Pots and Pans: PFOA We Go
Whether you’re a “sautée all day” pro chef, or a “different shapes of pasta” extraordinaire, you want to know that the cooking equipment you’re using is healthy for your body and the planet. At some point, we’ve probably all looked down at our frying pan and observed the scratch marks where the non-stick coating used to be. Which means that we’ve all eaten Teflon Flakes for breakfast. Some non-stick cookware contains harmful chemicals that get into our food, our bodies, and our environment. The biggest culprit is Perfluorooctanoic acid, or PFOA, which is a man-made chemical designed to resist heat, water, grease, and sticking. Not only have studies shown the harmful effects of PFOA on long term health, this chemical doesn’t break down and sticks around in soil and water supplies. Although fewer companies are using PFOA, it’s not completely gone from our cupboards. Each of our eco-friendly cookware recommendations is PFOA-free, and meant to be a lifelong addition to your kitchen. It’s more cost-efficient and healthier for you and for our planet to invest in quality pieces that you’ll have forever, rather than throwing away a cheap pan every time the coating wears off. So allow us to whisk you away on our international tour of PFOA-free, non-toxic cookware recommendations.
GreenPan:
Ceramic Class
The only green Pan before this was Peter, and just like him, this cookware refuses to age. GreenPan is a Belgian company that is dedicated to making healthy ceramic cookware. They use a non-stick coating called Thermolon, the main material of which is a sand derivative and is free of nasty chemicals like PFOA. In producing Thermolon, CO2 emissions are 60% less than in the average production of traditional coatings. GreenPan also uses upcycled steel and aluminum whenever possible. We started using these pans years ago, and we’ve been hooked ever since. They are durable, scratch-resistant, and oven safe. Do yourself a flavor and get cooking with some fresh Greens.
SCANPAN:
yes we scan
This Denmark-based company has been in the non-toxic cookware game for a while now. With over 21 years in business, SCANPAN was the first manufacturer of cookware to introduce environmentally friendly, PFOA-free products to the market. Their products are made from pressure forged aluminum, which allows for even cooking. The melted aluminum that is hand-poured into the molds is carefully selected, environment-friendly and recycled. On the pricier side, these sets aren’t exactly a steel, but the top quality materials and lifetime warranty make for a great investment. This scan is 100% complete.
Made In
Made In is a 3-year-old company that’s really hot right now (fortunately their pans can handle 1000 degree heat). They work with seasoned factories that have been producing top quality carbon steel and stainless clad cookware for centuries, and it shows. Made In is based in the U.S. and their PFOA-free kitchenware is already being used in many three-Michelin-star restaurants across the country. The great news for us is that by selling directly from their website, their prices are quite reasonable. We tested out the 10” Blue Carbon Steel Frying Pan and we definitely felt worthy of some Michelin stars, or more realistically a high-five, after cooking with it. It handles heat well, cooks evenly, and is dishwasher safe. There is a lifetime warranty and 45 day test period on products if you are unsure of your choice, though we decided to hold on to ours.
Staub
Staub is a premium French enameled cast iron and ceramic cookware company, and oui are in love. Made for those who live by their flavor palate and color palette, these beautiful additions to your kitchen will leave you feeling full of French tradition and taste. Using PFOA-free materials, the precise craftsmanship allows for a resilient product with lids designed to keep moisture in your dish as desired. We’re making ourselves too hungry talking about it, so we’ll just say it’s certainly worth taking a Staub at one of your favorite dishes. Bon appétite.
Demeyere
Demeyere is a family-owned Belgian company that produces incredibly sleek PFOA-free cookware with unique technologies, each catering to a specific cooking style. Demeyere emphasizes the specificity of thickness of each material, number of alloys used, and surface area of each base enabling the distribution of heat to be more easily controllable. To a certain degree, nothing is left to chance. Ergonomic stainless steel handles, tight-fitting lids, and pour-friendly pan edges create a happy marriage between functionality and aesthetics. In other words, they’re nice to look at and our mac and cheese didn’t end up on the floor.
All-Clad
“It will last you a lifetime” means a lot when it comes from a company that’s been saying it for 40 years. All-Clad’s success boils down to consistency. They have always used American craftsmen and American-made metals to produce their long-lasting cookware. They take great care in selecting their raw materials. Every piece of cookware is hand inspected at each stage of manufacturing. Simply lifting one will tell you that the pure metal core persists from top to bottom. PFOA-free, dishwasher safe, and oven safe up to 500 degrees, you can’t go wrong with this solid company that’s been used professionally and at home since 1971.
Zwilling
Known primarily for their premium cutlery, Zwilling has developed a line of cookware using their same high standards and expert German engineering. Beyond making non-toxic pans, they’ve also established a foundation called Zwilling Care. The foundation supports projects around the world that help disadvantaged adults and children through job training and education. Due to their attention to detail on both product quality and quality of life, Zwilling is a noteworthy addition to the mix. These pans are really easy to use and even easier to clean, to which we say “Danke.”