Old Speckled Hen Posted June 30, 2009 Share Posted June 30, 2009 I popped into Lakeland in Windermere ... as you do ... to replace some worn out things ... as you do ... Their jam pans are stainless steel and look great. Now, I don't need a new pan. I have been making jam in mine for thirty years but it struck me that it's aluminium. Is stainless steel better, safer ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted June 30, 2009 Share Posted June 30, 2009 Probably. I have an enormous, ancient one, which is also stainless steel, and also one of the lakeland ones, which is fab for smaller amounts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Frugal Posted June 30, 2009 Share Posted June 30, 2009 Yes, Stainless steel is safer as I think there's supposed to be a link between aluminium pans and an increased risk of developing Alzheimers - but that's probably just another one of these media hypes. I have a Lakeland stainless steel maslin pan and use that all the time and use my huge old aluminium one for boiling jars of bottled fruits instead. Before you rush into Lakeland though, Amazon have a S/S maslin pan for only £29.99 which is a pretty good price - Maslin Pan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Speckled Hen Posted June 30, 2009 Author Share Posted June 30, 2009 Before you rush into Lakeland though, Amazon have a S/S maslin pan for only £29.99 which is a pretty good price - Maslin Pan Kate, thanks for that ... just ordered one Lakeland is a bit of a trap I unfortunately live near the flag store I do like browsing there though. Summertime is a hoot. Full of tourists, of course, but what is entertaining is seeing all these women with reluctant hubby's in tow ... walking a few paces behind while their wives ogle all these completely unnecessary and frivolous items Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craftyhunnypie Posted June 30, 2009 Share Posted June 30, 2009 I know what you mean...my mum bought a strawberry slicer. Why? Emma.x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Couperwife Posted June 30, 2009 Share Posted June 30, 2009 I know what you mean...my mum bought a strawberry slicer. Why? you mean you dont have one , oh my word, every perfect housewife needs a strawberry slicer, im surprised you can sleep at night hmmm, the powers of lakeland cathy x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Speckled Hen Posted June 30, 2009 Author Share Posted June 30, 2009 I know what you mean...my mum bought a strawberry slicer. Why? you mean you dont have one , oh my word, every perfect housewife needs a strawberry slicer, im surprised you can sleep at night hmmm, the powers of lakeland cathy x Perhaps we should have a competition to reveal the most useless article in Lakeland Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Frugal Posted June 30, 2009 Share Posted June 30, 2009 I have been seduced into buying unnecessary items by the Lakeland catalogue in the past but now stop and ask myself whether I've managed OK without one all these years. The answer is usually "yes" so I laugh and turn the page . However, the banana saver bags (bright yellow things!) are FABULOUS! Not for keeping bananas in, but for storing carrots, peas, broccoli etc in. They keep fresh for absolutely ages where they'd be all manky by the end of the week in the fridge on their own. Mum passed this tip on to me and I was sceptical but my carrots keep fresh for up to a month without going scummy or wizened when they are stored in the fridge in a banana bag! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
majorbloodnock Posted June 30, 2009 Share Posted June 30, 2009 Aluminium, as you probably remember from school science experiments, oxidises really quickly of its own accord, so anything made from aluminium is actually coated with a thin layer of aluminium oxide (which is pretty inert and so very safe). The only real problem with an aluminium pan is when you get a combination of two circumstances; something acid and something left in the pan for a long time (e.g. to cool). In that case, the acid attacks the alu oxide coating and manages to get to the pure aluminium underneath, at which point it makes new (more dangerous) compounds that can become incorporated with the food and eaten. In short, carry on cooking your jams and chutneys according to the recipes and, as long as you decant to something else once they're cooked, you'll be fine. As for useless stuff, I believe my mother was once given a grape peeler, but I think that was before Lakeland was even thought of. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Speckled Hen Posted June 30, 2009 Author Share Posted June 30, 2009 As for useless stuff, I believe my mother was once given a grape peeler, but I think that was before Lakeland was even thought of. Would that be your dad, then Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
majorbloodnock Posted June 30, 2009 Share Posted June 30, 2009 As for useless stuff, I believe my mother was once given a grape peeler, but I think that was before Lakeland was even thought of. Would that be your dad, then He, he. No; he knew far better than that. Besides, it took her several years just to get a ring out of him I have a vague recollection it might have been her mother. As I understand it, it was absolutely fascinating, incredibly clever and utterly pointless. And, given I'll happily wade through a pound bunch of grapes in a sitting, I'd guess I'd wear one out before it needed to be put back in the drawer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted July 3, 2009 Share Posted July 3, 2009 I bought a stainless steel maslin pan as my aluminium one had been attacked by acid - like Kate, I just use that one for sterilising jars and bottles. I used my yellow banana bag and decided to test it to see how long bananas would last .....and forgot them for 2 months They were liquid ...... and I ruined the bag.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
