One of the key changes that Covid-19 brought about was people’s attitude towards health and lifestyle. Everyone nowadays is health conscious and mindful of eating right and leading an active and thriving lifestyle. And a key step towards a healthy lifestyle is fresh home-cooked food.
When it comes to cooking food at home, it is important to use fresh ingredients. Equally important is using safe and healthy cookware. PTFE coated nonstick pans which once used to rule Indian kitchens are slowly getting phased out. And people are resorting to traditional cookware that is healthy and safe. Let us take a look at some such options for a healthy kitchen.
Cast iron
Going back to our roots, many of the urban kitchens have started using cast iron cookware on a daily basis. Be it Tawa for dosa and roti or Kadai for stir-fried dishes, cast iron is gaining immense popularity nowadays. Not only is it durable, but also a healthier alternative. When cooking food in cast iron cookware, it transfers iron to your food, which has sufficient bio-availability. As a result, your overall iron intake increases significantly.
Stainless Steel
If cast iron is high-maintenance for you, then, stainless steel can be considered as a low maintenance alternative that is safe and easier to use.
Out of the various options, tri-ply stainless steel cookware are the best to choose as they have better build quality and durability. These cookware are made of 3 layers- the food comes in contact with food grade 304 stainless steel and the outside layer is magnetic stainless steel that makes it induction friendly. Inside, there is a layer of aluminium that increases heat conductivity. They are thick and conduct heat evenly, thus preventing food from scorching.
Earthen Pots
Earthen pots or clay pots are a healthier alternative as they are non-reactive. They are made of clay and heated in a kiln at high temperatures to harden them. The high temperature helps get rid of any impurities. However, clay pots from unreliable sources may be contaminated with lead and cadmium. Hence, it is important to buy from reputed manufacturers.
In addition to being healthy, food cooked in clay pots are tastier as the cookware heats uniformly from all sides. They also retain heat and moisture to maintain the succulence of fish and meat cooked in them.
Carbon Steel
Carbon steel combines the best of cast iron and stainless steel. They are made of 99% iron and 1% carbon. They are thinner and hence easier to handle. The high heat retention also helps fry food swiftly. Just like cast iron, over a period of time, it develops a layer of seasoning that makes it highly stick-resistant.
Ceramic Cookware
As mentioned, PTFE based nonstick cookware are harmful as they emit dangerous fumes when overheated. Ceramic coated cookware from dependable manufacturers are a healthier alternative as it uses a silicon-based coating that is safe. They offer excellent stick resistance, just like Teflon. This makes it an excellent alternative to frying delicate food like fish and eggs.
Anodized Aluminium
Aluminium is a harmful element that can get accumulated in our tissues, causing long term hazards. That is why cooking in aluminium should be avoided. However, aluminium is an excellent material that conducts heat evenly. So, manufacturers have come up with a healthier alternative by anodizing a layer of aluminium oxide on the surface of aluminium cookware. This ensures aluminium doesn’t leach into the food cooked, all the while preserving the beneficial properties of aluminium. However, you need to take care to handle it carefully and prevent scratches on the surface as that may expose the inner layers of aluminium, which may in turn leach into your food.
