Bird-safe kitchen appliances?

[Ladyeclectic]

I used to use my George Foreman grill for everything! meats, veggies, even the occasional grilled fruit! Since getting Mishka however? I used it once my second day with her but was so paranoid I had every window open and fan on as well as covering her cage (despite her being on the opposite side of the apartment from the kitchen). I haven't touched it since.

Is there a bird-safe easy grilling machine out there? I've invested in a decent stainless pan (I'll get more once I get paid) but a girl cannot live on sandwiches, stirfry and fried meats alone! (I'm not much of an oven user) My goal is to be completely nonstick in the kitchen so I can have my baby close when I sit down to eat, but miss the easy of my machines (all of which seem to be nonstick of one sort or another).

What do you all use in the kitchen that is bird-safe and still makes cooking easy?

 

[triordan]

i didnt think the george foreman got to the temps that would be dangerous...never had one so not sure

 

[Von1983]

Only this week I have messaged Auggie's Dad (an administrator of this site) about this very subject as I read a comment of his about PTFE. Every article I have read has given very little or no balanced, measured opinions on this. It seemed to me that I was a bad parront if I kept so much as a non stick frying pan at the back of the cupboard!

The information that AD took the time to give me on this subject was literally life saving. To say I value it would be an understatment. I'm sure he won't mind me posting his wonderful reply to me.

This is something that is hard to get reliable information on, and I can't claim to be an authority. But I am a research scientist accustomed to reading primary scientific literature, and when faced with the contradictions and confusion surrounding PTFE I perused what I could find in scientific literature to find a better answer.

Unfortunately, and fortunately, no one does experiments to see how hot a pan has to get before it kills a bird. However there are numerous material studies on what the PTFE chemical does under different temperatures.

As I most likely said in the thread you read, PTFE does not produce dangerous fumes until the pan is hotter than the flash point of most cooking oils. So, if there's oil in the pan, and it isn't spattering flaming blobs of fire over your entire kitchen, then it should not be giving off harmful fumes [from the PTFE].

The real danger is from heating a dry pan (either 'pre-heating' the pan, or turning on a George Foreman style grill). In these situations the pan DOES get hot enough to release fumes; and the warnings about these fumes are not overstated: they are deadly for birds.

The other danger is from what might be called "irresponsible cooking practices", but in reality the most responsible person can make a mistake - and it only takes one mistake to loose your best friend. These "mistakes" would be setting out a pot of water to boil (perhaps to cook pasta) and then getting caught up with something else and forgetting about the pot - the pot would boil dry, and then quickly overheat.

Used carefully, properly, and mistake free teflon can be safe. The first two are easy enough to manage, the third one can never be guaranteed.

Based on what I've learned I quickly got rid of my George Foreman style grill and a waffle iron that were PTFE coated. I do still have a teflon frying pan, but I've started using cast iron more.

In summary, PTFE fumes ARE deadly, but they are also rare. Is it a chance worth taking? New cookware is a great value if you think of it as accident insurance for if you ever are absent minded one day while cooking you wont loose your fids.

To your more direct questions: yes, more space between the kitchen and the birds is good, particularly if there open windows - but also note that if your home has a central ventilation unit any toxic fumes generated in the kitchen could go everywhere quickly. Unfortunately I know of no way to know how much distance is 'enough'.

Is it hard to get other types of cookware there? There have to be some places that do mail-order / internet sales. I've found that cast iron cookware is great: completely safe, sturdy, and it makes great food. It takes a little care in cleaning properly but it adds a little to the cooking experience.


Is it safe to use PTFE from a distance? Is it safe to run outside in a lightening storm with a big metal pole? 99.9% of the time you'd be fine - but if that other 0.1% happens you'll really regret it.

​

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[Von1983]

I found ONE stainless steel pot since then and hubs has rigged up a little table outside the door for the foreman lol. Seems excessive, but I have no other means of grilling and like you, use my foreman a LOT. The door to the house is downstairs, Cal is upstairs, the foreman is outside, all doors are shut and Dave gets his Hunters Chicken - WIN!

Thanks so much again AD.

 

[nofearengineer]

Folks...this is a very important subject to me. One only has to look at my avatar to know why.

PLEASE do not think "oh, I am careful...it will never happen to me."

It happened to me.

I am an Engineer. I am a very meticulous person by nature. I have a system for everything.

