Hey Tan Man, i spent the entire day yesterday researching for a toaster oven which won't have a non-stick coating on the interior, and choosing between gravity water filters. I got myself into analysis paralysis as i didn't see any good options =)
- toaster ovens: seems all that are available on the market are using nonstick compounds on the interior of the oven: teflon, PTFEs, PFOAs, PFAS, chromium/zinc/galvanized or aluminized steel, etc. Read multiple mentions that those materials, when heated, can aerosolize from the inside walls and end up in your food.
- gravity water filters: Berkey, Pro One, Alexapure -- all are looking good from the first glance, but upon checking further there are certification/marketing games. out of those 3 i'm leaning towards Pro One + ordering an expensive lab test of the filtered water it produces. if the lab will return poor testing results, RO is my only option then.
could you recommend a save toaster oven and a gravity water filter? or point me into a trusted source of info please?
Second question first--Check out my article on water filters for an analysis of this problem. Id get a RO under sink or whole house unit if you have the space and own a home, otherwise the glass 5 gallon mountain valley delivery is solid (that’s what I currently use)
For the toaster ovens, there should be some good options from breville or cuisinart. The one we have is all stainless on the inside and i bought it last year on Amazon. You can use glass or stainless baking trays and it shouldn’t be a problem. Perhaps they discontinued it but that would surprise me-- check out Williams Sonoma they should have some options.
Air fryers are a different story, but afaik both those brands have higher end models of toaster oven that also include air frying capabilities
i was considering Breville until i saw they are using nonstick coating on the steel walls of the interior. many folks consider this as a risk of various pfas compounds ending up in the food you’re cooking -- they calling it “forever toxin” as it’s off-gassing every time the appliance is heated up. i called Breville twice and got the same standard answer alas “we won’t share what we use in that coating, but it’s safe”.
from my understanding of pfas and alike, they don’t smell, and they cannot be burned off. it’s not a thin layer of silicone. they are kind of a layer of teflon thus “forever toxin”. sliding the trays back and forth can potentially move the particles of that coating into your food.
you were suggesting replacing all nonstick pans/pots with steel/cast iron bc of that matter, i guess. i didn’t expect selecting basic appliances would be so time consuming haha.
Interesting, I just checked my toaster oven and the walls appear to be enameled steel, similar to what’s inside my main oven. The bottom is brushed stainless steel
Brushed stainless steel is probably the best you’re going to get. If you run it real hot for a few hours than anything that could burn off into your food will be gone, and anything that’s survived will probably be pretty inert forever.
I just got my first pair of Rawganique underwear to test out, personally not a fan. How bad is it to have a cotton blend that is 95% organic cotton and 5% elastane like my favorite JCrew ones?
Good call i will add one. Schmidt’s has shockingly decent ingredients and is widely available. I personally don’t use deodorant often, and horrible BO is generally a sign of poor health
can you recommend a sleeping mattress made of safe materials? thank you!
I have one from my green mattress company: https://www.mygreenmattress.com/
Hey Tan Man, i spent the entire day yesterday researching for a toaster oven which won't have a non-stick coating on the interior, and choosing between gravity water filters. I got myself into analysis paralysis as i didn't see any good options =)
- toaster ovens: seems all that are available on the market are using nonstick compounds on the interior of the oven: teflon, PTFEs, PFOAs, PFAS, chromium/zinc/galvanized or aluminized steel, etc. Read multiple mentions that those materials, when heated, can aerosolize from the inside walls and end up in your food.
- gravity water filters: Berkey, Pro One, Alexapure -- all are looking good from the first glance, but upon checking further there are certification/marketing games. out of those 3 i'm leaning towards Pro One + ordering an expensive lab test of the filtered water it produces. if the lab will return poor testing results, RO is my only option then.
could you recommend a save toaster oven and a gravity water filter? or point me into a trusted source of info please?
Classic, so many crappy devices out there.
Second question first--Check out my article on water filters for an analysis of this problem. Id get a RO under sink or whole house unit if you have the space and own a home, otherwise the glass 5 gallon mountain valley delivery is solid (that’s what I currently use)
For the toaster ovens, there should be some good options from breville or cuisinart. The one we have is all stainless on the inside and i bought it last year on Amazon. You can use glass or stainless baking trays and it shouldn’t be a problem. Perhaps they discontinued it but that would surprise me-- check out Williams Sonoma they should have some options.
Air fryers are a different story, but afaik both those brands have higher end models of toaster oven that also include air frying capabilities
Turns out the one I have is from Toshiba: https://amzn.to/46s5zxO
we need a comprehensive list of awesome and safe products, Tan Man! :)
Have one on the top bar of my substack home page!
Thank you for the recommendations!
i was considering Breville until i saw they are using nonstick coating on the steel walls of the interior. many folks consider this as a risk of various pfas compounds ending up in the food you’re cooking -- they calling it “forever toxin” as it’s off-gassing every time the appliance is heated up. i called Breville twice and got the same standard answer alas “we won’t share what we use in that coating, but it’s safe”.
how do you know your oven is safe to use?
I haven’t noticed a non stick coating along the interior walls nor have I noticed a smell
I suppose it’s possible they have a clear one but I’m not familiar with that
You could always just put the fume hood on and turn it on the hottest setting for an hour or two when it’s new, should burn everything right off
from my understanding of pfas and alike, they don’t smell, and they cannot be burned off. it’s not a thin layer of silicone. they are kind of a layer of teflon thus “forever toxin”. sliding the trays back and forth can potentially move the particles of that coating into your food.
you were suggesting replacing all nonstick pans/pots with steel/cast iron bc of that matter, i guess. i didn’t expect selecting basic appliances would be so time consuming haha.
this is the only product i was able to fine which literally say it’s PFOA/PTFE -free. but it is huge in size https://www.instanthome.com/product/instant-appliances/omni-plus/18-litre-toaster-oven
Interesting, I just checked my toaster oven and the walls appear to be enameled steel, similar to what’s inside my main oven. The bottom is brushed stainless steel
Brushed stainless steel is probably the best you’re going to get. If you run it real hot for a few hours than anything that could burn off into your food will be gone, and anything that’s survived will probably be pretty inert forever.
I just got my first pair of Rawganique underwear to test out, personally not a fan. How bad is it to have a cotton blend that is 95% organic cotton and 5% elastane like my favorite JCrew ones?
If you want stretchy or tight it might be the only option other than merino wool.
Personally a huge fan of the loose Rawganique cotton ones, they let everything breathe
What about a good deodorant option?
Good call i will add one. Schmidt’s has shockingly decent ingredients and is widely available. I personally don’t use deodorant often, and horrible BO is generally a sign of poor health