Growing up we were taught to cook by my mother and great-aunt, initially, it wasn’t my favorite thing to do, but I came to enjoy it. The rule in the kitchen was clean as you go, meaning after using a pot, pan, or utensil, it was to be washed. By the way, we didn’t have a dishwasher. I dreaded having to scrape and use a scouring pad on pots, and pans with food stuck on the bottom.
Teflon first appeared in the United States in 1961, you may remember the brand name Tefal, the nonstick cookware was all the rage. Needless to say, we didn’t have any in our home. Teflon pots and pans were banned in the U.S. in 2014, after discovering health hazards related to PTFE (used to coat nonstick pans). Europe had banned it in 2008. Health issues related to PTFE included low birth rate, thyroid disease, kidney, testicular cancer, and harm to the immune systems of children.
Copper cookware is advertised everywhere as a healthy choice for food preparation. Copper does retain the warmth of food for a long time, however, cooking salty food in copper pots, is not healthy. Iodine in the salt reacts with copper quickly and releases copper particles.
How many of you have aluminum pots and pans? They look beautiful but hold up, wait a minute. Aluminum heats quickly and reacts with acidic foods and vegetables. The chemical reactions that occur affect your immune system. Does anybody recall your grandmas using brass cookware and plates? Back in the day, it was considered to be beneficial to your health, but eating from brass plates was not as bad as cooking in brass pots. Brass when heated with salt and acidic foods, releases harmful chemicals.
One of the most common cookware used today is stainless steel. Stainless steel is a metal alloy, a mix of chromium, nickel, silicon, and carbon. There is no reaction with acidic foods using stainless steel, but pay attention to the quality of your stainless steel cookware. Because it is a mix of metals, if not created properly, it can be harmful to our bodies. Be sure to purchase high-quality and durable stainless steel cookware.
Is there a perfect type of cookware? There is and it is cookware made from iron, I have an iron wok. When using iron cookware it naturally releases iron, which is essential for our bodies to better function. Some studies have proven using iron cookware is good for expectant mothers because it provides the best nutrients for the child developing in the womb.
The bottom line is what you choose to prepare your food in may be harmful to your health. I hope that this information encourages you to pay attention when choosing cookware and utensils. It is an important factor for your health!
Until net tie,
Peace, Love, and Blessings❤️
