The Green Parent

Teflon was all the rage in the 80s with its synthetic non-stick properties that allowed an egg to slide right off the pan. But fast forward three decades and we now know that the very chemiclas that make Teflon (and similar coatings) so slippery, namely polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) and perfluorooctanic acid (PFOA) break down at high temperatures….meaning the chemicals slide right off the pan too…and into your dinner.

If you’re trying to green your kitchen, teflon is out. Not only is it bad for your health and the environment…but it’s also bad for your wallet as the pans have a limited useful lifetime. Instead, look for stainless steel or cast iron cookware that withstand the test of time, reducing the chemical load on the environment and the amount of energy and resources needed to create new pans. Here are a few brands to consider:

Calphalon: Stainless Steel Cookware

Le Creuset: Enameled Cast Iron Cookware
Lodge Manufacturing: Cast Iron Cookware

Happy Cooking!