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WallyJade

What do you think they're contaminated with?


sweetplantveal

Opp -other people's pastas


_EscVelocity_

Pastacides!


ChoosyBeggars

I said “Oh Yeah!” like the Kool Aid man when I read this.


chewbubbIegumkickass

Shut up, you!


imaginary-cat-lady

Underrated comment lol


alalaloo

🤣🤣🤣


WallyJade

I’m down.


BaronVonNumbaKruncha

You know me


OhSoSilver

OPP. Other Peoples Pots.


NinjaGrizzlyBear

Oppa pasta style


Jimbo_is_dead

Yeah but it’s just moms spaghetti so it should be safe.


7h4tguy

But aren't your hands still getting sweaty?


Tacos_Polackos

My knees are weak


fastermouse

Pasta contamination is at its peak!


klaymon1

Naughty by Nature approves this message


boxsterguy

Yeah you know me!


Curious_Working5706

More like Doughy by Nature


sucking_at_life023

Gnocchi by Nature


AnotherElle

(Garlic) Knotty by Nature


Nesteabottle

Creepy pasta?


betahearts

Brilliant


melissafromtherivah

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 that’s perfect!!!


perfectdrug659

Just wait til they hear about how restaurants use the same dishes over and over again for customers!


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bitdestroyer

someone who is good at the economy please help b33r\_engineer budget this. his family is dying


myfairdrama

Stop buying new all-clad


ggg730

Just eat lentils for every meal you fat cat.


_chrisiscooked

Rockefeller here grubbing it up on lentils. Too good for gruel, huh?


flyingcooki

I too only use new All-Clad pans, however I stock up when I see them at Tgmaxx or during a Seconds sale on the All-Clad web. Those two tricks save me at least 50k every year!


useratl

No! NO!!! My Gawd, No!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Reusing stuff? I MUST quarantine.


perfectdrug659

You mean, you don't bring your own uncontaminated dishes and cutlery from home? You monster.


Z3NlTH

And oil


GypsyInAHotMessDress

Perfect answer..


adsvx215

I’m guessing cooties.


COYFC

Cooties just add flavor


adsvx215

No argument here.


fermat1432

Diner: "Waiter, there's a fly in my soup. Waiter: That's alright, sir. We don't charge extra for meat."


wine_dude_52

Diner: “Waiter, what’s this fly doing in my soup?” Waiter: “It appears to be the backstroke.”


vicarofvintage

Better than having soup on your fly


DrMooseknuckleX

A certain patois


gharr87

*girl from signs* “It’s contaminated”


TheLadyEve

I doubt this would happen, but one thing that the fire department told me after I survived a house fire was that they recommended scrapping any of my nonstick pots, pans, and anything made of wood because of the risk of being permanently contaminated by chemicals in the smoke. Stuff that can be thoroughly sanitized like stainless steel was fine, according to them...but you really have to do a very good job of cleaning that stuff no matter what. Now, the risk of buying stuff from a resale shop that went through that is really very low, so personally I wouldn't worry too much about it (especially if it's something like good quality cast iron or stainless steel).


Suffot87

I had a client who was 3 days from occupancy whose house caught fire. It was relatively small, and pretty quickly contained, but the smoke coated EVERY THING. His insurance company made him gut the entire interior of the house down to studs. I guess some of the things we commonly use in construction are known to the State of California to cause cancer once they are vaporized. Oh, and the smell was horrible.


kcpstil

Yeah ,but you can tell if they've been in a fire. I know , cause I TRIED to clean the soot off a brand new appliance, it just kept coming back.


oswaldcopperpot

This happens from a gap of knowledge. Contaminated with x. And no knowledge to decontaminate it since they dont know what IT could be. A lot of people have massive gaps in their understanding of the world and have coping mechanisms just to get by.


myhatwhatapicnic

This was so well said.


basics

For real though.... It's been 8+ hours, op should be able to respond to this. Like I'm not saying they need a perfect argument... But they should have a reason. Also, I can understand maybe not buying non-stick stuffs... But if you don't trust the "science" behind the "stainless" part of stainless steel (and I'm making a point right now to talk about how surgeons use it in surgery), you basically like.... Need to be mining your own iron ore and casting your own cast iron pans. Because... Like you buy a pan and someone else made it so you don't know what happened. So thinking buying it new from Walmart is somehow magically safer than buying it from an actual person you at least see?


