Would you knowingly cook with something that leaves a carcinogenic chemical in your body? All for the convenience of food sliding off the surface more easily?
Unfortunately, this is the hidden cost of using some coated non-stick cookware.
Fortunately, we have the highly regarded Australian made wrought iron Solidteknics with a non-stick coating that you build yourself using natural oils, so you can trust exactly what it is! Enjoy less scrubbing at washing up time without the health hazards, plus it is truly made-to-last cookware that you can hand down to the next generation.
The Problems with Non-Stick Cookware
Bad for your Health
Much non-stick cookware is made with poly and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFA's), which when heated release perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA). These substances are also found in stain and water repellent fabrics and furnishings such as carpets and clothing. PFOA is linked to host of health problems, such as thyroid disease and other endocrine disruption, infertility in women, organ damage, reproductive and developmental problems in animals, liver malfunction, ulcerative colitis, high cholesterol, cancers, arthritis, and altered immune response in children.
Scientists Are Concerned
In 2015, 200 scientists globally signed the Madrid Statement, a scientific consensus on the dangers of PFA's. This statement urges consumers, governments and manufacturers to avoid the entire class of fluorinated substances, both long chain and short chain.
In the US, the EPA has urged companies to find alternatives to long chain PFA's, seen as the worst type. As such, companies have been replacing these products with ones made of short chain PFA's. The companies involved say the short chain PFA products are safe, but scientists are again saying they are not. Most non-stick cookware on the market contains short chain PFA's.
Not Built to Last
In addition to the health issues presented by coated non-stick cookware, a lot of what is available today is made cheaply and quickly from poor quality materials in overseas factories.
In many cases, a Teflon coated fry pan will last just a few months to a year before the coating starts to scratch and flake. Once the non stick surface becomes scratched these relatively cheap pans are easily tossed out to landfill. This is a waste of money, resources and is bad news for our environment.
The Solution: Healthy, Toxin Free Non-Stick Cookware That Will Last Generations
Chefs, wellness practitioners and naturopaths from all over Australia recommend the Solidteknics range of healthy, non stick cookware as one of the very best in terms of health, durability and origin.
Solidteknics is:
100% made in Australia.
No toxic, synthetic coatings
These health preserving pans are non-stick with a renewable, do-it-yourself coating that you can maintain forever through seasoning. Below we outline how to season your Solidteknics cookware and maintain the non-stick coating.
One piece of indestructible iron
Engineered from one solid piece of seamless and rivetless Australian iron sheet, which cooks like cast iron but is half the weight. There is no join for the handle so it will not drop off over time!
From Induction to flame compatible
Highly conductive on any heat source, from your induction stovetop and oven, to outdoors on your BBQ or campfire.
Not destined for landfill
Built to last and handed down to future generations, helping you to break the landfill cycle.
All the pans at Biome are now the new AUS-ION™ Quenched™ with a finish that has been sandblasted then seasoned using rice bran oil, for ultimate convenience. Ready to cook with straight out of the box, it's never been easier!
How to Season Your Solidteknics Cookware
The Quenched pans come from the factory pre-seasoned but you are recommend to build this up some more at home with the following method:- Drop a small amount of flax seed, soy bean or rice bran oil on warm pan or dampen a cloth with the oil.
- Wipe over the whole pan very thinly, so that all the visible oil is gone and the surface only appears polished.
- If there's still too much oil, wipe off again so it only looks polished
- Place pans upside down in a 250C oven for 1.5 hours, then switch off and cool in oven for half an hour.
- Repeat 3-6 times to establish the best foundation of low-stick and corrosion resistant seasoning. Seasoning will improve with more cooking and correct cleaning
Check out the full instructions and tips on the Biome website under each Solidteknics pan.
What oil can I season the pan with? Rice bran oil for best results, though any cooking oil or fat with a high smoke point can work well, such as grapeseed oil, flaxseed oil, canola oil, lard etc. Olive oil is not good for seasoning due to its low smoke point.
Our Favourites in the Solidteknics Range
Solidteknics provides a comprehensive range of frying pans, skillets, a wok, Roasting Pan and Baking Tray.
The two most popular are the 26cm and the 30cm Frying Pan, also known as a Skillet. The Solidteknics Frying Pan 30cm (pictured above) is a hit with Biome customers. It's size makes it a great pan for family meals, and it's helper handle allows for easy lifting and manoeuvrability.
Georgia Harding of Well Nourished loves the Solidtekics Wok 30cm Dual-Handle, using the wok for stir frys, pasta and noodle dishes, and anything that requires depth.
The forever non stick Roasting Pan is a new addition and understandably getting great reviews. Deep sides and plenty of capacity for big roasts, big batch lasagnes, tray bakes, whole fish, brownies for a crowd, bulk slices, sheet cakes. Similarly, people are finding the Baking Sheet super useful.
Remember, with the new Solidteknics range, the seasoning is done for you, so you can get baking straight away! No synthetic, toxic coatings that will eventually scratch and fail, just healthy, real seasoning (using only rice bran oil) for a forever-renewable non stick surface. Suitable for all types of utensils, you'll never need to worry about scratching.
