Those pans make cleaning up so much easier. What's the problem in using them?
If your pan gets overheated, it gives off toxic fumes. Gosh, who hasn't overheated a pan occasionally! Did you know that when that happens you risk inhaling toxic fumes?
Well, it can't be THAT bad, can it? According to the Environmental Working Group:
"Health dangers: When you breathe kitchen air polluted with fumes from overheated Teflon, you're at risk for developing flu-like symptoms (yes, "Teflon flu"). The long-term effects of routine exposure to Teflon fumes, and from Teflon flu itself, have not been adequately studied.
PFCs have been found in nearly all Americans tested by federal public health officials. Chemicals from this family are associated with smaller birth weight and size in newborn babies, elevated cholesterol, abnormal thyroid hormone levels, liver inflammation and weakened immune defense against disease."
One warning stated on the website is to keep your pet birds out of the kitchen. An overheated teflon pan can kill a bird in seconds! If that is the case, just think what repeated exposure to humans is doing!
The chemical that is on these teflon pans is called PFCS. It is found in many things besides non-stick pans - like microwave popcorn, scotchguard, etc. Download the pfc guide if you want to reduce the amount of this chemical in your body.
So what kind of pans are recommended? Cast iron and stainless steel.
If you must cook on non-stick pans, never preheat the pan,cook on the lowest temperature possible to cook the food safely, and use the exhaust fan on your stove.
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