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Cooking with black plastic is particularly crucial to avoid

theatlantic.com

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Re: Cooking with black plastic is particularly crucial to avoid

#111

Post by SapporoChris »

nine_k wrote: post #88
exmadscientist wrote: post #74

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The article is nonsense. Only engineering plastics carry UL94 ratings (and if it's got flame retardants in it, it's got a UL94 rating... otherwise no one would go to the expense!) and there are just not a lot of engineering plastics in the waste stream compared to consumer single-use plastics.

The point is that these plastics with flame retardants would go to recycling, and would eventually find their way into cooking utensils made of recycled plastics. Nobody adds the flame retardant there intentionally, but nobody removes the flame retardants from the recycled mass either, at least not in places where plastic recycling is normally done (not the richest countries). Frankly, the idea of using recycled plas…

I thought the latest news was recycling doesn't work, it's just green washing for petroleum companies. https://www.npr.org/2022/10/24/1131131088/recycling-plastic-...

This is evidenced in https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S00489...

"To investigate the extent to which kitchen utensils are contaminated with BFRs and the potential for resultant human exposure, we collected 96 plastic kitchen utensils and screened for Br content using a hand-held X-ray fluorescence (XRF) spectrometer. Only 3 out of 27 utensils purchased after 2011 contained detectable concentrations of Br (≥ 3 μg/g). In contrast, Br was detected in 31 out of the 69 utensils purchased before 2011."

Let me emphasize: Only 3 out of 27 utensils purchased after 2011 contained detectable concentrations of Br.

Further vital information: "Simulated cooking experiments were conducted to investigate BFR transfer from selected utensils (n = 10) to hot cooking oil, with considerable transfer (20% on average) observed."

Fine, I don't cook with hot oil. I don't melt my utensils when cooking, I don't damage them at all. I see the reason for concern, but for my cooking styles this really doesn't affect me.

Re: Cooking with black plastic is particularly crucial to avoid

#112

Post by carabiner »

chomp wrote: post #10
bilsbie wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I want to but my eggs stick like crazy. I’ve even tried all the tips too like oil when droplets float, etc.

Cast iron? My eggs slide around great every time, and I scrub it with Dawn and a sponge after every cook (it is a myth that you cannot do this)

Carbon steel is better in every way. There's zero objective reason to cast iron over it.

Re: Cooking with black plastic is particularly crucial to avoid

#113

Post by SapporoChris »

__MatrixMan__ wrote: post #99

Does silicone rubber count as plastic? I think we need a more precisely defined villain here.

According to https://www.greenmatters.com/p/is-silicone-recyclable I wouldn't worry about it. If it's recycled, doesn't appear to be recycled into cooking utensils.

Re: Cooking with black plastic is particularly crucial to avoid

#115

Post by keane »

amiantos wrote: post #100
MengerSponge wrote: post #95

My Aeropress filter cap is the only remaining black plastic in my kitchen. The Aeropress is pretty much the only plastic that remains in my kitchen. I'd pay good money for a replacement cap made out of white nylon, PMMA, PEEK, etc.

They make a glass aeropress that comes with a stainless steel cap now.

Wow, had no idea. $150 / ships in February. I hate that I might grab it at that price. https://aeropress.com/products/aeropress-coffee-maker-premiu...

Re: Cooking with black plastic is particularly crucial to avoid

#116

Post by throw383837 »

kylebenzle wrote: post #70
extraduder_ire wrote: post #37

Earlier quoted context omitted.

My read of this article is that the main problem comes from black plastic that claims to be made of recycled material being contaminated.

[flagged]

You are wildly incorrect.

Article says flame retardants are added to recycled plastic, not virgin plastic.

At the end of the article, the author states this is why she does not recycle her old black plastic.

Your reading and comment of that is sophomoric.

Re: Cooking with black plastic is particularly crucial to avoid

#117

Post by verisimi »

nine_k wrote: post #97
gsky wrote: post #58

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I kept saying this for a decade but no one listens, even my mom. Consider all outside food is toxic too.

Just curious: do you raise your own poultry? Milk your own cow? Grow your own wheat? If so, my huge respect! (Otherwise...)

If you're buying and preparing whole foods, and not buying processed meals or eating out, you probably have a good enough handle on what you're eating. No need to become a certified organic smallholder.

Re: Cooking with black plastic is particularly crucial to avoid

#118

Post by FirmwareBurner »

keane wrote: post #115
amiantos wrote: post #100

Earlier quoted context omitted.

They make a glass aeropress that comes with a stainless steel cap now.

Wow, had no idea. $150 / ships in February. I hate that I might grab it at that price. https://aeropress.com/products/aeropress-coffee-maker-premiu...

What's wrong with the Tritan one instead?

Re: Cooking with black plastic is particularly crucial to avoid

#119

Post by anon291 »

shiroiushi wrote: post #106
kazinator wrote: post #65

How about, don't fry with any color plastic spatulas.

The main problem here is that many people use non-stick cookware, and metal spatulas will scratch them up badly. Plastic or rubber spatulas don't do that. Of course, you can say that they shouldn't use non-stick cookware, but they are, so...

I honestly cannot understand the appeal of non stick. Cast iron is so much simpler and the food comes out better. And the pans are indestructible and cleaning is so much easier (just wipe usually). I have three cast iron pans with which I cook for large numbers of people regularly and I'm flabbergasted when I visit other people's homes and find endless stacks of speciality pans. What are people possibly using these for?

Re: Cooking with black plastic is particularly crucial to avoid

#120

Post by Scottn1 »

amiantos wrote: post #100
MengerSponge wrote: post #95

My Aeropress filter cap is the only remaining black plastic in my kitchen. The Aeropress is pretty much the only plastic that remains in my kitchen. I'd pay good money for a replacement cap made out of white nylon, PMMA, PEEK, etc.

They make a glass aeropress that comes with a stainless steel cap now.

I had no idea either. Thanks! When I first got my Aeropress, really hot water being forced through all dark-colored hard plastic had me concerned. Still does. But after getting the routine down it takes only three minutes and my daily coffee is so much better since I got it, I don't want coffee any other way anymore.

The glass one is most likely going on my Christmas list (even though that is sort of expensive for what it is)

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