Teflon/non-stick cookware

[Iguana]

Hey everyone,
Continuing my research for a green cheek, and I've got yet another question lol It's to do with Teflon/non-stick cookware.
Every parrot owner I've talked or read about says this is a literal death sentence for a parrot, especially smaller parrots like conures, is this true? I know the fumes are pretty dangerous but how potent is it?
Also, my kitchen is downstairs and where I would theoretically be placing the cage is upstairs, is it still dangerous? There isn't much air exchange between them and the stove has one of those fan things that sucks up smoke and such.
If it's very likely to kill the bird i'll have to convince my parents to covert to non-Teflon pans or wait until I move out.
Thanks

 

[Kiwibird]

Teflon that gets over a certain temperature (which is within the normal range of cooking and baking temps) is absolutely lethal to parrots. It is odorless, you will never even know it is off-gassing until it is too late. Teflon toxicity is a horrible death for a bird, and even if rushed to the vet, nothing can be done. The bird will begin to suffer respiratory then neurological effects and dies, often within minute of exposure even to low level fumes. The smaller the bird, the smaller the lungs and the lower the tolerance. No, cooking with the bird upstairs and you downstairs is not safe. There have been plenty of people even on this forum over the years who've lost their birds to teflon toxicity. It is a very real risk.

It may not be what you want to hear, but if your parents will not get rid of the teflon cookware, you need to wait until you have your own place and can use regular pans without teflon to be able to provide a safe environment for your future bird. If your parents are open to it, there are newer ceramic non-stick coatings many bird owners use which seem to be safe, as well as traditional enamelware and enameled cast iron, both safe and relatively non-stick.

 

[jenphilly]

Teflon used totally at lower cooking temps (say medium) heat and that not a single nick or scratch - truly honestly not a mark on the pan - under those conditions your bird won't die. Unfortunately Teflon cookware scratches like all heck and that leeches at even normal temps, not only into the air but YOUR food. Bird aside, all homes need to toss out that old crap for the families health.

Even with perfect Teflon, burn something and that smoke gets everywhere. Last year alone we had two adopters with confirmed bird deaths from Teflon poisoning in their birds and another that seemed obvious but no necropsy.

Anyone in home ever put water to boil for any reason and it was forgotten? Burned food on stove top? I'll raise my hand to admit put eggs on for hard boiled eggs, got involved in something and forgot them. I use stainless steel so no worry, but that would have been a scary situation with Teflon.

Why not get your parents new cookware for Christmas, problem solved!

 

[Teknogeddon]

I have a non stick cookware that's not teflon and it works WONDERFULLY.
Ken and I were sceptical about switching to something else, but I found this PTFE PFOA free set and man is it awesome. Pretty too!

https://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/st...ioBbGwEtNjzKITmQtha9bxtZUSbt4vnRUUxoCoubw_wcB

It's not terribly expensive for what you get and works better than any teflon set I've ever had. Just don't use metal tools in it.

 

[Moomoo]

like Teknogeddon said above, Bialetti is really good! i bought some wooden spoons to use on it, we also have plastic spatulas and rubber badder sticks!
i bought this:





and have only used it since we got our little guy two weeks ago. we never use it with him in the same room though.
so far so good! no spontaneously dead birdies here!! (thank goodness!)

 

[GaleriaGila]

Good for you, Moo, for researching this verrrrrrrrrrrrry important issue!

 

[Aluminum]

Has anyone used the T-Fal brand? I have been using these for years and wonder if they are safe.
https://www.amazon.com/T-fal-Profes...&qid=1481459494&sr=1-1&refinements=p_89:T-fal

 

[Kentuckienne]

