FAQs on Cookware

Shelf Life Advice editor: Silicon is a synthetic rubber made of bonded silicon (a natural element) and oxygen.  It’s nonstick, easy to clean, stain-resistant, and available in a variety of colors.  Sounds like the perfect replacement for Teflon, which many consumers are afraid to use. However, there have been anecdotal reports of dyes or oil oozing out when silicone cookware is overheated and of odors lingering even after several washings.  Therefore, a Scientific American article draws these conclusions:

Alzheimer’s Association: During the 1960s and 1970s, aluminum emerged as a possible suspect in Alzheimer’s. This suspicion led to concern about exposure to aluminum through everyday sources such as pots and pans, beverage cans, antacids and antiperspirants. Since then, studies have failed to confirm any role for aluminum in causing Alzheimer’s.