[NewQuakerMommy]

OK so I am sure I am opening a whole can of worms here but I have tried to research a bit and I am not coming up with an answer that appeases me. I know (now) that cookware with Teflon, non-stick coating, is very very very bad, deadly even, for my little Kiwi. I did not know this prior to bringing my Kiwi home and indeed have cookware with non-stick coating. Now before I get chewed out, I take all precautions I can in the mean time, he is two rooms away from the kitchen (as I had read that being in or near the kitchen is not good for LGC). I also open a window, turn on the fan, and use the exhaust fan while I am cooking. I am not trying to say I am right but I have to cook dinner. Anyway, to my question, I was wondering if anyone knew if hard anodized cookware had the same effects. My birthday is around the corner and I want to know what kind of cookware to tell mommy to buy me so I can have the safest home possible for my little Kiwi. If anyone knows the answer or has any information that will help I would greatly appreciate it.

[Moose&Co.]

I'm new to all this, so this is probably a stupid question, but what is "LGC"?

[NewQuakerMommy]

LCG= Little Green Chicken

[QTQP4me]

maybe until you can do away with the nonstick stuff, you could cook casseroles or stuff in the oven, in glass.

ask for a stainless steel set of cookware, and/or cast iron fry pans/skillets/griddles. i got my SS set from a warehouse store for $99, and my cast iron was pretty inexpensive also.

i have 2 high end anodized pieces, not the nonstick ones, collecting dust, because i too am not sure if it is ok. and i haven't called the company yet to see.

another thing: there is a new brand of cookware that says it is teflon free. i have seen it sold on a certain home shopping channel. it is "teflon" free, but the hostess said it is PTFE coated cookware. lol, i am not sure if i can say the name brand, so better safe than sorry. if anyone is interested, i would be happy to say it here (if ok) or via PM.

kris

[SimplicityAltered]

I like my cast iron it may be heavy but it works for me. Did you all know that microwave popcorn contains teflon as well?

[Cosmo & Marti's Mom]

as far as i am aware, hard anodized aluminum is safe.

[Julies Jungle]

as far as i am aware, hard anodized aluminum is safe.

And I was told it was not as the coating is nonstick...Wish they would clarify . I stick with ss with no nonstick coating to be safe. I had just purchased the anodized cookware spending almost $400.00 and ended up trading my Mom for her 4oish year old ss set.

[Cosmo & Marti's Mom]

maybe i'll do some checking up. Granted no worries at my house, i have all stainless, but swore i've heard AA is ok...

[TJ Maj's Mom]

Yes teflon is deadly if you BURN IT or overheat it. The fumes put off by overheated teflon is what is toxic to the bird. I personally don't use teflon and do not encourage the use of teflon products. I would never take the risk, the bird has no choice, they depend on us! All it takes is just a moment to "forget" about something on the stove or in the oven, or to simply turn up the setting a wee bit too high. Teflon Toxicity (PTFE Toxicosis) is what overheating it is known as. "The overheating of PTFE has been found to cause lung problems, not only in birds, but also in rats and humans. In people, the disease has flu-like symptoms and is known as "polymer fume fever." Birds have a unique respitory system so it's deadly to them! This is a great website for reference: http://www.peteducat...;articleid=2874 or you can google teflon toxic to birds or search bird respitory systems. A lot of great stuff out of the internet.

I am not trying to lecture you, I am trying to advise you of the dangers teflon and other nonstick items can cause. You asked and well I seem to be a plentum of useful and useless knowledge at times. Sorry I did a lot of homework before I got my quaker when it came to safe things, healthy things etc. But when it comes to behaviorial issues it is an every day learning experience because every bird is different.

At any rate, this thread is about an upcoming birthday right??? Congratz! and here are my suggestions:
-Pyrex
-Regular bake ware (the "non-non" stick kind)
-Stainless steel
(a thread I was reading yesterday suggested)
-Stoneware and pampered chef stuff
-Glass

Personally all I use is glass and regular good ole non-nonstick stuff. And well...charcoal when we go camping WHEN IN DOUBT THROW IT OUT and you can't go wrong

I was wondering if anyone knew if hard anodized cookware had the same effects

yeah and about this ^ I have no clue sorry

Sorry this turned more into a small novel or something. And again I am not lecturing or trying to "chew you out" as you might put it, just trying to be helpful. Basically I'd get rid of that nasty non stick crap ASAP!!! Even if you have to eat out in the mean time JMHO

Best wishes!

[QTQP4me]

Yes teflon is deadly if you BURN IT or overheat it. The fumes put off by overheated teflon is what is toxic to the bird.

i just want to add a couple things. it is difficult to accurately judge the temp of the cookware, and you can reach dangerous temps before you even know it. also, if the non stick coating is damaged in any way (any chips or it has started to flake off), i believe that it can give off toxic fumes BEFORE being "overheated"

like maj's mom said, not trying to lecture you at all. but honestly, the sooner you can get rid of the non stick stuff the better. i think it was andie (or carrie-ann) who pointed out to me that the fan isn't extremely effective in removing fumes, as evidenced by the fact that you can still smell what's cooking with the fan on.

kris

[Cosmo & Marti's Mom]

still searching on this, but found this quote on another site (someone had written about it and written calphalon cust. serv.)

