4 Toxic Types Of Cookware And 4 Clean-Cooking Alternatives

May 22, 2018 by apost team

These days, people are more aware than ever of the benefits of cooking and eating healthy food. However, the tools you cook with are as important as the recipes themselves, as the wrong pots and pans can leech the wrong chemicals into your food.

These chemical compounds are very hazardous to your health, especially if they build up in your system over time. Below are the most dangerous types of cookware and why you should switch over - and the best alternatives that can give you the same cooking benefits!

Teflon is one of the most well-known brands in terms of non-stick coatings. Between that and the lower price tag, these pots and pans are some of the most popular tools in kitchens.

However, Teflon is one of the most dangerous brands of cookware as well.

Teflon's famous non-stick qualities are achieved with a layer of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), a plastic polymer. This coating starts to leach toxins when heated to about 572 degrees Fahrenheit, toxins that can cause flu-like symptoms such as headaches, nausea, fatigue. These 'Teflon flu' fumes are not only harmful for people, but can be fatal to house pets like parrots.

Teflon cookware also has perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), a chemical that is linked to breast, prostate, and ovarian cancers. Yes, it's likely true that the small exposure in Teflon products is not harmful on its own, but PFOA is found in so many other objects, including wire insulators and fabric protectors, that limiting your exposure to it wherever you can is the best way to stay safe.

Even if you have non-stick cookware that isn't Teflon and doesn't have PFOA and PTFE, you still need to be careful. They have a thin coating of material, but it chips easily and needs to be replaced as soon as it is damaged.

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Cast iron cookware is long-lasting and can be coated with seasoning to make non-stick just like Teflon pans. It heats evenly and does not leach any toxic chemicals - in fact, it's quite the opposite. Cast iron cookware can infuse your food with natural compounds that increase your body's necessary iron levels.

And if you don't need iron supplements, enameled cast iron cookware gives you the same benefits and is convenient to use!

Ah, aluminum. It's such a ubiquitous kitchen tool, as a pan liner or a plate cover. It's strong and flexible, versatile and recyclable.

But nothing is perfect, and neither is aluminum.

Aluminum is neurotoxic, meaning it negatively affects your body's nervous system. Long-term exposure has been linked to ALS, Alzheimer's, and dementia, and even though the cookware is usually coated, the coating is thin and chips easily.

Glass may be heavier and doesn't have non-stick properties, but it's durable, odor-free, and even more environmental-friendly than recyclable aluminum. Plus, no trace of toxic metal compounds!

Copper pots and pans are very pretty. The shiny rose-brown metal is a cheerier alternative to darker cookware, and its conductive properties make it heat evenly and quickly.

But though copper is another necessary human health compound, larger quantities can lead to heavy metal poisoning, which is extremely dangerous. This cookware leeches copper compounds when it's not coated, but even the coatings can contain toxic levels of nickel.

Stainless steel is a great option for the kitchen. Food-grade steel doesn't have nickel or chrome layers, it's lightweight and resists scratches, so it's durable and will last for a long time. Plus, it's still shiny!

Pure ceramic cookware is safe to use, so ceramic cookware that is coated should be fine too, right?

Well, not always. Coating for ceramic isn't very durable and chips quickly, and it often contains lead and cadmium. Lead compounds are extremely dangerous because lead poisoning is one of the most hazardous types of metallic poisoning. Even if there is no lead, the coating often contains aluminum as a substitute, but as said above, aluminum has neurotoxic properties and isn't safe either.

Pure ceramic is pretty pricey, but it's durable enough to make up for the initial cost. Ceramic is actually made of entirely natural, non-metal materials, so it's one of the safest options for cookware. It has non-stick properties and can be washed in the dishwasher, so that's time-saving!

What's your favorite type of cookware? Are you thinking about switching? Tell us what you think in the comment section on Facebook! And let your friends know!