A Cast Iron Pot A good friend and buddy from college was over for dinner one evening several years ago. While cooking some chicken he asked, “How do you keep the chicken from sticking to the pan? I go through three to four non-stick pans a year and you are not even using a non-stick pan!”
I responded with “Do you want the long answer or the quick one?”
He replied, “I can do without the long ‘put me to sleep’ Bill Lauto answer, so the quick one please.”
“Have you heard of PAM?”
“No, who is she?”
I just looked at him and after he saw my face, he then relented, “Okay, give me the long answer.”
So sharing cooking information to keep food from sticking ranged from the type of cooking surface being used and type of oil applied to the surface.
Today I wish to provide an update to my friend and everyone because a new study done by Australian researchers has reported that just scratching or cracking the surface of a Teflon coated non-stick pan could release over 9,000 plastic particles.
By using Raman imaging and algorithmic models they also reported that non-stick pots could release millions of plastic particles when used to cook or even when washing. A micro-plastic piece will measure less than five millimeters and nano-plastic particles measure less than one micrometer. In other words, invisible.
These synthetic chemically composed plastic particles of carbon and fluorine atoms have a low level of friction. They are also known as the Forever Chemicals because they only get smaller and smaller. They are not Biodegradable.
Additionally, like all plastic in the PFA family, they can also persist for unknown amounts of time in our bodies. Long term health issues are a concern and outcomes are mostly unknown to us. For more information please peruse my Going True Green blog dated 12-27-2017.
Flinders University research Professor Youhong Tang, basically said that the study tells people to be careful about what cooking ware they use along with what utensils are used. A metal stirring spoon will do more damage to the surface of a pot than a wooden spoon. Also since “Teflon is a family member of PFAS” more research is recommended.
So what alternatives and solutions do we have? Remember that only 3 things do not put carcinogens into our food and drink:
Glass
Porcelain
Wax paper
As for preventing foods from sticking to cooking surfaces, use olive oil, sunflower oil or canola oil. Sprays such as PAM have no artificial preservatives, flavors or colors added. The same is true with most olive oil sprays.
Bake in porcelain, roast veggies and potatoes on parchment paper and use an iron skillet when feasible. Do not forget to care for any iron cookware by reading care instructions that explain how important maintenance is by rubbing oil on the cookware after washing.
Realize that cooking outdoors on slate, just like Native Americans did and still do, is very healthy. The same is true for the stones on the base of a pizza oven which are great for baking bread and of course cooking pizza.
Information like this is not necessarily reported in the media or shared by politicians. Realize that the media is in the business to entertain, not educate. They create controversies and lie through the process of omission to increase profit margins. Celebrities promote a product that pays them the most and Politicians who gain a Net income greater than the salary we pay them are corrupt. I do not know about you, but I am tired of being lied to.
We have invisible plastic because we have invisible facts and the United States is gaining invisible intelligence. High levels of education does not equate to having intelligence.
Bill Lauto, at GoingTrueGreen.com
Environmental Scientist
International Sustainability and Energy Consultant
Contribute your comments!
I responded with “Do you want the long answer or the quick one?”
He replied, “I can do without the long ‘put me to sleep’ Bill Lauto answer, so the quick one please.”
“Have you heard of PAM?”
“No, who is she?”
I just looked at him and after he saw my face, he then relented, “Okay, give me the long answer.”
So sharing cooking information to keep food from sticking ranged from the type of cooking surface being used and type of oil applied to the surface.
Today I wish to provide an update to my friend and everyone because a new study done by Australian researchers has reported that just scratching or cracking the surface of a Teflon coated non-stick pan could release over 9,000 plastic particles.
By using Raman imaging and algorithmic models they also reported that non-stick pots could release millions of plastic particles when used to cook or even when washing. A micro-plastic piece will measure less than five millimeters and nano-plastic particles measure less than one micrometer. In other words, invisible.
These synthetic chemically composed plastic particles of carbon and fluorine atoms have a low level of friction. They are also known as the Forever Chemicals because they only get smaller and smaller. They are not Biodegradable.
Additionally, like all plastic in the PFA family, they can also persist for unknown amounts of time in our bodies. Long term health issues are a concern and outcomes are mostly unknown to us. For more information please peruse my Going True Green blog dated 12-27-2017.
Flinders University research Professor Youhong Tang, basically said that the study tells people to be careful about what cooking ware they use along with what utensils are used. A metal stirring spoon will do more damage to the surface of a pot than a wooden spoon. Also since “Teflon is a family member of PFAS” more research is recommended.
So what alternatives and solutions do we have? Remember that only 3 things do not put carcinogens into our food and drink:
Glass
Porcelain
Wax paper
As for preventing foods from sticking to cooking surfaces, use olive oil, sunflower oil or canola oil. Sprays such as PAM have no artificial preservatives, flavors or colors added. The same is true with most olive oil sprays.
Bake in porcelain, roast veggies and potatoes on parchment paper and use an iron skillet when feasible. Do not forget to care for any iron cookware by reading care instructions that explain how important maintenance is by rubbing oil on the cookware after washing.
Realize that cooking outdoors on slate, just like Native Americans did and still do, is very healthy. The same is true for the stones on the base of a pizza oven which are great for baking bread and of course cooking pizza.
Information like this is not necessarily reported in the media or shared by politicians. Realize that the media is in the business to entertain, not educate. They create controversies and lie through the process of omission to increase profit margins. Celebrities promote a product that pays them the most and Politicians who gain a Net income greater than the salary we pay them are corrupt. I do not know about you, but I am tired of being lied to.
We have invisible plastic because we have invisible facts and the United States is gaining invisible intelligence. High levels of education does not equate to having intelligence.
Bill Lauto, at GoingTrueGreen.com
Environmental Scientist
International Sustainability and Energy Consultant
Contribute your comments!