""""Calphalon's newest entry in the "stick resistant" market is called Calphalon One Infused Anodized. I have not tried this, although I have seen it, and it looks slicker than the original hard anodized.

In an email from their customer service, I was informed this:
Quote:




Calphalon One Infused Anodized is not non-stick and does not contain polytetra-flouro ethylene.




That's great news for those of us who cook. ..and have avians in our immediate family!"""""




But I'll keep searching!

[Cosmo & Marti's Mom]

found a little more...

from the calphalon website (they make hard anodized aluminum pans)

Hard-anodized surfaces resist abrasion and corrosion. A hard-anodized pan is the most durable pan you can buy.

Anodized materials have an extremely long life span. Anodized surfaces do not chip or peel. In fact, anodized aluminum is used to protect satellites from the harsh environment of space, to harden automotive racing parts against friction and heat, as well as for display cases, coolers, and grills for the food industry.

An anodized finish is chemically stable. It does not decompose. It is nontoxic. High heat levels will not damage the anodized finish. Anodized surfaces are heat-resistant to the melting point of aluminum (1,221°F).

Most important for cookware, hard-anodizing makes cookware surfaces so ultra-smooth that they become virtually nonporous (without pores). Pores in metal cookware are one of the leading reasons why foods stick while cooking.

So, because hard-anodized aluminum cooking surfaces are virtually nonporous, you have fewer problems with stuck-on foods. The surfaces are stick-resistant. And when you use the simple steps to stick-free cooking (see "Cooking in Calphalon Cookware"), you'll be amazed at how easy and trouble-free cooking can be.

So, from the look of it, technically it should be ok...Just be careful though, sometimes some come with nonstick coating too.

[NewQuakerMommy]

I want to thank you all for your HELPFUL advice. Cosmo and Marti's mom, I appreciate you checking into my question and maybe understanding a bit more of it than I did. As far as some of the comments, I knew that I would meet some who would be "fanatical" about it, I am not trying to make excuses for using teflon coated cookware, however I did do a lot of research about what was good and not good for my little Kiwi and this was apparently not a topic that I came across while searching. Again I appreciate those who took the time to help me understand what I didn't, and for not being judgemental!

[Carrie~Anne]

it is "teflon" free, but the hostess said it is PTFE coated cookware.

"Teflon" is a brand name. That's all. It is the PTFE coating that is toxic (of course, Teflon products and other similar non-stick products all contain PTFE). So that commercial is just a gimic to try and ease the 'Teflon' scare that is going on because Dupont got sued.

I've said this before and I'll say it again (cause I can ), why would you take the risk of losing your birds? Think of how much time, money and love you have invested into the little turkey. And think about how guilty you would feel if he died because of cookware???? Something that could of been avoided completely.

[NewQuakerMommy]

I am becoming very sorry that I asked this question. I fully understand, now, the effects of the non-stick coating on cookware. I just want to know my options.

[Carrie~Anne]

I am becoming very sorry that I asked this question. I fully understand, now, the effects of the non-stick coating on cookware. I just want to know my options.

Please don't be sorry you asked. It is a very, very important question and a valid one. Just think, perhaps a new owner sees this thread and thinks 'wow!! I didn't know about the dangers non-stick cookware!'. By posting this thread, you could of saved a bird

All questions are good, and even a little healthy debate is good too We all have our own opinions and what I wrote is just mine.

[QTQP4me]

i don't think anyone who responded was judging you per se, because you are right, you do need to cook. some people are just passionate about certain things. i don't know that i would consider myself passionate about non stick, but i do feel a little obligated to share what i have learned if i feel it can save one bird, and you just can't assume others know what you do. that's what makes this forum so wonderful - you get PLENTY of answers, whether you like them or not

i know i suggested what i did (casseroles) in all seriousness because unfortunately, you can't always tell when you reach a danger level with non stick.

i did use mine after i brought louie home, but only for a minute. it was really put into perspective for me when carrie-ann said to me what she said to you - is it worth the risk? (andie drilled it home lol) personally i didn't think so, and luckily i had a set of SS to use in the basement.

so, like has been mentioned, please don't let a bit of possible controversy stop you from asking questions that you have. if we didn't care, we wouldn't get in such an "uproar" over certain things.

kris

[RichVR]

Just a quick note here. If you like microwaved popcorn in those bags that puff up, forget about them. They actually contain Teflon (or at least the same type of chemical, as far as I can tell) as well.

http://pubs.acs.org/...rr_popcorn.html

I think an air popper would be the way to go. It's cheaper in the long run too.

[Nestling]

Thanks for the headsup on microwave popcorn. I didn't know. I new for years about teflon. What about stainless steel with copper bottoms?

[Cosmo & Marti's Mom]

SS with copper is awesome! best you can get!