My Experience of GreenPan so far?...
 | By Andrew Bluett-Duncan, Director of Art of Living Cookshops: |
Back in March this year, I got a call from Chris Stevens, the new Managing Director of Typhoon Housewares. Amongst other things, he wanted to show me a range of Cookware called 'GreenPan', which he claimed was far far superior to anything that I might currently be stocking. My sceptical interest was roused. All the more so since I've been following the arguments over the possible toxicity of ordinary non sticks for a couple of years.
 He made 4 distinct claims about his new pans; Firstly the coating is made of Silica (sand) rather than the normal fluoropolymers that PTFE non sticks come from. Secondly this silica non stick would withstand far higher temperatures. Thirdly, the manufacturing process is very Green. It uses 60% less heat than that required for a normal non stick pan. And lastly they use a high percentage of recycled material in both the pans and even in the packaging.
Heat destroys normal non-sticks Most people don't realise that, unlike an uncoated pan, their normal non stick pans are not heat resistant above 280°C. And that once over heated they deteriorate rapidly and permanently. The Green Pan non stick is made of Silica instead of plastic and is heat proof to 450°C or 850°F. Now this allows a much higher margin for error when you are cooking. As the likelihood of burning your non stick coating and destroying it has reduced dramatically. In fact, it's more likely with a GreenPan that you'd melt the pan before melting the non stick! Now that is a complete reversal of the situation before GreenPan came along.
Now, this is the biggest single change in non sticks since they were invented 50 years ago.  The 'GreenPan' company have gone to extraordinary lengths to use recycled materials in the pans themselves and even the boxes they pack them in, with 30%-75% of each pan made of recycled material...even the packaging's recycled. There's good news on the "carbon emissions" front with the new non stick manufacturing process using 60% less power to produce the coating compared to the current PTFE non sticks in use today. And to top it all, Typhoon (GreenPan's distributor in the UK) are planting a tree in India for every pan they sell to further offset the carbon emissions.
Too good to be true? Well maybe? But we've been using one of these at home now for about six months. We've not been gentle with it (we've three teenage children!) but certainly the non stick, which is light grey in colour and very glossy, looks as good now as it did when we first had it. Importantly it cooks well and evenly and continues to be very easy to wash up. Time will tell with a product of this nature, but if you want my feel, then I'd say I'm excited by the possibilities this type of non stick opens up. In summary, these are:
- It's better than ordinary non stick because its takes far higher temperature (key reason for short life of non stick until now)
- It gives off no noxious fumes at very high temperatures that some old style non sticks do when overheated
- It's cheaper to make and buy
- It uses less power in the process so it's a very "Green" product
- It's at least 30% recycled much of it considerably more
- And its buy one get one TREE! Their slogan not mine... corny but catchy
Remarkable Guarantee The GreenPan comes with the usual Art of Living guarantee. If you are not entirely satisfied, used or unused, we will give you a full refund.
Advice? If you'd like to speak to one of us before making the decision to dip your toe in the the GreenPan revolution then ring 01932 865508 and speak to Philip who's been using one for a while now or 01737 242302 and speak to Babette who's been happily cooking for me and our children in one of these for the last 6 months.
Best wishes,
Andrew Bluett-Duncan
Director View the GreenPan range.
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