Old non-stick pans...safe for cooking parrot food?

[EnglishMuffin]

So my parents have these OLD OLD scratched up non-stick pans that have none of the non stick left. I just cooked up a batch of mash for Sootie and now I'm worried I shouldn't give it to her because I used one of those old pans...I know they're not releasing the toxic gasses anymore because of their age but could contact with the former non-stick coating be toxic too?

 

[weco]

If any of the charcoal grey/black coating is still left on the pan(s), doctors & other experts suggest you throw the pans away because of the flaking off of the coating and the fact that the Teflon coating pieces you ingest never leaves your body and it is not known whether there is a long term danger, but if on the other hand you've got a nice shiny pan with no further coating on it, you're probably right.....there is nothing left to cause any offgassing...but what's the sense in making your bird(s) guinea pigs when new, never-coated pans are available for under $10 each?

 

[Kiwibird]

I wouldn't worry about the rot ion she's already ate, but I would throw the pans out and not use them anymore. They DO still off-gas at high temps no matter how old they are, and a scratched or chipped surface is dangerous to have food in. The chemicals leech into the food. Probably time to get stainless or ceramic.

 

[EnglishMuffin]

It wasn't that I was trying to save money on buying a new pan, it was just that I didn't think about it being unsafe until after the food was cooked.

I decided not to risk it and made a soup instead. It's a punch in the gut since there were 5 scotch bonnets in the mash mix but still tasty!

 

[RavensGryf]

I wouldn't do it, but that being said - when I lived with my ex, it was HIS house that he had long before we met (didn't buy it together) so it was hard. he absolutely refused to get rid of the Teflon cookware that he loved. It wasn't new, we never overheated, and it was fine. In Robin's 20 years on earth he's been exposed to teflon at many different times and actually a lot of things that I'm more strict about these days, and he's fine.
Still, I'd suggest going with ceramic. It's even easier to use than Teflon anyway. It's lightweight, even MORE nonstick, super easy to clean. I love the ceramic cookware. I'd find it a godsend even without birds.

 

[EnglishMuffin]

If I had any disposable cash I would buy new cookware, but I had to even borrow money from my parents to pay the last of her bills for shipping, and I've only just got a new job which only pays at the end of the month We're just turning on the hoodvent and opening the windows to the kitchen whenever we cook. She's in the adjacent room with the door closed.

 

[Kiwibird]

I think for a SHORT TERM solution, you should be ok cooking with hood on (windows open if possible) and her in another room. WATCH THE HEAT! It's getting too hot that releases the fumes. And I wouldn't serve her any food cooked in the pans. We may be able to handle some leeched chemicals as big humans with big livers, but a tiny birdie can't process them out as well. Always best to be safe than sorry

 

[veimar]

Oh, please, throw that pan out!!! It's not safe to cook on it even for you! Old non-sticks should be thrown out.
I shared this many time and share again - Walmart has great ceramic pans for only $9.95!! We had one for over 6 mo now, and honestly, it's better than non-stick!
Mainstays 10" Non-Stick Skillet - Walmart.com

I think anybody can afford to buy a couple of those and use them with their existing pans lids. I thought it's gonna be low quality, but it's definitely not.

 

[brianlinkles]

I heard that they are finding that the ceramic pans are also putting out gasses that are harmful to our birds. Has anyone heard anything on this.

 

[Dinosrawr]

Ceramic pans still sometimes contain PFOA's, which are also toxic to birds. They may say PTFE free (basically Teflon free), but unless they're free of both it's not safe. I'm sure I've annoyed countless kitchen stores after asking them about what has which all the time, and then walking away and buying nothing, hahaha