Non-stick pans

[erin1990]

I'm bringing home my first baby in December, a baby cockatiel. I've been researching for months but just today found that non-stick pans when overheated put off odorless vapors that kill birds and make people sick.

Has anyone had any experience with this? Some articles said 500 degrees is where the vapors will start, but I've never cooked anything that hot... so is this a real danger? Can I still use non-stick pans in my house with precautions, or would I have to remove them completely?

Thank you!

[jaded1313]

I'm not a big cook- so it wasn't a big deal to get rid of my (one- lol) non-stick. I know of a friend who lost a bird to teflon, and I don't think it was overheated- they just made breakfast and he died. I wouldn't really risk it.
When I was a kid I had parakeets, no one told me about the teflon thing. For some reason they always died around the holidays- thanksgiving, christmas- my birthday. For years I thought I was cursed or something. Now I know that whenever my family cooked a big meal, they probably got teflon poisening and died. (they were in the livingroom which was off of the kitchen). So, I would plan on either getting rid of your teflon stuff- or opening all the windows and running fans, and keeping your new guy in a different part of the house. I know I'd be too paranoid to do it! I'd be if anything happened to any of my guys!
Also- (since this is your first- congrats btw!) candles and air fresheners aren't good either. Nothing scented really.

[dmiller91]

I have a bird with respiratory problems now and I'm learning the same thing. No scents, no smoking, no candles, keep them away from the kitchen, etc. It's not worth it to go through a sick bird.

In my case, we don't have a cause that I can identify, but it's painful to have a sick bird.

I agree, not worth risking. I'm learning to cook in cast iron. It's rather comical really. I can barely lift it.

[erin1990]

Oh no! I'm so sorry about all the birdies dying around holidays... that's so sad! Thanks for the input. I was just so shocked to learn about this just today after researching for months, I find of panicked.

I'm in college = poor = living with parents, coming baby is going to be a Christmas present from my boyfriend along with everything he needs. How much is it to replace pans? Really, the only thing my parents have is non-stick, so to switch would mean to replace all of our pots and pans.

But, from what I read teflon fumes can give people flu-like symptoms, so maybe they'll help a bit.

Everything we have is at least 5 years old... are the vapors still a concern when they're that old, or does it continue as long as they're used?

I know that's a pretty specific question, but everything I can find via trusty Google is stories of people's personal experiences, not the science of it.

Thank you both for the quick responses!

[Jag]

I don't think age matters. I got a set of Green Pans from Target (I've seen them other places too) they were about $130 or so for a set. They also sell them seperately, which is good because we need more skillets! There's so many things that you just don't realize at first that are a hazard to pet birds. We've had to change quite a few things in order to make our house "bird safe". Congrats on your new baby to be!

[Lori~D]

My green pan Quit being non-stick after six months. Period. good luck. Reviews were both ways but we chose to try them....six months later, following all the rules...its dead. Coating didnt come off, pan just sticks like crazy

[chinniechantel]

Does anyone have some decently priced non- non-stick brands they like? I am shopping for new pans and don't know a good brand. I still cannot find a blow dryer that for sure does not use teflon, people treat me like I am crazy for asking that.

[chapala]

The dangerous fumes are emitted starting at around 450 degrees for birds who are far more sensitive than humans. As I recall, for humans it's around 650 degrees where symptoms of polymer fume fever are shown. A pan that boils dry or is forgotten on the stove because the phone rings, someone comes to the door, etc., can reach high temperatures in minutes.

Sorry to hear about the green pans not lasting! How about the anodized aluminum, and I recently read about another safe coating, sorry can't remember the details but maybe someone else can.

[erin1990]

So the dangers aren't necessarily with the actual cooking of food, but when pans are left simply on a burner to get hot? Do you think if I made sure that doesn't happen we could still use them?

P.S. There's a target 5 mins from me, i'll be down there scoping out pans today.

[NotEnoughTime]

Originally Posted by erin1990

So the dangers aren't necessarily with the actual cooking of food, but when pans are left simply on a burner to get hot? Do you think if I made sure that doesn't happen we could still use them?

The problem is that no matter how careful you are it *will* happen that a pan will go "overtemperature." The environmental working group showed that a pan can reach temperatures above 600 degrees in a very short time. How often do we take a frying pan, put butter in it, turn on the burner and let the butter melt until it is turning brown from the heat? At that point you are getting close to the danger zone (which is only 460+ degrees). There were some studies that showed even lower temperatures resulted in offgassing on PTFE coated pans.

Pots boil dry all the time... Accidentally - but just through a slight misjudgement or simple forgetfulness... Just this summer I was making a tomato sauce and was letting it simmer. I let is simmer for a couple of hours usually - on low... But I got a phone call about half an hour into simmering and ended up running out of the house on an urgent call.

Totally forgot about the tomato sauce.

Luckily my pans are not "non stick" and I got back while there was a sticky goo still in the pot (not smoking - which would have been bad enough for my girl). But I sure kicked myself for that one!!!

Cast Iron frying pans are the *best* - they distrubute heat evenly and once seasoned are very good to cook with. As long as the heat is kept relatively low then nothing seems to stick (too badly).

Think of how long a teflon pan lasts... And how "chunks" of the teflon coating come off over time. You're eating that!! There are few studies on how the heavy metal contained in teflon is dealt with in our bodies - but Dupont says we simply expell it (poop it out). Yah - right...

Anyway - enough of my rant... My advice to anyone (even people without birds) is to get rid of the non-stick coated (PTFE) pans. Teflon flu (look it up on wikipedia) can't be good for you!!