When we think of greening our home, the kitchen is often the first place we begin. It is, after all, where we nourish our families. Many of us are using green cleaning products and natural cleaning methods in place of toxic cleaners. Many of us are insisting on organic meats and locally grown fruits and vegetables when we can. But what about how we prepare our food? Chestnuts roasting on an open fire” gives us a warm and wholesome feeling, but let’s face it, most of our meals are prepared in pots and pans. How green are your pots and pans? Another way to look at this is, how healthy are your pots and pans? As is often the case, options that are better for the environment are generally healthier for people too.
When non-stick pots and pans hit the market, cooks, who are often also the dishwashers, welcomed them with open oven mitts. What could be better than non-stick cookware? Well, years later there are some concerns about the non-stick materials used. The good news is that there are also some alternatives.
Traditional non-stick cookware ingredients include PTFE (polytetrafluoroethene) and PFOA (pefluorocctanoic) in the production process. When stable, PTFE is non-toxic, but it begins to deteriorate when cookware reaches about 260 degrees Fahrenheit. Makers of non-stick cookware using PTFE like to remind consumers that most foods are usually cooked at lower temperatures, but still consumers should know that the degradation of these chemicals has been known to be lethal to birds. Owners of pet birds should be especially wary, but these chemicals have also been shown to cause flu-like symptoms in humans. The debate continues over whether or not this cookware poses health risks, but there is no doubt that it isn’t healthy for the environment. In fact, the Environmental Protection Agency has given companies using PFOA until 2015 to completely eliminate use of the chemical.
Are there green options in cookware? Do you have to give up the convenience of non-stick in order to find cookware that is healthy for both your family and the environment?
Today the answer is yes, there are options, and no, you don’t have to give up non-stick convenience. The makers of eco-friendly cookware point out that, in addition to offering a healthier product, they employ more eco-friendly manufacturing processes too.
Look for Green Cookware that can boast:
-Using more recycled materials
-Using less packaging and greener inks in packaging
-Using innovative designs for easier recycling
-Releasing less greenhouse gas emissions during manufacturing
-That their cookware products require less heat and therefore save energy
Green Cookware Options
Spotlight on Earth Pan:
EarthPan offers a line of cookware that uses an eco-friendly “SandFlow” nonstick formula for easy clean up. EarthPan products have no PTFE or PFOA. EarthPan offers 8, 10, and 12-inch skillets, a square griddle, and several 10-piece pot and pan sets in stainless steel, hand anodized, espresso, or terra cotta.
Spotlight on Green Pan:
Green Pan is a Belgium cookware manufacturer that was the first to create PTFE-free, non-stick cookware. Green Pan uses “Thermolon”, an excellent thermal conductor that uses less power to reach higher temperatures so you save on energy. Green Pan boasts of reducing greenhouse emissions by up to 60% when applying coatings, compared to non-stick pans with PTFE.
Spotlight on Starfrit:
Starfrit uses “Ceram-Eco”, a 100% natural ceramic powder with non-stick properties. Starfrit on their cookware use 99% recycled aluminum on the exterior and eco-friendly bamboo handles. Starfrit’s 9 and 10-piece cookware sets come in reusable storage containers.
Whether you’re looking to replace your cookware one pot or pan at a time, to register for green wedding gifts, or you want to get or give healthier and more eco-friendly gifts this holiday season, these eco-friendly pots and pans are many ways to give.
For more green ideas for your kitchen, visit “Green in your kitchen” for decor and cooking ideas.
Consider this video on “Best Green Cookware Options”
