Cooking with stainless steel pots and pans

[Cage Cleaner]

So todays breakfast was a total fail. Has anyone succesfully made hashbrowns with stainless steel pans? Half of the hashbrowns ended up stuck to the bottom and in the end they didnt even cook right, so half a bag of hashbrowns went to the trash. I used oil and I also let it heat up enough before but still no luck. Then the sausage patties burnt. And I didn't even attempt to make eggs because I figured that would be a disaster too. I feel like I wont be able to cook anything with these. It also seems like the oil quickly evaporates but I don't want to use a crap ton of oil to cook my food in.

Thoughts and comments?

That's what happens to me... every time. So, I can commiserate.

[liz]

Use a toaster oven for your sausage and potatoes. Scrambled eggs get big and puffy in the microwave.

[cml]

I use cast iron cookware, and in addition to being birdsafe, its alot nicer to use than teflon. Steaks, veggies, you name it (not pancakes tho). Cast iron requires you to care for it though, but it is well worth it.

[Michael]

Yes, cast iron is the way to go. Eggs, steaks, grilled cheese, pancakes, etc come out as good if not better than you get from restaurant grills. Once properly seasoned these pans aren't too hard to maintain and food comes out great.

Parrot Safe Alternatives to Non-Stick Cookware

[Shelby]

All of our cookware is so old that the non-stick coating has been worn off so I am used to it! We like to put a good drizzle of extra-virgin olive oil in the bottom of the pan - at least a tablespoon or so. I like olive oil because it doesn't seem to "evaporate" as somebody mentioned. You can also use a thick pat of butter, melt it first, and then add your food to the pan. George Foreman grills are nice too. You can cook eggs for your bird in the microwave without adding any grease or oil to keep it from sticking. Just stir them up and add a little water. My mom has a set of cast iron pans and she LOVES them. They do require different care, but it's not hard.

You could also try steaming/boiling. This wouldn't really work for meat or anything you wanted crispy or with a nice sear, but steamed veggies hold their nutrient value better. (Cooking removes some of the nutrients from any food.)

Also - residual heat inside food keeps cooking it for a few minutes after you take it out of the pan. So for things like eggs (which a lot of people, including myself a while ago, have trouble not ruining) take them out just before they look "done" and they will be how you want them when you eat them.

[liz]

Olive oil is the healthiest oil to use. First press is the best. It still counts in fat grams the same as the others but has an extra benefit. It actually lowers cholesteral. (I have studied nutriteun for 40 yers and worked a while as Dietary Assistant in a local hospital.) It does set up when refridgerated.

Of course being Italian there is really no other oil except in baking.

[Cage Cleaner]

All of our cookware is so old that the non-stick coating has been worn off so I am used to it!

For your own health, please throw away those pans. Teflon is a carcinogen, and it is advised to throw away the pan as soon as -any- damage is detected on the coating.

[Shelby]

For your own health, please throw away those pans. Teflon is a carcinogen, and it is advised to throw away the pan as soon as -any- damage is detected on the coating.

Good to know! I'll poke my parents about it.

[ValleybNY]

What if i my bird is in a completely different part of the house? also i think my oven is non-stick, do you think thats gonna be a problem?!? omg i knew the teflon was an issue but i didnt think it was this bad!

[Michael]

Fumes travel quickly. I've heard of cases of overheated teflon in the kitchen and birds dying a few doors down. The non-stick stuff is really risky. First of all there's the accidental overheating. This can be controlled with care but accidents do happen. However, these is also the potential threat of uneven heating of the pan or chipping which causes fumes during normal cooking. It's really not a risk worth taking, especially since the alternatives are not more expensive and healthier for you anyhow.