Information is power. Your parents have probably heard a lot of cry wolf, scary stories about teflon and learned to discount them them. In my town people regularly write to the newspaper complaining about the "chem trails" from airplanes poisoning the water, and some folks over-react to teflon. You might want to do a bit of research and find a few short articles, maybe from a veterinarian association or Wikipedia - the most scientific and credible sources possible - and print those out. Explain to your parents that you know this might be inconvenient, ask them to read the info. They may be willing to replace the pans with safer ceramic non-sticks. Expense can be a problem, so you might offer to do extra work, donate part of your allowance, do odd jobs for neighbors, etc. to help contribute to the cost of replacing the pans. If they still don't believe, you could go downstairs to be in the kitchen whenever those pans are being used to keep an eye out. Pans used for cooking over medium heat, pans never heated when empty but only with food or oil in them will probably not generate toxic fumes. It's a lot to ask, but you see you are not at the mercy of someone else's choice and there are things you can do to help. Thanks for caring so much about your bird. I hope you two will have a long and happy relationship!

 

[Iguana]

Teflon that gets over a certain temperature (which is within the normal range of cooking and baking temps) is absolutely lethal to parrots. It is odorless, you will never even know it is off-gassing until it is too late. Teflon toxicity is a horrible death for a bird, and even if rushed to the vet, nothing can be done. The bird will begin to suffer respiratory then neurological effects and dies, often within minute of exposure even to low level fumes. The smaller the bird, the smaller the lungs and the lower the tolerance. No, cooking with the bird upstairs and you downstairs is not safe. There have been plenty of people even on this forum over the years who've lost their birds to teflon toxicity. It is a very real risk.

It may not be what you want to hear, but if your parents will not get rid of the teflon cookware, you need to wait until you have your own place and can use regular pans without teflon to be able to provide a safe environment for your future bird. If your parents are open to it, there are newer ceramic non-stick coatings many bird owners use which seem to be safe, as well as traditional enamelware and enameled cast iron, both safe and relatively non-stick.

Thanks for the detailed answer, I had no idea it happened that quickly and seriously, I will defiantly not take the risk. Admittedly I haven't had a good rummage through the cookware, but I think they use mostly steel, I'll see if we do have any Teflon, if so i'll convince him to convert to one of the types you've listed.
Thanks again

 

[Iguana]

Teflon used totally at lower cooking temps (say medium) heat and that not a single nick or scratch - truly honestly not a mark on the pan - under those conditions your bird won't die. Unfortunately Teflon cookware scratches like all heck and that leeches at even normal temps, not only into the air but YOUR food. Bird aside, all homes need to toss out that old crap for the families health.

Even with perfect Teflon, burn something and that smoke gets everywhere. Last year alone we had two adopters with confirmed bird deaths from Teflon poisoning in their birds and another that seemed obvious but no necropsy.

Anyone in home ever put water to boil for any reason and it was forgotten? Burned food on stove top? I'll raise my hand to admit put eggs on for hard boiled eggs, got involved in something and forgot them. I use stainless steel so no worry, but that would have been a scary situation with Teflon.
Why not get your parents new cookware for Christmas, problem solved!

Yeah there would be no way it would remain under those conditions, I'll take the people from this thread's advice, and see if he'll just toss them out.
Horrible to hear about those birds, I can see it's very serious.
Good idea! I haven't gotten anything yet haha

 

[Iguana]

I have a non stick cookware that's not teflon and it works WONDERFULLY.
Ken and I were sceptical about switching to something else, but I found this PTFE PFOA free set and man is it awesome. Pretty too!

https://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/st...ioBbGwEtNjzKITmQtha9bxtZUSbt4vnRUUxoCoubw_wcB

It's not terribly expensive for what you get and works better than any teflon set I've ever had. Just don't use metal tools in it.

