Foo - Is it safe...

...to cook with/eat out of a slightly rusty pot?

I have a kinda cheap non-stick pot that I use a lot to boil vegetables and cook and eat pasta out of. The non-stick coating has been scratched off pretty well, and the metal beneath it is starting to rust a bit. I always wash the pot out and dry it immediately, but to no avail. The rust doesn't seem to affect the food that gets cooked in the pot, but I want to be sure. I don't want to die from iron poisoning. Here's a pic of the pot...

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a284/Taerom/2008%20Summer/P3314151.jpg

Should I just keep using it, or should I shell out some cash for some good stainless steel cookware?

Weird, I usually think of non-stick as being stuck onto aluminum. It should be safe if it's just rust, hey, it's more iron in your food! Worst case = constipation I think.

I would just do what I did, which is drop 50 cents on a revereware pot at a yardsale. I pretty much cook entirely out of revereware (which is bombproof) and cast iron (which I definitely don't let get rusty, but primarily for functional reasons ie nonstick/flavor vs health issues).

Its probably time for higher quality cookware anyway, even if its safe. :lol:

I wouldn't use it- it's time to replace it. Invest in a good set of cookware.

Are you talking to me? Is what safe? I don't know what you mean. I can't tell you if something is safe or not unless I know specifically what you're talking about. Tell me what the 'it' refers to. Yes, it's safe, it's very safe it's so safe you wouldn't believe it. No. It's not safe, it's... very dangerous, be careful. Aaaaaagh! Aaaaaaagh! Aaaaaaaaaaaaagh!

.

Muahaha...yes, I wanted the title of the thread to be very intriguing, so that people would have to click the thread to find out what I was talking about...:p

Are you talking to me? Is what safe? I don't know what you mean. I can't tell you if something is safe or not unless I know specifically what you're talking about. Tell me what the 'it' refers to. Yes, it's safe, it's very safe it's so safe you wouldn't believe it. No. It's not safe, it's... very dangerous, be careful. Aaaaaagh! Aaaaaaagh! Aaaaaaaaaaaaagh!

.

Damn. You beat me to the Marathon Man quotes.

I learned in cooking class that for non stick pots you need to use plastic, rubber, or wooden utensils ONLY. Seems kind of obvious but I used to use metal spoons and that in the pot too.

Maybe that was the case with this pot or maybe not, but since your getting a new one might as well try and keep it nice.

Oh dear.

Mom and I made the rather expensive step into steel cookery a couple years ago. I guess from the many sets of teflon then T-Fal (nice - but it too wears out) .....

That being coupled with the one fact I read and I'm looking it up now as to how much teflon is actually ingrained into our systems ... amazing (note: I read a couple years ago that the average human - remember AVERAGE - does have high levels - looking for that study now ...).

but also the many articles of decaying teflon also influenced us. Never thought I'd like stainless steel for at least frying and OMG - awesome. Will never go backwards - and it will last too!!!

Stainless Steel cookery rocks!!!


http://www.tuberose.com/Teflon.html

http://www.thegoodhuman.com/2007/07/31/what-teflon-is-and-why-you-should-avoid-it/

Even better - ordered to remove by 2015 - it's in popcorn bags .... ugh

"DuPont to virtually eliminate ..."

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/01/25/AR2006012502041.html




why not eliminate now?????(your own personal use anyway)

Whatever you do, do not spray WD40 on it. That stuff is horrible for chains so imagine what it would do to a pot.

Whatever you do, do not spray WD40 on it. That stuff is horrible for chains so imagine what it would do to a pot.

But think how easy the eggs would slide off .... I think we're on to something here ...

well, let's put it this way. all that non-stick you scrapped off there, that's in YOU now. this is why i won't eat off non-stick. eat outta iron.

well, let's put it this way. all that non-stick you scrapped off there, that's in YOU now. this is why i won't eat off non-stick. eat outta iron.

Do not care for cast iron - although I use a very old cast iron dutch oven that I wouldn't trade for the world. Mom used to use a cast iron skillet for frying potatoes, etc - personally I never liked the stuff out of the pan unless it was from a camp stove anyway. Other than that I'm not a fan of cast iron - unless using a dutch oven (:( - hey wait a minute - doesn't a dutch oven also mean .... )...

Tude likes dutch ovens...ewww... gross..:p

I would be more worried about the teflon non stick coating coming off and getting in your food. It's time to replace that pot.

