Comments on: Well, *this* is going to put me right off omelets http://www.feministe.us/blog/archives/2006/02/16/well-this-is-going-to-put-me-right-off-omelets/ In defense of the sanctimonious women's studies set. Thu, 18 Mar 2010 07:35:28 +0000 hourly 1 By: Starla http://www.feministe.us/blog/archives/2006/02/16/well-this-is-going-to-put-me-right-off-omelets/#comment-32924 Starla Fri, 17 Feb 2006 18:06:37 +0000 http://www.feministe.us/blog/archives/2006/02/16/well-this-is-going-to-put-me-right-off-omelets/#comment-32924 I know KnifeGhost, I know. One of my friend's mom still has her cast iron pan and I've known the family since 1985, and I'm sure the mom has had that pan for longer. My grandmother uses nothing else but stainless steel pots and pans with copper bottoms, usually Revereware. Sadly, I have to say that I have owned nothing else but non-stick since I moved out on my own at age 19. One question though, and this really is just a question. Does stopping the use of non-stick pans really make a huge difference when, from reading other comments, teflon seems to be used from packaging of foods to stain resistance for fabrics/upholstery? I just seriously want to know. I think if most people were concerned with the possible (read: likely) carcinogenic properties of teflon, wouldn't it be best to try to avoid everything that included teflon? I know that is probably near impossible, but I just see it as a bit silly to avoid just one item with teflon but not anything else. Though I am sure that some of the commenters here do try to avoid items with teflon. On a side note, I have a friend who has owned a Goffin Cockatoo for a number of years now (since it first hatched) and she only cooks with non-stick. She mentioned in the past that she makes sure that the pans don't get too hot, but so far her bird seems fine. Would cooking on a lower heat setting be any better? I know KnifeGhost, I know. One of my friend’s mom still has her cast iron pan and I’ve known the family since 1985, and I’m sure the mom has had that pan for longer.

My grandmother uses nothing else but stainless steel pots and pans with copper bottoms, usually Revereware.

Sadly, I have to say that I have owned nothing else but non-stick since I moved out on my own at age 19.

One question though, and this really is just a question. Does stopping the use of non-stick pans really make a huge difference when, from reading other comments, teflon seems to be used from packaging of foods to stain resistance for fabrics/upholstery? I just seriously want to know. I think if most people were concerned with the possible (read: likely) carcinogenic properties of teflon, wouldn’t it be best to try to avoid everything that included teflon? I know that is probably near impossible, but I just see it as a bit silly to avoid just one item with teflon but not anything else. Though I am sure that some of the commenters here do try to avoid items with teflon.

On a side note, I have a friend who has owned a Goffin Cockatoo for a number of years now (since it first hatched) and she only cooks with non-stick. She mentioned in the past that she makes sure that the pans don’t get too hot, but so far her bird seems fine.

Would cooking on a lower heat setting be any better?

]]> By: Tapetum http://www.feministe.us/blog/archives/2006/02/16/well-this-is-going-to-put-me-right-off-omelets/#comment-32911 Tapetum Fri, 17 Feb 2006 17:21:26 +0000 http://www.feministe.us/blog/archives/2006/02/16/well-this-is-going-to-put-me-right-off-omelets/#comment-32911 Interesting tidbit on asbestos use can be found here: http://www.damninteresting.com/?p=394#more-394 (full disclosure - it's my article) The interesting thing to me is that when asked about asbestos filters, all P. Lorillard will say is that there is no asbestos in any of their cigarette filters now, and hasn't been in a long time. They're completely unwilling to say that there ever was, and in fact none of their advertising at the time ever said what the "pure, safe" substance in their filters was. Interesting tidbit on asbestos use can be found here:
http://www.damninteresting.com/?p=394#more-394
(full disclosure – it’s my article)
The interesting thing to me is that when asked about asbestos filters, all P. Lorillard will say is that there is no asbestos in any of their cigarette filters now, and hasn’t been in a long time. They’re completely unwilling to say that there ever was, and in fact none of their advertising at the time ever said what the “pure, safe” substance in their filters was.

