Regarding heating plastics and possible leaching of chemicals - What about utensils?

[Dreamchaser]

Such as in teflon (nonstick) cookware - Wouldn't that apply to utensils too?

I just bought stainless steel cookware to replace my nonstick cookware so I can try to help avoid exposure to carcinogenic chemicals (PFOA) in teflon.

I have nylon kitchen utensils that I always used previously with my nonstick cookware. Nylon is a form of plastic. Now I am thinking those need to be replaced too. I'm not sure about the harshness of stainless steel utensils. I'm afraid of it scratching up my new stainless steel cookware so I'm thinking of switching to wooden and/or bamboo utensils.

Any thoughts or info about this?

[Dreamchaser]

I figure that since I am going to the trouble to switch over all of the cookware, it wouldn't be that hard to go ahead and switch over the utensils also.

However having said that, if someone can convince me that using my nylon utensils are perfectly safe, I would love to keep using them. I just haven't been able to find any info about this subject.

[Houston Heather]

Hey, I recognize your avatar! You've got THE MAN there.

Personally, I would toss the plastic. I use stainless utensils I bought at a restaurant supply store. They may not be glamorous, but they are great for cooking.

My favorite tool ever is a "flipper" made out of stainless with a plastic handle. I also got some great portion control (6 oz, 2 oz, etc.) stainless ladles. they work great for me, and I know EXACTLY how much tomato sauce I'm getting.

My favorite cooking things are my cast iron skillets. Cast iron + gas stove = perfect meats and eggs everytime.

Teflon is scary stuff, I'm with you on that, and I've read enough on aluminium to scare me away from it, too. With the exception of my skillets, all my cookware is stainless or pyrex.

[SydneyN]

Originally Posted by Houston Heather

My favorite cooking things are my cast iron skillets. Cast iron + gas stove = perfect meats and eggs everytime.

Teflon is scary stuff, I'm with you on that, and I've read enough on aluminium to scare me away from it, too. With the exception of my skillets, all my cookware is stainless or pyrex.

ITA!! I use cast iron. It's amazing. It always makes me think of my grandma, because that's what she always uses.

I bought a bunch of pyrex glass bowls in many sizes on Amazon. I love them! I use them all the time to take my lunch in. I gave all my plastic containers to Good Will.

I haven't gotten stainless steel utensils. I am going to do that now. I didn't even think about it.

[Dreamchaser]

Originally Posted by SydneyN

ITA!! I use cast iron. It's amazing. It always makes me think of my grandma, because that's what she always uses.

I bought a bunch of pyrex glass bowls in many sizes on Amazon. I love them! I use them all the time to take my lunch in. I gave all my plastic containers to Good Will.

I haven't gotten stainless steel utensils. I am going to do that now. I didn't even think about it.

SydneyN - I love those pyrex bowls too! You can also get them at Walmart.

[Dreamchaser]

Originally Posted by Houston Heather

Hey, I recognize your avatar! You've got THE MAN there.

Personally, I would toss the plastic. I use stainless utensils I bought at a restaurant supply store. They may not be glamorous, but they are great for cooking.

My favorite tool ever is a "flipper" made out of stainless with a plastic handle. I also got some great portion control (6 oz, 2 oz, etc.) stainless ladles. they work great for me, and I know EXACTLY how much tomato sauce I'm getting.

My favorite cooking things are my cast iron skillets. Cast iron + gas stove = perfect meats and eggs everytime.

Teflon is scary stuff, I'm with you on that, and I've read enough on aluminium to scare me away from it, too. With the exception of my skillets, all my cookware is stainless or pyrex.

HH - So do you have any SS cookware or do you just use cast iron?

(I would love to try some cast iron but I have a glass top stove and I'm really afraid to try it on there).

[Dreamchaser]

bump

[Houston Heather]

My skillets are all cast iron, although I toy with the idea of getting a cast iron dutch overn.

My pots are all stainless. We used to run a deli so I know the good restaurant supply stores - I can walk out of there with everything from meat thermometers (old habits die hard) to "flippers" for less than $20. I do get a few smaller saucepans at Walmart.

Sometimes the camping supply stores have small (like 5 inches in diameter) iron skillets. That's where I bought mine. A chain restaurant here in the South, the "Waffle House" uses them to cook all the eggs. They must have 2 dozen skillets stacked up and ready to go at all times.

[sweetpoison]

O.K. I know Teflon is no good for you......but what about the high end non stick pans that have all the new fancy names.......not teflon. Are they the same when it comes to being bad for you. I have a set of Ultrex I bought from HSN and it is like Teflon...but not Teflon....it does not flake off like Teflon.

Vicki

[Dreamchaser]

Originally Posted by Houston Heather

My skillets are all cast iron, although I toy with the idea of getting a cast iron dutch overn.

My pots are all stainless. We used to run a deli so I know the good restaurant supply stores - I can walk out of there with everything from meat thermometers (old habits die hard) to "flippers" for less than $20. I do get a few smaller saucepans at Walmart.

Sometimes the camping supply stores have small (like 5 inches in diameter) iron skillets. That's where I bought mine. A chain restaurant here in the South, the "Waffle House" uses them to cook all the eggs. They must have 2 dozen skillets stacked up and ready to go at all times.

