4 year old burger from McDonalds!

My fav monkey Aaron aka Stacks who is almost 10, shared a video about McDonalds burger that is 4 years old. Watch the link to believe it! the burger looks just like me! Hardly aged :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4IGtDPG4UfI

Today I used a non stick pan and a plastic spatula to cook. ( Couch surfing in Queens, hence not my kitchen)

Have I gone mad? Last year I replaced my cookware(non stick and Aluminium) with Stainless steel and Corningware Ceramic. Replacing your cookware can be costly, so my options were thrift stores. Anyways here's why you should not use non stick and Aluminium cookware.

Non Stick Pans Health Risk

PFOA

• Perfluorooctanoic acid, or PFOA, is a chemical used in the non-stick cookware manufacturing process. It is used to make the fluoropolymers that make the coating slippery. PFOA exposure presents several serious health risks, such as developmental problems in animals, and low birth weights in infants. Although PFOA has not been classified as a carcinogen as of 2009, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and eight major cookware manufacturers have agreed to stop using PFOA by 2015. In the meantime, FDA research regarding non-stick pans found that the PFOA evaporates during manufacturing, so there is very little health risk to the consumer, who is more likely to be exposed to PFOA from other sources, like fast-food packaging or carpeting.

Prevention/Solution

• Fortunately, the health risks of non-stick cookware may be minimized by observing a few basic precautions. To prevent fumes from being released, only use non-stick cookware over low or medium heat, and avoid preheating an empty pan. Keep the kitchen well-ventilated by using the exhaust fan or opening a window. Purchase heavyweight cookware, and maintain the quality of the cookware by using wooden or silicone utensils, and replacing damaged or worn pieces. Extend the life of your cookware by storing it with a protective layer between pans, or hanging it from a pot rack. According to DuPont, makers of Teflon non-stick cookware, the pans can give 3 to 5 years of good service before replacement if cared for properly.

Aluminium Health Risk:

Exposures to aluminum through food can occur when aluminum leaches or otherwise dissolves from the cookware into the food. Leaching is most likely when the foods being cooked or stored are highly basic (like baking soda) or highly acidic (like tomato sauce, lemon juice, oranges, or vinegar). For example, tomato sauce has been shown to contain 3-6 mg aluminum (per 100 g serving) after cooking in aluminum pans, which translates into about one-tenth of the typical daily intake. This leaching of aluminum with acidic foods does not happen with aluminum cookware that is anodized, or electro-chemically processed to seal the aluminum in the cookware.