Aluminum cookware: benefits and harms, choice and cleaning at home

Dishes have long been one of the most demanded categories of things in humans. But it can be made from a variety of materials, ranging from plastic to porcelain. For this reason, it can have different properties. Today we will talk about what properties aluminum cookware has, whether it is safe to use it and how to choose it.

If we talk about aluminum cookware, then it was valued at all times for its properties, but the most popular was during the time of Napoleon Bonaparte in France. During this period of history, the price of such dishes was more than rings made of silver or gold. Then the production of this metal was more complicated. But over the years, the use of aluminum in various fields has increased, and such dishes have become widespread in other countries. Mass use of this material began at the beginning of the twentieth century.

He founded the Aluminum Company in 1903. Nothing stuck to the dishes his company was selling, and the dishes were delicious. American housewives appreciated the products of the Hall company. When he died in 1914, his fortune was about $ 30 million.

Now it should be said what are the benefits of using aluminum cookware, including for health.

• Aluminum cookware heats up quickly, which significantly saves cooking and heating time. It is important to ensure that food does not burn in such dishes.
• The presence of an oxide-type film makes direct contact with food impossible, which also retains its natural aroma and taste.
• Aluminum baking tins bake food more evenly, which significantly improves its taste. When it comes to baked goods, it does not stick to the molds and does not burn.

There is also a little to say about the benefits of the utensils themselves as kitchen utensils.

• Aluminum is lightweight, which makes the cookware look the same and makes it more convenient to use. For example, a frying pan made of aluminum is 3 times lighter than that of cast iron. Such items are convenient to take outdoors, because they are easy to carry.
• The cost of such utensils is low, even if they are non-stick coated.
• It has a spectacular and pleasant appearance due to the anodizing technology. A variety of additives can make it look like matt silver or have a variety of colors.

But many people believe that such dishes are harmful and very dangerous, because they have a destructive effect on the human body. But not everything in this statement is true. However, there is still some harm from such dishes.

• Sour foods must not be cooked in aluminum pans. It is better not to cook borscht there, although it is allowed to cook soups. In the case of making jam, this can be done in the case when the berries are not sprinkled with sugar in advance, and the preparation consists of one stage.
• The oxide film on the surface of such cookware can be easily damaged by a fork or knife. This can lead to oxidation of the metal and its ingestion into food and the human body.
• Due to its high thermal conductivity, food can burn, which makes the use of aluminum pan when frying is not the best solution.
• A number of products, including juices and fermented milk products, cannot be stored in such utensils, due to the possibility of oxidation of the material. Also, you can not store berries, because they have juice that contains acids. In addition, you should not store pickled mushrooms, cucumbers, salted fish and sauerkraut in it.

In addition, it should be said about a number of disadvantages. The point is that it is better not to wash such dishes in the dishwasher, because they can react with alkaline-type detergents, and also lose their external shine. And this is a very soft metal that is easily deformed from physical impact. Especially if the utensils are stamped and not cast.

If we talk about harm, it should be added that recently scientists from Canada stated that aluminum is the cause of Alzheimer's disease, because it accumulates in brain cells, and also the cause of cancer due to the fact that it belongs to the carcinogenic category.

In addition, scientists argue that aluminum in large quantities is harmful to the body:

• impairs brain activity;
• reduces the formation of hemoglobin;
• causes renal dysfunction;
• destroys nerve cells;
• slows down the absorption of vitamins and minerals by the body.

But all this is only if you use aluminum for a long time and in large doses. When using utensils, there are no such doses and cannot be. In general, with an excess of any metal in the body, various problems can appear, so all this refers to controversial statements.

For more information on the dangers of aluminum cookware, see the next video.

It should be said that modern aluminum cookware can be made from various types of aluminum. For example, they often try to protect it additionally from various types of exposure. Therefore, it is made from anodized aluminum. This type of metal has a thicker oxide film on its surface. In addition, as mentioned, dyes of various colors can be added to it. The vast majority of such kitchen utensils are produced in this way today. But there is also a gradation of such metal according to the production method. He might be:

• cast;
• stamped.

If we talk about stamping, then sheet metal is used for it. But casting as a method has a higher cost, because the molten metal has to be poured into molds. Forged products of this type are thicker than those described above. But they have higher strength and greater mass. But their appearance is not as beautiful as stamped ones.

