Non-Stick Cookware, Plastics, etc.

To answer a question from a reader:

There is quite a bit of research on non-stick cookware. When it heats up to a certain temperature.... I believe it's 325*... it starts to put toxic fumes into the air, which can kill a parakeet or other small bird in the vicinity; not to mention what may get into the food.

You should never use plastic in the microwave. Plastic has a chemical in it that mimics an estrogen, which is why they use glass petri dishes. An experiment which tested very high levels of estrogen was later linked to the plastic dish. Heating the plastic just intensifies this. Hot food put into a plastic dish may also be a problem. Imagine what this could be doing to us, especially our men and young boys.

We got rid of most of our plastic dishes a long time ago, and the microwave shortly afterward. Microwaves have hazards of their own. We now use glass storage containers with silicone lids, glass lids would be preferable, but they are hard to stack. We also use canning jars often. Unfortunately we still are subject to plastics in food wrapping, freezer containers, etc.

We're not going to go bonkers over this, or fret much, but most of this was really easy to do. We don't miss the microwave at all. Everything can be heated up in the oven, stove top, or crock pot.

I would love to hear what you know about dinnerware, however without publishing your comment, I don't have access to link to your blog. (or at least I haven't figured out how)

Here is an article about using plastic with food

http://www.mindfully.org/Plastic/Plasticizers/Out-Of-Diet-PG5nov03.htm

This one is about damage from plastic baby bottles

http://www.webmd.com/baby/news/20030331/danger-in-plastic-baby-bottles

Dr. Mercola has lots of info compiled about plastics, cookware, etc.

http://www.mercola.com/