How To Choose Safer Cookware For Your Kitchen

Is your cookware killing you?

It may seem like a bit of a hyperbolic statement, but remember – the cookware that you use comes in direct contact with your food, and harmful metals and chemicals on that cookware can put harmful contaminants in your food.

If you’re already cautious about choosing organic food products and avoiding products shown to contain contaminants, then choosing the right cookware is the next important step in making sure that you get nothing but the best.

That’s why it’s crucial that you be careful when choosing the right kind of cookware. There’s a lot of information – and misinformation – out there about which type of cookware is actually the safest. So hopefully I’ll do a decent job of making all of this simple for you in this post.

Cookware to Avoid

Aluminum cookware is particularly harmful for many different reasons. As a metal, aluminum is incredibly toxic – and very soft, which means that it can leech into the food that you are cooking quite easily.

High levels of aluminum have been linked to many health issues such as dementia, kidney and brain damage, and other nervous system issues[1].

Unfortunately, its high level of conductivity means that aluminum is used in a high percentage of cookware. In most instances, aluminum is used in the core of the cookware and covered by another type of metal, but you should still be wary as scratches or other types of damage can expose the aluminum core of these items.

Most people have non-stick or Teflon cookware in their kitchens. This is another dangerous type of cookware that should be avoided if possible, as dangerous toxins can be released into the air when the nonstick surface of this cookware is overheated[2].

Not only that, but when this coating flakes, you could be exposed to its aluminum core – a double whammy of toxins that can be very dangerous.

The Middle Ground

There are two types of cookware – stainless steel and anodized aluminum – they aren’t exactly dangerous, but still not ideal for cooking.

If you’re in need of affordable cookware or already have these pieces in your home, they’re generally safe to use, even if they aren’t ideal.

Stainless steel cookware has been the subject of some debate, largely because of concerns about high levels of toxic metals potentially being included in its composition.

If you can’t get a magnet to stick to the metal, then you’re probably safe, though you may consider saving your stainless steel cookware for items that aren’t highly acidic in nature.

As for anodized aluminum, it’s considered an acceptable option because the aluminum has been treated to make it more stable than the standard aluminum. In addition to that, it’s nonstick and can resist scratching. As long as you toss away any damaged anodized aluminum cookware, it should be safe to use.

The Top Cookware Options

And as for the cookware you should choose, your absolute safest bet is enamelled cast iron. Unlike regular cast iron, the enamel coating over the cast iron prevents rusting, eliminates the need to season the metal, and allows for more thorough cleaning, and as far as heat distribution and weight go it’s a great cooking choice.

And last but not least, ceramic cookware – just keep in mind that you should always buy domestic, and you should always buy from a large manufacturer. Cheaper versions of this cookware may contain lead in the glaze, which is definitely unsafe.

Keep these things in mind when shopping for safe cookware and you can go a long way towards eliminating unsafe toxins from your food.

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