How a simple math error sparked a panic about black plastic kitchen utensils

Re:How a simple math error sparked a panic about black plast... by Baeocystin on Thursday December 12, 2024 @01:56PM (#42402134)

It's just a somewhat poetic way to describe the flavors you get when cooking with really high heat really fast. You can't get it on teflon because you're using temps 100+ degrees above what teflon can handle without decomposing.

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Re:How a simple math error sparked a panic about black plast... by jancsika on Thursday December 12, 2024 @02:00PM (#42402178)

Can you safely get those temps on an electric oven?

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Re:How a simple math error sparked a panic about black plast... by Modified3019 on Thursday December 12, 2024 @03:26PM (#42403016)

Teflon breaks down into toxic fumes at high temperatures, regardless of what the source of the heat is.

In fact if you have birds, it’s best to not have teflon at all, because they are so sensitive to teflon fume poisoning: https://beaknwings.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Teflon-Tox...

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Re:How a simple math error sparked a panic about black plast... by Baeocystin on Thursday December 12, 2024 @02:16PM (#42402323)

To clarify, you can't use any teflon or ceramic nonstick coating at the temps required, regardless of heating method. The coatings will degrade, and possibly poison you.

That being said, you don't need to be using gas. It is possible to get good wok hei on an induction wok, despite what the foodie peanut gallery says. Not on a 120V unit, though. You need to use a commercial multi-kilowatt setup.

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Re:How a simple math error sparked a panic about black plast... by havblue on Thursday December 12, 2024 @03:12PM (#42402906)

What exactly are you saying the problem with ceramic is? Could you be more specific?

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Re:How a simple math error sparked a panic about black plast... by Baeocystin on Thursday December 12, 2024 @04:23PM (#42403493)

The risks of teflon are well known: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Non-stick_surface#Health_conce...

The risks of ceramic coatings less so, but still concerning: https://foodpackagingforum.org/news/nanoparticles-released-b...

Either way, neither is safe for higher heat cooking. At the very least, ceramics will rapidly degrade if used for such.

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Re:How a simple math error sparked a panic about black plast... by jancsika on Thursday December 12, 2024 @03:06PM (#42402856)

So now I have to ask-- what's the health risk of eating singed pieces of egg with each breakfast?

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Re:How a simple math error sparked a panic about black plast... by dole on Thursday December 12, 2024 @03:16PM (#42402944)

Depends relative on the singeing and carbonization and other chemical reactions

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