A leading consumer magazine recently reviewed cookware. Our eyes are always looking for highly rated green cookware. We have covered Teflon cookware in the past. EWG has plenty of Teflon information.

They rated the Earth Pan with Sand Flow coating tops. The innovative SandFlow nonstick surface contains no PTFEs or PFOAs, and allow for easy food release. No compromise for going green. $125 for a 10 piece set from Amazon.

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Another new option is The Original Green Pan from Ingenious Designs.  It uses Thermolon Expert non stick technology but is PTFE-Free (Teflon), PFOA-Free in manufacturing, dishwasher safe, works to 850 F. They do not cover what ingredients are in the non stick coating though. This is being pushed on HSN.

photo credit: Wesley Fryer

Gore-Tex and Teflon are made with perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) or its by-products.  We have covered the issues with Teflon and PFOA in the past. EWG covers all the scientific research behind the issues. A lot of the problems are in ground water contamination near chemical plants.

I’m trying to investigate how safe Gore-Tex is. “While PFOA is used to make non-stick materials, it is not supposed to be in the finished products, but Scott Mabury, chemistry department chair at U of T, said he and fellow researchers have evidence to support a theory that small amounts of fluorotelomer alcohols do remain, then break down and release PFOA into the air.”

“In January 2006 DuPont, 3M and six other chemical companies entered into the EPA-brokered Voluntary Stewardship Program, in which companies committed to phasing out by 2015 the use of the Teflon chemical PFOA and other closely related chemicals (“higher homologues”) (US EPA 2006a)”

I have jackets made with it and have used dental floss with it.

I cannot find research that links Gore-Tex with heath problems or specific PFOA leeching problems.

Wikipedia mentions that later versions of Gore-Tex have more layers that protect the Teflon membrane.

A confusing area for sure.  If in doubt, avoid the material.

How could such a mundane an area as Pots and Pans require Eco friendly analysis?

Selecting the right sized pots and pans with good lids and cooking at lower temps will reduce energy use.  A 6 inch pan on an 8 inch heating elements wastes 40% of the heating elements’ heat.  You should obviously adjust gas flames so they do not come up the sides.

What kind of material should I choose? Environmental Working Group has articles covering the dangers of coated nonstick pans. “The coating on nonstick cookware contains a chemical called polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE). DuPont’s Teflon is the most well-known brand. When heated to very high temperatures, this coating creates hazardous fumes.”

Did you know pet birds exposed to fumes from nonstick cookware can die?

Product brand names containing PTFE include non-stick Teflon, SilverStone, Supra, Calphalon, All-Clad, Circulon, Emerilware, Farberware, Meyer, KitchenAid, Krups, and George Foreman. The stain repellants StainMaster and Scotchgard also contain PTFE.

Silicone-coated brand name cookware such as Baker’s Secret and EKCO, will not produce toxic fumes, and are considered safe. Because cookware and appliance manufacturers are not required to label their products.

Teflon-related compounds include perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and perfluoroctanic acid (PFOA). They are usedin food packaging.

The Seattle-based Toxic-Free Legacy Coalition and other experts recommend stainless-steel, cast-iron and enameled cast-iron cookware as the best options.