Toxic Cookware: Looking at green non-stick pan alternatives

Are you concerned about the safety of your non-stick cookware? Check out these excerpts from Consumer Reports about the availability of non-stick options without the PFOA:

Green cookware sets that measure up.

Researchers have long known that very high temperatures can break down the coating in nonstick pans, creating fumes that can kill pet birds and possibly causing flu-like symptoms in people. Lab studies suggest that perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), used in making nonstick coating, can cause cancer and birth defects in animals, and might pose a risk in humans. PFOA stays in the body for years and in the environment indefinitely.

It’s sensible to take a few precautions with nonstick cookware. Use ventilation when cooking, don’t put empty pans over very high heat, and toss pans that have started to flake. Flaking can cause uneven heating that might accelerate emissions.

Consumer Reports recently tested the performance of three so-called “green” nonstick cookware sets: Earth Pan, Starfrit, and GreenPan. All three made the CR Best Buy list. Unlike conventional nonstick cookware sets, the pans do not contain PFOA according to their manufacturers.

Have a story about how you’ve made your kitchen more toxic-free? Share it with us in the comments below!