Thanks for the link, I'll check it out I think we use mostly wood or plastic anyway haha

 

[Iguana]

Information is power. Your parents have probably heard a lot of cry wolf, scary stories about teflon and learned to discount them them. In my town people regularly write to the newspaper complaining about the "chem trails" from airplanes poisoning the water, and some folks over-react to teflon. You might want to do a bit of research and find a few short articles, maybe from a veterinarian association or Wikipedia - the most scientific and credible sources possible - and print those out. Explain to your parents that you know this might be inconvenient, ask them to read the info. They may be willing to replace the pans with safer ceramic non-sticks. Expense can be a problem, so you might offer to do extra work, donate part of your allowance, do odd jobs for neighbors, etc. to help contribute to the cost of replacing the pans. If they still don't believe, you could go downstairs to be in the kitchen whenever those pans are being used to keep an eye out. Pans used for cooking over medium heat, pans never heated when empty but only with food or oil in them will probably not generate toxic fumes. It's a lot to ask, but you see you are not at the mercy of someone else's choice and there are things you can do to help. Thanks for caring so much about your bird. I hope you two will have a long and happy relationship!

Great idea! They are pretty health conscious about all that stuff, I'm sure mentioning the fact that it's deathly poisonous to birds will bring up some concern.
I think we needed a new set anyway so now would be the best time to convince them to convert, I'll chip in I have have to, I REALLY want this bird
Thank you! I'll do whatever I have to, to make sure that when I get my bird it's gonna live as long as possible (happily of course) haha
Thank you for the great advice

 

[RavensGryf]

Will using Teflon pans definitely release toxic fumes that will kill your parrot? The answer is not a black/white yes or no. But don't tell your parents that. Over exaggerate and tell them it is definitely lethal all the time. The goal is to get the pans out of the house.

I shouldn't say this, though I've mentioned it some time before, In the early days of Robin's life (he's 22) I've used Teflon pans. Apparently they never off gassed poisonous fumes. I've used (or my ex has used) older Teflon thankfully with no harm to my parrots either. So that was for years . That being said, I don't use them anymore and I won't again. Ceramic is safe and works very well. I have a ceramic cookware, hair iron, and space heater.

 

[Flboy]

When it goes ugly, it is ugly!

http://www.ottawasun.com/2016/02/26...ot-whisperer-was-a-one-man-tourist-attraction

 

[Iguana]

When it goes ugly, it is ugly!

Garry Allen (1952-2016): Ottawa's 'parrot whisperer' was a one-man tourist attra

That poor guy, such a horrible accident to happen.

 

[Iguana]

Will using Teflon pans definitely release toxic fumes that will kill your parrot? The answer is not a black/white yes or no. But don't tell your parents that. Over exaggerate and tell them it is definitely lethal all the time. The goal is to get the pans out of the house.

I shouldn't say this, though I've mentioned it some time before, In the early days of Robin's life (he's 22) I've used Teflon pans. Apparently they never off gassed poisonous fumes. I've used (or my ex has used) older Teflon thankfully with no harm to my parrots either. So that was for years . That being said, I don't use them anymore and I won't again. Ceramic is safe and works very well. I have a ceramic cookware, hair iron, and space heater.

Most defiantly will be exaggerating, no way I would want to take the risk.
Very lucky he's still around then! Thankfully I've been pre-warned, but will defiantly be moving to ceramic.

 

[SailBoat]

Enough has been said about teflon and the other knock-off variations. FYI: As an addition to the News Story of the Parrot Whisperer. He likely died of Lung Failure cause by the effects of the teflon that kill his parrots. After all, the down fall of teflon was not that it was killing Parrots, but that it was killing Children and Adults with Lung problems.

Today, although there are some teflon like products out there (FYI: Today's versions are more dangerous than the 'original' teflon). The majority of 'As Seen on TV' products have moved onto Ceramic or Ceramic like products. This group of 'Snake Oil Salesmen' use high pressure sales tools to get you to buy complete sets of their 'Latest and Greatest' stuff!

Ceramic and other Glass like surfaced products are in fact safe. But, to obtain a long life, the substructure needs to be thick (therefore heavy) to retain its shape, thus minimizing cracking of the surface. In addition, the coating surface also needs to be thick for the same reasons. The total weight should be near the same, if not a bit heavier, then a like sized cast iron pan.

If the manufacturer is using fancy sounding terms that have no possible connection to either its operation (use) or method of manufacture, one needs to question what else do they over-stated.