5 Tips for Healthy Cooking with Ceramic Cookware

When it comes to cookware, most buyers do not take seriously the kind of material used in making the cookware sets. But did you know that whatever your cookware is made from normally ends up in your food? Well, that is the truth and it is really hard to tell which set may contain harmful substances since manufacturers are not required to spell out ingredients as it is with manufactured foods. However, do not worry since we are here to help you understand ways of healthy cooking with ceramic cookware.

Tips for Healthy Cooking with Ceramic Cookware

Tip 1-Non-anodized Aluminum Cookware

Avoid such cookware as much as possible since they contain aluminum salts that may leak into the body and cause some serious symptoms. Most cookware in the market today are made of anodized aluminum but if you buy used or hand-me-downs, ensure you read the cookware label properly to avoid non-anodized aluminum.

Tip 2-Watch out for Lead in some Ceramics

Most ceramic cookware sets that have been imported from other countries or those considered as antiques, collectables, or crafts may not be meet FDA standards. This is according to a report given by National Institutes of Health. The test kits used for detecting lead can are able to detect some high levels of lead but may not be detect minute levels of the same.

Tip 3-Avoid Copper

Some cookware sets may contain traces of copper which have serious effects on the body. Copper causes diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting. Some brass and copper pans are normally coated with another metal so as to protect food from coming into contact with the harmful metals. Due to aging the metallic coating wears down and releases copper that dissolves with food. Some old copper cookware may contain nickel and tin coatings and therefore they should not be used for cooking.

Tip 4-Avoid Teflon

Be careful with cookware that is coated with Teflon. This coating is made from chemicals that belong to perfluorochemical (PFC) family. These chemicals are highly toxic and have become a major concern among scientists and EPA officials. They are highly-persistent and do not break down in the environment. This ultimately contaminates human blood and global wildlife. Some reliable studies done recently showed prenatal exposure to PFCs affects immunity during early childhood. Furthermore, general exposure to PFCs predisposes one to arthritis.

Tip 5-Use Safer Cookware

This is easier said and done since we tend to overlook the cookware sets we use. Choose any of the following:

• Glass cookware-glass cookware sets are all inert, toxin-free, and safe with the exception of lead crystal glassware which surprisingly contains lead.
• Ceramic or porcelain cookware-these items are completely inert and safe to use. The main problem with ceramic and porcelain cookware is that they chip easily and therefore one should be careful when stacking or storing them. You should also be careful with imported products since some of them may contain undesirable levels of cadmium or lead.
• Stainless Steel Cookware-cookware made of stainless steel is safe and affordable. The user should only be careful with how they clean them since the use of abrasive materials can cause chipping of the surfaces and release some traces of nickel and chromium. Stainless steel cooking items should never be used by persons with an allergy to nickel.
• Cast Iron cookware-cast iron has been use for centuries as a cookware material. It has some excellent properties such as; durability, excellent heat retention, and even heat distribution. However, one problem with cast iron is the fact that they rust and should therefore they should be seasoned with oil before use. These items should also be cleaned using a nylon dish-brush or a cloth and with no soap.

You can cook healthy using cookware items that are free from lead, cadmium, heavy metals, and other harmful metallic components. Non-stick ceramic cookware sets have grown in popularity since they are the most efficient and safe to use.