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The Teflon Toxin

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Re: The Teflon Toxin

#211

Post by simoncion »

djb_hackernews wrote: post #198
atourgates wrote: post #140

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think points are valid and worth considering, but unless new research finds something entirely new, "eye strain" doesn't damage your eyes. From the American Academy of Ophthalmology: "Watching televisions, including LCDs and flat screens, can't cause your eyes any physical harm. The same is true for using the computer too much or watching 3-D movies. Your eyes may feel more tired if you sit too close to the TV or s…

Tell that to my computer use induced Blepharitis.

How did computer use cause oily buildup, bacterial infection, and eyelid inflammation?

Re: The Teflon Toxin

#212

Post by RokStdy »

Ollinson wrote: post #208
Retric wrote: post #122

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You can use noise canceling headphones/ear buds to avoid the chatter and lower the volume. At ~300$ there not cheap, but not only do they help save your hearing they are also less distracting for those around you.

I find that nice pair of in-ear etymotics with their biggest foam tips is the best way to block out noise. The noise isolation is so strong that I can't even listen to music at higher than half volume without discomfort.

Seconding this. I love my etymotics. You can get a pair these days for about 70 bucks (or less). Take the time to try out different tips to find ones that are most comfortable.

Re: The Teflon Toxin

#213

Post by simoncion »

spathi_fwiffo wrote: post #150
blevs wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Serious Eats has a very comprehensive guide [1]. The short version is rub lightly with canola oil, put in hot oven for about 30 minutes. Take it out and oil again. Repeat 3-5 times. The only thing you need to avoid while cooking is overly acidic foods. If you try to make a tomato sauce in it you will see the seasoning flake off. That's not good, but is very easily fixed by repeating the above steps. To clean it, scou…

For acidic things, buy an enameled cast iron. Those things are also great. They need no seasoning, but are a bit more delicate (you don't want the enamel to chip or crack).

I grew up with traditional CI cookware. I know how to season it and how to wash it.

The roommate recently purchased an enameled cast iron skillet. The use and care guide was pretty poorly written. So, a couple of stupid questions on the topic follow:

* The coating inside the pan is enamel, and doesn't need maintenance?

* One needs to not use metal utensils (or steel wool) in order to not damage the coating?

* One can wash the damn thing with soap and water without harming the coating?

Thanks in advance. :D

Re: The Teflon Toxin

#214

Post by kaitai »

ars wrote: post #159
eevilspock wrote: post #128

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Great. More synthetic and toxic crap in our landfills. All for our myopic convenience. Dupont and 3M love you.

Teflon is not toxic. Some precursors are but once made it's completely inert. And a frying pan is mostly metal, it'll get recycled at some point and the teflon burned away anyway.

If you're doing wok cooking, you can get to 900 degrees, although most of us who did not have the gas company adjust the stove for optimal Chinese cooking don't get quite that high. 600 F isn't crazy in wok cooking on a stovetop, though, and Teflon is not guaranteed to retain its properties above 400F. [1,2] Here's a PSA: Teflon-coated woks suck anyway!

Remember that Teflon and related products aren't only for stovetop use. There are many non-stick baking sheets and muffin pans as well, and it's not that unusual to cook muffins, scones, cakes, or pizza (esp pizza [3]) at temperatures above 400. Moreover, using the broiler can quickly get you to a high temperature.

Interestingly, there are a lot of documented cases of bird death in conjunction with Teflon usage [4]. Birds are very sensitive -- hence "canary in coal mine" -- but it is interesting to see that bird death can happen during normal use of Teflon and related products, certainly at temperatures below 400F.

[1,2] http://www.seriouseats.com/2012/06/the-food-lab-for-the-best..., http://www.boedeker.com/ptfe_p.htm [3] http://www.thekitchn.com/recipe-homemade-thin-crust-pizza-re... [4] http://www.ewg.org/research/canaries-kitchen/teflon-kills-bi...

Re: The Teflon Toxin

#215

Post by simoncion »

fluidcruft wrote: post #85
hussong wrote: post #60

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'd recommend the following: 1. Scrub thoroughly using only hot water and a stainless steel pot cleaner -- this should give you a clean start 2. Make fried potatoes using lots of oil, fry potatos until black (throw them away, obviously) -- this should help soak the somewhat porous surface with oil 3. Apply a thin coating of oil and bring to immense heat -- this will create a solid surface 4. After every use, clean ge…

Yikes. What makes you think this results in fewer carcinogens on your pan's surface than teflon?

