Replacing kitchen utensils (black plastic)

[1yeartogo]

amp.cnn.com/cnn/2024/10/01/health/flame-retardant-black-plastic-wellness

So my spatula, pasta scoop and whisk are black plastic of course. I’m fine to get a metal whisk and scoop but what about the spatula. It doesn’t seem like metal is a thing and also would scrape up my pans. What type of spatula do you use?

[pierogigirl]

The ones we use the most are flexible metal covered in a silicone skin. I got one at Trader Joes. The other was labeled a pancake flipper.

[StrawberryBlondie]

My pans are stainless steel so I use metal ones.

I also have a few other plastic ones of various colors.

[Deleted]

We have some nylon and some silicone.

[Jalapeñomel]

Silicone

[onthemove]

Metal or wooden instruments for metal (stainless/cast iron)/enamel pans, silicone for non-stick and baking. I have 3 half-size plastic instruments from ikea that I can’t give up because I love the smaller size, but don’t use them for things that can get hot.

[heygrey]

I have two spatulas that are silicone over thin mental (OXO brand). The silicone is black, so idk if that is an issue too. Everything else we have is metal or wooden.

[DotAndBuzz]

I have cast iron and stainless pans. I use metal, silicon, and wood utensils.

for my enamel coated Le Crusette, I use wood and silicon utensils.

The only non-stick item I have is my skillet (and it makes me insane, so I'm about to get rid of it and get something else), and I use silicon on that.

[erbear]

Stainless steel would scratch the crap out of my pans. Is silicone any better?

[1yeartogo]

Thank you, we ended up buying wood and stainless steel to replace everything. I liked some of the silicone ones, but worry that in a few years there will be a study talking about how they also are not safe…

[picksthemusic]

Metal, wood, silicone. We are slowly replacing our black plastic stuff too. We have ceramic-coated pots and pans so we use a lot of silicone.

[wanderingback]

We have all stainless steel and wood. My partner does all the cooking and he is very particular in regards to using the wood ones so they don’t scrape up the bottom of our cookware.

[SwimDeep]

Okay but... my reusable water bottle is still plastic. The cups I use for water during the day are plastic. I have several black plastic cooking utensils that are decades old and still in regular rotation... at least I've managed to replace all the burned out nonstick pots/pans with stainless steel?

Honestly, at this point, I'm glad I don't fear death. Of course, I'd rather not die from preventable cancers. But is there anything preventable about it at this point?

There was a DR. Who episode about a plastics virus not too long ago (can't remember the Dr... too many other random details taking up too much space in my head 😮‍💨). We're basically living that 🥴

[pixy0stix]

Oct 7, 2024 18:34:49 GMT -5 SwimDeep said:

Okay but... my reusable water bottle is still plastic. The cups I use for water during the day are plastic. I have several black plastic cooking utensils that are decades old and still in regular rotation... at least I've managed to replace all the burned out nonstick pots/pans with stainless steel?

Honestly, at this point, I'm glad I don't fear death. Of course, I'd rather not die from preventable cancers. But is there anything preventable about it at this point?

There was a DR. Who episode about a plastics virus not too long ago (can't remember the Dr... too many other random details taking up too much space in my head 😮‍💨). We're basically living that 🥴

In this case it's not the plastic. It's the flame retardant chemicals in the plastic. So this is a so close, yet so far from the point post.

[lilac05]

I have a silicone spurtle set that I love. I bought them on impulse & use them all the time. The largest one is my favorite for moving things around in a pan, but it’s not angled for things like flipping pancakes. I have a silicone one, but it’s really thick and not a favorite. My go-to is black plastic.

I’m going to look into this a little more. Is it all black plastics? Just ones that were made in certain years or manufacturer? Is it only stuff we digest, or should we be concerned about things like car interiors? No need for anyone else to do the work for me…just thinking out loud!

[aurora]

Oct 7, 2024 23:07:14 GMT -5 lilac05 said:

...
I’m going to look into this a little more. Is it all black plastics? Just ones that were made in certain years or manufacturer? Is it only stuff we digest, or should we be concerned about things like car interiors? No need for anyone else to do the work for me…just thinking out loud!

I just read the WaPo version

www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/2024/10/05/have-black-plastic-your-home-it-could-expose-you-toxic-chemicals-researchers-say/

and don't see any specifics. It sounds like the flame retardants weren't supposed to get into the recycling system but they did so here we are and we don't really know much about the when, etc. Sushi trays and kitchen utensils had some of the highest levels, and the utensils are a major concern because we heat them.