[voksveta]

Might leach plasticiser,

[freddyujnf]

Might leach plasticiser,

had to go lookinng for that

"Many plastics are hard and brittle unless plasticisers are added to soften them and give them flexibility and elasticity. These are high molecular weight liquids which dissolve in the plastic so that they are not easily extracted or diffused. Most are long-chain esters of organic acids or phosphoric acid. The rate of diffusion out of the polymer strongly depends on the temperature and the material in contact with the polymer. The problem becomes particularly important for plastics used in microwave ovens and with fatty foods.

Cling film can contain as much as 40 per cent by weight of plasticiser. Some of this will diffuse out of the film and into the food that is wrapped in it, particularly if the food is fatty and thus a good solvent for the plasticiser. The cling film sold for domestic use is mostly made of polyethylene (see Paraffins) and is flexible without plasticiser, but contains a cling agent which is derived from animal fat.

Commercial meat wrappers often use cling film made from polyvinylchloride (PVC) because it is more permeable to oxygen and maintains the bright red colour of meat better than other plastics. PVC requires up to 30 per cent of plasticisers to make it sufficiently flexible to cling. The most commonly used plasticiser is di(2-ethylhexyl) adipate (DEHA). This has been found to be an animal carcinogen and to migrate into food, particularly when the cling film is used in microwave ovens. It has now been partially replaced by a polymeric plasticiser which does not migrate so easily.

By far the most common plasticisers used in PVC and other plastics for non-food purposes are esters of phthalic acid (see Phthalates). These have been shown to accumulate in the liver and damage the liver enzyme system. It is thus important not to use such plastics to contain food. There is no easy way of telling what plasticiser is used in a particular article.

Health effects
It is important to be aware of the possible health effects of keeping food wrapped in plastic or in unsuitable plastic containers. As a general rule one should avoid keeping fatty foods in contact with plastics for longer than necessary. Many of the plastic bags used for food are made of polyethylene and do not contain plasticisers. PET bottles and food trays do not contain plasticisers or other additives and there is only very little migration of residual monomer from them, even at microwave temperatures. Some fruit drink containers are still made of PVC. The danger of plasticisers migrating into the liquid, which is usually acid, is minimal, but the bottles should not be used for storing oil. Some cling wraps also contain antibacterial chemicals.

Environmental effects
Plasticisers are biodegraded very slowly and are part of the pollution caused by plastics.

Alternatives
Waxed paper or parchment or aluminium foil (but see entry for environmental effects of aluminium) are alternatives for food wrapping, but glass containers are also good for keeping leftovers."

http://www.safersolutions.org.au/a/178-plasticisers

[shashaffff]

Some of my saucepan handles have gone grey and knobly looking from using the dishwasher on them.

But that is just tough luck saucepans. I hate sink washing with a passion and if the pan handles don't hack it in the dishwasher then they will find themselves a new home at the rubbish tip.

[CHyLmxDr]

Some of my saucepan handles have gone grey and knobly looking from using the dishwasher on them.

But that is just tough luck saucepans. I hate sink washing with a passion and if the pan handles don't hack it in the dishwasher then they will find themselves a new home at the rubbish tip.

We had a cheese slicer that had a black plastic handle. The handle cracked and came off. Dad got a length of copper pipe, his welder, and made a new handle. We still use that same cheese slicer more than 20 years later.

[Ngwkgczx]

as an aside.........

we have a very good set of saucepans with black coated handles. i've been wary of putting them in the dishwasher because we've been told it makes the handles brittle .... is this correct ?

Due to the high turnover of saucepans over many years, I can say that they go sort of crispy when subjected to kitchen disasters like burning the contents

The last lot I bought have a detachable handle and I haven't burnt anything since - typical, I spose.

The older one I have left has a cracked handle and will probably eventually lose the handle. But it was a fairly cheap one and I have a gas stove top. The damage seems to be where the handle meets the saucepan - the protective metal guard at the saucepan is not big enough. I don't think it's the dishwasher. That one I do put through the dishwasher so it might be a bit of both.

[freddyujnf]

Some of my saucepan handles have gone grey and knobly looking from using the dishwasher on them.

But that is just tough luck saucepans. I hate sink washing with a passion and if the pan handles don't hack it in the dishwasher then they will find themselves a new home at the rubbish tip.

hmmm ... i would not like to have to replace mine ... even when bought half price when a major dept store chain closed down , they were quite expensive. i would never go back to cheaper ones again. these cook evenly, are easy to clean and although i cook a lot, they could almost be taken for new 5? years later.

[Morageort]

...

The last lot I bought have a detachable handle and I haven't burnt anything since - typical, I spose.

...

me too.

and my kids clubbed together and bought me this to go with them



Aren't children charming!

http://chrysalis.com.au/Artwork-Leunig-Thepot-1786.htm

[freddyujnf]

me too.

and my kids clubbed together and bought me this to go with them



Aren't children charming!

http://chrysalis.com.au/Artwork-Leunig-Thepot-1786.htm

love it !

[Ngwkgczx]

http://chrysalis.com.au/Artwork-Leunig-Thepot-1786.htm

I don't think I'll show that to mr ilago

[Morageort]

I don't think I'll show that to mr ilago

love it !

So do I, despite my carryon


I'm embroidering my take on this, also Leunig, called "Cafe Penguin" for daughter who took me to her then fav band, Penguin Cafe Orchestra
Things go round don't they

http://www.artloft.com.au/artists/Mi...nig/works/635/

[ceagstuntee]

> put some bi carb paste on it and leave it to stand in a small amount of water.

Yes. That's what we do. It works, sometimes quickly.

[BokerokyBan]

Cookware is one of those things where quality matters and cost is forgotten. Good gear will outlast you. Having said that, most of my gear is accumulated or cheap gear apart from some good frypans, one cast iron which can go straight into the oven and a steel one which is the one I usually use and is so seasoned you can cook eggs and just slide them out.

[CHyLmxDr]

Most of my good cookware came from the opshop. Heavy bottomed frypans, expensive brands albeit not the best, for a handful of dollars each. One though, I never worked out what it was for. A little solid cast iron pan about 6 inches across, with a pouring lip on one side. Gabriel Gate branded. Especially for sauces maybe? I don't really know, never ended up using it.

[BokerokyBan]

Sounds like a crepe pan?

[moopogyOvenny]

I've just soldered new handles onto the pots and pans here. Though in some instances the copper bottoms have become separated from the steel by overheating on a hotplate.

My instrument of choice for cleaning blackened saucepans is elbow grease applied via S/S wool.

[CHyLmxDr]

Sounds like a crepe pan?

Much too small for that...and the pouring lip?

[moopogyOvenny]

Much too small for that...and the pouring lip?

I had a set of camping pans, cast iron. They all had a pouring lip.

[BokerokyBan]

Much too small for that...and the pouring lip?

That was where you pour out the excess batter?

[BokerokyBan]

How about a blini pan? They are smaller than crepes.

[moopogyOvenny]

Some people like to make a single serve omelete.