Why You Should Consider Stainless Steel Cookware

There is an increasing demand for safe (less toxic) and affordable cookware. In this post, my goal is NOT to scare you or tell you to throw out all the cookware in your kitchen right this second. My goal is to provide information to help you make a more informed decision on what type of cookware is best for your health and your budget!

“Non-Stick” Cookware

In recent decades, “non-stick” cookware has become popular among Americans. It’s relatively affordable, and your food won’t stick to it! Sounds great, right? However, more and more information is coming into the spotlight about how hazardous this cookware can be to our health.

Consumer Reports tested two brands of non-stick cookware said to be free of certain hazardous chemicals like PTFE (Polytetrafluoroethylene, also known as Teflon) and PFOA (Perfluorooctanoic Acid) but were found to have measurable amounts of PFOA and several other PFAS (Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) [1]. PFAS are often referred to as “Forever Chemicals” and have been linked to a range of health risks in human and animal studies, including cancer, hormone disruption, and reproductive harm.

If your non-stick cookware is brand-new, lightly used, and/or not at all scratched, it’s likely safe to cook with for a little while at least. The average lifespan of this cookware tends to be between 1 and 5 years, depending on their quality, and how you maintain them. Most people know to avoid using metal utensils on non-stick surfaces to avoid scratching off the non-stick coating. Once the coating is scratched, it starts to expose your food to these “forever chemicals” when you cook. Additionally, it’s not recommended to use non-stick cookware in an oven or on a stovetop at high temperatures, or to heat an empty skillet, which can cause the coatings to degrade and emit toxic fumes.

Summary of “non-stick” cookware:
1. Price Range: $90 – $400+ for a 10-Piece Set (depending on quality).
2. Durability: Low to Medium.
3. Versatility: Limited to stovetop cooking at low to medium heat.
4. Life Span: 1 to 5 Years.
5. Safety: Medium to High Toxicity (when improperly used/cared for).

Stainless Steel Cookware

Stainless steel, primarily iron, mixed with small amounts of other metals such as chromium, carbon, manganese, copper, and nickel. These additional metals are incorporated to ensure heat retention, strength, and corrosion protection. Food-grade stainless steel is required to adhere to the National Science Foundation’s 200, 300, or 400 series guidelines. The 304 and 316 series, sometimes called 18/8 and 18/10 (the ratios of chromium to nickel), are the most common 300 series available for cookware. 316, or 18/10, is a very high-quality grade with the most durability and corrosion resistance.

Stainless steel is becoming a more popular choice of cookware due to its durability, versatility, safety, and ease of maintenance. Stainless steel cookware is one of the safest materials on the market and will not leach toxic chemicals into your food. It’s also “non-reactive” meaning it will not react with acidic foods like tomato sauce, and it’s resistant to scratches, rust, and dents. It can be used on a stovetop and in the oven (to broil or braise)!

My grandmother has had her stainless steel pans for over 60 years and still uses them daily! I purchased my 18/10 stainless steel 10-piece cookware set off Amazon over a year ago, on sale for $135, and they’re still as fantastic today as they were day 1! Purchasing a high-quality set of stainless steel cookware can quite literally be an investment that actually saves you money. If I spent the same $135 on a 10-piece set of non-stick cookware, and expect it to last on average 3 years, over the course of 30 years, I would have to repurchase that same set of non-stick cookware at least 10 more times, costing me upwards of $1,300! OR I could make the investment into high-quality stainless steel cookware, with the potential to last 60+ years (like the set my grandmother still uses today) and only spend $135.

Summary of stainless steel cookware:
1. Price Range: $100 – $500+ for a 10-Piece Set (depending on quality).
2. Durability: High.
3. Versatility: High (can withstand cooking at high heat).
4. Life Span: Decades (with proper care of high-quality stainless steel).
5. Safety: Zero to Low Toxicity (non-toxic with high-quality grades such as 316 or 18/10).

References:
[1] Loria, K. (2022, October 26). You Can’t Always Trust Claims on ‘Non-Toxic’ Cookware. Consumer Reports.
https://www.consumerreports.org/toxic-chemicals-substances/you-cant-always-trust-claims-on-non-toxic-cookware-a4849321487/?srsltid=AfmBOooQfw8upPWT5Pak4RlNsMC9SiTtyZ9It4Ko93N7pOznK8Ztn-4I