Question about Teflon related products! Please answer.

[Tangie]

I have a few questions to ask about Teflon related products. A week or two ago one of my friends dropped off a few kitchen supplies. Included in the supplies was a used, huge skillet type thing. My mother used it a few times since then, and I've never given a thought that even if it isn't a 'pan', it could still be Teflon. I have a Cockatiel upstairs in my room, and I am worried that he will be killed if it is Teflon. I decided to give it a try outside of the house to cook eggs. It seemed like I had to put butter down or the eggs would stick. So, would that automatically rule out Teflon? Below is a few pictures. One picture it looks really weird because it shows that it is very much used and worn down. Please give me some advice.

This first one shows the wear and tear by flash.
100_4690.jpg

And the second will be in my next post.

 

[Tangie]

And the second one is this one.
100_4692.jpg

 

[Maria_Metropolis]

I would like to know as well about teflon, and also about annodized aluminum, which I use, and heard was safer.

Honestly though, even if I didn't have birds, I would use a POFC free and teflon free cookware, as it's not healthy for human usage either.

 

[cnyguy]

The first picture looks to me like aluminum that's seen a lot of use. The second looks like it may be painted. For the record, food can stick to Teflon coated cookware, even though it's supposedly non-stick. If there's any suspicion that you have any cookware that may be Teflon coated, it's better not to use it. I recommend stainless steel, cast iron and enamelware, which are all bird-safe, and not that hard to keep clean.

 

[palmetto941]

Is the newer non-stick coatings bad also? Is it just the older teflon? Most of the annodized type of cookware doesn't seem to emit odors or smoke....

 

[Tangie]

The two pictures are from the same skillet. I have actually never really had a Teflon pan before. I've always had either Stainless Steel or another brand i can't remember. We have used it before, and my bird has not been affected as of yet. I will not use it again until i am certain of what it is. And I think even brand new Teflon pans are very bad, especially if you burn them. it has been proved that it causes people cancer because of the chemicals absorbed into our food, and perhaps even the fumes.

 

[palmetto941]

I was under the impression that teflon is rarely used anymore.....that the anondized and newer pans use better materials and won't damage animals or people. ????

 

[SandyBee]

No Teflon is still widely used, there are alternatives now but teflon is still out there.
I can't tell by the looks of the pan, but because I see scratch marks it very well could be a teflon coat and I personally would throw it away.

If it is Teflon and it is scratched it is bad for you too and it's just not worth the risk.

 

[goalerjones]

Flip it over, look up the brand and model number then google it for the full info. There's really no way to know without that data.

 

[WannaBeAParrot]

I can't tell from the photos. You could bring them to a store or even restaurant if you can't find identifying numbers to look up.

The new nonstick cookware that is made of ceramic is ok to use. It doesn't emit the toxic stuff that teflon does. They are made by a number of mfrs now.