eickhorn
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I read here that teflon is deadly to birds, what about new style copper coated?
Copper pots
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Kiwibird
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- Jul 12, 2012
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There was a rather lengthy thread about this some time ago and no verdict regarding the safety of the copper-color coated pots (I believe the brand name is "Copper Chef").
That said, there are other "ceramic" coated pots out there that claim to be "non-stick" and are bird-safe (provided they are PFOA/PTFE free). There is also old fashion cast-iron, the fancy colors enameled cast iron, disk bottom stainless, clad stainless (3ply 5ply I think some even are up to 9ply now), aluminum (potential health risk to humans), solid glass (can be found in thrift stores, but no longer in production, I don't think), solid ceramic and old fashion SOLID copper pots and pans that are ALL bird safe as well. I personally use triply stainless cookware, and beyond a learning curve when brand new, have never had any kind of sticking problems with the pans (except in cases of user error
). We also have a vintage corningware glass frying pan for eggs and it is completely non-stick!
That said, there are other "ceramic" coated pots out there that claim to be "non-stick" and are bird-safe (provided they are PFOA/PTFE free). There is also old fashion cast-iron, the fancy colors enameled cast iron, disk bottom stainless, clad stainless (3ply 5ply I think some even are up to 9ply now), aluminum (potential health risk to humans), solid glass (can be found in thrift stores, but no longer in production, I don't think), solid ceramic and old fashion SOLID copper pots and pans that are ALL bird safe as well. I personally use triply stainless cookware, and beyond a learning curve when brand new, have never had any kind of sticking problems with the pans (except in cases of user error
). We also have a vintage corningware glass frying pan for eggs and it is completely non-stick!
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Kiwibird
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It is very good you got rid of the teflon. That is definitely toxic to parrots! These new copper chef pans are unknown, they may be totally safe or not. Can you return these new pans or has the window passed?
In their favor, they do claim to be PFOA/PTFE free (the 2 primary chemicals responsible for the toxicity of teflon), however with any new coating, it's kind of a "at your own risk" scenario. It took many years for bird owners to connect the dots with teflon pans. If not returnable, it may be wise for high heat cooking applications to purchase an additional pan made of stainless steel or cast iron to be safe and use the copper chef pans for regular cooking applications on low or low-medium heats only (or if you bought bakeware, 350 degree or less oven).
In their favor, they do claim to be PFOA/PTFE free (the 2 primary chemicals responsible for the toxicity of teflon), however with any new coating, it's kind of a "at your own risk" scenario. It took many years for bird owners to connect the dots with teflon pans. If not returnable, it may be wise for high heat cooking applications to purchase an additional pan made of stainless steel or cast iron to be safe and use the copper chef pans for regular cooking applications on low or low-medium heats only (or if you bought bakeware, 350 degree or less oven).
What brand did you purchase?
If you go to the manufacturer's website, I'm sure they have some detailed information on them.
We just picked up a smaller pan just for doing a few scrambled eggs (shhh, don't tell any of our feathered friends). We purchased a ceramic non stick pan, made by Henckels, and it specifically mentions PTFE and PFOA free. We also ran across "Green Pan" ceramic cookware that also mentions PFAS and PFOA free.
Perhaps some one else can elaborate more on PTFE, PFAS, PFOE, etc.
There are other brands that also mentioned PTFE and PFOA free, you need to do some research.
Still we always use a vent fan in the kitchen that vents the cooking fumes to the outside of the house. It is not an above stove filter / recirculate type.
I hope this helps a little.
If you go to the manufacturer's website, I'm sure they have some detailed information on them.
We just picked up a smaller pan just for doing a few scrambled eggs (shhh, don't tell any of our feathered friends). We purchased a ceramic non stick pan, made by Henckels, and it specifically mentions PTFE and PFOA free. We also ran across "Green Pan" ceramic cookware that also mentions PFAS and PFOA free.
Perhaps some one else can elaborate more on PTFE, PFAS, PFOE, etc.
There are other brands that also mentioned PTFE and PFOA free, you need to do some research.
