cross-posted from: https://lemmy.dbzer0.com/post/44409839
It seems I shouldn’t have posted this without context
TL;DW
yes the video is (at least partially) about Teflon, hence the cynical title
no, Teflon (or generally big Fluoropolymers) are not the problem. Ingesting them does nothing to you, because as long, chemically inert polymers they just pass through you from one end to the other
The problem are perfluoroalkyl acids: C8 (PFOA) and later substitutes such as C6/GenX, PFOS, PFHA, PFHxS which are chemicals used to start the Teflon polymerization. They are short-chained carbon-fluorine molecules that coincidentally mimic the structure of fatty acids, thus can accumulate in our bodies without a way for our bodies to break them down.
These chemicals leach into the environment from factories and accumulate in everything, to the point that the whole water cycle has been contaminated (yes that shit comes down everywhere with the rain)
There is conclusive proof that PFOA exposure is linked to a number of organ damage and cancers, particularly testicular cancer and kidney cancer, with likely links to lung and pancreatic cancer not reflected in the study due to survivor bias (they died before the study was concluded)
Something I never knew before a few months ago is that you should heat a stainless pan before adding your fat, heating closes the micro-fissures and keeps the fat floating on the surface of the pan, where it can do its job.
Exactly.
And since you don’t need to worry about releasing any chemicals from heating a dry pan, no need to worry.
The test to see if it’s hot enough is very simple, drop few drops of water onto the pan. If it sizzles and evaporates, it’s not hot enough. If it beads and jumps around, it’s hot enough. The leidenfrost effect.
Also never add too cold ingredients, but take things you’re gonna cook out of the fridge 20min before. So don’t like add onions direct from the freezer, you’ll open the fissures and then the food will stick.
Got my self one recently, it’s fucking great.
From the post:
Would you mind putting your moneys where your mouth is? Buy a Teflon pan, scratch the fuck out ot on purpose and then give us a video of you eating the flakes.
PFAS: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (HBO)