Ideal Bite

Are you stuck on Teflon pans?

Submitted by tmeronek on Wed, 07/16/2008 - 1:48am.

The Bite:

No need to detach yourself from nonstick cookware completely, but move away from Teflon - which has some sticky health issues - to new lines of pots and pans that stick to higher safety standards.

The Benefits:

Sticking it to toxins. The EPA's Science Advisory Board considers PFOA (aka Teflon) a likely carcinogen, and it can come off on your food at high temps and with the use of sharp cooking utensils. Our picks use alternatives such as enameled cast-iron.
Keeping pets clinging on. Toxins that enter the air from hot nonstick pans can kill pet birds (our feathered friends have very sensitive respiratory systems) - the jury's still out on whether they harm our lungs.

Personally Speaking:

Toshio has been known to work out using his heavy cast-iron pans; fellow Biter Team members can vouch, since he takes every chance he gets to show off his biceps.

Wanna Try:

Le Creuset - more than 15 different enameled cast-iron cookware styles made to last; you still have to oil it a little to avoid sticking completely ($100-$300).
Cuisinart Green Gourmet - three pan options with ceramic nonstick interiors and stay-cool handles and made with 70% recycled steel; available at Bed, Bath & Beyond. Also: grill pans ($25-$70).
GreenPan - its Thermolon material requires less energy to treat than the usual no-stick options; three color choices ($20-$140).

on the page: http://www.idealbite.com/tiplibrary/archives/real-stickler the links: http://www.idealbite.com/wannatry/0716cooks http://www.idealbite.com/wannatry/0716cuisinart http://www.idealbite.com/wannatry/0716greenpan are all disconnected. Perhaps it is too old?

Posted by: Anonymous | March 01, 2009 at 12:13 AM

My Cuisinart Green Gourmet pans are the absolute best! You can cook with almost zero oil and if that wasn't enough they are also beautiful to look at hanging in my kitchen.

Posted by: Georgianna | March 11, 2009 at 08:13 AM

My cast iron pans are not just my favorites, they were my mother's. I remember that they were one of (two of?) the very few things that survived our house fire way back in late 60's. I'd never part with them. They aren't beautiful, but they do have character!

Posted by: sheila | March 12, 2009 at 02:56 AM

Try Scanpan. It's 100% PFOA-free nonstick cookware. A lot of "green" nonstick cookware still use harmful chemicals in the manufacturing process, but non Scanpan. You can find it at Sur La Table. http://www.surlatable.com/category/id/103013.do

Posted by: Renee | April 17, 2009 at 11:20 AM