Healthy Kitchen & Eating Utensils
 

Hello all. I've been learning so much from GIM, from financial to bodily well being. And there is still so much more to discover!

I would like to ask GIMers if they could please help point me in the right direction with the questions below. I think they may be of interest to many readers on GIM as well.

1. I've read that there may be health benefits to using real silverware (is this true?). I've been wanting to buy some inexpensive pieces - not so much even fore wealth preservation or investing (though that is an added bonus), but for everyday use. Sadly, I don't know anything about the market for these things. Any suggestions about brands, sets, individual pieces, prices, new / used, etc., would be greatly appreciated!

2. What are the best types of pots and pans to use when cooking, and where can I purchase them?

3. Are there any other healthy kitchen and eating utensil items I should know about?

Thanks!

Re: Healthy Kitchen & Eating Utensils
 

I avoid Teflon coated kitchenware. There is a lot of evidence that points to the non-stick substance as a cause for cancer. I would rather deal with clean up and some butter than risk getting a tumor.

Whether or not silver is superior in terms of utensils, I am not sure. However, silver is an excellent anti-microbial.

Re: Healthy Kitchen & Eating Utensils
 

That's part of what I heard. I even recall one person making a reference to silverware being used by people throughout history because humanity somehow learned or realized that it could have some health benefits.

I'm basically just looking for a couple of inexpensive forks, knives and spoons. They don't even have to match. I guess sterling is the best form for this? Or are other silver-content percentages possible for silverware?

If anyone can please suggest some brands I should buy, or how to go about putting together a real inexpensive silverware collection, I'd be greatly appreciative.

Also - do they make beer mugs out of silver? :beer:

Thanks!

Re: Healthy Kitchen & Eating Utensils
 

I just bought some of these. No Teflon or PFTE. Basically they are cast iron and titanium. They are outstanding. Titanium Elite

Gorham makes some nice solid sterling table settings.

Re: Healthy Kitchen & Eating Utensils
 

Take a look at Westmorland Sterling Silverware. Look on ebay, not the silver replacement companies. Westmorland was sold door to door after the 2nd World War. It is very good quality and reasonably priced - you are not paying for a big name. Knives are hollow handle sterling with stainless steel blades. Spoons and forks are sterling silver. Spoons weigh almost an ounce each. I think dinner forks are about 1 1/2 ounces each. There are 5 different patterns, so you should be able to find one you like. Gravy ladles are about 3 ounces of silver. You can still find pieces at less than silver price.

We have been eating a lot of soup this winter, and it definitely tastes better off of sterling soup spoons!

Re: Healthy Kitchen & Eating Utensils
 

I use porcelain coated cast iron. It can be quite expensive. I picked some up heavily discounted at TJ Maxx.

Avoid Teflon like the plague. Teflon off gases at increasing rate as you heat it. Those chemicals go straight in to the food and air mmmmmmm :sarc:

~peace
Sand

Re: Healthy Kitchen & Eating Utensils
 

Check www.craigslist.org for silverware. Bonus points for solid sterling, but plated should be just as germ-free, since we only need to worry about the surface (just don't overpay). I use stainless steel for cookware. Took some getting used to, but I can do a halfway decent omelet in one.

Re: Healthy Kitchen & Eating Utensils
 

Hey cooking people.....

What do you think of annodized aluminum like Calphalon?

I used to have a set of this and really liked it, but hey I like weird stuff sometimes.

E-A

Re: Healthy Kitchen & Eating Utensils
 

Use a variety of cookware, whatever works best for what you are cooking. Just make sure it is clean. If its a non-stick coating, don't overheat it.

Any kind of flatware is fine, as long as it is clean. Stainless is fine. I'm sure that silver plated is really nice to use, but I don't think it is enough better than stainless to justify the cost, unless you just happen to like it. (It's a pain to keep it from tarnishing.)

I mostly use porcelain coated cast iron (La Crueset), stainless-lined copper (Mauviel or Sur le Table), some tinned copper pots, plain cast iron, plain copper or aluminum-clad stainless (clad on the outside bottom for heat transfer). I also use some Teflon-like smooth-surfaced cookware (some kind of hard black finish, but it is not Teflon).

My absolute favorite cookware is my stainless-lined heavy copper Mauviel pots and pans. They are pricey, but there is just nothing at all quite like them for remarkably scorch-free even heating. The next best is the La Crueset porcelain-coated cast iron, especially for use in the oven.

Re: Healthy Kitchen & Eating Utensils
 

stainless steel with copper bottom for frypans,soup pans. stainless steel percolator coffee pot. loveflower likes stainless steel knife,fork,spoon. i prefer sterling, pick it up used@garage sales,pawnshops. the silver feels better in my mouth than stainless. use stainless for ladles,spatulas,knives[heinkel] the stainless is easier to clean and disinfect. the last restaurant i worked at had sterling tableware, owner had mixed pieces, about 30 or so each. classy stuff.