Keep teflon or repurpose?

[Babina's Mommy]

I need help with what to do with my non-stick cookware. I have already gotten rid of most of the items, but there's a few hanging around and don't know whether to keep/repurpose or throw them out. What did you do? For example, hubby wants to keep the non-stick baking sheets that I don't want to use anymore and put them downstairs and put our seedlings that we're growing in pots on them and keep the baking sheet filled with water. I told him that I think the chemicals will end up in our plants. And those are vegetable plants, so we'll be eating that in a few months. He says he doubts that this could happen (they are newer non-stick pans, not scratched or burned) What do you think? I vote for getting them out of my house.

Just like he also thinks the muffin non-stick pan is ok, because there is liners when we use it and the food doesn't touch the pan. I haven't yet found a muffin pan that is not teflon. Though I haven't really done a lot of digging yet.

Thoughts?

[Marnica]

Personally I would get rid of what you can (make sure you are not just thorwing them in the garbage, but getting rid of them in an environmentally friendly way!)

I hear you about the muffin pans. I couldn't find any either and I looked!

[Babina's Mommy]

My mother inlaw has aluminum muffin pans but she says they are very old (but last forever)

What would be an environmentally friendly way of disposing of teflon?

(not sure what happened with the title here, lol, I'll ask a mod for help)

[Marnica]

Originally Posted by Babina's Mommy

My mother inlaw has aluminum muffin pans but she says they are very old (but last forever)

What would be an environmentally friendly way of disposing of teflon?

(not sure what happened with the title here, lol, I'll ask a mod for help)

I'm discovering it may not be easy. I would start by contacting your city's recycling program and asking them.

also if you like non-stick theses are a good alternative
http://ecomonkey.blogspot.com/2009/0...t-poisons.html

[Babina's Mommy]

Well, my husband likes the non-stick, to be honest I really don't care either way too much, I know some people say this has risks, but I am using an aluminum baking sheet, I'm using a stainless steel frying pan, and stainless steel pots, and also I'm discovering the joy of using a lot of glass now. I love Pyrex and the like.

Before reading up on teflon here on MDC, I had been using it for years. I never knew how much more expensive things that are non-stick are. We were given a whole set of non-stick cookware for our wedding present but it was really junky stuff (not blaming the person who bought it, I registered for that particular set anyway, Haha!) and it got to the point that it was all scratched up and burning up each time I cooked. I didn't realize how bad this was! Now I'm looking into other types, aluminum and stainless steel are expensive but will last forever from what I understand...the glassware isn't too expensive. It's frustrating having to do over all my cookware.

Some things I'm a little confused as to whether or not it's non-stick too. I know, it's usually pretty apparent...I have a bundt cake pan that I don't know if it is or not :

Since I did arleady throw out a bunch of non-stick already, the scratched up burned stuff, I think we may have put it in the recycling and it looks like they took it : It's the clean, new stuff hubby wants to repurpose....blah...

[Otto]

Originally Posted by Marnica

I hear you about the muffin pans. I couldn't find any either and I looked!

I'm pretty sure that one can still get regular (steel) Ecko muffin pans. Looks like Fox Run also distributes a line of stainless.

[Marnica]

Originally Posted by Otto

I'm pretty sure that one can still get regular (steel) Ecko muffin pans. Looks like Fox Run also distributes a line of stainless.

probably online?? I looked on BB&B and a few cooking stores in my area and nothing!

[Otto]

Originally Posted by Marnica

probably online?? I looked on BB&B and a few cooking stores in my area and nothing!

Yah, the Fox Run can be had through Amazon. I'd check a hardware store first for the Ecko stuff, though--that's where I've picked up all of my Lodge cast iron.