]]> By: mythago http://www.feministe.us/blog/archives/2006/02/16/well-this-is-going-to-put-me-right-off-omelets/#comment-32832 mythago Fri, 17 Feb 2006 02:30:47 +0000 http://www.feministe.us/blog/archives/2006/02/16/well-this-is-going-to-put-me-right-off-omelets/#comment-32832 <i>what will become of the asbestos dilemma?</i> Big companies that don't like holding asbestos liabilities will bring the bill up periodically, and it will be an ugly, bloody fight every time. The only bright spot is that fiscal conservatives have noticed that when the fund runs out of money, taxpayers will get stuck with the tab, so they're agin it. what will become of the asbestos dilemma?

Big companies that don’t like holding asbestos liabilities will bring the bill up periodically, and it will be an ugly, bloody fight every time. The only bright spot is that fiscal conservatives have noticed that when the fund runs out of money, taxpayers will get stuck with the tab, so they’re agin it.

]]> By: Prabhata http://www.feministe.us/blog/archives/2006/02/16/well-this-is-going-to-put-me-right-off-omelets/#comment-32829 Prabhata Fri, 17 Feb 2006 02:15:54 +0000 http://www.feministe.us/blog/archives/2006/02/16/well-this-is-going-to-put-me-right-off-omelets/#comment-32829 I stopped using teflon coated frying pans because I use high heat for quick stir-frys. I now use a seasoned cast iron skillet for that purpose and the result is outstanding. I would not trade my cast iron for the best non-stick surface frying pan on the market. The cast iron is a little heavy, but it provides a great non-stick cooking surface without worrying about high heat health problems. I also use a very good quality peanut oil. I stopped using teflon coated frying pans because I use high heat for quick stir-frys. I now use a seasoned cast iron skillet for that purpose and the result is outstanding. I would not trade my cast iron for the best non-stick surface frying pan on the market. The cast iron is a little heavy, but it provides a great non-stick cooking surface without worrying about high heat health problems. I also use a very good quality peanut oil.

]]> By: Caja http://www.feministe.us/blog/archives/2006/02/16/well-this-is-going-to-put-me-right-off-omelets/#comment-32817 Caja Fri, 17 Feb 2006 01:20:26 +0000 http://www.feministe.us/blog/archives/2006/02/16/well-this-is-going-to-put-me-right-off-omelets/#comment-32817 I've also had parrots for years, so non-stick items do not darken my doorstep. I use cast iron, a couple stainless steel pots, and glass - there are glass pots that are safe for stovetop use. Oh - anodized aluminum also does quite well. I have an old waffle iron with aluminum plates, and it is fabulous. A little oil, and the waffles pop out cleanly. (Much better than the "non-stick" waffle iron that I had the great misfortune to use once.) I find that, if you cook things right, they're less likely to stick. Sadly, I'm a lazy cook, I wander away and things scorch and burn, so I end up soaking pots (NOT the cast iron, of course - I scrub that with oil and salt when I screw up and let something stick to it) a lot to save on pot-scraping time. I’ve also had parrots for years, so non-stick items do not darken my doorstep. I use cast iron, a couple stainless steel pots, and glass – there are glass pots that are safe for stovetop use. Oh – anodized aluminum also does quite well. I have an old waffle iron with aluminum plates, and it is fabulous. A little oil, and the waffles pop out cleanly. (Much better than the “non-stick” waffle iron that I had the great misfortune to use once.)

I find that, if you cook things right, they’re less likely to stick. Sadly, I’m a lazy cook, I wander away and things scorch and burn, so I end up soaking pots (NOT the cast iron, of course – I scrub that with oil and salt when I screw up and let something stick to it) a lot to save on pot-scraping time.

]]> By: reddest http://www.feministe.us/blog/archives/2006/02/16/well-this-is-going-to-put-me-right-off-omelets/#comment-32791 reddest Thu, 16 Feb 2006 23:59:29 +0000 http://www.feministe.us/blog/archives/2006/02/16/well-this-is-going-to-put-me-right-off-omelets/#comment-32791 Fuck DuPont. Seriously. I was born and raised in Parkersburg, WV. Chemical plants are a huge part of why my home state has the highest air pollution threat in the entire US. Of course they cover shit up. All of those companies do. People from my area tend to have a lot of wacky, elusive health problems, including myself. It's starting to come to light that, among other things, there is serious manganese dust contamination from the plants. I am completely unsurprised that a DuPont product harms people and they lie about it. Fuck DuPont. Seriously. I was born and raised in Parkersburg, WV. Chemical plants are a huge part of why my home state has the highest air pollution threat in the entire US. Of course they cover shit up. All of those companies do. People from my area tend to have a lot of wacky, elusive health problems, including myself. It’s starting to come to light that, among other things, there is serious manganese dust contamination from the plants. I am completely unsurprised that a DuPont product harms people and they lie about it.

