Reasons to Avoid Teflon

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I just receive a wonderful gift for my birthday this year! Stainless steel pans!

I have been previously using non-stick pans for the last 4 years.

I had tried out non-stick pans before getting married and loved how easy they were to cook with. Therefore, being the bride-to-be, I registered for a great set of non-stick pans.

Little did I know that what makes these pans so wonderful to cook with also can cause some health issues.

Reasons to Avoid Teflon

Non-stick pans can contain residues of perfluorooctanoic acid also known as PFOA. If you buy any pan that has a non-stick coating on it, the box will probably warn you to keep your birds out of the kitchen while cooking.

This is because the fumes from non-stick pans can very easily kill small birds. Sounds a bit like the old canary in a mine, to me. PFOA is a likely human carcinogen.

PFOA has been linked to a wide range of problems such as thyroid diseases, endocrine, reproductive, and neurobiological health effects and metabolic development problems.

While scientists say that non-stick pans are not the main source of PFOA contamination for humans, it is still not a good thing to have around.

Recent studies are starting to find that there are other fumes released from non-stick pans that are more of a concern then PFOA.

Want safer cookware options? Try some of these!

Stainless Steel

Cast Iron

Ceramic

Something also to keep in mind, PFOA is used in much more then the non-stick coating of pans. It is also in coated papers such as fast food wrappers and containers as well as microwavable popcorn.

It is also used in the making of Teflon, which is found in a wide array of products from carpet protection, most things marked as water resistant, and items marked as stain resistant.

Brand names to avoid: Teflon, Stainmaster, Staindefender, Scotchguard, and Zonyl