Gourmet Retailer Magazine Personnel Trainer 2008 - (Page 37) SILICONE COOKWARE S ilicone cookware is popping up in many a kitchen lately due to its ability to make life a bit easier for the home chef by providing safe and even heating, flexibility, and simple cleanup. And who can resist those vibrant, fashion-forward colors and shapes? Make your customers’ life easier and bring some color into their kitchens by introducing them to the wide variety of silicone cookware products available on the market today. How Is Silicone Cookware Made? Silicone kitchenware products are made from FDA-approved food grade silicone, which is formed by “curing,” essentially forming cross links between linear polymers. To mold the silicone, curing is done at approximately 230° F and post-curing at 390° F to purify the product. Finally, the silicone cookware is immersed in hot water, rinsed, dried and treated. l What is silicone? Silicone is largely mineral, as it is derived from quartz sand (silicone oxide). Unlike most polymers, however, silicone has a backbone made not from carbon (i.e. inorganic), but composed instead by alternating silicone and oxygen atoms. l What are some of the advantages of using silicone cookware? Silicone is highly advantageous in the kitchen — it’s flexible, durable and can resist temperatures up to 455° F. Furthermore, silicone cookware offers home chefs nonstick qualities and is oven-, microwave- and freezer-safe. The material is also resistant to boiling water and is even water repellent. l Is silicone cookware safe to use? Customers can be assured that silicone cookware is non-toxic and can be used for a variety of kitchen needs — baking, steaming, transferring and flipping foods, and more. l How should I care for my silicone cookware? To clean silicone cookware, simply use your dishwasher or wash by hand. Silicone cookware is both dishwashersafe and resistant to aggressive detergents. CLICK 220 www.GourmetRetailer.com 77 http://www.GourmetRetailer.com
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