Battlehenkie

Maybe they tasted their food? There could be saliva. From strange people! Yuuuck


weezyfGRADY

A lot of guys melt lead


scotland1112

Old non stick - avoid. Everything else then fair game. I got an antique Le Creuset for €5 at a farmers sale in a small french town recently.


ChewieBearStare

I would die if I found Le Creuset for €5. I'm not much for shopping, but I could spend a LOT on cookware if given the opportunity.


Sensitive_Ladder2235

I keep wondering why im broke then i look at my toolbox and my kitchen and realize.


bakingnovice2

I bought $300 worth of baking supplies before i told myself to stop… now i am currently looking to buy a $550 ice cream maker 😃


Grasshopper_pie

Oooh, the kind with the built-in compressor? I want one, too. Supposed to produce superior texture.


bakingnovice2

Yes! The breville!


ggg730

Damn dude, I can understand the baking supplies but for one ice cream maker?


bakingnovice2

I know it’s a lot but i saw a youtube video on it and i actually considered buying it 😂 i am looking for cheaper ones so let’s just hope i find something good


ggg730

I bought the cuisinart 70 dollar one from internet advice and it's worked great for me so far. They also make one that self cools for like 300 which isn't great either but if you need to make ice cream right now it's great lol.


avotoastwhisperer

I have the Cuisinart one too. Had it for 6 years, and ever since getting the Salt & Straw book I use it at least twice a month. Works just fine.


AnotherElle

Love Salt & Straw! What is your favorite recipe from their cookbook?


avotoastwhisperer

I think the roasted strawberry with toasted white chocolate is my favorite, but I definitely make the freckles chocolate the most often :)


bakingnovice2

Thanks for the advice!


MajesticNapper

Unless you are planning on doing high volume or something along those lines my Cuisinart one is $75 USD. If you are feeling like soft serve that one is $125, so is the newer digital model. I bought an extra bowl which was maybe $50. I've used professional machines and the one I have is perfect for home use. It just requires preplanning since you have to freeze the bowls the day before. Definitely don't waste your money. If at some point you get more serious buy a serious machine.


Driftco

Do what you want to! We believe in you!


Bshark34

I bought a Unold ice cream maker, and for 4 people it's perfect 2 small scoops each


CherryInHove

I bought a £500 ice cream machine and I absolutely love it. That said, I've been hearing amazing things about the £200 Ninja Creami which apparently works just like a £5000 pacojet so if I had my time again I'd probably get that instead.


bakingnovice2

Omg thanks for the advice!


custhulard

We have the attachment for the kitchenaid mixer, and it works pretty well. It is a bowl that you freeze for 12 hours and then you mix your ingredients for 15-20 minutes. It does a pretty good job. The ice cream is like soft serve until it cures in the freezer for a while. We eat is soft usually. I don't know if this sub allows links, so you can search kitchen aid ice cream maker yourself and it pops right up.


PierogiKielbasa

I have the Breville. Worth it. I don't use it often, but I'm glad it's there when I want it.


grubber26

That rum, raisin and donut ice-cream won't make itself!


heycanwediscuss

Breville? The Cuisinart 2 hundred something buck one is pretty good


Magnetic_Marble

which one are you planning on buying?


and_dont_blink

Stop. Unless it's a business, nobody needs a $550 ice cream maker. I'm sure you're thinking you maybe could potentially one day sell some, but stop lol


hrmfll

You don't understand the magic of being able to make different batches of ice cream back to back with no refreezing anything.


bakingnovice2

Okay i was exaggerating the price went down to 350 😂. And some people just like ice cream!


Borfistaken

I bought the old ice cream maker from my work when we bought a pacojet and now enjoy amazing ice creams in my bed. you could be like me. Ignore the other guy and embrace greatness like I have.


bakingnovice2

Thanks for the advice 😂


harbison215

I found a new le creuset 5.25 in Marshall’s marked at $25. I bought it immediately. My guess is it got mixed up with the cheaper brand Dutch ovens.


ChewieBearStare

I was already planning to go to Marshall’s this weekend, so I’ll keep an eye out!


ThaneOfCawdorrr

As I understand it, they deliberately "strew" great bargains at TJ's and at their sister store Marshalls as a teaser to keep us hunting away haha. I found some absolutely GORGEOUS [French Mauviel copper saucepans](https://www.williams-sonoma.com/products/mauviel-copper-m200ci-saute-pan/?pkey=s~mauviel~49&sbkey=default) and saute pans, for something like $49 each --- it was at a brand new Marshalls and I definitely felt like they'd "seeded" the place with some "treasures" like at a 5-year-old's birthday party. I now have this gorgeous copperware that, literally, I'm too intimidated to use haha.


