Cooking with Non-stick....

[LoveMyConlan]

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]

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]

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.

 

[jasper19]

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]

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]

coconut oil makes stainless steel non-stick?

 

[jasper19]

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]

There are step by step I structions online, just google it

 

[BirdmanGlass]

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]

Keeping cooling temperatures low would be another way to minimize risk, I temember learning it's the high temps that make he fumes dangerous.