Swap out the toxic cooking spray for an oil mister that is healthier for you and the planet.
Cooking spray has been a staple in my kitchen for a long, long time. I’m not even sure how I got hooked. I think it was Martha Stewart – and if Martha says it’s good, it has to be good, right? Most often, I reach for the spray can when I’m baking or making pancakes. Grilling – both indoor and out – calls for a quick spray as well.
Graphic courtesy of naturallysavvy.com
What’s wrong with cooking spray?
Conventional cooking sprays contains more than just oil. They also contain soy lecithin (GMO), mono- & diglyerides (these are transfats – seriously!), dimethyl silicone (do we really want to be eating that?) and a propellant (derived from alcohol, nitrous oxide, carbon dioxide, or propane – Yuck!)
The oil mister solution
Yes, it’s possible to keep food from sticking without all those extra non-food ingredients and in an easy to spray format. It’s called an oil mister (or sprayer or spritzer). Here’s why oil misters rock:
- Better for you – Choose your own organic, GMO free oils.
- Better for the planet – Refillable again and again.
- Cheaper in the long run – My mister investment was a whopping $9.95. It won’t take many refills to make that back.
We were given an oil mister as a gift many years ago but it never worked all that well and after leaving it unattended in the cupboard for too long it got clogged and had to be tossed. It was easy for me to slip back into the PAM habit.
But now PAM and I are finished.
The Misto Oil Sprayer
A great reusable alternative to cooking spray is the Misto oil sprayer. It is made from aluminum, with some plastic parts and it is BPA free. All it takes is a few pumps for the oil to become pressurized and it’s ready to spray. The spray is fine and distributes evenly – just like the can.
Are you still hooked on cooking spray? Ready to make the swap?
(PAM spray graphic courtesy of naturallysavvy.com – a great resource for healthy living!)
*Affiliate link. If you make a purchase, I may get a small commission, at no extra cost to you. Thanks!
Betsy (Eco-novice) says
We love our Misto! We have one for organic canola and one for EVOO: http://www.eco-novice.com/2011/10/make-your-own-cooking-spray.html
dominique lily says
Love this idea! I will have to try !
Domi x
Cindy @OnePartSunshine says
We have a Misto and it works well but I believe the interior is actually plastic. So I bought another mister by Prepara which is glass and it works great!
Micaela says
Thanks for the tip about the Prepara oil mister – I’m going to look for one of those!
Allan says
I think I may have found the best one. The Delta Evo Oil Sprayer… 100-percent recyclable; BPA, Latex and DEHP free. You don’t even have to pump it. Just squeeze the handle like a Windex bottle.
Melissa Brown says
I stopped using the cooking sprays and am looking for a mister. In the meantime, I just grease the bottoms with olive oil or coconut oil. It’s cheaper and only requires me to wash my hands after using it so the maintenance is low!
Micaela says
Good for you Melissa! I’m still loving my mister. You have to pump them up each time, but it’s not much work at all – and much better than those cooking sprays!
Norm Brown says
I have to be honest. I’ve not even heard of an oil mister prior to this article. Very interesting ay to avoid the toxin in our food.
http://bit.ly/1kB0Q50
daffya says
A friend told me about the Misto nearly three years ago. I found mine in the kitchen accessories aisle at Kroger. I’ve used that original one on a nearly daily basis since then to dispense my Colavita EVOO. I have not had any clogs. Follow the directions and do not overfill. I put mine in the dishwasher and I’ve had no problems with it. It’s a great tool. I wouldn’t be without it.