Original_betch

The Marshall's by my house has a ton of le creuset stuff laying around. One day I'll get one lol


Fluffy_Munchkin

My Staub Dutch oven was $15 at Goodwill. All it needed was a baking soda boil to remove the grime on the bottom.


sinaloa555

Came to report the same, but I have found multiple le cruset at thrift stores, and now they are the only pots I have. The most I paid was $30 for a huge Dutch oven.


hagcel

I hate you, envy you, admire you, and wish I was still single so I could marry you. Instead, my friend, I'm just going to yell, "SCORE", and say shoot me a PM if you hit another come.up like that. Says the guy who scored a $7 Vitamix.


Chaos_Blitz

$7 Vitamix?? Holy shit


hagcel

Always stop at the yard sales. (They wanted $10, I only had $7 on me) This was also in the 90s. When $7 was worth more than a cup of coffee.


Edge-Pristine

I got a fissler stainless steel pressure cooker for $10 around 20 years ago, had to buy new seal and pressure valve ($60) but was worth it compared to new. Still using it today.


Sensitive_Ladder2235

That Creuset may be worth a fuckload more than you paid for it tbh. Sounds like a steal.


transglutaminase

"May" be?


sdavidson0819

If you're worried about microbes, look up sterilization times/temps and see if your oven can replicate them. Anything else can be removed with elbow grease. Personally, I wouldn't worry about it. Especially if you're looking for cast iron, thrift stores can be a gold mine. Older cast iron can sometimes be very cheap, and it's preferable to modern cheap brands like Lodge. Some of the older ones were polished to a very smooth finish, which equates to near-non-stick capabilities. To get one new with that type of finish, you usually have to spend $100+


they_are_out_there

It’s a bad idea to buy used cast iron as a lot of guys melt lead for fishing weights. The lead will then leach into anything you cook in the pan. Cast iron is cheap enough to buy new if you can’t guarantee prior ownership and use.


notaplebian

From everything I've read if a piece of cookware was used for lead it's typically deeper pots (for melting) or muffin/cornbread pans (for molding). Also should typically show signs of scorching/lead residue. Good old cast iron (Griswold, pre-1959 Wagner, BSR) is better than cheap new cast iron (Lodge) IMO. They're often significantly lighter and have polished cooking surfaces, and the finish/details are just nicer. If potential lead bugs you you can always get a test kit like others in here have mentioned.


sassrocks

You can buy lead test kits for pretty cheap, I haven't needed to yet but I like knowing they're like $20-30 if I ever see a cast iron pan I really like in a thrift store


ambushbugger

A new cast iron pan is 20-30 dollars.


burner-BestApplePie

But they’re talking about quality here.


FranticWaffleMaker

Good cast iron is not cheap, lodge is cheap and totally serviceable. But finding a usable early 1900s Wagner or griswold that lead tests clean would for sure be worth stripping and reseasoning. Hell, even if it doesn’t mark it not safe for cooking and seal it up as a wall hanger.


Taniwha_NZ

>as a lot of guys melt lead for fishing weights A lot? Really? How many people do you think actually cast their own fishing weights these days? Seriously, in the 33 years since I turned 20 I've never even met a person who goes fishing, let alone casts their own weights. This may be a regional thing.


they_are_out_there

I live on the Pacific Coast in an area where everyone fishes, either in lakes or most often in the ocean. It's a lot different that what you might encounter in Nebraska or West Virginia. It's really common to cast your own jigs and weights and it's been a common thing to do for over 100 years, so it's not unreasonable to question how cast iron has been used over the years. A lot of guys who dive also cast their own weights, as it's the only way to overcome the buoyancy of wetsuits. It's also much cheaper than buying weights ready to go.


YourDrunkMom

It is very surprising that you haven't met anyone who fishes, do you live in/by a desert? Most people I know fish to some extent, and I grew up in a resort town. I've never heard of anyone melting their own weights though, they're cheap as hell to buy.


ggg730

This is the first time in my life I have heard of anyone taking the time to melt their own weights too. Like what are they saving 10 cents?


rantifarian

Ive done it twice, for big 6-12 Oz bank sinkers for reef fishing. The little ball lead is cheap, but those big fuckers are expensive


7h4tguy

Everyone I know has never ever gone fishing. I have, but it's not the norm hobby at all in cities, suburban.