It is a type of fluoropolymer. Its important advantage is its neutrality, which is why it does not enter into any chemical reactions with other substances and perfectly protects the surface of the dishes. But a layer of such material can be easily damaged physically.

It should be said that aluminum cookware is quite common in Russia today. But if we talk specifically about high-quality kitchen utensils made of this metal, then products of three manufacturers can be attributed to it:

• Kukmara;
• Vari;
• Tefal.

Now a little more about each brand and product. Products of the Kukmor metalware plant are manufactured under the Kukmara brand. He specializes in making kitchen utensils with classic and ceramic non-stick coatings, as well as without any coating. Reviews about this dish are only good. Many people say that it is well suited for cooking cereals.

Advantages:

• low cost;
• food does not burn;
• easy to clean;
• good and high quality coverage.

If we talk about the Vari brand, then the company "Landskrona" from St. Petersburg produces its products under this trade mark. It creates kitchen utensils from various types of non-stick aluminum. He also makes glass lids for them. It is important that the dishes are made according to Italian technology and the appropriate quality control is carried out. Vari solutions are durable and robust. By the way, there is a high-quality heat-resistant coating, and such dishes are suitable for glass-ceramic hobs.

Pros:

• the coating perfectly resists physical stress;
• suitable for various categories of slabs;
• easy to clean in dishwashers.

The disadvantages include the fact that this cookware is not suitable for induction hobs.

Tefal is the first company in the world to make aluminum cookware and provide it with a non-stick coating. Now it is the most famous world manufacturer of such dishes, and makes it for every taste - from various types of aluminum and with various coatings. Customers do not always respond positively to products. But this is more due to the fact that Tefal dishes are often counterfeited. Therefore, when buying, you should be as careful as possible.

Pros:

• looks nice on the outside;
• a large assortment;
• resistant to physical factors of influence;
• easy to clean.

The disadvantage is that often seek to counterfeit goods, but this does not directly apply to dishes.

If you want to choose quality aluminum cookware, then should be guided by certain parameters.

• Wall thickness... For normal cooking, you can use pots with thin walls, but it is better to stew and fry food in a bowl with thick walls.
• Volume... This criterion should be taken into account based on the number of family members.
• The presence of a non-stick coating. Expensive solutions are best used for cooking acidic foods. But you can cook everyday food in a simple saucepan.
• Bottom size. Cookware with a diameter of 200 to 240 millimeters is best. If an electric stove is used, it is better to select a bottom that will be the same size as the burner.
• Lid. It must be included when it comes to a saucepan. But the frying pan may not have it.But you can buy it separately, having previously selected it in size. The lid is made of aluminum, although it can be made of glass. If a glass version is needed, then there should be a hole in it through which steam will escape during cooking.
• Pens... Cheap models have aluminum handles. They are not afraid of high temperatures, but potholders will be needed to remove the pan from the stove. If the handles are bakelite, then potholders may not be needed.

And of course, before purchasing it will not be superfluous to visually inspect the dishes for the absence of scratches and dents.

If we talk about the rules for using such dishes, then they should be handled as carefully as possible, because damage to the oxide film can cause metal to enter the food. For this reason, iron scrapers and brushes must not be used for washing.

If you are afraid that the oxide layer has deformed, then you can pour water into the dish and boil for about 20 minutes. The fact is that the layer does not collapse in boiling water, but is restored. If there is scale on the surface of the dishes, it can be cleaned with vinegar. Add a few tablespoons to a bowl, pour in some water and boil. After that, the solution must be drained and the dishes must be washed well in warm water.

Alkaline solutions should not be stored in aluminum dishes, as they can react with aluminum and cause damage to the dishes.

It is necessary to properly care for the described dishes, because this will make it possible to increase the time of its operation and prevent the ingress of harmful substances into food. For example, before using aluminum cookware, boil it, adding a little salt.

Also, from time to time, you should clean the pan from carbon deposits. This can be done by rubbing with a cut apple. You can also get rid of blackness by wiping it with a rag soaked in vinegar. Then the dishes are washed, wiped dry and sent to the cabinet.

If the dishes have darkened, then they can be cleaned with brown, which will allow them to return to their original appearance. You can also soak the pot overnight in salted water, making it easy to clean up dirt in the morning.