Kiss The Cook - Let's Talk Cookware ~ Wild Wife Wellness

If you like to cook like me you know that having proper cookware can make all the difference.

Our kitchens are the hearts of our homes. It’s the place where we gather with family and friends and where we lovingly create meals to nourish our loved ones. Surely the process of preparing meals can be an opportunity to share our love and benefit the health of those who gather to share meals with us. In fact, cooking is a wonderful opportunity to be present in the current moment while we are chopping and sautéing, mixing and baking. It’s a calming and satisfying way to connect with the flow of life while contributing to the health and well being of those we love.

The cookware we use is an important aspect of the meals we make. Given that we want to make sure we are using healthy ingredients in the dishes we prepare, we also want to make sure that the tools we are using are healthy for us as well. There are several options to use while we cook. Let’s look at a few.

Keep your family healthy with non-toxic cookware

Types of Commonly Used Cookware – Pros and Cons

Aluminum – Unsafe…mostly, Best Avoided

There are numerous health risks associated with too much aluminum exposure. The worst of which occurs in people who work with aluminum and inhale the dust particles. Even though the World Health Organization estimates that people can safely ingest up to 50 mg. a day without harm. To that, I say that the better option is to choose cookware that doesn’t leach any aluminum into our food.

There are studies that state that high levels of aluminum have been found in the brains of Alzheimer’s patients. Consequently, Alzheimer’s disease is a grave concern from having overexposure to aluminum. In fact, aluminum is very abundant on our planet as it’s found in the air, soil, and water.

Too much aluminum can cause toxicity. Notably, rickets, anemia, colic, memory loss, bone deterioration, and diminished kidney and liver function are some conditions that have been linked to aluminum in the body.

Anodized Aluminum Cookware – Pretty Safe but Use Caution

An electro-chemical procedure, anodization subjects the surface of aluminum pots and pans to a process that builds up the metal’s natural coating of oxide. This yields a hard, nonreactive substance that forms a tough coating. As a result, an anodized aluminum cooking surface is non-stick, scratch-resistant and easy to clean. According to the Brandy Wine Science Center Inc., anodized aluminum does leach and can be a health concern.

Anodizing aluminum may prevent leaching but comes with its own health concerns. A chemical called Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), also going by the name Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA) is blamed for producing toxic fumes. This is associated with Teflon cooking products. In that case, if anodized aluminum has a coating of these substances it can be of serious concern for your health.

Teflon Cookware – Unsafe – Throw these away!!

The health risks from these products are horrible. The EPA classifies PFOA as being carcinogenic in animals. It causes testicular, pancreatic, liver and mammary tumors in rats. Human males working with exposure to PFOA have an increased risk of needing treatment for or dying from pancreatic cancer and cancer of the reproductive tract. There have been numerous studies confirming the PFOA alters male reproductive hormones, increasing estrogen and compromising testosterone regulation. Thyroid glands can be damaged as well.

There’s really nothing good about Teflon cookware. Some of the chemicals used in production never break down in the environment. Therefore, it hurts our bodies and it hurts our earth. If you have these in your kitchen, TOSS THEM OUT!

Stainless Steel Cookware – Healthy Choice

Stainless steel cookware is a safe choice for healthy cooking. Being that it doesn’t break down and flake, there’s no worry of contamination in your food. Stainless steel is a combination of metals, including chromium, nickel, carbon and possibly manganese. It’s a safe and affordable option and a preferred choice of professional chefs worldwide. Furthermore, it doesn’t rust or corrode and a good set of stainless steel cookware will last a lifetime.

Cuisinart Multi Clad Stainless SteelCookware

Some of my favorites for quality and affordability are Cooks Standard,

Cuisinart and WearEver. A little pricier but still very affordable are T-fal, Chef’s Star and Calphalon.

Cast Iron – Healthy Choice

Cast iron is what our Grandmothers used. It’s one of the oldest and most durable choices and has been around for generations. For good reason. It lasts forever and like a fine wine, gets better with age. It has even heating and good heat retention. Iron is an essential mineral for our bodies and cooking with cast iron once a day will give your body all the iron it needs.

Caring for your cast iron cookware is a bit more intensive than other types of cookware. Cast iron will need to be seasoned with oil before use. To clean you will need to use a nylon brush to scrape the food particles away from the pan and rinse with water. Take note that no soap should be used on these pots & pans. After cleaning just heat the pan to evaporate the excess water and season with oil before storing. To season…first, just take a paper towel with some cooking oil and wipe your pan, covering every surface. Next, wipe off the excess oil until it’s not greasy but has a nice glow.

Older cast iron pans are the absolute best! Being that they’ve been seasoned for years and years getting your pans passed down from family members would be great. You can also find used cast iron on eBay or at second-hand stores. If you do decide to buy a new cast iron piece keep in mind that until it has built up a patina on seasoning it can leach small amounts of iron. Therefore it’s best to be cautious or avoid if you or a loved one suffers from any condition where excess iron could be a problem.

Glass – Non-Toxic, Excellent Choice

Glass cookware is primarily used for baking. It is by far one of my favorites because it doesn’t leach any harmful substances into the food that I’m putting into my body & serving to my family. All glass cookware is inert, non-toxic and safe. Another benefit is that it can go into the refrigerator also so it’s great to have food storage containers made from glass with tops for storing food. The old standby Pyrex is a good choice for reliable and durable glass cookware.

Ceramic Cookware – Non-Toxic, Another Excellent Choice

Rachel Ray Ceramic Cookware

Save

Ceramic cookware is one of the best things there is for your happy healthy kitchen. There are many advantages to cooking with ceramic. First of all, most brands are dishwasher safe (check manufacturer’s instructions). Secondly, ceramic has a no-stick cooking surface so there’s no need for butter or oils. Additionally, no metals leach into your food and there’s no odor retention or bad taste or bacteria from this cookware. Lastly, it incorporates far-infrared technology to cook your food from inside to outside simultaneously withstanding a high cooking temperature without burning or cracking.

The best ceramic cookware is made with natural inorganic materials. It heats up fast and holds heat well. Notably, it’s versatile and can be used with all cooking methods, oven, stovetop, microwave, even the barbecue. Additionally, you can store it in the refrigerator or freezer. Added bonus! It’s a breeze to clean because the ceramic glazed surface is non-porous and food slides out easily.

Make sure to choose ceramic cookware that is FDA approved to be free of toxins and chemicals. Also, read your reviews and choose a brand that doesn’t chip easily. Spending a little more for a good brand will pay off in spades when your pieces last for a very long time. It’s good to look for good functionality so that your ceramic cookware will be dishwasher, oven, and microwave safe. You’ll want it to hassle-freeree, easy to clean and durable. 100% ceramic is completely non-toxic but can be more expensive. However, it’s worth every penny. The best ceramic cookware is smooth, lustrous and silky.

Do your research. Look for Made in the USA when choosing ceramic cookware. Foreign countries often lack the rigid manufacturing standards that we have in the United States. Choose 100% ceramic with lead-free glaze to ensure that no lead will be leaching into your food. Look for cookware with warranties from reputable companies.

Most major brands have a ceramic cookware option. Read the reviews and the manufacturers instructions before purchasing to get the best fit for you and your kitchen. I like Rachael Ray Cucina Hard Porcelain Enamel Nonstick Cookware Set

There are other types of cookware that you can find such as titanium that can be a good choice as well. The bottom line is this. You have a choice and for the health of your family and home, choose well and be healthy.