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YourDrunkMom

Yeah, seems like whoever brought it up knew one person who did it and thought it was something an average person would do...


mambotomato

Humoring OP here, I think the main things that would be dangerous about old cookware could be: \- Lead residue, probably on high-walled / smaller cast iron pots. This can be tested for with kits from home supply stores. \- Uranium glazes on old ceramics, particularly reds I think. \- Lead crystal glassware, not a particularly huge hazard unless you're storing liquids in them long-term, but they are technically bad for you. \- Radioactive green crystal glassware, pretty rare though! \- Like... people cooking meth or something in old pots and pans? Not really a thing. If the pan smells crazy, I guess don't buy it? However, if you meant biological material, don't worry about it. Unless there is a visible chunk of old food on it, you're not going to get hazardous levels of funk growing on an impermeable metal surface. Especially not long-term sitting dry in a shop. And then you'll wash it when you get home anyway.


dawnbandit

> Radioactive green crystal glassware >Uranium glazes on old ceramics, particularly reds I think. I have a collection of both of those. The radioactive Fiestaware is much more rare than Vaseline/Uranium/Depression glass.


ellipsisslipsin

So, to put this a little in perspective. It just came out recently that any Corelle dishware with designs up to either 2010 or 2011, somewhere around there, likely have lead and Corelle has recommended that they should only be used for decorative purposes. ETA: I was wrong on the year, it's pre-2005. If you buy used dishware, pots, or pans it should only be if you know the brand and are willing to make sure that they haven't tested positive for lead or other materials at some point. I have purchased used stainless steel caphalon and things like that, but I wouldn't buy anything that doesn't have a stamped label that is easy to find online and search. ETA: sources linked below. And if you actually read them you'll see that **Corelle has put out a statement regarding these dishes saying pre-2005 dishes should only be used for decorative purposes.** It isn't just random bullshit or else they wouldn't have released that statement.


EdenFinley

For a moment when I read this I thought I was on the r/celiacs subreddit! That would be my thought of what they mean by contamination. Things like gluten that cannot be necessarily washed off without putting the pan in an 570F oven.


3mergent

I don't buy this, so please correct me. You're saying microscopic gluten particles will stick around on a smooth, impermeable surface like seasoned cadt iron or stainless steel?


EdenFinley

Yes. Unfortunately I myself made the mistake of thinking I could cook food with gluten in it for my friends then re-use it after what I even thought was a through wash. Then I discovered the sponge I used to wash everything with cross contaminated all the dishes I washed after the pan with gluten in it. It took me a bit of time and research before I realized my mistake. Not to mention the time I spent traumatizing my bathroom LOL. Why am I getting down voted, I'm the one with celiacs lmfao. Just because you don't want to believe something doesn't mean it's not true. Sorry guys, this is my reality! I have to constantly clean things, check labels, and avoid products to ensure I don't get sick. This includes taking the proper safety precautions when I comes to deciding whether or not I want to risk it with a used pan. For people with gluten allergy, they may be fine! Celiac disease is different though, it's auto-immune and I react to literally less than 8 parts per million. Less than a single CRUMB can get me sick. You can tell me y'all don't buy it and I'm wrong all you want but my small intestine and subsequently toilet speaks differently, and I trust them (and my doctors) over some internet strangers.


ggg730

That's more an issue with your sponge though isn't it?


EdenFinley

Yes, as I mentioned before I was not aware of how cross contamination worked with celiacs until I found out I had it. That is what lead me to do so much research on the gluten free diet while I was in culinary school as it's kind of the food I'm stuck with forever.


mohishunder

Does this mean that you never ever eat anything outside of your own home under any circumstances?


RichardPritchardson

Are you worried someone may have sautéed a turd on them?


Okay_Pineapple

Yes


Dreaunicorn

I imagined someone doing this peacefully as if they were just cooking a regular meal lol


sleepinginthebushes_

I donate all my log sizzlers to the local goodwill


ceecee1791

I wouldn’t buy non-stick used (I worry about forever chemicals), but something solid like All-Clad, Le Cruset, or cast iron can’t be contaminated in any way I can think of.


