I’ve gradually become more aware of the foods I eat. I’ve made many positive changes regarding my diet to reduce toxins coming into my body from pesticide residue. But it took me a while to see that what I cook my food in also matters. Cookware can add toxins to the foods we eat by releasing toxic fumes when heated at high temperatures.
Let’s look at the worst offenders, better options with a few cautions, and the safest cookware:
Worst Offenders:
Teflon/Nonstick coating cookware– This is now the most popular cookware in this country. Although originally invented in the 1940s, due to heavy scrutiny and health concerns, the original chemicals in the nonstick coating were removed in 2013. You may remember the brand name Teflon—you know—the pan nothing could stick to. And didn’t we all love it! Unfortunately, I grew up on Teflon.
One of the major chemicals in Teflon is a “forever chemical” called perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA). And what we hear about in the news every week is how dangerous these forever chemicals are to our health. PFOA now has research linking it to major chronic diseases such as hormone disruption, infertility, thyroid disease, and even cancer including liver, testicular, pancreatic, and breast cancers.
What’s even more alarming is that on May 3, 2019, at the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants in Geneva, Switzerland, more than 180 countries agreed to ban the production and use of PFOA, and PFOS. The International Agency for Research on Cancer considers PFOA possibly carcinogenic to humans. Exposure to the substance is also linked to hormonal disruption.
Now you see why Teflon was phased out in 2013. And many people are still using this cookware. But what about the new nonstick coatings since 2013? Unfortunately, many contain another variation of forever chemicals (PFAS) which may prove to be no safer. Time will tell. Personally, I think these companies that manufacture these products with these chemicals should do the research first before they put them out to retailers. Instead, we find out 15-25 years later. Forever chemicals can accumulate in human tissue over time.
And this will blow you away–A study in 2004 showed that PFOA and PFOS were present in 98% of the blood samples tested in the U.S.
And what is our country doing about this? According to Bloomberg Law, “Laws and regulations restricting “forever chemicals” in more than a half dozen states are entering effect in 2023, including the start of a timeline for a first-in-the-nation ban on PFAS in all products in Maine.
As you can see, nonstick cookware with Teflon or any forever chemical is something we all want to avoid.
Aluminum cookware made from aluminum where the inside surface touches your food can leach this neurotoxin into your foods.
Aluminum cookware – It’s a popular choice because it conducts heat rapidly which is great, but aluminum when heated can leach into your food. I also grew up on many aluminum pots and pans. When an integrative doctor found higher than normal levels of aluminum in my body, that’s when I stopped using any cookware made with aluminum. Cookware is just one of many ways that aluminum can enter our bodies. High aluminum levels have been linked to neurotoxic effects. And I was starting to feel the impact. I didn’t realize how much until my doctor helped me to get my levels back within normal ranges. I could think more clearly and my ability to read with comprehension improved. What a difference! It’s best to avoid cookware with any type of aluminum as a cooking surface. And that includes cookie sheets and aluminum foil. Some aluminum cookware is lined with high-quality ceramic. These should be fine.
View these two YouTube videos on aluminum:
11 Ways to Reduce Aluminum Exposure
The Dangers of Aluminum: How it Affects Our Bodies
Better options with cautions:
Copper cookware – Do you remember those beautiful copper cookware sets that people used to hang in their kitchen for decorations? I remember getting some just for that reason. Although not as bad as aluminum, copper cookware or cookware mixed with a copper coating can leach copper into our food. Copper heats well and some is good for our bodies, but too much copper contributes to heavy metal toxicity. Copper cookware coated with nickel can be toxic. So we don’t want too little copper, but we also don’t want too much.
There is copper cookware with stainless steel on the inside. In this way, you get the heat conduction, but your food only touches the stainless steel. Just hand the other copper cooking pots and pans in your kitchen for decoration.
Copper cookware must be used with caution especially if you already have high levels of copper in your body.
Ceramic cookware – If you truly want nonstick cookware, this is your best option. Ceramic cookware is durable, great at heat conduction, and non-toxic as long as it is properly glazed. Some improperly glazed ceramic cookware may contain lead especially if made in China or Mexico. If in doubt, you can test your ceramic cookware for lead using these lead check swabs. It’s also best not to use metal utensils with ceramic cookware as they can scratch the surface. Wooden utensils are best with ceramic cookware.
