Harmful metals you must avoid for cooking food

When it comes to cooking we ensure that we use the cleanest of vegetables, cook in a hygienic manner and present the tastiest food to others. Have you ever thought that the cooking pot you are using too plays a role in improving or degrading the quality of your food? There are several metals which not only rob essential nutrients from food but also make it toxic. Here are some metals which you must never use for cooking.

Drinking water and eating food from copper utensils is deemed safe but you should refrain from exposing this metal to high temperatures. This is mainly because of their reactive nature. Copper utensils react with salt and acids on high temperatures. If a copper pot is not lined properly it further makes the food toxic.

Aluminium conducts heat quickly and is quite sturdy which is why it is widely used by people. However, when heated up, aluminium can react with acidic foods like tomatoes and vinegar. This reaction can make the food toxic and might also lead to stomach troubles and nausea. Also, it is a heavy metal that gradually leaches into your food.

Brass utensils have a very heavy base and are usually used to prepare traditional recipes. Several old recipes of chicken, mutton and biryani which take long to cook are still made in brass utensils in many parts of the country. Brass cookware reacts with salt and acidic foods on high temperatures, which is why cooking in brass must be avoided. It can be used for frying or making rice. You should use bell metal or kansa instead.

Iron cookware is hands down the best possible metal for cooking. You can easily do any type of cooking using iron utensils, as they have zero harmful effects. Iron gets heated up uniformly and helps in quickly cooking the food. When heated up it also releases iron which gets absorbed by the food and is beneficial for our body.

You can switch to iron utensils by ditching 1-2 old utensils in your kitchen. But iron may impact the taste of your curries, so go for seasoned cast iron.

Another great option for safe cooking is earthen ware. Clay pots are gaining popularity nowadays because of their special style of cooking. Most people find it difficult to cook in them only because they take time and are difficult to maintain. Otherwise, earthen pots are a healthy and safe cookware option.

Another metal which is very popular nowadays is stainless steel. Sleek appearance and shiny surface makes it look even better. Though stainless steel is not harmful in any sort, the goodness of this metal is driven by its quality. Stainless steel is basically a metal alloy, which is a mix of chromium, nickel, silicon and carbon. Make sure you always check the quality before purchasing and always buy one from a trusted seller or company. As a fake or cheap stainless steel cookware might spell trouble for your health.