Which cookware is the safest?
When it comes to cookware, not all materials are the same in terms of safety. Tanvi Oza, our Nutritionist, has summarized a list of safest cookware to use for your and your family, with some recommended brands.
Safest Options
Stainless Steel
Stainless Steel Stainless Steel is a great choice, as its non-toxic and can heat quickly when you need it. It also distributes heat evenly and is virtually indestructible. If you need to reduce sticking with Stainless steel, simply use oil or fat and make sure it heats up.
Cast Iron and Enameled Cast-Iron
Cast Iron Cookware is a very safe option in the kitchen. Traditional cast Iron can leach tiny amounts of Iron, which is actually not harmful as many people are deficient in Iron. The only people who need to be careful are those with Hemochromatosis (Iron Overload). Enameled cast Iron like Le Cresuet doesn't leach anything at all but is more expensive.
Tips for cleaning: Try not to clean with soap, as it removes the seasoning on the pan. Simply use water, or use lemon and and salt, then dry and coat with a small amount of olive oil to preserve the seasoning.
Glazed Ceramic Pots
Glazed Ceramic Pots Ceramic pots are safe if they are properly glazed. If not, then they may contain certain heavy metals. Xtrema’s 100% ceramic pots and pans are made of all-natural materials and have been proven not to leach toxic metals like lead and cadmium.
Glass
Glass is completely safe to use in the oven and is great for baking. It's not as good as cast-iron for holding heat, however it is less expensive.
Unsafe Options
Teflon/Non-stick Cookware
Nonstick cookware is by far one of the most concerning forms of cookware. In just two to five minutes on a conventional stove top, nonstick cookware releases perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), linked to thyroid disease, liver inflammation, weakened immune system, allergies, flu-like symptoms, infertility, reproductive problems, child developmental delays, high cholesterol, and neurotoxicity. They can also last for years in the body so its best to avoid them altogether.
Aluminum
Aluminum cookware is known for toxic leaching of Aluminum when used for cooking, especially with acidic food such as tomato sauce. Aluminum is a neurotoxin which is linked with Alzheimers disease and auto-immune conditions.
Copper
Copper cookware can leach copper, which isn't necessarily toxic, but can be in high doses. It can also reduce your levels of Zinc as it competes with absorption.
Silicone Cookware
I avoid silicone cookware because there hasn’t been enough scientific research to confirm for sure whether or not silicone can leach out of cookware and possibly contaminate food. However, It is fine to use for kitchen utensils and is certainly a safer option than Teflon.
References:
1.https://www.ewg.org/research/canaries-kitchen#.Wi82GrQ-dmA 2.https://www.debralynndadd.com/wp-content/uploads/ceramcor-leaching.pdf 3.https://ehp.niehs.nih.gov/doi/10.1289/ehp.11277 4.https://www.webmd.com/children/news/20100907/high-cholesterol-linked-to-cookware-chemicals#1 5.https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/phs/phs.asp?id=1076&tid=34 6.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/?term=Aluminum%2C+Alzheimer%27s+Disease 7.https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16227186/ 8.https://www.ewg.org/research/ewgs-guide-pfcs#.Wi8rXbQ-dmA 9.https://www.ewg.org/news/videos/ewg-teflon-can-create-negative-side-effects#.WiXCCLQ-dmA 10.https://www.ewg.org/enviroblog/2010/12/your-green-holiday-kitchen-3-easy-steps#.Wi8PLrQ-dmA