Aluminum Cookware...your thoughts.

[norgeway]

I just wondered what thoughts everyone had on aluminum cookware,My thoughts are these, anything in moderation and with common sense, I do use aluminum,it heats more evenly,and for frying, can't be beat, on the other hand , I never use it for acid foods...making jelly, tomatoes rhubarb etc, I do in stainless, and aluminum will discolor a cream pie filling...do I think it is dangerous,NO, you rub liquid aluminum under your arms everyday if you use anti-perspirant,so what do all of you think?

 

[toggleswitch2]

I avoid aulminun cookware and keep my food out of plastics a

My mother loved her aluminum stockpot. She used to add lemon juice when cooking which served to transfer the oxidation (black coating/discoloration) TO THE FOOD, and kept the pot looking "clean". In effect she was hastening the oxidation process and the leeching of aluminum into the food.

No sense freaking-out about it; as as much commercial cookware (as in resutarants)is alumin(i)um.

 

[jeffg]

Can't be beat for frying? Surely you jest.

Cast iron cooks way better and the iron is actually good for you.

 

[mixfinder]

Toggles

Thank God for Latex, you can be one horny devil with all their brain cells intact.

 

[xraytech]

I do love my aluminum cookware, I have the old Wear-Ever with the wooden handles and also Club from early 60's. The aluminum dutch ovens are my favorites for making jams and jellies, and when my pans start to look dark, I just cook tomatoes.
I do believe they are safe to use, even if discolored and pitted(as mine are). There have been no firm links proving that it causes things like alzheimers, but I do believe that is mostly genetic, in which case I am screwed anyways

 

[jeffg]

> There have been no firm links proving that it causes things like alzheimers <

The main problem with aluminum is that we have so many sources of exposure in our country. Everything from our drinking water (in many parts of the U.S.) to antacid tablets, anti-perspirants, even stuff like coffee creamers, leavening agents in our bread, etc etc.

Aluminum pans by themselves might not cause Alzheimer's, but the evidence linking cumulative exposure to aluminum to the disease is increasing every year. And as long as better alternatives exist (like cast iron), why use aluminum?

 

[polkanut]

I stick with my vintage Rena Ware and Revere Ware, tyvm.

 

[frigilux]

Don't care for aluminum cookware. It reacts with acidic foods and taints their flavor; tomatoes or fruit juices, for instance.

 

[launderess]

Well

Have some pieces of vintage Magnalite cookware, and use the heavy sauce pot for cooking rice. Also have some vintage aluminium baking pans (mainly large muffin tins, and some cake pans), and so far so good as far as memory goes. Thank again have been accused of being a chuckle-head even before cooking with the above.

There are many sources of aluminum in one's diet, and there are also ways to avoid the acid reaction when cooking. Alton Brown on "Good Eats" told of one way, but it now escapes me.

Oh yes, have a huge vintage Westbend "Ovenette" that is mostly aluminum, including the pans. Westbend was at on time part of
Alcoam the aluminum company. What better way to find domestic uses for the stuff than that?

L.

 

[toggleswitch2]

I'd say not only should one avoid aluminum pots and pans and utensils but aluminum foil is another potential sore-spot.

And if potential helath issues is not convincing it is simply not "green" to over use it.

 

[qsd-dan]

I'm with toggles. I don't use plastic/aluminum ANYTHING when it comes to food/water. I also use paraben and aluminum free deodorant. I don't drink coffee, so no issues with toxic, sugar laden creamers. I also eat healthy, so no need need for the use of anti-acid tablets.

We're exposed to enough toxins in modern everyday life, so there's no reason to add to the already overabundant levels we currently live with.

I could tell some good war stories of using various methods of heavy metal detoxification. Most of them start out with "So, there I was passed out on the bathroom floor......" LOL!!!

 

[toggleswitch2]

I have even found baking powder that is aluminum-free.

YAY!

As for deodorants (note: without aluminum it is usually not an anti-persperant) they tend to be heavily scented when without aluminum. Translation: Less effectiveness and need to mask body-odor with perfumes.

If "y'all" could suggest an aluminum-free product that works and had a MILD or non-excistant scent, it'd be most appreciated.

 

[qsd-dan]

If "y'all" could suggest an aluminum-free prod

Natures Gate has a variety of deodorants that are aluminum and paraben free. LuckyVitamin.com‏ has the best prices. They have about 8 different scents and I order 2 of each, which usually last me a little more than a year and a half. To my nose, they all have a very mild scent. Much milder than the typical store bought deodorants.

http://www.luckyvitamin.com/searchResult?s=&criteria=&keyword=natures+gate+deodorant

 

[sudsmaster]

I just use a "natural" deodorant, like Tom's. I like the scent.

I guess I don't have overactive pits, but sometimes the deodorant is needed no matter how much I scrub them with soap.

The jury is still out on the saftey of aluminum cookware etc. I would definitely avoid adding aluminum compounds to one's food, though.

Magnalite is mostly aluminum (possibly with some magnesium as well) but it's also either anodized or coated internally with teflon. The anodizing effectively stops any reaction of the aluminum with most food stuffs. I have an old set which is teflon coated - the frypan is the best one I have. Most of the coating has worn off, but underneath it's plated with stainless, so the sluminum doesn't react with the food. Nothing quite like those precisely fitting Magnalite heavy lids. They actually perform as partial pressure cookers because of the weight and the tight seal. Great for steaming veggies in the pots!

 

[qsd-dan]

I just use a "natural" deodorant, like Tom's.

That's what I used before going with Natures Gate. My skin was breaking out from the alcohol they loaded it up with though, so I had to make the switch.

 

[chuffle]

I've been using

the Crystal body deodorant "stone" for years now. I'm on my third one since 2002. The crystals last forever, and are unscented, hypoallergenic, aluminum chlorohydrate free, and paraben free. The product has worked very well for me.

Joe

Ingredients GlossaryDiscover Our Safe Ingredientsl Ingredients of Deodorant Crystal | CRYSTAL™

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www.thecrystal.com

 

[48bencix]

No anti perspirant

Because of the aluminum, I quit using anti-perspirant type deodorants. I use teflon coated alunimum frying pans, and occassionally a pressure cooker that is made from alunimum. Just trying to be somewhat moderate in my freaking out over my environment!

Martin

 

[mixfinder]

Aluminum Thoughts

I had one, but now I forgot. Aluminum is in all canned goods and soda and beer cans as well as cookware. It as well as many other metals and toxins lurk everywhere we buy something we didn't make ourselves. I use stainless for its superior clean up ability as well as non reactive finish with acidic foods. My mom has Alzheimer's and never cooked in Aluminum. She didn't like the way deodorant felt and used a mixture of cornstarch and baking soda as an antiperspirant. Most modern studies are linking Alzheimer's Disease with fungus. If you believe a rock in your pcoket protects you, I support it and suggest you use two rocks. No one knows.

 

[turquoisedude]

never use it for acid foods

I have a set of Club aluminum cookware (turquoise - what a surprise!) that I use for most of my cooking but not for foods with a high acid content. The ol' Corning visions set that I got when I moved out of the family homestead for good in 1986 are what I use for those. On the rare occaisons that I actually got my arse out of the workshop to make preserves or jelly, I used a stainless pan for that also.
My choice is not really influenced by the health warnings - I just find that some foods taste better when not cooked in aluminum pots!