eco-friendly option is non-reactive. It also doesn’t absorb any old flavors or smells from the foods cooked or stored inside of it.
The only drawbacks are it doesn’t have the same non-stick cookware capabilities and can be heavier and more fragile than the other cookware. You’ll also need to be extra cautious handling it when it’s hot. And you should avoid placing a hot glass dish on a cold surface, as that will cause it to break.
Despite those minor cons, glass is still an excellent choice for cookware. Plus, it’s typically inexpensive and microwave and dishwasher-safe.
Cast Iron
Cast iron is another safe, functional, and convenient cookware option. The advantages of this product are:
- Doesn’t contaminate your food
- Heats well and evenly
- It can have non-stick qualities when seasoned properly
- It is oven-safe, easy to use, and durable
- It gives food a distinct flavor that can’t be duplicated by other cookware
Another benefit to using cast iron is it adds iron to your food, which is helpful to those who are iron-deficient. However, you can try enameled cast iron cookware if you have normal iron levels. It’s just as safe and easy to use.
A downside of cast iron cookware is that it may be overly expensive and heavy for some people to use. In addition, it takes longer to get hot. But it can hold heat well, and with proper care, cast iron pots and pans usually have a long shelf life.
Carbon Steel Cookware
Carbon steel cookware is similar to cast iron in its composition except in weight. Its lightness makes it easier to use and store. Also, it can withstand high temperatures.
Like cast iron, carbon steel requires seasoning to make it non-stick, takes a long time to heat up, and needs to be cleaned in a specific way to stay functional. This cookware may not hold up well when cooking acidic foods and can develop a brownish film from oxidation. However, it also adds iron and not toxic chemicals to your food, making it a safe cookware option.
Ceramic Cookware
If it’s 100% ceramic, this type of cookware can be the best and safest choice available. It’s made with natural materials, so you won’t have to worry about toxins entering your food. Plus, it won’t chip or peel after heavy use.
The other advantages are ceramic cookware has a non-stick surface and is dishwasher-safe. While it can be expensive, it’s well worth the money since you will have it for a long time.
Stainless Steel
One of the more suitable choices regarding food safety is stainless steel. This durable cooking option can heat up quickly and cook food better than non-stick cookware.
Stainless steel is also relatively lightweight and scratch-resistant. However, similar to cast iron and carbon steel, it needs to be seasoned to make the surface non-stick and will last you a very long time.
When purchasing this item, make sure to look for food-grade stainless steel—that type you want to use since it contains no nickel or chromium.
How To Make Changes to Your Kitchen
Having a non-toxic kitchen may not happen overnight. Your cookware may not be the only thing that needs changing. You can adjust some of your practices and other kitchen products until you eventually have an environmentally-safe and healthy kitchen. Here are some tips to help you get started:
Swap Plastic Containers for Glass Containers
While you may love plastic containers for their convenience and non-breakable composition, they are very toxic, especially when heated at high temperatures. Even BPA-free plastic containers may contain unhealthy properties like phthalates, dioxins, and heavy metals.
Swapping your plastics for glass is a healthier choice when storing your food. Glass containers are safe and sturdier and more straightforward to clean.
Apply Proper Air Flow
Your kitchen should be well-ventilated. Using a fan or an air purifier, particularly when you cook, can help remove fumes, smoke, and other emissions that may be harmful to inhale. An air purifier can filter bacteria, viruses, cancer-causing chemicals, and other dangerous elements.
Replace Plastic Wrap and Aluminum Foil
Plastic wrap and aluminum foil may be popular because of their convenience and availability, but they can contaminate your food with carcinogens and endocrine disruptors. Swap them for reusable, toxic-free, pliable, and environmentally friendly wraps.
Use a Water Filtration System
Not everyone has access to clean drinking water. In the US, 92% of the population receives water that meets health-based standards. If you live in an area where tap water may be contaminated, it’s best to get a filter to remove those contaminants and improve your water quality.
Reduce the Use of Fragrances
Some scented candles, soaps, sprays, and other fragrant products may help mask odors in your kitchen. Still, they may also release toxic chemicals, including formaldehyde, petroleum byproducts, esters, and alcohol. If you breathe in these chemicals or add them to your skin, you may trigger symptoms such as allergic reactions, headaches, and lung infections. Instead, you can use baking soda and vinegar to eliminate foul smells and natural soaps on your skin.
Final Steps to a Toxic-Free Kitchen
Regarding your cookware, the best choice should match your cooking needs, priorities, and budget. You may not be able to completely overhaul your toxic cookware and replace them with safer products, but you can take the necessary steps to keep yourself and your family safe.
If you want to avoid health hazards, gradually reduce the number of toxins you and your family may be exposed to by using this article as a guide. Performing a spring cleaning where you discard the old, chipped cookware may be the best place to start. And then, before you make any purchases for safer cookware, do some research to ensure you are getting the right product.
These small steps can help steer you to a safer, eco-friendly kitchen. Follow us for more ideas about how to live a healthy, sustainable, and efficient life.