Still we always use a vent fan in the kitchen that vents the cooking fumes to the outside of the house. It is not an above stove filter / recirculate type.
I hope this helps a little.
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My advice - take the hit. Put the cookware on Craigs List. Git one of the suggested type above. Ever fry something and loose track of time and burn it? Thats when teflon gives off toxic fumes. I burn stuff all the time and most people do too. Take the hit. Take the hit. Take the hit please.
EllenD
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You need to call the company that manufactures the copper cookware you purchased and ask them specifically if they are safe for use around birds, and specifically if they have any type of coating on them that contain PTFE's, PFOA's, etc.
If you use the really expensive pots that are made entirely of copper and have no non-stick coatings on them, then that to the best of my knowledge is fine for birds. However, it's the copper pots and pans that are not made entirely of copper and/or have some type of non-stick coating that have been found to be toxic.
If you call the manufacturer and they aren't sure, then you absolutely cannot use them!!! The problem in this situation is that birds have died from people cooking in their kitchens with pots and pans while the birds were in a separate room on the entire other end or different floor of the house with the door shut and the windows open!!! The fumes become so toxic after the pots/pans hit a certain temperature that the toxic fumes that are released seep everywhere in the house, and it only takes one breath of the fumes to kill your bird almost instantly, and even if you are sitting next to your bird when the first sign of something being wrong happens and you rush them to the animal hospital that minute, it's already too late. So it's not a situation where you can just use the pots and pans and hope for the best.
If I were you I would put the set of pots and pans up for sale on eBay, your local Craigslist, etc. and advertise them as being "like-new" condition and only used a few times, just purchased brand new, and the only reason you're selling them is because you can't safely use them around your birds and you weren't aware of this when you bought them. You should be able to get most of your money back, and then you need to purchase a set of ceramic non-stick pots and pans. I bought a very expensive set of ceramic non-stick pots and pans at either TJ Maxx or Ross (I don't remember which but they both sell good stuff), and they cost a fraction of the retail MSRP. Most all of the big brand names now sell ceramic non-stick pans that contain none of the toxins, as they have to in order to compete. Greenpan, Greenlife, Caphelon, Phillip Richard, Rachel Ray, etc., they all sell multiple non-stick options that are safe....
It's just not worth risking the life of your bird/birds for a few hundred dollars...
If you use the really expensive pots that are made entirely of copper and have no non-stick coatings on them, then that to the best of my knowledge is fine for birds. However, it's the copper pots and pans that are not made entirely of copper and/or have some type of non-stick coating that have been found to be toxic.
If you call the manufacturer and they aren't sure, then you absolutely cannot use them!!! The problem in this situation is that birds have died from people cooking in their kitchens with pots and pans while the birds were in a separate room on the entire other end or different floor of the house with the door shut and the windows open!!! The fumes become so toxic after the pots/pans hit a certain temperature that the toxic fumes that are released seep everywhere in the house, and it only takes one breath of the fumes to kill your bird almost instantly, and even if you are sitting next to your bird when the first sign of something being wrong happens and you rush them to the animal hospital that minute, it's already too late. So it's not a situation where you can just use the pots and pans and hope for the best.
If I were you I would put the set of pots and pans up for sale on eBay, your local Craigslist, etc. and advertise them as being "like-new" condition and only used a few times, just purchased brand new, and the only reason you're selling them is because you can't safely use them around your birds and you weren't aware of this when you bought them. You should be able to get most of your money back, and then you need to purchase a set of ceramic non-stick pots and pans. I bought a very expensive set of ceramic non-stick pots and pans at either TJ Maxx or Ross (I don't remember which but they both sell good stuff), and they cost a fraction of the retail MSRP. Most all of the big brand names now sell ceramic non-stick pans that contain none of the toxins, as they have to in order to compete. Greenpan, Greenlife, Caphelon, Phillip Richard, Rachel Ray, etc., they all sell multiple non-stick options that are safe....
It's just not worth risking the life of your bird/birds for a few hundred dollars...
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