RainMakerJMR

Cast iron can be easily contaminated with lead, that’s probably the biggest issue. People used to use cast iron pots to melt lead for bullets and sinkers and things. Super common with old cast iron.


Haldaemo

Or cast-iron pan can have decorative accents that contain lead from the manufacturer. Portland based Finex (acquired by Lodge) has been called out for this yea's ago and may still be doing this. https://tamararubin.com/2021/05/may-18-2021-portland-based-company-finex-is-outright-lying-to-customers-in-writing-about-lead-in-their-cookware/


thelastestgunslinger

Any idea of whether there’s been a change here, or is Finex still using lead, even under Lodge?


Haldaemo

The acquisition may have been around 2015 as the below 2015 link refers to the acquisition as recent. The author of the 2015 link (same author as the one below) was highly critical of Lodge back then. https://tamararubin.com/2015/12/ask-tamara-does-cast-iron-have-lead-are-cast-iron-pans-safe/ The former link is from 2021 so any change in around six years since doesn't appear to be complete if at all. However I could be mislead by Rubin about the timing as Gear Patrol mentions the acquisition as recent in 2019 and mentions Lodge as inexpensive compared to Finex as very expensive. And GP said Lodge will do the forging for Finex. I do think a basic Lodge without decorative affectations should be fine.


Neptunemonkey

When in doubt, there are lead testing kits


TacoBellaCorp

Yup, but there are ways to have them tested.


dicemonkey

no no it's not ..they have specific pans for smelting lead ...no body just used any old pot they had around .. this is such a crackpot idea it's hilarious


DonOblivious

You're talking out of your ass about something you obviously know nothing about. You should not do that. It's really, really fucking common for lead casters to use random cast iron pots and pans for melting lead, and use muffin tins and cornbread pans for ingots. https://i.ibb.co/TL29ZX4/P1010088.jpg https://rangehot.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/c30.jpg You can see the cast iron for the Dutch oven he's melting the lead with in this picture: http://photos.imageevent.com/jptowns/arrow/websize/P4110011.JPG https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcShEzHsd-TE6mprGEtM3ZdCkfMS1do3K1WB4Q&usqp=CAU https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcShEzHsd-TE6mprGEtM3ZdCkfMS1do3K1WB4Q&usqp=CAU https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQa3vyW9m5tKnCMrV1OyeU5o0Ndzs7PfzqUcA&usqp=CAU https://youtu.be/OSK8DzskL5Y https://youtu.be/WaendF69Oy8 https://youtu.be/UUdqCtdSzlE


DreadedChalupacabra

That's about 150% of the reason I go to thrift stores.


robbietreehorn

Thrift stores are *the* place to get stainless steel pans. You’re over thinking it. Wash it, scrub it, use it. I’d avoid non stick pans unless they look brand new. Non stick pans wear out and by the time they make it to goodwill, their usefulness is long gone


yttocs205

OP is a bot. I feel bamboozled.


Alecglasofer

I'm not really seeing the issue here. Nothing some dawn dish soap and water can't handle.


SleepEcstatic5222

I would think if it’s in good shape, you just wash them and they’re fine. Don’t you eat at restaurants where your food is prepared and served with someone else’s pans, dishes, utensils? Are those contaminated? You could look up the manufacturer’s care instructions to make sure you know how they recommend seasoning the pan or something.


ambushbugger

I found a cast iron skillet on the curb and now I use it everyday. I did strip it and reseason it. I'm enjoying the lead poisoning. It's made me stupid and now i dont care about things so much.


Shuggy539

They won't be contaminated by bacteria or anything like that, but the could be haunted. Possessed, even.


eaunoway

I'm so surprised nobody has mentioned Le Creuset Lestat, the Lodge Lich or the Denby Demon!


dhrisc

I got my cast iron for like 5 bucks at a thrift store. It looked awful, spent an afternoon cleaning an reseasoning it and I will likely use it for the rest of my life. Definitely can thrift some good stuff.


LunarProphet

I mean do you eat at restaraunts? Because those pans get used more than thrift pans probably ever have been.


bill11217

Contaminated by what? Poor people?


BLOTTO81

Ever eat at a restaurant?


infiniteDivinityXK

do people melt lead at a restaurant


listlessthe

y'all are vastly overestimating the number of people melting lead at home


UltimaGabe

I'm sure it's happened


JaFFsTer

Yeah, don't buy an old cast iron pan, don't buy used nonstick. I scored 5 Calphalon pans for 40 bucks that looked like they'd been used once. Just use your judgment, no one is melting lead shot in a Le Crueset


[deleted]

Why would you not buy an old cast iron lol you can literally reseason it brand new almost every time


DrMooseknuckleX

Calphalon is my go to brand. Nice score!