Unfortunately, I am also human. I make mistakes.

So do you.

If you have a non-stick pan in your house, you will at some point in your life accidentally overheat it. It will happen.

This is not an indictment of DuPont. Those non-stick pans work great.

But they will never see the inside of my house again.

The next time you hold your bird, and he looks up at you with a really cute expression, laughs with you, or says "I love you," I want you to stop and imagine to yourself that 5 minutes from now, you will never hold him or hear him again.

Then YOU make the decision on whether that is worth not having eggs stick to a skillet.

It really is that simple.

 

[Ladyeclectic]

Well then, that settles that. The Foreman is going to be garbaged/donated/gotten rid of.



I hadn't even thought about cast iron cookware, I'll be on the lookout for those. I've actually seen panini presses that I believe are cast iron - a lot like a Foreman except much flatter, and the top has to be very heavy to press the sandwich. Otherwise I'll just stick with stainless, copper or glass cookware (obviously the glass isn't for oventop lol).

Thanks for posting what AD had to tell you Von, it really is great stuff. And NFE, I'm so very sorry about your baby. No words can mitigate the loss of a beloved friend and I know he was well loved, and very missed. {{{HUGS}}}

I still need to cover my electrical sockets and do a few other safe birdie practices, but the whole nonstick thing has me so paranoid - seems for good reason.

ETA: Wow. I Googled "cast iron panini press" and I got TONS of hits. Looks like I won't need to worry about getting rid of the Foreman after all, just change things up a bit!

 

[Von1983]

NFE, I still feel so badly about Gandalf but he is helping a lot of people still through you!

I simply stopped using pots when I read about PTFE and stuff to ovening in glass etc as I know my cooker is safe. It's just been SUCH a bind trying to find stainless steel when we only have the one afternoon a week to do it

I'm glad to have at least one pot back as microwaving veg just isn't the same lol.

I haven't used my foreman either. I am an avid soup maker but this had to be done in the day when Cal is in the shop and I just wasn't going to risk it. I will be SO glad to be making broth again!

I'll use my foreman outside in the alcove when necessary until I find a suitable replacement. Everything is sodding non stick in the UK lol.

I'm in no rush though. Outside on the opposite side of our house won't affect Cal and that's the main thing. I'm just glad I don't fry anything!!!!

EDIT: Ok, maybe I'm NOT so happy to have a pot. I just burnt myself on it LOL - how that for timing? *blushes*

 

[triordan]

Well then, that settles that. The Foreman is going to be garbaged/donated/gotten rid of.




ETA: Wow. I Googled "cast iron panini press" and I got TONS of hits. Looks like I won't need to worry about getting rid of the Foreman after all, just change things up a bit!

you can also google ptfe free cookware~ i was able to find ptfe and pfoa free non-stick pans at both marshall's and tj maxx a lot cheaper than retail stores

 

[JawzX]

well seasoned cast-iron IS non-stick. It's also extremely easy to liive with. My cast iorn pans are my favoite cooking tools. Remember, NEVER use soap on cast iron. Soak it in hot water, scrub the crap out of it with steelwool or a metal spatula, but the second soap touches it you'll be starting from scratch. Google "seasoning cast iron pans" and you'll get tons of hits. I still find that cooking bacon in them (even the deep pots) about once a month is the best way to keep them well seasoned, but olive oil works well too. I've seen the cast ion panini presses, but I've yet to come across a grill-type device that's cast-iron, though I do have a cast-iron grill pan. I'll admit to missing the convenience of counter-top grilling with the Foreman...

 

[Spiritbird]

I invested in a set of stainless steel cookware and now can cook with peace of mind. Sometimes I do not even believe in what the labels tell you. For instance I was at an expo today looking at "safe organice cleaners" supposed to be safe around children and animals. Let me tell you folks when something says safe around animals that does not include our sensative parrots. I specifically asked about parrots and no could answer my question. They are supposed to get back to me.

 

[Pheonix Rising]

Sb I purchased a cleaner not long ago that was chemical free and do on also
funny thing was however that the main ingredient was privet ( a type of plant that affects asthma and hay fever sufferes) they had just put it under it's botanical name instead
I was not impressed and laid a huge complaint
this particular product is no longer on the market

My 2 kids and partner were sick for weeks until we figured it out