Cooking with Non-stick....

LoveMyConlan

Member
Mar 31, 2015
464
Media
3
7
Pennsylvania, USA
Parrots
Gcc- Conlan... Sun Conure- Mouse...Jenday- Kellan... RLA- Happy...B&G Macaw- Rhage
Obviously, Non-stick most likely means it has Teflon, which I am well aware of its toxicity to birds. However, most of the pots and pans in my house are older and my mother refuses to get rid of them or get new ones. So my question is...

What is the safest way to prevent toxicity when cooking with Non-stick?

He's in another room at the other end of the house and both that room window and the kitchen window is open. And I wait for half an hour after all coming is over and pots are cool before bringing him out. How else can I make it all safe without causing a war with my mother over pans and pots?
 

Mimsy01

New member
Jul 7, 2014
512
1
Parrots
GCC-Foofany
European Starling-Zeki
BCC-Ellie House Sparrow-Napolean Parakeet-Bean
Well older teflon becomes less and less safe over time, even for humans. I think it's time for a nice birthday, anniversary, christmas, mothers day gift of some brand new stainless steal pots for your Mom. :)
 

RavensGryf

Supporting Member
Jan 19, 2014
14,233
190
College Station, Texas
Parrots
Red Bellied Parrot /
Ruppell's Parrot /
Bronze Winged Pionus /
English Budgie
Well, since it sounds like your mom absolutely won't part with her Teflon, I'll tell you something that I really shouldn't be saying... I've had one of my parrots Robin, for 21 years now. I used to cook with Teflon pans when he was young. Then later, my ex refused to give up his Teflon when I moved into his house. Robin is still alive and well.

Teflon fumes have killed many people's birds, and it's a fact that it 'can', so the word is to err on the side of caution and just don't use it. It is the most dangerous when Teflon is newer or heated above a certain degrees (forgot what, but hotter than "normal" cooking) or if the burner was accidentally left on and forgotten about. There have been reports of Teflon pans off-gassing at lower temps too. Who knows how old the particular pans were, how much ventilation, how close to "too hot" it was, etc. Too many factors to figure in, so it is just said to not do it to be 100% safe. Since you can't avoid it, I'd keep the house ventilated and your birds in a different ventilated room. Robin was in fairly close air space with older Teflon many times during his life, even without great ventilation and he is fine, but (disclaimer) understand that I am NOT saying to do it purposely, and I am NOT saying it's really 'okay'. Just to make that clear to anyone reading, I do not condone it or encourage anyone to go out and buy it and use teflon just because Robin had been exposed and came out fine.

Edit: I think they are phasing out Teflon pans because they're not healthy for humans. There are ones called ceramic that are great. They're lightweight, non-stick, and I think they're fairly inexpensive.
 
Last edited:

jasper19

Supporting Member
Aug 13, 2014
267
0
North Dakota, USA
Parrots
Congo African Grey "Angel"

Muloccan Cockatoo "Bahama"
If you can't avoid it then it sounds like you are doing all you can.

If you keep her in a room well away from the kitchen, with windows open and ventilation on, will be your best bet.

I move angel upstairs if i am going to cook inside the oven, where the oven temperature needs to be 400 or over. I believe i red that is the temp where it becomes problematic.
 

SilverSage

New member
Sep 14, 2013
5,937
94
Columbus, GA
Parrots
Eclectus, CAG, BH Pionus, Maximilian’s Pionus, Quakers, Indian Ringnecks, Green Cheeked Conures, Black Capped Conures, Cockatiels, Lovebirds, Budgies, Canaries, Diamond Doves, Zebra Finches, Society F
I have had birds die from what I do believe was Teflon, so I take the threat pretty seriously. Yes, it was my mothers pans, and she too refused to get new ones. I suggest buying your mom a new set as a gift. A big set, like $400 one that has multiple sizes of both pots and pans, and get stainless steel and then YOU do the dishes. You can look into using coconut oil to make stainless steel mom stick.
 

ZephyrFly

New member
Sep 21, 2014
686
0
UK
Parrots
Pazu - Green Cheek Conure - Hatch Date ~27 September 2014~
coconut oil makes stainless steel non-stick?
 

jasper19

Supporting Member
Aug 13, 2014
267
0
North Dakota, USA
Parrots
Congo African Grey "Angel"

Muloccan Cockatoo "Bahama"
You can cook with stainless, and if done right, minimal sticking.

I use olive oil. it takes practice and definitely a certain way to do it. Basically you have to heat up the pan then put the oil on. If you can figure out the right temps to do each, then when you throw the food in you will have very minimal sticking.
 

SilverSage

New member
Sep 14, 2013
5,937
94
Columbus, GA
Parrots
Eclectus, CAG, BH Pionus, Maximilian’s Pionus, Quakers, Indian Ringnecks, Green Cheeked Conures, Black Capped Conures, Cockatiels, Lovebirds, Budgies, Canaries, Diamond Doves, Zebra Finches, Society F
There are step by step I structions online, just google it :)
 

BirdmanGlass

New member
Sep 4, 2015
24
0
Orlando, FL
Parrots
B/G Macaw (rescue)
If you have a exhaust fan above the stove, ask your Mom to turn it on when cooking. Though not all of them vent outside... some just blow that air back in your face.
 

birdstheword

Member
Aug 26, 2014
67
0
Colorado
Parrots
Marvel, 14-year-old Black Headed Caique
Keeping cooling temperatures low would be another way to minimize risk, I temember learning it's the high temps that make he fumes dangerous.
 

Most Reactions

Latest posts

Top