Aluminum dishes: the benefits and harm, selection and cleaning at home

Cookware has long been one of the most sought-after categories of things in humans. But it can be made of various materials, ranging from plastic to porcelain. For this reason, it may have different properties. Today we will talk about what properties aluminum dishes have, is it safe to use it and how to choose it.

If we talk about aluminum dishes, then it was valued at all times for its properties, but it was the most popular at the time of Napoleon Bonaparte in France. During this period of history, the price of such dishes was greater than rings made of silver or gold. Then the production of this metal was more difficult. But over the years, the use of aluminum in various fields increased, and such dishes became widespread in other countries. Massively this material began to be used in the early twentieth century.

He founded the Aluminum Company in 1903. Nothing stuck to the dishes that his company was selling, and the dishes were very tasty. American housewives rated Hall's products. When he died in 1914, his fortune was about 30 million dollars.

Now it should be said, what is the use of aluminum dishes, including for health.

• Aluminum cookware warms up quickly, which significantly saves the time of cooking and heating food. It is important to ensure that food in such dishes is not burnt.
• The presence of an oxide-type film makes direct contact with food, which also retains its natural flavor and taste properties, impossible.
• Food is baked more uniformly in aluminum baking molds, which significantly improves its taste. When it comes to baking, it does not stick to the forms and does not burn.

You should also say a little about the benefits of the dishes, like kitchen utensils.

• Aluminum is lightweight, which makes the same utensils and improves its usability. For example, an aluminum frying pan is 3 times lighter than cast iron. Such items are convenient to take on nature, because they are easy to carry.
• The cost of such utensils is small, even if it is with non-stick coating.
• It has a spectacular and pleasant appearance due to anodizing technology. Due to various additives it can look like matte silver or have different colors.

But many people believe that such dishes are harmful and very dangerous, because it has a devastating effect on the human body. But not everything in this statement is true. However, there is still some harm from such dishes.

• In an aluminum dish can not cook acidic foods. It is better not to cook borscht there, although it is allowed to cook soups. In the case of cooking jam, this can be done in the case when the berries are not sprinkled with sugar beforehand, and cooking consists of one stage.
• An oxide film on the surface of such dishes can be easily damaged by a fork or knife. This can cause oxidation of the metal and its entry into the food and the human body.
• Due to the high thermal conductivity of food can burn, which makes the use of aluminum cookware when frying is not the best solution.
• A number of products, including juices and dairy products, cannot be stored in such utensils, due to the possibility of oxidation of the material. You also can not store berries, because they have juice that contains acid. In addition, marinated mushrooms, cucumbers, salted fish and sauerkraut should not be stored in it.

In addition, it should be said about a number of shortcomings. The point is that it is better not to wash such dishes in the dishwasher, because they can react with alkaline-type detergents, as well as lose their appearance shine. Yes, and it is a very soft metal, which is easily deformed by physical impact. Especially if the utensils are stamped, not molded.

If we talk about the harm, it should be added that recently scientists from Canada have stated that aluminum is the cause of Alzheimer's disease because it accumulates in brain cells and also causes cancer due to being carcinogenic.

In addition, scientists argue that aluminum in large quantities causes such harm to the body:

• impairs brain activity;
• reduces the formation of hemoglobin;
• causes renal dysfunction;
• destroys nerve cells;
• slows down the absorption of vitamins and minerals by the body.

But all this only if you use aluminum for a long time and in large doses. When using dishes such doses are not and can not be. In general, when there is an excess of any metal in the body, various problems can manifest themselves, so all of this refers to controversial statements.

For more information about the dangers of aluminum cookware, see the following video.

It should be said that modern aluminum dishes can be made from various types of aluminum. For example, it is often tried to protect additionally from various types of exposure. Therefore, it is made of anodized aluminum. This type of metal has a thicker oxide film on its surface. In addition, as mentioned, dyes of various colors can be added to it. The vast majority of such kitchen utensils today are made that way. But there is still a gradation of such a metal according to the method of production. He might be:

• cast;
• stamped.

If we talk about stamping, then sheet metal is used for it. But casting as a method has a higher cost, because the molten metal has to be poured into molds. Forged products of this type are thicker than those described above. But they have higher strength and greater mass. But their appearance is not as beautiful as stamped.

