Author: Sachin Sharma

Crock pots made in USA are quite popular for their ability to simmer food at low heat typically for a whole day and cooking with little babysitting. Also called slow cookers, these are good for cooking meals like stews, soups, broth etc. and come either with electric base or as stovetop models.

Most cooking appliances including slow cookers are made in China and use cheap quality materials that are known to leach heavy metals like lead and cadmium. Even some highly rated slow cooker brands such as 360 Cookware use stainless steel inner pots. These may not contain the Teflon coatings or enamel which have been proven to be so harmful. The stainless steel might be better than Aluminum and cast iron… but did you know stainless steel consists of a combination of various metals like iron, nickel, chromium, molybdenum, carbon etc.?

Every year we see temperatures hitting new peaks in the summer, making it obvious our actions are causing substantial climate changes. But can we really bring a positive change by making small changes in our daily lives? Definitely! Keep reading to learn more.

How Cooking Contributes to the Planet’s Health

The majority of households cook twice daily. This causes environmental changes depending on cookware choice and cooking heat released. By choosing a non toxic cookware set, a healthy cook can not only ensure safety of cooked food but can also avoid the disruption in eco-balance.

If there’s one thing that healthy cooks have discovered through years of research for the healthiest cooking methods, it is the fact that the ancient practices were way ahead of their times. This is why, something as simple as clay cooking pots is giving our ‘modern’ cookware a run for their money and why not? The pots are made from natural clay and are unglazed. They are completely non-toxic unlike conventional pots made from reactive materials such as metals and ceramics.

If you are a healthy cook and are tired of finding out about the health hazards of cooking in modern materials, and are considering clay cookware then you are not alone. Here is valuable information you need before you shop:

Stainless steel cookware has become quite popular in recent years after people became more and more aware of the health hazards of aluminum cookware sets. If you are a home cook who is thinking of buying stainless steel cookware, then this article is for you.

Did you know that stainless steel is made from a combination of various metals like iron, nickel, chromium, molybdenum, carbon, etc.? These metals are dangerous even in small quantities. For instance, Nickel can cause kidney dysfunction, low blood pressure, muscle tremors, oral cancer, skin problems etc. And if you love our planet like we do, what should worry you more is the contribution of stainless steel cookware sets and other metal utensils in disrupting the eco-system. Keep reading to learn more.

Cooking one pot meals can be a lifesaver in the summer heat when you don’t want to spend hours in a scorching hot kitchen. And more so, if you don’t have to babysit your dish. You can enjoy this nutritious meal for your easy weeknight healthy dinner and cook for your whole family without sacrificing flavor or nutrients.

My own experience

Last weekend I was making brown rice pulao in my favorite Dutch oven while doing my laundry. I chopped and added all veggies with rice and water in the pot, put the lid on and set to cook on my gas cooktop. By the time I was done with laundry, my tasty food was ready to serve. Sounds too good to be true? Allow me to explain.

A Dutch oven is a sturdy piece of cookware with thick walls and a heavy bottom so it can supply uniform heat to the food and can retain heat for longer when cooking on low. Home cooks use it for a variety of recipes like one pot meals, soups, pasta, mixed vegetables and so on. The idea is to cook healthy by retaining the flavors and nutrients so the dish comes out extra rich and tastes great. But are all Dutch ovens really healthy? We will find out shortly, but first, an important question:

Do you care about eating non-toxic and healthy?

If you are like most people who don’t care much about the fact that eating toxic food makes you sick, because there is a medicine for all diseases, you can leave it right here!

But if you are amongst the minority that cares for their health, knows the potential of a healthfully cooked meal, likes to learn about ways to cook in a non-toxic pot – made from an all-natural material, and as a bonus – made in the USA, then you must read this article because it is written just for you!

What are Pressure cookers? What are they useful for?

A conventional stove top pressure cooker is basically a sealed pot with a locking lid that cooks food faster by building up high pressure and releasing excess steam through the steam release valve. The electric pressure cooker models give you a few more controls over pressure, temperature and cooking time.

The convenience and the speed that this cooking process offers makes them a must have for every kitchen. Interestingly, it is also believed that the food cooks more thoroughly and the antinutrients (like lectins in beans) are destroyed, making it a healthy choice. But this aspect needs more examination…

While pressure cooking, on the surface, seems like a good and healthy way to cook your food, what could be some of the draw back of these popular kitchen gadget?

Nontoxic is the buzz word among healthy cooks but what does it really mean? When it comes to food, anything that can potentially contaminate it in any way is toxic. And the cooking vessel is most likely to react to food while cooking if it is made from a toxic material.

Is slow cooking healthy?

Slow cooking is considered a healthy and nutritious way of cooking food, but did you know that your cookware can leach toxins even when you are cooking on low heat? This means that your wisely chosen healthy and nutritious foods may not be as beneficial after slow cooking in a toxic pot. For those striving to cook healthy meals, a nontoxic slow cooker is an educated choice.

The commonly available electric slow cooker or instant pot available in the market come with lofty claims of cooking your food healthy and nutritious in a convenient way. Of course, they offer a lot of convenience but there is little to no focus on the ‘non-toxic’ aspect.

You found this beautiful piece of pottery at your local ethnic store, you’re wondering if this is something you can cook in? You were told they can be used for cooking, but you’re concerned how safe they are, could there be lead in it?

I am Sachin, an MEC Product Expert and in this article, I’d like to discuss some of these hot topics as it relates to cooking in pottery.

You work hard in making sure that your food is safe and healthy. Then as you are serving, you take from your cabinet your beautiful set of melamine plates that resemble a fine ceramic. Have you considered how safe they are? Keep reading to dig deeper.

What is Melamine?

Melamine is an inexpensive synthetic compound that when combined with formaldehyde becomes melamine resin. This melamine formaldehyde resin is used in making melamine dishware, hard plastic tableware.