Aluminum utensils: the benefits and harms, the choice and cleaning at home

Dishes have long been one of the most popular categories of things in humans. But it can be made of various materials, from plastic to porcelain. For this reason, it can have various properties. Today we will talk about what properties aluminum cookware has, is it safe to use and how to choose it.

If we talk about aluminum utensils, then it was valued at all times for its properties, but the most popular was during the time of Napoleon Bonaparte in France. During this period of history, the price of such dishes was more than rings of silver or gold. Then the production of this metal was more complicated. But over the years, the use of aluminum in various fields has increased, and such dishes have become widespread in other countries. Massively, this material began to be used at the beginning of the twentieth century.

He founded the Aluminum Company in 1903. Nothing stuck to the dishes that his company was selling, and the dishes were very tasty. American housewives praised Hall's products. When he died in 1914, his fortune was about $ 30 million.

Now it should be said what are the benefits of using aluminum cookware, including for health.

• Aluminum cookware warms up quickly, which significantly saves the time of cooking and heating food. It is important to ensure that food in such dishes does not burn.
• The presence of an oxide type film makes direct contact with food impossible, which also retains its natural aroma and taste.
• In baking dishes made of aluminum, food is baked more evenly, which significantly increases its taste. If we are talking about baking, then it does not stick to forms and does not burn.

You should also say a little about the advantages of the dishes themselves, as kitchen utensils.

• Aluminum is lightweight, which makes the same dishes and increases the usability of it. For example, an aluminum frying pan is 3 times lighter than cast iron. It is convenient to take such items to nature, because they are easy to carry.
• The cost of such utensils is low, even if it is non-stick.
• It has a spectacular and pleasant appearance due to anodizing technology. Thanks to various additives it can look like frosted silver or have different colors.

But many people believe that such dishes are harmful and very dangerous, because it has a devastating effect on the human body. But not everything in this statement is true. However, there is still some harm from such utensils.

• Do not cook acidic foods in aluminum cookware. It’s better not to cook borscht there, although cooking soups is allowed. In the case of making jam, this can be done if the berries are not sprinkled with sugar in advance, and the preparation consists of one step.
• The oxide film on the surface of such dishes can be easily damaged with a fork or knife. This can cause oxidation of the metal and its ingestion into food and the human body.
• Due to the high thermal conductivity, food can burn up, which makes the use of aluminum cookware when frying is not the best solution.
• A number of products, including juices and dairy products, cannot be stored in such utensils, due to the possibility of oxidation of the material. You can also not store berries, because they have juice that contains acids. In addition, pickled mushrooms, cucumbers, salted fish and sauerkraut should not be stored in it.

In addition, it should be said about a number of disadvantages. The fact is that it is better not to wash such dishes in the dishwasher, because they can react with alkaline detergents, as well as lose their external shine. Yes, and this is a very soft metal, which is easily deformed from physical impact. Especially if the utensils are stamped and not cast.

If we talk about the harm, it should be added that recently, scientists from Canada said that aluminum is the cause of Alzheimer's disease, since it accumulates in the brain cells, and also the cause of cancer due to the fact that it belongs to the category of carcinogens.

In addition, scientists argue that aluminum in large quantities is so harmful to the body:

• worsens brain activity;
• reduces the formation of hemoglobin;
• becomes the cause of renal dysfunction;
• destroys nerve cells;
• slows down the body's absorption of vitamins and minerals.

But all this only if you use aluminum for a long time and in large doses. When using dishes, such doses do not and cannot be. In general, with an excess of any metal in the body, various problems can occur, so all this refers to controversial statements.

See the following video for more on the dangers of aluminum cookware.

It should be said that modern aluminum utensils can be made from various types of aluminum. For example, they often try to protect it additionally from various types of exposure. Therefore, it is made of anodized aluminum. This type of metal has a thicker oxide film on its surface. In addition, as mentioned, dyes of various colors can be added to it. The vast majority of such kitchen utensils today are made that way. But there is still a gradation of such metal according to the production method. He can be:

• cast;
• stamped.

If we talk about stamping, then sheet metal is used for it.But casting as a method has a higher cost, because the molten metal has to be poured into molds. Forged products of this type are thicker than those described above. But they have higher strength and greater mass. But their appearance is not as beautiful as stamped.