Cast Iron – These pots and pans have been used back over 100 years ago. Many experts in the health field agree that cast iron is safe to use. It retains heat well and does not contain PFAS. If you are struggling with iron deficiency, it’s recommended that you cook with cast iron. However, if you tend to have iron levels that are too high, you should avoid cast iron. Since these are not nonstick, you will need to coat them with a high smoke point oil such as avocado or coconut oil. Some cast iron pans are coated in ceramic, and these are a great choice.
I’ll bet all of our moms and grandmoms used 1-2 of these. Use them with caution if you have high levels of iron in your body.
Best choices for cookware
Stainless Steel – It’s considered by many to be the safest cookware because high-quality stainless steel does not leach or corrode. It’s best to buy food-grade stainless steel with numbers 304, 316, 430, or surgical stainless steel. Another option you can look for is 5-ply 403 or 18/0 stainless steel because both of these are nickel-free-especially if you have sensitivity to nickel. It helps if you can verify that everything is bonded, engineered, and assembled in France, Italy, or the United States. I don’t recommend any cookware made in China.
Approximately 90% of stainless steel cookware is multi-clad. This means there are layers of durable stainless steel with an aluminum core to create a surface that distributes the heat evenly and heats quickly. In my research, I found no integrative medical doctor or health practitioner who frowned upon using multi-clad stainless steel. In fact, they all recommended it.
Be careful not to clean stainless steel harshly with abrasives as this can damage the lining. Your cooking and baking sheets and cooking utensils should also be stainless steel. Most of these are aluminum. If you have aluminum baking sheets, pans, and muffin tins, you can use parchment paper or natural muffin paper liners to prevent the leaching of aluminum into your foods. Wooden utensils are always a good choice, too.
Stainless steel cookware is the number one recommended non-toxic cookware.
Glass – The Environmental Working Group (EWG) recommends oven-safe glass, stainless steel, and cast iron for safer cookware. Glass cookware is both durable and non-toxic. It’s also great for baking casseroles, cakes, and breads in the oven. One caution—don’t transfer glass too quickly from the freezer to the oven as this can cause shattering.
Corning Ware – This combination of ceramic and glass cookware has been around since the 1950s. I’ve been using mine since I received many as gifts when I got married in 1975. Corning Ware is one of the most eco-friendly, safe, non-toxic types of cookware around. And the original Corning Ware pieces manufactured before 1999, which many feel are the best, can be picked up at garage and estate sales for next to nothing. Yes, sometimes grandma and mother know best!
Enamel-covered cast iron – I actually have one of these made by Le Creuset, and they are very expensive. They are totally non-toxic and do not react with any food. And they are great for cooking eggs!
Le Creuset is a highly recommended enameled covered cast iron cookware that is great for frying eggs, and making soups and stews.
In summary, Aluminum cookware as well as Teflon and other cookware containing forever chemicals must be avoided. Caution must be taken with copper and cast iron cookware for those who have high copper and iron levels. Ceramic cookware are usually great nontoxic and nonstick choices if you buy from a reputable company and are not made in China or Mexico.
The best choices are definitely high-quality stainless steel, glass, corning ware, and enamel-covered cast iron such as Le Creuset. And if you are looking for a real bargain, many of these including Salad Master stainless-steel cookware can be found at garage or estate sales.
This blog post was researched because many of you asked for this topic. What have you learned about safe and non-toxic cookware?
View this message on YouTube:
Choosing the Best in Healthy and Non-toxic Cookware
We all know the upsides to prosperity, but do we realize the downsides? View this important message on YouTube that will open your eyes:
For Your Health,
Ginny
Ginny Dent Brant is a speaker and writer who grew up in the halls of power in Washington, DC. She has battled cancer, ministered around the world, and served on the front lines of American culture as a counselor, educator, wellness advocate, and adjunct professor. Brant’s award-winning book, Finding True Freedom: From the White House to the World, was endorsed by Chuck Colson and featured in many TV and media interviews. Unleash Your God-Given Healing: Eight Steps to Prevent and Survive Cancer was released in May 2020 after her journey with cancer and was recently awarded the First Place Golden Scrolls Award for Memoirs, and Second Place in both Selah Awards for Memoirs and Director’s Choice Award for Nonfiction at the Blue Ridge Mountain Christian Writer’s Conference. It recently received the Christian Authors Network’s (CAN) Gold Award for Excellence in Marketing for reaching 62.5 million people with a message of cancer prevention and survival. It was written with commentary from an oncologist and was featured on CBN’s Healthy Living Show, Atlanta Live, and CTN’s Homekeepers along with over 75 media outlets. Learn more and cancer and wellness prevention blog and book information at www.ginnybrant.com.
