Bacteria in cracks: how to know when dishes need to be changed

Any material from which the dishes are made has its own service life. Usually, damage is formed on the dishes, with which its further operation is a big question. When should you change dishes to keep food safe in your home kitchen? 

Ceramic

Ceramic cookware is safe. This is an ecological material, but rather fragile: chips and cracks easily appear on it. Why shouldn’t you use damaged ceramic dishes?

 

For painting ceramics, substances containing salts of harmful metals – cadmium, cobalt and boron are used. If the glaze is intact, they are safe, but when cracks and chips appear, toxic substances begin to penetrate the food.

Also, bacteria accumulate in the cracks, which provoke diseases of the gastrointestinal tract when they enter the body.

Uncoated stoneware is safe, but its porous structure quickly absorbs flavors and odors. Eating dessert from a plate smelling of fish is not exactly pleasant. Broken dishes are also believed to bring trouble into the house.

Non-stick

Teflon coating is a subject of controversy to this day. Some find even the smallest scratch on the bottom of a frying pan catastrophic, others calmly use such dishes further.

In fact, only the non-stick properties suffer from damage to the bottom of the pan. That is, the food will still burn, which is not very convenient. Scientists have proven that Teflon is chemically inert, and that negligible amount that enters the human body does not react with chemical elements in the body and is excreted through the intestines. If the dishes are not severely damaged, you can continue using them.

Enameled

Enameled dishes are convenient: they do not absorb or convey tastes and odors, therefore, it is most often in enameled dishes that ingredients are pickled and salted.

However, any chipping of the enamel reveals the metal, which corrodes from constant contact with water. Particles of metal enter the body and cause poisoning, and also scratch the esophagus. It is prohibited to use damaged enameled household items.

Aluminum

Previously, aluminum cookware was very popular due to its affordability. But modern scientists have come to the conclusion that aluminum releases ions when heated. They, getting into food, penetrate the human body. Although little metal penetrates, it can accumulate and be harmful.

It is preferable to use aluminum cookware for cold processes, but it is still better to replace it with something more modern and not deformable over time.

Cast iron

Cast iron cookware is environmentally friendly and durable. It has a uniform non-stick coating. But cast iron does not like moisture, so after washing such dishes, it must be thoroughly wiped dry. If rust appears on the dishes, it is no longer desirable to use it. It is necessary to remove traces of corrosion and only then continue to cook food on such dishes.

Leave a Reply