They call it stainless steel, but I can do it. Stain it, that is. I have a particular talent for putting things on the stove, moving on to something else, forgetting about them entirely, and coming back to a pot burned beyond belief. I can't tell you how many times I've done it. And I've just done it again.
But aside from the fact that stainless steel isn't entirely stainless, there are still many good reasons for using it. The primary ones become glaringly obvious when you look at the other options available.
Aluminum is a common cookware material. It's used in the home and often by restaurants, but it has a serious issue. Aluminum is a metal that when in the body is associated with memory dysfunction, including Alzheimer's and dementia. Therefore, aluminum is not something you want to be heating your food on, because heat excites molecules and causes them to move - and I'm going to assume you don't want those excited brain damaging molecules moving right into your food.
The same caution can also be heeded with using aluminum foil or, for that matter, eating or drinking any food that has been sitting in an aluminum can for who knows how long. It's something to think about, which might become more poignant, if you ever watch an older person forget who they are.
Teflon is another common cookware; it's often referred to as non-stick. It's nice that your food doesn't stick to the pan, but the coating is made of a whole array of chemicals, many of which are leached into your food (and body) with each meal you cook on it.
Man-made chemicals in your body are almost never beneficial; the ones in Teflon have recently been found to be associated with fertility problems. It's new research, but it's not really surprising. What is surprising is that as a culture, we use so many chemicals in and on our bodies and in our foods, and we think that they won't accumulate in the body or hurt us. In any case, if you plan to have children or just want a generally healthy body, perhaps Teflon is something you want to rethink.
Unfortunately, today's humans have such an over abundance of chemicals in their bodies that they're a primary contributor to ill health. So, for your health, the more unnatural chemicals you can eliminate from your daily routine, the better, and switching your cookware can be a simple step to get started. Besides, isn't it just as easy to use a touch of oil to keep your food from sticking to the pan?
Glass is a great option for heating foods, but unfortunately, it's hard to find. So, by default, stainless steel becomes the best widely available option for heating foods. Even if you can stain it.
