You may be thinking that your pans and pots do the job that were needed to do or they were pricey, therefoe, they have to be good, but, are you actually using healthy cookware?
Did you know that using non-stick pots and pans to cook food could be putting your health in danger? Non-stick cookware always contains a man-made chemical known as perfluorooctanoic acid, or also known as C8 or PFOA.
But, there are alternatives you can use. These alternatives are non-toxic, and even offer additional health benefits. Known more about non-toxic cookware options below:
4 Non-Toxic Cookware You Should Try:
1. Cast Iron
Cast iron is one of oldest known non-toxic cookware options available in the market. Furthermore, cast iron retains heat well, therefore, you can use a lower setting. This can help the food from sticking.
Also, when you consume food cooked in a cast iron pan or pot, you consume bits of iron. This is a good way to treat iron deficiency. But, those who have too high iron stores, should avoid cast iron cookware.
Make sure you season with oil the cast-iron pan after cleaning it. When you do this, it will help maintain an optimal cooking surface. To do this, apply a light coating using high smoke point oil, such as avocado oil. Do this when it is clean and somewhat warm.
2. Copper
Copper falls in the in-between category when it comes to the best nontoxic cookware. While it can be safer compared to other options, the risk of using 100% copper cookware is that it can lead to an over-consumption of copper.
But, many diets are low in copper, therefore, it is possible to have a copper deficiency, most especially if you are suffering from a digestive disorder that generally impairs nutrient absorption.
Copper toxicity from using copper cookware is not likely, but, if you want to avoid any extra copper in your diet, then you would not want to use 100% copper cookware.
It is common to find copper cookware which is actually copper on the outside, and known to be good for conducting heat, but, has a non-reactive stainless steel lining on the inside. This means that you get the best of both materials. Older copper cookware can have a nickel or tin coating and should not be used for cooking.
3. Glass
Glass cookware is non-toxic, friendly to the environment, and is very durable. This is another option to help in reducing the use of cookware containing highly fluorinated chemicals or polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).
These dangerous compounds are added to furniture, clothing, cookware, carpeting, and more to make them waterproof, non-stick, or stain-resistant. Therefore, watch out for them in the cookware you are using and elsewhere around your home.
For safer cooking, EWG recommends oven-safe glass, stainless and cast iron steel cookware. For storing foods, glass containers are considered to be a much healthier option as compared to plastic ones, and also using glass is a smart way to avoid BPA toxic effects.
4. Stainless Steel
Included in the list of safe cookware is stainless steel. Make sure you are buying cookware that is made from a stainless steel that is food-grade version. You might see numbers including, 304, 316 and 430. These numbers are all food-grade.
Also, numbers such as 18/10, 18/8, or 18/0 indicate how much nickel and chromium, respectively, the product contains. Just remember the 2nd number, if you are concerned about the leaching of nickel.
But, abrasive cleaning can lead to damage in the lining. When this happens, it is no longer a non-toxic cookware piece. This is because of the the leaching of metals.
Take care when you clean your stainless steel non-toxic cookware, and throw them out once the cookware shows this damage.
Sources:
David Wolfe
Dr. Axe
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