Teflon

[GreetingCardReligion]

So my baby has a few months before he/she is coming home, so I'm starting to bird proof the house and get rid of things that are unsafe.

I was devestated to read (as I expected) that my George Foreman Lean Mean Grilling Machine used teflon. I cook almost every meal involving meat on this baby so, although I think I already know the answer, I thought I would come on the smallest chance there was a way to keep it around.

So the problem with teflon is the fumes when it burns, correct? Would it be too much of a risk to leave my bird outside in a small cage while cooking on my George, then fanning/airing out the kitchen and house before he/she comes back inside? I don't know how much these fumes linger or of they might even reach her through a window while she's outside

Also, aside from the fumes, would meat cooked on teflon be dangerous as well? Say if I gave George to a friend or neighbor or cooked some chicken to refridgerate while she was outside (if that was even safe itself, of course) would it be dangerous to even feed off that surface, considering nothing was burned or charred on the meat?

I'm willing to part with my beloved George, but I want to make sure I have to, it will definantly make it easier on me

Also, a quick PS... scented candles can be dangerous, but what if they are never lit? I have some decorative ones that I never lite, would they be alright to remain so long as they are never used? (I don't even have matches)

Thank you so much!

[poi_lover]

I don't use teflon in my house. It's just too great a risk. Once your bird is gone, it won't be any comfort to you that you tried to air out the house or do whatever else. Mistakes do happen. You could burn something by accident or someone else could do it and your bird would be gone. Even without burning something, you can still have problems. Once you realize your bird is having problems, it's too late to do anything.

Also, you shouldn't feed a bird any food made with a teflon pan either.

[Tiki]

I don't have any teflon items. Keep an eye on family members too. My husband's friend gave him a sandwich maker which is teflon coated, I told him he can't have it in the kitchen, take it to work and use it there. Make sure your toaster doesn't have teflon in it either if you burn toast as easily as I do!

[GreetingCardReligion]

This makes me very sad, but I had figured as much before I posted *sniffle*

Does anyone happen to know a Foremanesq alternative that doesn't use teflon? It's such a wonderful grill, I'm very sad to be loosing it. Good to know not to feed the baby anything that's been cooked on teflon either, that one I wasn't too sure about.

Is it just teflon itself or is it the burning of teflon that is the problem? By burning I don't mean heating up but becoming overheated and literally burning? I'm definantly not going to take any chances, I'm just curious.

I'm going to check google but I don't suppose anyone would have any resources handy for where to find/buy non-teflon cookware? Preferably /very/ reasonably priced.

Any feedback about those candles?

[Monica]

I'll be the odd ball out, and say that we do use nonstick cookware, as well as a George Foreman. Besides a cast iron pan, all our pans are nonstick. I can't change the pans we use, but I have cooked with them for the birds. Of course, the birds are kept in a room with the door kept closed 24/7 due to smoke, mammals, and otherwise. I know that there is at least one other person who uses nonstick pans without any issues, however, to be honest, if you have the option to, it's better to be safe than sorry.

[radiogirl995]

I will also admit to very limited use of a non-stick griddle. Usually about once a month or less for pancakes and grilled cheese.

I did change over my other pots and pans to stainless steel.

[ray1457]

I have both a skillet and a griddle that have the teflon coating; I try to use them as sparingly as possible. When I do use them, I make sure that my fid is in another room, behind a closed door, with a fan to help circulate the air. No, the teflon does not have to be heated to "smoking" to release the fumes; I have read articles that suggest teflon can start "outgassing" the deadly fumes at "normal" operating temperatures. I read one account on one of the bird forums of a family (they bred birds) that lost many (10-15) of their birds in one night due to teflon fume poisoning. You can pick up a good set of stainless at Wal-Mart or somewhere similar for about $40... As far as candles go, I believe that they are only a problem when burned, or if your fid decides that they are chewables...

[radiogirl995]

If any of you have a store called "Home Goods" near you - you can get a full set of stainless steel cookware there - VERY cheap! I got an 18 pc. name brand set for $28!

The store is great for other housewares too - check it out. It's owned by the company that runs T.J. Maxx and tends to be in the same cities that have that store as well.

[The Outlaw]

Why not take the Foreman GRILL outside. Leave the bird inside.

[Dayna]

Originally Posted by The Outlaw

Why not take the Foreman GRILL outside. Leave the bird inside.

That is what I do! I love my foreman grill, I could not bear to part with it. Lucky me has a deck! Instead of using the outside grill we use the foreman one. LOL People sure look at me funny out there grilling away on my teflon coated plugged in grill. :)

Hey at least I don't don the apron and hat and big ol metal burger flipper! Now that would be a sight.