Pots, pans, bowls, plates are exposed to various factors in the kitchen, including high temperatures and acids. Under their influence, devices can emit substances harmful to human health. Lead, cadmium, aluminum and some compounds, such as iron oxide, are deposited in the human body, thereby causing various diseases. To avoid this danger, you need to know exactly from which dishes you can not eat. Therefore, it should be cooked only in pots and plates made of materials allowed for this, in other words, marked “for contact with food” or with the sign of a glass and a fork.
Melamine Kitchenware
A cup or plate is such an obvious thing in the kitchen that sometimes we do not pay attention to what they are made of. Meanwhile, it turns out that some of these vessels can be harmful to health. This is important to consider, because they are used by children. Often you can hear a children's riddle: "From what dishes can not be eaten?" Not many can immediately give a seemingly simple answer - from empty or broken. After all, in fact, the answer carries a much more serious meaning.
Melamine tableware is extremely popular because of its durability and bright colors. But under the influence of high temperatures (including heating in a microwave oven) and contact with an acidic dish, carcinogen formaldehyde can be released.
And again we ask ourselves: from what utensils can’t you eat anything? From purchased from street vendors whose goods are guaranteed not certified. Hazardous chemicals in quantities exceeding safety standards are often used for its production.
Benefits of Items Made from Melamine
Reasons for the popularity of these kitchen products:
- Melamine tableware is convenient, practical and much cheaper than ceramic;
- Melamine is a durable, flexible material; in some versions it imitates porcelain kitchen utensils;
- this is the first “own" dish of the smallest family members - colorful, unbreakable and light;
- Melamine is a part of popular disposable plates, cutlery and glasses for grilling, holidays and walks in nature.
Disadvantages and Risks
Why can not use dishes made of this material:
- Melamine quickly and initially imperceptibly penetrates into cooked dishes under the influence of high temperatures and acidic environment;
- this, in turn, can lead to breathing difficulties, allergic reactions, and with prolonged use, also to impaired renal function, the appearance of stones and even tumors in them. Therefore, you need to know from which dishes you can not eat.
To keep melamine cookware safe, avoid cooking and serving soups and hot dishes. It is advisable to use it only for warm food. It is absolutely not necessary to cook hot tea with lemon in it, since this additionally enhances the secretion of the substance mentioned, and also significantly affects the taste. Do not use it for slicing and storing citrus fruits.
Harmful aluminum
Speaking about which dishes cannot be used for food, one cannot but mention aluminum. It is impossible to cook and stew acidic and very salty dishes. Such products, coupled with high temperature, cause the formation of harmful substances on the surface, as a result of which aluminum penetrates into cooked dishes, which is completely deposited in the liver. This can lead to its failure, as well as initiate the development of cancer.
Scientists warn that there is also a close relationship between the use of such dishes and neurological diseases, namely Alzheimer's disease.
Dangerous teflon
Teflon pans are very convenient, because they are easy to clean, and fried dishes do not burn on them. The problem appears only when scratches appear on their surface. A damaged Teflon layer causes particles of this substance to enter directly into the food.
American scientists have proven from which dishes you can’t eat anything. Their experiments showed that fumes from Teflon damaged kitchen appliances could kill a bird in a cage. This type of pan emits toxic chemicals that reduce the body's stability not only in animals, but also in humans. The risk of heart attacks and strokes increases, which can lead to the development of cancer. These highly toxic chemicals are fluorine compounds that make up Teflon. They are also found in waterproofing fabrics (clothing, curtains or carpets).
What dishes to eat: enameled pots
Enameled kitchen vessels are not harmful until they are scratched and the enamel begins to fall away. Under its layer is steel sheet, which undergoes corrosion quite quickly. Rusty sawdust of steel can enter the food prepared in the pan, and then directly into the human body. But the result of oxidation of iron is very harmful to health.
However, if you decide to buy an enameled pan, remember the rule: the heavier it is, the better. It should have a thick bottom, because it will be more resistant to damage. Before buying, be sure to check the pan on each side, make sure there are no chips and scratches on it.
Do not save on silicone kitchen utensils
Silicone is a fairly harmless material to health. But, unfortunately, very expensive. Therefore, manufacturers often add various kinds of cheap chemical fillers. Such silicone products are not safe. Under the influence of high temperature, they emit organic volatile substances, which change the color, aroma and taste of dishes, resulting in damage to health. This once again shows which dishes should not be eaten.
What is better to use?
Specialists in this case are unanimous. The least harmful cookware is made of stainless steel. It is durable and chemically resistant to all factors and chemicals found in food. It does not lose its properties upon contact with a very high temperature during cooking and is not exposed to acids and other components contained in food.