[sts9fan]

Do you guys cook in plastic?
 I personally am on a mission to limit chemical intake (that I can control).  We have got rid of all plastic tupperware etc and replaced them with glass.  Soft plastics tend to leach chemicals more readily.  Have you ever left a water bottle in the car for a day or so and then taken a drink?  Thats plastic and plastisizers you are tasting.  I work in the biotech industry and we test all our containers for extractables and leachables.  Extractables are chemicals that come out with exaggerated conditions like heating (cooking) and leachables are ones that come out under normal storage conditions.  I find it interesting that for drugs this is controlled but for toothpaste and frozen meals it’s not a concern.

[EthanH]

I won't cook with plastic for the precise reasons you mention.  No plastic spatulas, teflon coated pans, cups, coffee thermoses, etc.

[Rob Babcock]

I don't like to cook at conventional cooking temps in plastic, but food-grade plastics at the low temps that I use for sous vide don't concern me much.  I've researched the matter and am satisfied that any risk is minimal.

[S Clark]

I avoid using them in microwaves when possible.  This was an issue that I was unaware of until listening to some of you guys here on AC  .  Thanks for the heads up. 

[geezer]

I never cook in plastic, and I won't even warm in it. There's a long list of products that were promised to be safe for years only to find later that in fact they were dangerous.

[sts9fan]

Rob
what type of plastic is food grade. Also when I do an extractable study we do 37C.  That is less then 130F

[Rob Babcock]

Definitely if it concerns you, don't eat out of it.   Nevermind that everything you eat and much of what you drink was stored it in long before you ever saw it.  I'm not a materials scientist but there are several types of plastic considered "food grade."  FCI has tested many bags and not found any issues with chemical leaching out at temps typically used for SV.  I'd be interested to see evidence to the contrary if it exists, though.

Certainly I agree that many, many chemicals were once touted as safe that turned out not to be.  Undoubtedly there are chemicals we think are unsafe that are, and many more that we currently recognize as safe that probably aren't.  Given the myriad chemicals and synthetic substances out there God only knows what we're setting ourselves up for.  But compared to the known risks like burning petrochemicals (probably 1000x the exposure you'd get from warming food in 3 mil bags), BPA in cans, MSG, etc etc I can't get too worked up over this.   

[Ericus Rex]

Long-term freezer storage in plastic is just as bad as cooking in plastic, I've heard.

[sts9fan]

BPA in cans, MSG, etc etc I can't get too worked up over this.   

That's your choice.  I totally understand that the supply chain is also taited thats why I do the best on my end.  I was not asking anyone to worry I was asking IF any one thinks about this.  Personally I try to do everything in my power to limit chemical intake.  Whether that is from plastics or industrial solvents.  If/when I have a kid do you think I am going to just not worry about it?  Do you think I will try to limit the chemicals in my families body?  Do I need to wait for proof that injesting chemicals is worse then not?  I don't need that proof.

Anywho I admit to have been inspired by your SV thread.  I am a dyed in the wool foodie and have eaten plenty of SV food but could never own one.  I did not bring this up in that thread because I did not want to crap on it.

I am more interested in steps people take to limit chemical intake of their loved ones. 

[geezer]

Definitely if it concerns you, don't eat out of it.   Nevermind that everything you eat and much of what you drink was stored it in long before you ever saw it. 

Certainly I agree that many, many chemicals were once touted as safe that turned out not to be.  Undoubtedly there are chemicals we think are unsafe that are, and many more that we currently recognize as safe that probably aren't.  Given the myriad chemicals and synthetic substances out there God only knows what we're setting ourselves up for.

Right! And that's one of the reasons why in our house we cook everything from scratch, using almost no packaged foods. This is easier for us since we're vegetarians (except for fish). When we eat out, it's almost always go to our favorite restaurant where they also do everything from scratch. We like that their kitchen is open to the dining room, and we can watch them making our meals. It's more expensive, but the quality is excellent. We've become friends with the staff, and they readily accommodate our requests for variations from the menu to cut down on salt, sugar and the wrong kinds of fats.

Here's a scary thing: In our local supermarket recently I idly picked up a package of donuts to see what was in it. The ingredients list was nine lines of small print and almost all of it was non-food, unpronounceable junk!

[Syrah]

The product that most offended me was baby bottles made out of No. 7 plastic (i.e. usually hard clear plastic).  People often warmed them in the microwave and then gave them to the most vulnerable.  No. 7 has BPA which apparently mimics a female hormone.  Like trans fats, governments should just ban it.

[doorman]

It's a no-no in our household to cook in plastic, period.
Why add to the potage of questionable substances or products deemed "safe", or "within accepted limits" ?
Obviously my own opinion only.
Do as one see's fit--
Don

[Mikeinsacramento]

Considering most of my Family is living well into their nineties while consuming plastic, lead, and teflon, I'm not worried about it.

[geezer]

Considering most of my Family is living well into their nineties while consuming plastic, lead, and teflon, I'm not worried about it.

On the other hand, while they were growing up (the most critical period of life) 99% of the synthetic chemicals didn't exist.