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I have received many questions as of late about choosing safer cookware. Many traditional nonstick and teflon pots and pans contain a coating that can leach harmful chemicals into our food and ultimately our bodies. I personally spend a lot of money on organic food and would rather not contaminate it with toxins from cookware. The worst offender is polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), a coating on many nonstick pans that turns to toxic Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) at high heat. PFOA has the potential to be a health concern because it can stay in the environment and in the human body for long periods of time. It has also been potentially linked to cancer. If you currently have any cookware in your home with this coating, I would toss it.
Here are my favorite safer options.
1. Ceramic
I have fallen in love with my Emile Henry Dutch Oven. I use it for stovetop and oven cooking. It is perfect for soups and stews and I also use it to bake salmon and chicken. I love that you can saute on the stove and then pop right in to the oven. I also can use my immersion blender without scratching the surface. All Emile Henry products are direct freezer-to-oven. They are easy to clean and lighter than cast iron which is a huge plus.
2. Cast Iron
Cast iron has been around forever and is a great option as it can also go from stove to oven. I have a large cast iron skillet that I absolutely love for frying and sautéing, I find that cast iron is not as easy to clean as ceramic and is also heavier. Be sure to season your cast iron before using it, so that food won’t stick. Many cast iron pans come pre-seasoned, like my Le Creuset which is an enameled cast iron. To clean, I simply use a cast iron brush and warm, soapy water.
3. Stainless Steel
Stainless Steel is also a good option. I received our stainless steel cookware set as a wedding gift almost 12 years ago and it has held up well. I personally like to use stainless steel for pasta, rice, quinoa and other grains. It heats fast, is low maintenance, and stands the test of time.
4. Eggs
A few years ago, I tossed any nonstick cookware we had in the house. My husband (the king of breakfast) was having a hard time making his world famous omelettes. I did a lot of research on a safe nonstick pan for eggs. I discovered a few brands, but ultimately went with a brand called Ozeri. Ozeri pans are coated with a German nonstick coating called Greblon, free of both PFOA and PTFE. This coating is ceramic based, scratch-resistant, and safe to cook with. Ozeri makes both a Green Earth pan and Stone Earth pans made with a chemical-free stone-derived nonstick coating. I highly recommend this option if you miss the convenience of nonstick. Ozeri is easy to clean, durable, and safe.