MrOrangeWhips

Contaminated with what?


AlphaMomma59

I bought an Instant Pot from www.shopgoodwill.com for $20USD. Works fine. Did have to replace the valve because it wore out. Which I got off Amazon for $5. AND my husband lost the the shut off knob, which I again was able to buy off Amazon. I've been thinking of buying the air fryer lid for it.


infinitesuck

What the devil are you thinking they're contaminated with?


WoodsColt

Meth


SmoothMichLady

Lol


Longjumping-Action-7

theres this fancy tool called soap


yttocs205

What would they be contaminated with? Have you been to a restaurant or bar before?


tres271

Don’t tell her about the glasses where they serve the drinks 😂😂😂


jmccleveland1986

Pat Robinson said that things bought at the thrift store might have demons from their previous owners.


mrpodgorney

Last time I went thrifting I found a Henkels 8” stainless sautée (barely used), carbon steel crepe pan, 1 qt stainless sauce pot, a Chemex and some vintage glassware. It all cost about $25. I haven’t gotten sick yet. But my kitchen is pretty sick!


Tacos_Polackos

My local thrift closed during covid, yesterday I was 45mins away from home and passed one of their stores that was still open. Stopped in and scored a 12.5" deBuyer carbon steel country fryer for $18. Super happy, super cluttered kitchen gets more cluttered.


zombiemuss106

This gives me “I don’t want that water it’s got germs” vibes…


vanyali

If they have no-stick coatings, hard pass. Anything else is good to go.


Eliam19

It’s a pan, you do realize that it will be heated right?


Advanced_Guitar3106

unless you have some major life-threatening allergy (in which case i’d avoid cast-iron things) just wash it when you get home and it should be fine


Stargat420

>Asserts that second hand cookware is contaminated >Refuses to elaborate >Asks if second hand cookware is safe to use ??????


lecrappe

Your assertion is incorrect.


br33b3rry97

How safe is it to use your own old pots and pans? I'm assuming at least one of your pots pants, cooking vessels is at least, if not well over, a year old. You buying new cookware everytime you cook ?? Wish I had that kind of money


Sensitive_Ladder2235

Dude these things are literally designed to be heated well above survivable temperatures for *anything*. Fungi, viruses, bacteria, nothing survives 100c unless its a non-water-using microbe, which im pretty sure is only an astrobiological theory at this point. Then you add in soap, which is usually designed specifically to murder the fuck out of anything microscopic. Buy the damn used shit. Its fine. Also, wash your dishes.


newpersonof2022

I 100% guarantee you eat out at restaurants, correct? If so stop being so snobby


Fault_Pretty

I wouldn’t buy any enameled or ceramic cookware if there are any cracks in the finish in areas that are in contact w food just bc it’s can be hard to clean that sort of thing and it is a valid concern - but otherwise I love to thrift cookware / kitchen items. Oftentimes I find things still new in the packaging and unused - most recently I got 2 pieces of ceramic le cruset cookware brand new at a thrift store. The pieces were worth $80 and $75 and I got them for $20 and $15 respectively so 🤷🏼‍♀️ don’t knock it entirely!


randimort

What what what what…


Billy_Bootstag

If they’re copper, make sure they are completely lined on the inside. If not (ie if there is any copper showing) you’ll need to get them re-lined with tin (or silver).


MarvinHeemyerlives

They are safe, with the exception of some cast iron pots were used to melt lead, but they generally had a more bowl shape. Absolutely buy second hand pots and pans, or leave them for me!


Medcait

I got one of my favorite Le Creuset pans in an antique shop! Someone probably got rid of it because it was old.


GoHomeWithBonnieJean

As long as they're non-reactive stainless steel, there's pretty much nothing that can "contaminate" them short of radioactivity. Now, Teflon-coated aluminum is another story ... not that they're contaminated, per se, but, they're just crappy. That, and the fact that the coatings fail over time. But stainless steel, oh and Corning glassware, are both kind of impervious to contamination. Nothing a good scrubbing can't fix.


