I am super excited to share with you a few posts on Persian kitchen gadgets! While it is true Persian food does not really require that many gadgets, there are certainly utensils that can make one’s life much easier…so, if you love gadgets and like having enough time for a manicure, why not embrace them?
Scratched teflon saucepan…eggs loaded with PTFE acid anyone?
If you are a foodie like me, you probably consider stores like Sur La Table and Williams Sonoma some of you favorite places. You may get all excited over a kitchen gadget that is made smartly and often think…”how did I not think of that?!” You have a drawer –or several in fact- in your kitchen full of super cool devices that make your life easier and that you love and adore. Well, welcome to my world! I might like gadgets just as much as jewelry…just don’t tell my husband I told you that!
Look how pretty this pot is! It cleans very well too.
Since I consider my beloved pots to be gadgets, today I am going to talk about the perfect pot for making Persian rice. After all, we all know that Persian rice is the most sought-after dish in the Persian world! In my video for making Persian Chelo I use a non-stick pot made by Calphalon. I love it because the Tadig (heavenly by-product of steaming the rice) does not stick to the bottom of the pot! Now, I am sure you have all heard of the dangers of using non-stick surfaces. So, I decided to do a little research because I was having a hard time departing from my beloved non-stick pots without a good enough reason.
You know these are going to be AMAZING! Watch my video and you will see how to make it!
Many non-stick pots in the market are made with a chemical called Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE). This chemical has a famous trademark name: Teflon. This trademark actually belongs to DuPont and it is known for its non-stick properties. Sounds great, right? Well, not really. It happens that according to the EPA this chemical is considered to be “likely carcinogen.” What happens with PTFE is that when exposed to high temperatures, it expels gases that are extremely dangerous. There are plenty of studies out there and I will not bore you with numbers, but sadly no matter what coatings companies put over the PTFE their pots are made with, the possibility of it expelling the gases is always present. I think I like my Tadig free of Polytetrafluoroethylene acid. I was so sad when I called Calphalon and they told me my beloved pot was made of…you guessed it, PTFE and coated with a protective film that is already scratching away…good bye beloved pot!
All ready to steam my delicious (and healthy) rice…next time I am making it whole grain!
Not long ago I received on the mail a brand new pot. It is made by Imperial and coated with ceramic. It does not contain PTFE or PFOA (another dangerous acid). It was sent to me by www.gift-centre.com (yes, it is fun to be an author and get things sent to you to demo). However, many times I get things that are not necessarily amazing. Well, this pot IS amazing! I wanted to share it with you because this is my new Tadig making beloved pot! It contains no chemicals (yay!) and the Tadig comes out perfect! I have also used it to make popcorn and it is the best pot for making popcorn I have ever used. I highly recommend it and it is very reasonably priced compared to other ceramic-coated pots available at my favorite stores listed above.
Here is my rice steaming…the paper towel keeps the steam inside the pot. Make sure to keep it away from the flames.
Stay tuned for my next post about electric Persian rice makers, Kebab skewers, and so much more!…yep, they are also available at gift-center.com!
Love!
Reyna
Disclaimer: As you know, I do not advertise in my Blog. Hence, everything I share with you is from my honest experience and without any biases. I am not in the payroll of any of the companies I have mentioned above.
