Why is Teflon bad and what is the alternative?

Teflon has become so firmly established in our daily lives that not a single housewife can imagine a kitchen without a Teflon-coated frying pan or pan. It's so convenient! Food does not burn even with minimal use of oil. However, not everyone knows about the harm that Teflon causes to our body.

Are Teflon cookware harmful?

Scientists started talking about the dangers of Teflon-coated cookware back in the last century. And the US agency EPA, specializing in environmental protection, demanded a ban on its release. However, manufacturers claim that if all operating rules are followed, Teflon frying pans do not pose any threat to human health.

Let's figure it out.

Reference! Teflon is the trade name for polytetrafluoroethylene, a synthetic polymer registered by the American company DuPont. Due to its excellent insulating properties, Teflon is used very widely. And kitchenware is just one of the areas of its application.

Frying pans and saucepans, multicooker bowls and baking sheets, waffle irons and toasters - all of them can be coated with Teflon. As long as the rules of use and care are followed, Teflon remains in an inert (safe) state. But as soon as you heat the frying pan to 260 degrees, Teflon begins to break down, releasing perfluorooctanoic acid, one of the most powerful carcinogens.

The same thing happens if the Teflon coating is damaged (scratched, burnt). The more often we use Teflon cookware, the more microcracks form on it, the more dangerous it becomes.

Teflon fumes may cause dizziness. Settling on walls and furniture, they continue to poison us, even if we got rid of Teflon cookware long ago. The most dangerous diseases caused by Teflon are oncology and congenital malformations in newborns.

Some people, in order to save money, try to restore damaged Teflon coating themselves. However, it is impossible to do this at home. Some companies offer a service for applying a new layer of Teflon. But, firstly, this is a complex procedure, and, secondly, expensive specialized equipment is needed.

To at least somehow neutralize the harm from Teflon-coated cookware, you can adhere to the following rules:

1. Use silicone spoons when cooking and avoid abrasive sponges when washing dishes to avoid damaging the integrity of the coating.
2. If chips, scratches, or cracks appear on the dishes, do not use them. Believe me, the price of a new frying pan is much lower than the value of your health.
3. Do not heat the pan too hot.

These simple tips will only temporarily save you from the harm of Teflon. Maybe there is another solution?

Alternative to Teflon

You can completely get rid of Teflon-coated cookware and switch to steel and ceramics:

1. Dishes with ceramic coating. The best replacement for Teflon. It has excellent non-stick properties. In addition, it is resistant to corrosion and scratches. Allows you to fry at temperatures up to 450 degrees. Easy to use and maintain.And most importantly, it is absolutely safe for human health.
2. Carbon steel cookware. Its main advantage is that it has no restrictions on service life. But at the same time it does not have non-stick qualities at all. That is, pour more oil and fry. Such dishes are also susceptible to corrosion, so after each wash they need to be dried thoroughly.
3. Stainless steel utensils. It is similar to the previous option, but it is convenient to stew food in it and you can even store cooked food in the refrigerator.

Although Teflon-coated cookware has a lot of positive qualities, only one of its properties - a health hazard - cancels out all its advantages.

Scientists around the world continue to study Teflon and try to find a worthy replacement for it. But all these discoveries will happen in the future. And you need to take care of your health here and now. Start small: from your home, kitchen, dishes. And be healthy!