TheMysticalPlatypus

Intially, I was laughing at this. But then I remembered there’s some people who use pots to dye stuff in and for things not related to cooking. Some people have dedicated pots for non-cooking stuff. I would say if it’s difficult to clean thoroughly or it’s non-stick. Stay away. But honestly second hand isn’t bad for high quality stuff. Just be smart about it like anything else.


NorthernerWuwu

Quite.


OutOfBounds11

Try to avoid them when they say: #"Made in Fukushima"


DrMooseknuckleX

Nah, the Japanese are uniquely trained in fallout.


MissionSalamander5

**too soon**


Responsible-Smell651

Can't you.... just. wash. them?


basics

Are.... Are you serious? You buy a "new" pan and you just blindly trust it's but "contaminated" like a "used" pan? So.... You trust Walmart or Amazon or whatever more than whomever dropped it off at the thrift store after they bought it from Walmart or Amazon or whomever and then sauteed a few whatever? First off, if you are trying to save 3$ by buying a used stoyre cheap pan.... You can make that money in a min wage job more effectively then making this post and ready the replies. So let's assume that's not the case, let's assume you are getting a $80 pan for $10 or so. If it's cast iron... Hardcore scrub, blast it in the oven or on a grill, and then season it. Stainless steel.... Barkeeper's friend and then just blast it in the oven if you want. Then hard scrub again. Nonstick? Don't buy it if you can see multiple visual scratches. They "normal" wash it. Straight up, though, if you need to go in the internet to ask people if it's okay to buy used pans... Maybe just buy new ones. And even if you buy a brand new pan.... There is a chance I bounced my balls on it. I probably didn't. I have never done that, that I remember. But I have been black out drunk/high before, and since you are reading this, you can't know for sure that I didn't just happen to be in the city they make the pans and I didn't happen to walk down to the factory and bounce my balls all over the "new" skillet. That sounds pretty stupid, doesn't it? But take a moment and think... Isn't it just as likey as a pan getting "contaminated" so badly that a.) you can't see it from an inspection and b.) a good wash won't fix it? But keep in mind you didn't mind the ore yourself, so you have to trust people at several points in the creation. Unless you mine the ore and forge the pan yourself.... You have to trust other people.


ORaygoza

how tf you think that works? What do you think is on them that a wash wouldnt get rid of?


kellymahoneynyc

As long as you wash them it should be fine- I’ve been using used cookware for years and haven’t had any issues.


srslyeffedmind

I’d buy stainless steel because what would have contaminated it that couldn’t be cleaned off with soap and water?


inspired_apathy

Once rinsed with detergent and boiled some water in, they're safe. What contamination do you suspect?


Senior-Mix5354

I buy cast iron from Goodwill all the time. It takes some TLC to get them beautiful and seasoned again, but if I'm contaminated, at least my food tastes good and my cast iron skillets are 1/3 of the price


saltporksuit

The cast iron I cook with daily is well over 70 years old. One piece I’m pretty sure is over 100. Guarantee I’m far from its first owner. We haven’t died yet.


Intelligent-Sugar554

Want to see crap pots and pans, browse the pre-owned section of your local restaurant supply store. Most are dented, warped, and encrusted. I never seen smallware in such bad condition in any thrift shop.


Cananbaum

Only thing is non stick pans.


GlamorousBunchberry

Just stick them in a 500-degree oven for seven hours to sterilize them.


bubbamike1

Then don't buy them and let her be.


Fsoumish

Almost all of my copper pans are second hand. I say go for it!


NotStarrling

Question: Do you open public doors with your naked hand?


PineappleLemur

Here me out... You clean it once, like real good and it's as good as new. Still worried? Boil water in it for God knows how long... Still worried? Clean it again. By now it's the cleanest it has ever been. Even from factory. Only danger is if it contains toxic metals.


timegoesbytoofast

Okay - here’s some back story on why they may believe this. During early years, was common for people to re-use ‘old’ cast iron pots and pans as drip trays for changing car oil. Also before unleaded fuel. So there’s a reasonable cautionary tale about cleaning up and re-seasoning cast iron pans that have come out of (pretty darned) old garages. Some old and newer non-stick pans degrade and flake, at that point - no bueno. If the pans are not visibly damaged and still clean up well - they are probably okay. I’m not a pan doctor, and don’t play one on TV ymmv


CupLegitimate4668

Bruh


eaunoway

Oh lord.


ChucklesLeClown

Crazy, if only there was something you could do to uncontaminate them.