]]> By: KnifeGhost http://www.feministe.us/blog/archives/2006/02/16/well-this-is-going-to-put-me-right-off-omelets/#comment-32773 KnifeGhost Thu, 16 Feb 2006 23:38:55 +0000 http://www.feministe.us/blog/archives/2006/02/16/well-this-is-going-to-put-me-right-off-omelets/#comment-32773 That's devious and brilliant, Mythago. I'll give it a shot. Starla, don't worry, there's not shame in taking aesthetics into account. I think cast iron pans look..... I dunno. Reliable, solid. Like they'll last you forever. That’s devious and brilliant, Mythago. I’ll give it a shot.

Starla, don’t worry, there’s not shame in taking aesthetics into account. I think cast iron pans look….. I dunno. Reliable, solid. Like they’ll last you forever.

]]> By: Starla http://www.feministe.us/blog/archives/2006/02/16/well-this-is-going-to-put-me-right-off-omelets/#comment-32722 Starla Thu, 16 Feb 2006 21:58:45 +0000 http://www.feministe.us/blog/archives/2006/02/16/well-this-is-going-to-put-me-right-off-omelets/#comment-32722 I don't care what anyone says, no one is going to take my non-stick pans away from me. They are one of the best things ever created. I'm not a professional chef and I have little to no time to clean dishes, so something that I can soak or something where the food comes off immediately is a big plus in my life. Plus, and I'm going to sound real superficial right now, cast iron pans are really ugly and really heavy. I don’t care what anyone says, no one is going to take my non-stick pans away from me. They are one of the best things ever created.

I’m not a professional chef and I have little to no time to clean dishes, so something that I can soak or something where the food comes off immediately is a big plus in my life.

Plus, and I’m going to sound real superficial right now, cast iron pans are really ugly and really heavy.

]]> By: Marksman2000 http://www.feministe.us/blog/archives/2006/02/16/well-this-is-going-to-put-me-right-off-omelets/#comment-32716 Marksman2000 Thu, 16 Feb 2006 20:15:57 +0000 http://www.feministe.us/blog/archives/2006/02/16/well-this-is-going-to-put-me-right-off-omelets/#comment-32716 Speaking of Teflon and other useful-products-turned-hazardous, what will become of the asbestos dilemma? I've seen a couple TV spots featuring people sick from asbestos, pleading for viewers to call their legislators so the asbestos industry doesn't get off the hook. I really hope these sick people aren't counting on a Republican-controlled House and Senate to help them out. Might as well spend their time retouching their last will and testament. Speaking of Teflon and other useful-products-turned-hazardous, what will become of the asbestos dilemma? I’ve seen a couple TV spots featuring people sick from asbestos, pleading for viewers to call their legislators so the asbestos industry doesn’t get off the hook. I really hope these sick people aren’t counting on a Republican-controlled House and Senate to help them out. Might as well spend their time retouching their last will and testament.

]]> By: mythago http://www.feministe.us/blog/archives/2006/02/16/well-this-is-going-to-put-me-right-off-omelets/#comment-32713 mythago Thu, 16 Feb 2006 20:02:36 +0000 http://www.feministe.us/blog/archives/2006/02/16/well-this-is-going-to-put-me-right-off-omelets/#comment-32713 KnifeGhost, the best way is to hang out with low-cooking-skill friends. Inevitably, they accumulate cast-iron pans they never use more than once, and when you gush over it, they tell you "Here, take it." Cast iron has many fine uses, but it's not the be-all and end-all of cookware. KnifeGhost, the best way is to hang out with low-cooking-skill friends. Inevitably, they accumulate cast-iron pans they never use more than once, and when you gush over it, they tell you “Here, take it.”

Cast iron has many fine uses, but it’s not the be-all and end-all of cookware.

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