OK, I was just wondering if you were using the SS utensils with SS cookware. I wish I had a good restaurant supply store to go to here.

[Dreamchaser]

Originally Posted by sweetpoison

O.K. I know Teflon is no good for you......but what about the high end non stick pans that have all the new fancy names.......not teflon. Are they the same when it comes to being bad for you. I have a set of Ultrex I bought from HSN and it is like Teflon...but not Teflon....it does not flake off like Teflon.

Vicki

Vicki - As far as I know, all nonstick pans have the same type of nonstick coating which is the Teflon, except for the new green pans. I read the reviews on those though and they are not so good.

[brittone2]

The bad part of Teflon is the PFOA. Teflon is just a brand name of non stick. Most non stick products are IMO not very healthy at all...the alternatives are usually just other "brands" of the same non stick coating, kwim?

Some chip more easily, but IMO none are particularly healthy (DH is a chemist, fwiw and we don't use Teflon).

I love stainless steel (Cuisinart), cast iron (love, love, love), glass (Pyrex) for food storage, and stoneware like Pampered Chef for muffin pans, etc.

[cleochatra]

I use cast iron with metal tools and my Corningware for storage of food.

[sweetpoison]

Originally Posted by brittone2

The bad part of Teflon is the PFOA. Teflon is just a brand name of non stick. Most non stick products are IMO not very healthy at all...the alternatives are usually just other "brands" of the same non stick coating, kwim?

Some chip more easily, but IMO none are particularly healthy (DH is a chemist, fwiw and we don't use Teflon).

I love stainless steel (Cuisinart), cast iron (love, love, love), glass (Pyrex) for food storage, and stoneware like Pampered Chef for muffin pans, etc.

My Ultrex is lined with..Advantex 500 nonstick coating ....so that is just another form of Teflon..... figures!!!! 30 year guarantee....YEP!!! Just checked and the company is now out of business.....Long 30 years.....Right!!! I bought this about 2 years ago.

Vicki

[Dreamchaser]

I'm jealous of all you cast iron lovers. I am way too afraid to try it on my glass top stove!

[Dreamchaser]

Originally Posted by brittone2

I love stainless steel (Cuisinart), cast iron (love, love, love), glass (Pyrex) for food storage, and stoneware like Pampered Chef for muffin pans, etc.

Yes, I've been thinking about all my nonstick bakeware too. That will be next on my list to switch over after I'm done with all of the cookware and the utensils. I know they make regular stainless steel bakeware also. But I haven't started checking in to all of that yet.

I'll also be ever so begrudgingly phasing out the use of my Hamilton Beach nonstick tabletop grill and my electric nonstick griddle. Two very frequently used items in our kitchen!

[Sherrie_lc]

I have been doing the same thing!!!

I prefer stainless utensils to plastic. What about silicon? as far as I am aware thats safe (if not please share!), if so you can get silicon utensils as well for say spatulas and pastry brushes as well as silicon bake ware.

I am currently trying to cut down on the plastic storage as well and I only ever put things in plastic containers when cold. I am also avoiding aluminum cookware.

I am having so much trouble trying to find a non nonstick cooling rack its not funny , I have found a couple but they do not come up very high from the bench at all.

I have a cast iron skillet, a stainless skillet and a big enamel coated cast iron fry pan as well. All my saucepans are stainless and I am moving to stainless steel and stoneware mixing bowls.

I have a slow cooker that uses a big stoneware type bowl and no longer use my non stick one.

I also don't own a microwave, one because I have never liked microwaved food and two because most things you use for them is plastic!

For kids I have seen glass bottles here in Australia plus I have seen a US site before ages ago that sells stainless sippy cup type things which I haven't been able to find here.

[brittone2]

Originally Posted by Dreamchaser

Yes, I've been thinking about all my nonstick bakeware too. That will be next on my list to switch over after I'm done with all of the cookware and the utensils. I know they make regular stainless steel bakeware also. But I haven't started checking in to all of that yet.

I'll also be ever so begrudgingly phasing out the use of my Hamilton Beach nonstick tabletop grill and my electric nonstick griddle. Two very frequently used items in our kitchen!

We have a 2 burner cast iron griddle we use and love (one side is flat, one side is ridged for meats, etc.). We had a little bit of a learning curve w/ learning to cook on it, but we love it now. Add a little oil and it is totally nonstick IMO.

[Dreamchaser]

Originally Posted by Sherrie_lc

I prefer stainless utensils to plastic. What about silicon? as far as I am aware thats safe (if not please share!), if so you can get silicon utensils as well for say spatulas and pastry brushes as well as silicon bake ware.

I am having so much trouble trying to find a non nonstick cooling rack its not funny , I have found a couple but they do not come up very high from the bench at all.

Sherrie_lc - As far as silicone goes, I don't trust it any more than I trust teflon. That's just my opinion though. I don't have any hard evidence to back it up. It's still relatively new and they just haven't done much research on it. I think the jury's still out on the silicone toxicity so I just choose to stay away from it for now.

Wow, I hadn't even thought about trying to find a non nonstick cooling rack. I can imagine that that would be very hard to find!