Safe Cookware

When it comes to cooking and baking delicious and healthy food in your kitchen, the tools are just as important as the ingredients. Good cookware is a must when it comes to making good food. The quality of your cookware is just as important. Did you know that a toxic pan can quickly destroy the nutritional value of your food by leaching in dangerous chemicals and heavy metals? There is so much to know when it comes to cookware. It’s actually crazy how many toxic chemicals can be lurking in cookware. It might not seem like a big deal but over time these chemicals add up and produce a toxic load! I am breaking it down so you know exactly what might be in your cookware and what the best nontoxic cookware options are.

What to Avoid

When we are considering cookware, it is important to know that your cookware needs to be non-toxic and chemical free. When you use cookware and it is heated, it releases contained toxins into the air and our food. Most coated pans contain Teflon. Teflon contains the chemical Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE). In order to avoid Teflon many people choose aluminum thinking it is a healthier option however it isn’t. It must be known that aluminum has been consistently placed in the top 200 health-jeopardizing toxins by the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. This is true about copper as well. Copper is also a very reactive metal. Especially when cooking with acidic foods, copper can leach into your food. While small quantities of copper are essential to our health, larger quantities or over exposure for long periods can cause a whole host of health issues like nausea, vomiting or diarrhea.

In order to avoid toxins and chemicals it is important that you avoid these cookware pans:

- Aluminum

- Aluminized steel

- Teflon coated

- Copper

It is always good to go back to the basics with cookware versus the newer, easier products on the market. You have to read the contents of the cookware, just like you do ingredients with food.

For example, stainless steel cookware is excellent and safe, however it may be coated with aluminum, have an aluminum base, or have a non-stick layer added. So do your research before you purchase new cookware. Also, keep in mind that purchasing cookware second hand is not a bad idea as long as you know exactly what you are purchasing and it does not contain any scratches.

Safe Cookware Options

Some safe cookware options are glass, 100% stainless steel, cast iron, stoneware, or ceramic cookware.

Some good companies/products to trust when purchasing cookware are:

- Corningware

- Pyrex

- All Clad

- Cooks Standard

- X-trema Cookware

-Lodge Logic Cast Iron Cookware and Pampered Chef stoneware.

-Caraway

-Le Creuset

-360 Cookware

Additional tip: if you already have aluminum cookie sheets, you can cover the toxic aluminum with a healthy parchment paper (brown, Quilon and chlorine free). Keep in mind that the above advice should also be used when looking to replace baking sheets, baking pans, and casserole dishes.

- Amy Lakits 2/27/24