Dr. Weil is a well-trusted health advisor that has received many rave reviews for his tips on healthy living and a healthy lifestyle. His website contains an article on the safe use of silicone bakeware. One of his readers asked the questions “is silicone cookware safe?” and he answered.
He explained that silicone bakeware and cookware products are made of a synthetic rubber that contains the bonded silicone you find in sand, rocks, and even oxygen. While he states that he prefers stainless cookware and bakeware, he nor the FDA see any real dangers in the use of silicone products. He mentions the vast array of different silicone products available these days – cake pans, muffin tins, colanders, baking mats, pastry brushes and cake pans – all of which have some advantages and disadvantages. But the disadvantages are minor and can be avoided by taking a few simple precautions. Here are Dr. Weil’s suggestions:
1. When purchasing silicone bakeware products, don’t be stingy. Purchase a high quality product, even if it costs you a little more money. Poor quality silicone products contain fillers, which can lead to many problems.
2. To test to make sure no fillers were used and the product you are buying is of a good quality, twist or pinch a flat area of the product. If a little bit of white shows up against the color of the silicone, there are fillers in the product and you do not want to use it. The heat will not distribute evenly when baking and a foul odor may exist once you pull your product out of the oven.
While Dr. Weil admits that silicone products are new to the baking world, no dangers exist as of right now. Silicone is made using a natural ingredient and will not cause any harm to your personal health or safety.
Here is a link to Dr. Weil’s original article where he answers a reader’s question about the safe use of silicone bakeware.