The cleaning step.

Steps one through three are what is called "seasoning" the pan. It's a process that often makes a bunch of smoke. Ideally, you only ever have to do that once. Cooking on cast iron doesn't produce a smoky mess.

Re: The Teflon Toxin

#216

Post by kaitai »

criddell wrote: post #190
azinman2 wrote: post #153

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That stuff is just more toxicity. The non stick vaporizes at high temperatures (the Teflon website will warn against small birds in the kitchen... And that's the Teflon website!!!), and all those knicks and scratched are material coming off and into your food. There's no need for toxic cookware. Get high quality cast iron and you can give it to your future generations like my grandmother did for me. And if that flake…

Having a bird in the kitchen is just a bad idea (unless you are going to eat it). If you overheat oil, that becomes toxic as well and will kill a small bird the same as overheating teflon.

You might have a house with a kitchen next to the living room and no door in between, and if you've got everything closed up in winter you can kill a bird in a nearby room with Teflon toxicity. Overheating oil will not kill a small bird, and even some quick smoke inhalation won't necessarily kill a bird.

Smoke inhalation and Teflon toxicity are really different death mechanisms -- if you're interested, a quick read of the abstracts of articles on mass bird deaths from PTFE toxicity at http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10879927 or http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3276392/ is illuminating.

Re: The Teflon Toxin

#217

Post by [deleted] »

venomsnake wrote: post #149
thezilch wrote: post #9

I've never understood the gravity of Teflon pans. I can never seem to keep them non-stick, whether it be because of using too high of heat or somehow scratch the damn thing. So, I got cast irons. It's trivial to keep them seasoned and thus non-stick, and they can take the beating of very high heat -- searing meats -- and any metal utensils or rough substances.

They can't ... I have managed to burn off the seasoning on regular infrared electric stovetop.

[deleted]

Re: The Teflon Toxin

#218

Post by Sammi »

thezilch wrote: post #9

I've never understood the gravity of Teflon pans. I can never seem to keep them non-stick, whether it be because of using too high of heat or somehow scratch the damn thing. So, I got cast irons. It's trivial to keep them seasoned and thus non-stick, and they can take the beating of very high heat -- searing meats -- and any metal utensils or rough substances.

Don't let soap and teflon touch. That's one of my rules. Wash with hot water and not too hard scrubbing. This and the heat from cooking take care of hygiene. My cheap ass Ikea teflon pan has lasted years in good condition.

Also no metal utensils and don't heat it up like crazy especially without anything on it. Easy rules.

Re: The Teflon Toxin

#219

Post by kaitai »

simoncion wrote: post #213
spathi_fwiffo wrote: post #150

Earlier quoted context omitted.

For acidic things, buy an enameled cast iron. Those things are also great. They need no seasoning, but are a bit more delicate (you don't want the enamel to chip or crack).

I grew up with traditional CI cookware. I know how to season it and how to wash it. The roommate recently purchased an enameled cast iron skillet. The use and care guide was pretty poorly written. So, a couple of stupid questions on the topic follow: * The coating inside the pan is enamel, and doesn't need maintenance? * One needs to not use metal utensils (or steel wool) in order to not damage the coating? * One can…

As I understand it,

* no maintenance for inside

* don't use steel wool. With a stubborn stain I use a little baking soda, which some folks say is ok and others forbid. I use metal utensils despite being told not to. I use them gently and accept a few scratches; I try to avoid cutting things in the pan. I also wear contacts while swimming because I'm that kind of rebel. Meh.

* Soap + water = great :)

Re: The Teflon Toxin

#220

Post by kaitai »

esaym wrote: post #117
pyre wrote: post #62

Earlier quoted context omitted.

http://sherylcanter.com/wordpress/2010/01/a-science-based-te...

Yes this is a good read. After reading that last year I bought a griswold #8 from ebay for $50. Stripped it with lye oven cleaner over a few days, and then seasoned it like above. I stopped 'washing' the pan with soap as I found chiseling any stuck on stuff with a metal spatula, followed by using "The Ringer" under hot water to be quickest and easiest. After that, I dry with a paper towel and spray with Pam (read som…

I love my Griswold.
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