It is one of the types of fluoropolymers. Its important advantage is its neutrality, which is why it does not enter into any chemical reactions with other substances and perfectly protects the surface of the dishes. But a layer of such material is easily damaged physically.

It should be said that aluminum utensils are quite common in Russia today. But if we talk about high-quality kitchen utensils made of this metal, then products of three manufacturers can be attributed to it:

• Kukmara;
• Vari
• Tefal.

Now about each brand and products a little more. Under the Kukmara brand, products from the Kukmor metalware factory are manufactured. He specializes in creating kitchen utensils with a classic and ceramic non-stick coating, as well as without any coating. Reviews about this dish are only good. Many note that it is well suited for making cereals.

Benefits:

• low cost;
• products do not stick;
• easy to wash;
• good and quality coverage.

If we talk about the Vari brand, then under this brand the Landskrona company from St. Petersburg produces its products. She creates kitchen utensils from various types of non-stick aluminum. In addition, makes and glass covers for them. It is important that the dishes are made according to Italian technology and appropriate quality control is carried out. Vari solutions are durable and massive. By the way, here is a high-quality heat-resistant coating, and such dishes are suitable for glass-ceramic plates.

Pros:

• the coating perfectly resists physical impact;
• suitable for various categories of plates;
• easy to clean in dishwashers.

The disadvantages include the fact that such cookware is not suitable for induction cookers.

Tefal is the first company in the world to start making aluminum cookware and providing it with a non-stick coating. Now it is the most famous world manufacturer of such dishes, and makes it for every taste - from various types of aluminum and with various coatings. Buyers do not always respond positively to products. But this is due more to the fact that the dishes from Tefal are often faked. Therefore, when buying should be as careful as possible.

Pros:

• It looks nice;
• a large assortment;
• resistant to physical factors;
• easy to clean.

The disadvantage is that often seek to fake goods, but this does not apply directly to the dishes.

If you want to choose a quality aluminum cookware, then should be guided by certain parameters.

• Wall thickness. For ordinary cooking, you can use pans with thin walls, but it is better to stew and fry food in dishes with thick walls.
• Volume. This criterion should be taken into account based on the number of family members.
• The presence of non-stick coating. Expensive solutions are best taken for cooking acidic foods. But you can cook everyday food in a simple pan.
• Bottom size. The best will be dishes with a diameter of 200 to 240 millimeters. If an electric stove will be used, it is better to select a bottom that will be the same size as the burner.
• Cap. It must be included when it comes to pots. But the pan may not have it. But it can be bought separately, having pre-selected in size. The lid is made of aluminum, although it may be glass.If you need a glass version, then there should be a hole in it through which steam will escape during cooking.
• Pens. Cheap models have aluminum handles. They are not afraid of high temperatures, but in order to remove the pan from the stove, tack will be needed. If the pens are bakelite, then potholders may not be needed.

And of course, before purchasing it will not be superfluous to visually inspect the dishes for the absence of scratches and dents.

If we talk about the rules for using such utensils, then they should be handled as carefully as possible, because damage to the oxide film can cause metal to enter the food. For this reason, scrapers and iron brushes should not be used for washing.

If you are afraid that the oxide layer is deformed, then you can pour water into a bowl and boil for about 20 minutes. The fact is that the layer does not break down in boiling water, but is restored. If scale appears on the surface of a dish, it can be cleaned with vinegar. Add a few tablespoons to the bowl, pour a little water and boil. After this, the solution must be drained and the dishes well washed in warm water.

Alkaline solutions cannot be stored in aluminum cookware, as they can react with aluminum and cause damage to the cookware.

It is necessary to properly care for the described dishes, because this will make it possible to increase the time of its operation and to prevent the ingress of harmful substances into food. For example, before using aluminum cookware, boil it by adding a little salt.

Also, from time to time you should clean the pan from soot. This can be done by wiping with a cut apple. You can also get rid of blackness by wiping with a rag dampened with vinegar. Then the dishes are washed, wiped dry and sent to the cupboard.

If the dishes have darkened, then it can be cleaned with brown, which will return it to its original form. You can also soak the pan all night in salt water, which will make it easy to clean the dirt in the morning.