{"id":10490,"date":"2021-12-20T09:12:34","date_gmt":"2021-12-20T07:12:34","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/bef.ee\/?p=10490"},"modified":"2022-05-24T16:23:15","modified_gmt":"2022-05-24T14:23:15","slug":"a-sustainable-christmas-in-the-kitchen","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bef.ee\/en\/a-sustainable-christmas-in-the-kitchen\/","title":{"rendered":"A sustainable Christmas in the kitchen"},"content":{"rendered":"

As Christmas draws nearer, a lot of us will be cracking out our aprons and getting to work cooking up some festive goodies. Whether you\u2019re baking cookies and mince pies to satisfy a sweet tooth, or making Christmas dinner for the whole family, you should make sure to pay attention to your kitchen utensils. With our help you can make your Christmas not just delicious but also toxic free!<\/p>\n

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A sustainable main course: stay safe around your pots and pans!<\/strong><\/p>\n

We\u2019ve all been there: you\u2019ve slaved away over your meal, but when you go to serve it up you realize it\u2019s stuck to the pan! You may well be eying up some new dishes with an anti-stick coating, hoping they will save Christmas. But they aren\u2019t the saviour they might first appear:<\/p>\n

Many types of food packaging, kitchen utensils, and dishes have anti-stick coatings. Non-stick pots and pans are often coated by polytetrafluorethylene (PTFE, which you likely know as \u201cTeflon\u201d). Unfortunately, product tests found that when heated above 220\u00b0C they release toxic fumes. Inhaling the fumes can cause flu-like symptoms, the so-called polymer or Teflon fever.<\/p>\n

So, what would we recommend to ensure a sustainable Christmas? Well, sometimes the old ways are the best! Instead of buying or using new PTFE-non-stick versions, opt for cast iron, stainless-steel and ceramic-coated pots and pans. You can burn a non-stick layer into a cast iron pan using oil, following an online tutorial and with a little practice they will work just as well! If you can\u2019t exchange your PTFE-pan for now, you should at least make sure that you don\u2019t heat it up empty for more than 3 minutes! This keeps the temperature moderate and thereby reduces the risk of toxic fumes.<\/p>\n

Still unsure which utensils to pick? Use the #Scan4Chem app to check that your new pans don\u2019t contain Substances of Very High Concern (SVHCs)! You can find out more at www.askreach.eu<\/a><\/p>\n

Time for dessert? Don\u2019t let hazardous substances ruin your cookies!<\/strong><\/p>\n

There\u2019s always room for pudding! If you\u2019re baking sweet treats during in the festive period, you will probably at some point use silicone moulds or utensils. When manufactured responsibly, silicone is not dangerous. If silicone is tempered in the manufacturing process, the toxic chemicals can be released before the product comes into contact with food. However, some manufactures skip this step to save money and time, putting your health and the environment at risk.<\/p>\n

So, how can you make sure your Christmas in the kitchen is sustainable? Simple. Either opt for bakeware made of ceramics, clay and glass, or if you prefer silicone, just heat it before its first use (200 \u00b0C, 4 hours) and ventilate your kitchen thoroughly.<\/p>\n

Feeling full? Store your leftovers safely and you can feast again tomorrow!<\/strong><\/p>\n

You\u2019ve eaten your fill of roast dinner, and had a generous helping of pudding, but there\u2019s still food left? Judging how much food to make for Christmas is always an impossible task and leftovers are inevitable! Storing those leftovers correctly will not only let you enjoy your delicious food for longer, but it will also make sure you keep it free of hazardous substances. Follow the tips below for a sustainable Christmas:<\/p>\n

When storing leftovers in containers:<\/p>\n