It is a type of fluoropolymer. Its important advantage is its neutrality, for the reason that it does not enter into any chemical reactions with other substances and perfectly protects the surface of the dish. But a layer of such material is easily damaged physically.

It should be said that aluminum dishes today are quite common in Russia. But if we talk about high-quality kitchen utensils made of this metal, then it can be attributed to the products of three manufacturers:

• Kukmara;
• Vari;
• Tefal.

Now about each brand and products a little more. Under the Kukmara brand, products of the Kukmor metal-ware factory are manufactured. He specializes in creating kitchen utensils with classic and ceramic non-stick coating, as well as without any coating. Reviews of this dish only good. Many say that it is well suited for cooking cereals.

Benefits:

• low cost;
• products do not burn;
• easy to wash;
• good and high quality coverage.

If we talk about the Vari brand, then Landskrona from St. Petersburg manufactures its products under this brand. She creates kitchenware from various types of aluminum with a non-stick coating.In addition, makes and glass covers for them. It is important that the dishes are made using Italian technology and appropriate quality control is carried out. Vari solutions are durable and massive. By the way, here is a high-quality heat-resistant coating, and such dishes are suitable for glass-ceramic plates.

Pros:

• the covering perfectly resists to physical impact;
• suitable for different categories of plates;
• easy to clean in dishwashers.

The disadvantages include the fact that Such dishes are not suitable for induction cookers.

Tefal is the first company in the world to start making dishes from aluminum and supply it with a non-stick coating. Now it is the most famous world manufacturer of such dishes, and makes it for every taste - from various types of aluminum and with different coatings. Buyers do not always respond positively about the products. But this is due more to the fact that the dishes from Tefal are often forged. Therefore, when buying should be as careful as possible.

Pros:

• looks good on the outside;
• a large assortment;
• resistant to physical factors;
• easy to clean.

The disadvantage is that often seek to forge a product, but this is not directly related to the dishes.

If you want to choose high-quality aluminum dishes, then should be guided by certain parameters.

• Wall thickness. For ordinary cooking, you can use pots with thin walls, but stew and fry better food in a pot with thick walls.
• Volume. This criterion should be considered based on the number of family members.
• The presence of non-stick coating. Expensive solutions are better to take for cooking sour food. But you can cook everyday meals in a simple saucepan.
• Bottom size The best would be dishes with a diameter of 200 to 240 millimeters. If an electric stove is used, it is better to select the bottom, which will be the same size as the burner.
• Cap. It must be included when it comes to the pan. But in the pan it may not be. But you can buy it separately, pre-selected in size. The lid is made of aluminum, although it may be glass. If you need a glass version, then it should be a hole through which steam will come out during cooking.
• Pens. Cheap models have aluminum handles. They are not afraid of high temperatures, but to remove the pan from the stove, they will need tack. If the handles are bakelite, then tacking may not be necessary.

And of course, before the purchase it will not be superfluous to visually inspect the dishes for the absence of scratches and dents.

If we talk about the rules for the use of such dishes, then it should be handled with the utmost care, because damage to the oxide film can cause metal to get into the products. For this reason, scrapers and iron brushes should not be used for washing.

If you are afraid that the oxide layer is deformed, you can pour water into the dishes and boil for about 20 minutes. The fact is that the layer is not destroyed in boiling water, but is restored. If scale appears on the surface of the dish, it can be cleaned with vinegar. You should add a few tablespoons in a pot, pour a little water and boil. After that, the solution should be drained and wash the dishes well in warm water.

Alkaline solutions cannot be stored in aluminum dishes, since they can react with aluminum and cause spoilage of the dishes.

Proper care for the dishes described is necessary, because it will give an opportunity to increase the time of its operation and to prevent the ingress of harmful substances into food. For example, before using aluminum cookware, boil it by adding a little salt.

Also, from time to time you should clean the pan from carbon. This can be done by wiping the sliced ​​apple. You can also get rid of black by wiping it with a cloth dampened with vinegar. Then the dishes are washed, wiped dry and sent to the cupboard.

If the dishes are darkened, then it can be cleaned with a brown one, which will allow it to return to its original appearance. You can also soak the pan overnight in salt water, which will make it easy to clean the dirt in the morning.