Before getting started on with the topics on diets and lifestyle,let me discuss my recommendations on cookware.Do you think the utensils we use for cooking are safe enough?
Heard about non stick pans and cookwares?These are the cookwares most seen in Indian kitchen.They are believed to be very convenient to use as it requires very little oil or butter to cook or fry food.These fry pans have been coated with material called polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) commonly known as Teflon.Teflon is a synthetic chemical made up of carbon and fluorine atoms.Before cooking in such cookware there are some important things you need to know that is overheating such cookware can lead the Teflon coating to break down, which releases toxic fumes in air.Also never pre-heat empty non-stick cookware, as empty pans can reach high temperature in minutes which potentially cause release of polymer fumes in the air.So you definitely need a well ventilated kitchen while using such cookware.Using wooden or silicon spatula while cooking in such cookware is highly recommended or using any metal spoons on it may lead to scuffs and scratches on the pan.You need to immediately stop cooking in such cookwares if you find the Teflon coating visibly deteriorating with excessive scratches, flaking and chipping.If ever you used and have seen scratches all over your pan, wondering where the coating of your Teflon pan disappeared over time?
Remember continuing to cook in such cookware will result in having those chemicals on to your plate.So this was all about Teflon coated cookwares.
The same goes with the Aluminium cookware.Aluminium reacts with acidic food items like lime, tomato and vinegar,which makes aluminium ions dissolve in the food.Eating such food could further lead to severe health issues.The harmful effects caused by aluminium might not be visible instantly but it acts like slow poison and gets accumulated in the body and can cause serious issues at later stage of life.
Even brass utensils have a very heavy base are usually used to prepare traditional recipes in many parts of country.Brass cookware reacts with salt and acidic food on high temperatures, which is why cooking in brass must be avoided.It can be used for frying or making rice.
Best possible metal for cooking!
- The best possible metal which can be used for cooking is stainless steel, as it is highly durable and also the safest option to use.Stainless steel emits no toxins and doesn’t react with ingredients.Also it requires very little maintenance.It is affordable, light weight and easy to store.
- Another option is Iron cookware.Any type of cooking can be done using iron utensils,as they have zero harmful effects.Iron gets heated up uniformly and helps in quickly cooking the food.When heated up it also releases iron which gets absorbed by the food and is beneficial for our body.But iron may impact taste in your curries ,so better to use seasoned cast iron.
- Clay pots are another option for safe cooking.Only drawback is that it is difficult to cook in them only because they take time to cook and are difficult to maintain.You can still consider in cooking in clay pots just that you should be aware about the proper ways to clean these pots before and after cooking,as you cnt wash them with your regular soap.