Teflex and Teflon

[Agood]

Is Teflex made from Teflon? I ask because I have read that Teflon releases toxic chemicals when heated and it is harmful to humans and very toxic to birds. I am interested in purchasing a food dehydrator and I can't wait to make fruit leathers. I am trying to be more healthy and I don't want to harm my canary if toxins are released at 110 degrees from the dehydrator.

[JennaBoBenna]

yes it is, but it's only harmful after being heated above..I think it's 300 degrees. So, teflex sheets are okay :)

[rawpriestess]

Hi,

Yep, as stated above, teflex sheets are made of teflon, and I have tropical exotic birds, and they are fine, I use my dehydrator right next to them, and no worries for over 5 years now.

but if you heat your teflon up to 350 degrees, (is what I read) then it is major toxic.

so teflex is fine in the dehydrator, I like to use mine for two reasons, they are reusable, and they work well.

many people use either plastic wrap, or parchment, which both are not reusable, they are too flimsy, and sometimes the food sticks, so I wouldn't want to use them because they don't recycle, but I know people who do.

it is all up to you.

the ONLY thing we use that we don't use twice or more is TP. (probably a GOOD thing)

[Shivananda]

The Teflex series is a 100% fluoroplastic/glass with surface films that vary in thicknesses up to .060 thick. Teflex is good to 600 degrees F. The LFP series is for extreme acidic conditions.

source: http://www.flextechseals.com/teflex.htm

The unwarranted fears people have about this and other products like it, are really based on the old, original Teflon I that was used for the first non-stick pans (and which is no longer manufactured), which could, at high temperatures, outgas toxic fumes that could kill very sensitive songbirds like cananries. But even that involved putting an empty pan on a high flame for ten minuts or more, so it wasn't really anything of much concern to real people, although it did make for some exciting "exposes" on 20/20 et al. When the new Teflon II came out many years ago it eliminated that particular hazard, but then, that kind of fact doesn't make for exciting news stories, so it is largely ignored in the media.

But if you're still concerned (and I'm not) then use the silcone based release sheets that professional bakers use (such as Silpat brand), or use baker's parchment paper.

Do NOT, however, try to substitute plastic wrap. It is for room temp or refrig temp, but NOT designed to be used at cooking temperature or even at dehydrator temperatures, and definitely does outgas at low temperatures.

And waxed paper just makes a mess. Ichhhh

[Sheryl]

There would be WAY more chemicals and off gassing from heating plastic too.

I happily use teflex sheets too!

Cheers,
Sheryl

[NancyGail]

Are there any cleaning instructions for Teflex? I've searched everywhere. Can you submerse it in hot water to clean it?

Thanks!

[Sheryl]

It's okay to put it in water.. don't soak too long though or it soaks up water and discolours.

My trick:
Lay flat beside the sink, and use a sponge to wipe it down, flip over onto a clean spot, and repeat with other side.
Rinse

This works well, since the counter supports the sheet, and you avoid wrinkles!

It's easy!

Cheers,
Sheryl

[Shivananda]

Yep, me too, I'd just add this... if any stuff sticks to the sheet I use a vegetable brush to scrub it off (a Japanese tiger brush works especially well) , then spray off well with clean water and hang to drip dry using clothes pins if the dehydrator is in use, or put back on the racks and run the machine a few minutes to dry.

[JinxieKat]

You can get one of the Necco dehydrators instead, the snackmaster or gardenmaster are the brands. I too have birds, five parrots, and while I know that teflon doesn't outgas at low temps I've heard of too many true stories of teflon getting where it shouldn't have been, getting overheated, and poof dead birds, to be comfortable with having it in the house. The Necco dehydrators have a plastic sheet that is made just for fruit leathers. They also come with a mesh sheet that works great for things like crackers, breads, etc. No it isn't as easy to make stuff like calzones and such with it cause unlike the Excalibur I cannot only put one or two trays in a big cavity. For me though, it is worth the trade off.

Jinx

[Rawmommyof2-Sacramento]

Are there any cleaning instructions for Teflex? I've searched everywhere. Can you submerse it in hot water to clean it?

Thanks!
Do not soak the teflex just wipe clean with mild soap

[aravis]

I've read several articles lately in the Oreonian Newspaper that made me throw away all my tephlon things. I would need to look it up agian but I would be hesitant to use anything with tephlon very often. Maybe I overreacted but I haven't missed my pans at all. I don't have a dehydrator yet but I was going to try to get a cheap one this weekend to try it out so I guess I need to think about it.

[Shivananda]

Maybe I overreacted Most of the booga booga scary stuff about Teflon I that is still being passed around is actually overwrought emotionalism that is about 10 years out of date to the verifiable facts, but don't feel like the Lone Ranger. Doing a little in depth research, and not trusting any single source for your information, no matter how "trustworthy" they may appear, can save you lots of upsets and overreactions. But most people are too lazy to actually do that.

You want something REAL to worry about, that is far, far more pressing than whether the tiny little bit of Teflon II in a dehydrator sheet might harm you at 118 degrees?? Then please worry about this... probably 80% of the plumbing installed in the US in the last 20 years, all the PVC water and waste and vent pipe showing up everywhere, turns into a highly toxic nerve gas when burned. Firemen are now regularly being hospitalized, even permanently injured or killed by the toxic fumes of a "Safe" building material that is approved everywhere in the land.

Thi is not canaries being affected, but actual people. Yet folks will dump their perfectly safe kitchen goods "to be safe", while leaving in place building materials in their own home that can kill their family while they sleep.

OK, now let's talk about the cushions in your sofa...