NonStick Pans- Lifesaver or Lifethreat?

Ok, that title may be a little aggressive but I want you to pay attention because you may be able to avoid some dangerous pollutants with a simple swap of your pots and pans.  Conventional NonStick pans have been a lifesaver for dishwashers everywhere, but many times they contain Teflon, which contains harmful chemicals that can stay in our bodies for decades- yes, decades.  These chemicals have been shown to cause health issues cancer, thyroid disorder and liver disease, just to name a few.  They can also affect the endocrine system, making them harmful for our children’s proper development, stalling weight loss or worse.

While Teflon is BETTER than it once was, the EPA pulled PFOA (one of the harmful chemicals) from any pots and pans made after 2013, it still has other chemicals that are under scrutiny Further, cooking these pans at high temperatures will break down the coating and release the dangerous toxins into the air for you to breathe in and ingest through your food.  If you have ever noticed that little black specs have peeled off of your pan’s coating into your food, toss it and the pan.  If your grandma is still using her beloved cookware that she’s had for 50 years you need to gently swap that out for her too.

Better options include Ceramic, Cast Iron or Stainless Steel.  I’ll link to my favorites below.

Ceramic is my personal go-to.  Try to avoid really high heat and always let the pan cool before you submerge it in water to clean it.  Avoid any harsh scrubbing.

Cast Iron is awesome because when seasoned properly, it becomes non stick!  You can buy it pre seasoned or season it yourself.  To season, you’ll need to wash it gently with warm water and soap, dry with a cloth towel, rub avocado oil all over it (front, back and handle) and then place it in the oven upside down on 360 for 60 min. Once you do this, always just do a very gentle wash and you will have a nonstick, clean option!

Stainless is another awesome option if you like to sear your foods and cook on high heat.  Same rules apply, preheat it with a high smoke point oil before putting your food on it and let it cool prior to washing!