Teflon

[Stasia]

I just read a warning online that said you should never use no-stick or Teflon pots or pans around birds because the fumes can kill them! Is this true? I never heard that before? Thanks for any feedback!

Stasia

[art]

Originally Posted by Stasia

I just read a warning online that said you should never use no-stick or Teflon pots or pans around birds because the fumes can kill them! Is this true? I never heard that before? Thanks for any feedback!

Stasia

If the pot or pan i left on the stove and what ever was in the pot dries up the teflon will give off fumes which will kill your birds. So if your a bird person it is advisable not to us non stick pans to cook. This is no Joke!

[Merkuri]

It's true. At high temperatures (I think around 500F) teflon evaporates and creates toxic fumes. The usual cause for teflon-coated products getting this hot is leaving a pan on the stove and letting the food burn off or evaporate. It is probably harmful to humans as well, in high enough quantities, but even the smallest amount can kill your birds. There was a story posted here last week (I think) about someone whose bird was killed because their downstairs neighbor left a pot on the stove.

I recently bought a nice set of non-stick pots and pans for my new apartment, thinking I could trust myself not to leave them on long enough for the teflon to burn. After I tried to make pasta and accidentally turned on the wrong burner I realized that I couldn't stop accidents from happening. So my boyfriend is getting the teflonated pans and I bought myself another nice new set of pans, these ones stainless steel. They were more expensive, but will probably last longer. Besides, I realized that I'm used to cooking in a non-stick pan. I automatically use butter or oil or pam even though you shouldn't have to with teflon. So aside from having to get rid of my old (new) pans there's not much of a hassle. It's better to be safe than sorry.

[SavvyMoon]

It's always advisable to use the Utmost Caution and Care
when one uses teflon pots, pans and other non-stick cookware (cookie sheets, casserole pans etc). Overheated teflon CAN and WILL kill birds
within close proximity of the kitchen area, or where fumes can travel.

However, the other side of the coin is.... I know people with birds,
both large and small, who use non-stick cookware for years, with no
ill effects to their birds. One or two of these people even keep their birds right off the kitchen's cooking area. Is it likely these people have never - in all those years - burned something or had an overheated pan?
Thats probably highly unlikely. But their birds are just fine...

Would I risk using teflon AND keeping the birds close to or in the kitchen? No way!

But I also wouldn't throw away perfectly good (or brand new) non-stick cookware either. I use one or two frying pans that are non-stick...
Very cautiously and carefully.
But if you can't trust yourself to be 100% committed to *always* being careful when using it... every second, then it's probably best not to use it at all.

Same holds true for scented candles, cleaning sprays and such; using them clear across the home from where your birds are -with ventilation- will probably not be a problem... But if you can't commit to be totally aware and use common sense at all times (and making sure OTHERS in the house are as well!) then it's probably best not to use these things at all.

[The Outlaw]

Here's the number one problem I have with Teflon: you just never know who will decide to use YOUR pan in your home. I will never forget the tragic tale of a mother in law who awakened early Christmas morning and decided to surprise the entire household with a big breakfast. She was visiting and didn't know about the Teflon problem.

Before anyone knew what hit, the daughter in law discovered 3 dead macaws: all very large, long time pets and in good health. No matter how well intentioned the visitor was, the end result was disaster. I won't have them in my home. I simply refuse. I have a set of black iron skillets and that's what I use to fry eggs, pancakes, etc. They work just as well and so far, no dead birds. JMHO

THE OUTLAW

[Tiki]

I don't own any teflon products either, but I never was much of a cook so I hardly have any cookware at all. Nancy has a good point with the possibility of non-bird owning relatives using your cookware. I personally wouldn't risk it.

[nursenurse44]

Originally Posted by Stasia

I just read a warning online that said you should never use no-stick or Teflon pots or pans around birds because the fumes can kill them! Is this true? I never heard that before? Thanks for any feedback!

Stasia

It ia vewry true. I learned the hard way when years ago i used taflon pan to make fod for my tiel. i feed him before work and when i returned he was dead at the bottom of his cage
i dont own any taflon pans in my home

[mamalovesrico]

You know what they say...no one plans an accident. No way jose...not in my home. I gave mine to my sister and went and bought some stainless steel ones too. Someone just posted the other day, I'm so sorry I don't remember who it was, but just recent that their ringneck died from someone in another apartment accidently leaving a teflon pan on the stove. I wouldn't take the chance.

[Stasia]

Wow. I'm so glad I stumbled across that on the internet, and now I did see the previous post here too. Thanks so much everyone! I only have one Teflon pan that I've been using and it is old anyways so I'll get rid of it, but at least I know not to get anymore. Thanks again for all the input!!

Stasia