Appliances and Cookware for an Easier Life
Refrigerators and freezers have now become essential appliances to help us store food for long periods. Microwave ovens mean that we can also cook our food in very short times and can have meals ready 'on demand'. This fits in with our need for everything to be done faster to fit into our hectic lifestyles. It is important to make sure that the cookware that you use in the microwave is microwave safe.
Cookware has become a science all of its own too. You can buy a bewildering number of styles and all of them have their own ‘unique’ features. Personally, I am just happy if they can go in the oven and are easy to clean. I don’t have many dinner parties at my house, but I still have a range of oven-to-table cookware that I can put on the table for everyone to help themselves, rather than me being the server all night.
Cookers themselves have evolved with the technological advances. Our choice of fuels is much wider and the functionality the engineers have designed into our cooking appliances is often mind-boggling for the less technically adept amongst us!
Still more gadgets and gizmos have been designed to make our whole cooking experience as automated and effortless as possible. Electric kettles, can openers, toasters, coffee makers, tea makers, blenders, mixers, electric griddles, electric steamers, waffle makers and electric fondues and popcorn makers are just a few of the myriad of appliances that now fill my kitchen. Sometimes I wonder if the time taken to read all of the instructions actually outweighs the time saving capabilities of some of these appliances!
After you have eaten your effortless and speedily produced meal there are yet more appliances to remove the torturous process of removing the evidence! These include electric
waste disposal units and dishwashers. Unfortunately no one has yet automated the unloading of a dishwasher…now there’s an idea for a new appliance!
Article Source: http://www.articleshine.com
S. Stammberger is editor of Cookware Land. Find out everyhting about appliances and cookware for an easier life.
Is Your Cookware Poisoning You?
Several studies have been conducted into health concerns surrounding Teflon, the coating invented and patented by DuPont. The results have been disturbing, if somewhat inconclusive.
While the lethal effect on birds is well documented and not in dispute, much of the other evidence tends to be anecdotal at best. And some of it is downright confusing.
For example, the chemical perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) is usually cited as the villain of the piece and the root cause of the illnesses that have allegedly appeared in some users. However DuPont claims Teflon doesn't contain this chemical, although it is used in the manufacturing process.
Whatever the truth of that may be, it's certainly accurate to say that there have been a number of health issues emerging in the community immediately adjacent to the DuPont factory in Parkersburg, West Virginia; more about that later.
There also seems to be some disagreement among authorities as to the temperatures at which the bird-lethal fumes are given off. These are quoted as ranging from 285°F to 475° and more.
Since both these figures are well within the smoke points of edible oils such as avocado and safflower, keeping your budgie in or near the kitchen is definitely not good for his health.
But what about your health?
Human victims have complained of flu-like symptoms, some leading to respiratory complications, after using non-stick cookware. Some reactions have been reported as "severe"".
At least one report suggests that the fumes may be cancer inducing after prolonged exposure, although none suggest that Teflon itself is harmful if swallowed.
If the fumes are harmful to humans, then there is much more to consider than just kitchen items. Some brands of light bulb, portable heaters and even Gore Tex clothing are all produced using PFOA, the same reactive agent used in the case of Teflon.
Not surprisingly, DuPont denies there is any problem; but this hasn't prevented the company from paying out millions of dollars in compensation, not only to their employees but to 50,000 people living in the vicinity of the Parkersburg factory. You have to ask yourself "why?".
Complaints have included accusations of water pollution, high infant mortality rates and a greater than normal incidence of cancer among the local population. DuPont has never admitted liability in any of these cases.
While the jury still seems to be out on the safety or otherwise of Teflon in the home, even DuPont's own experts advise caution when using non-stick items, particularly with regard to high cooking temperatures.
And this is something you can rely on: when Teflon and similar coatings are heated to a certain point, fumes are given off. These fumes will kill pet birds that inhale them. It's therefore reasonable to suppose that other forms of life may also be at risk.
You can get more information on the Teflon debate from this address http://www.ewg.org/reports/toxicteflon/es.php
For a definitive article on the effects of Teflon fumes on birds, visit this site http://www.theaviary.com/teflon.shtml
Author Resource:- Michael Sheridan was formerly head chef of the Pierre Victoire restaurant in London's West End, specializing in French cuisine. An Australian, he is a published author on cooking matters and runs a free membership club and cooking course for busy home cooks at http://thecoolcook.com
Article From ArticlesRFree.com
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