Regards, Anthony

I have another cheap pot that I can actually scrape off the non-stick coating with my fingernails. :eek: Yeah, I haven't used that pot in a long time.

Where is a good place to find decent (yet somewhat inexpensive) stainless cookware? I've checked at the local walmart and shopko, but they had little to offer. Any good online stores that you would recommend?

A well seasoned Cast Iron skillet or pot, used at the right temperature is very nonstick. It requires some care though. Look at Lodge, for example, they have some preseasoned Ironware.

well, let's put it this way. all that non-stick you scrapped off there, that's in YOU now. this is why i won't eat off non-stick. eat outta iron.

Yeah, isn't it weird how people fret about getting a little needed iron in their in their diet, and it never occurs to them that the no-stick coating crap is the real health threat?

I have another cheap pot that I can actually scrape off the non-stick coating with my fingernails. :eek: Yeah, I haven't used that pot in a long time.

Where is a good place to find decent (yet somewhat inexpensive) stainless cookware? I've checked at the local walmart and shopko, but they had little to offer. Any good online stores that you would recommend?

Good stainless steel will last a long, long time so check out yard or garage sales. Even if its discolored a little its still good. I have stainless steel pots that have been going for over 25 years.

Regards, Anthony

Is Teflon (or other non-stick coatings) bad for you?

Ummmm, yeah, it is.

http://www.ewg.org/reports/toxicteflon

Is Teflon (or other non-stick coatings) bad for you?

Yes.

http://www.abc.net.au/health/thepulse/s1576391.htm

Regards, Anthony

A close friend of mine is an idiot savant when it comes to anything medical and health realted. Not officially schooled, but she often diagnoses health issues better than the highly paid professionals. Anything having to do with the immune system and she's all over it. From her I learned that using any cookwear showing signs of losing it's teflon coating is a bad idea. It's not simply the bits of teflon you can see, but the miniscule particles which become absorbed into the body and remain a foreign object to the body which causes it to begin a never-ending fight, which then distracts the immune system from doing other "winnable" chores, or causes it to over-react, which creates an imbalance in other areas. That's a simplified version of what happens. Bottom line is that ingesting non-organic elements into the body is never good. At the first sign of teflon coating peeling off cookwear, it's time to trash it.

I wouldnt eat out of that thing, time for a replacement.

It might be a little on the heavy side, but stainless steel doesnt react with your food like aluminum can (esp. acidic foods). Anodized aluminum is ok (like Calphalon One), but i've heard it doesn't like really high heat. I tried to "buy it once" and got a set of calphalon tri-ply at a store closing sale, its been great. If something doesn't come out of the pan, I just let it sit in the sink with water for a day or two (which I'd probably do anyway :)) and then its not a big deal.

I have another cheap pot that I can actually scrape off the non-stick coating with my fingernails. :eek: Yeah, I haven't used that pot in a long time.

Where is a good place to find decent (yet somewhat inexpensive) stainless cookware? I've checked at the local walmart and shopko, but they had little to offer. Any good online stores that you would recommend?

I bought my stainless pot set at costco. Lagostino is the make.

Tude likes dutch ovens...ewww... gross..:p

Your mind is in the gutter. May your next relationship revolve around a You did it, No You did it relationship that involves Dutch ovens.

that is all.



Shall I show you to the nearest high fiber count mattress place that says it is able to handle the meatnormous, cough, "attitudes" of some of these flagilent peeps?

Don't worry dude ... you will be taken care of ... plus think about it ... you find another astronaumicflagilistic kinda person like you.


AWWWWWWW ::noogies:: :p

All-Clad FTW, Taerom. It's expensive, but seriously worth it. But if you're on a budget, I'd recommend ChefMate stainless- you can get it at Tar-jay. A 3qt saucepan should run about $30. Nice and heavy.

Do not care for cast iron - although I use a very old cast iron dutch oven that I wouldn't trade for the world. Mom used to use a cast iron skillet for frying potatoes, etc - personally I never liked the stuff out of the pan unless it was from a camp stove anyway. Other than that I'm not a fan of cast iron - unless using a dutch oven (:( - hey wait a minute - doesn't a dutch oven also mean .... )...

Enameled cast iron like Le Creuset is some of the best, though. Damn near indestructible (it's warranted for 101 years).

I would skip aluminum in general:

http://adventuresinautism.blogspot.com/2008/03/its-not-just-mercury-aluminum-hydroxide.html