all 12 comments

[–]magnora7 3 insightful - 2 fun3 insightful - 1 fun4 insightful - 2 fun -  (4 children)

And guess who invented and popularized teflon?

None other than DuPont! The same chemical company that invented Nylon, and then funded anti-hemp propaganda like "Reefer Madness" which led to marijuana being made illegal, just to ensure their product Nylon would have an exclusive market.

[–]Vigte[S] 4 insightful - 1 fun4 insightful - 0 fun5 insightful - 1 fun -  (3 children)

Could it be the cast iron was a primary source of iron cooking into our foods? Considering picking one up for the wife this christmas ;)

[–]magnora7 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (1 child)

Interesting theory, but I don't think iron pans have been widespread long enough to be evolutionary relevant. But it could be, it is possible!

I've heard they're great to cook with, just make sure not to wash them with soap, I've heard. They have to be taken care of in a bit of a special way (adding oil to it every so often) but the results are worth it, so I hear

[–]Tom_Bombadil 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

It is not a theory. It is a thoroughly researched fact. There is no cast iron dietary contraversy.

[–]Tom_Bombadil 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

[–]Tom_Bombadil 1 insightful - 4 fun1 insightful - 3 fun2 insightful - 4 fun -  (1 child)

Cast iron is the way to go.

Huge joysticks are strongly correlated (0.95) with cast iron cooking.

[–]Vigte[S] 2 insightful - 3 fun2 insightful - 2 fun3 insightful - 3 fun -  (0 children)

Yuge panis!

[–]GroundZero 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (4 children)

Teflon really isn't the enemy unless it is overheated. It melts at 620 degrees but starts to deteriorate ~500 degrees.

If you use your Teflon pans for low heat applications only it is perfectly safe. Otherwise it could kill birds..and as I discovered all your carefully protected cellar spiders.

[–]Tom_Bombadil 2 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 0 fun3 insightful - 1 fun -  (3 children)

Nope. Teflon easily scratches when scraped by metal cooking implements. All consumption/use should be avoided. Also, obscenely harmful chemicals are ingredients/byproducts if the mfg process.

I think it's also found in microwave popcorn. PFOA (Teflon) in popcorn bags - Penn State Food Safety

Summary in the last three lines.

In short, the government does not think there is a quantifiable issues with the amount of PFQA transferred to foods. They are more concerned about environmental contamination and control. They are going to continue to study it.

Must be 100% safe.. /s

[–]GroundZero 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (2 children)

I agree. I am only coming from the perspective of consuming actively harmful particles from teflon. I only use wooden, plastic, or melamine utensils on my pans. I cringe, and go off the handle when I see people scraping it with metal. At any rate if teflon is intact it's pretty much indestructable by the human body. That's why burning it is not good. It starts to break down.

Too much popcorn can also cause stomach problems.

[–]Tom_Bombadil 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (1 child)

Do you agree that the Teflon that is used in microwave popcorn is harmful?

[–]GroundZero 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

Absolutely. Teflon shouldn't be used in any microwave applications where heat control isn't possible.

They should have stuck with only the old fashioned burner heated aluminium ball stuff. Those microwave packet thingys are terrible.