Silicone Accessories Adding Splash to Kitchen, but Careful Choice Needed for Maximum Enjoyment
Tuesday August 15, 8:00 am ET
Dow Corning Offers Tips for Selecting Quality Silicone Kitchenware
"Silicone kitchenware is revolutionizing the cooking industry because it can be used on the barbeque grill, in the microwave and in the freezer," said Kristen Mizell, Dow Corning Consumer Market Leader. "However, consumers must realize that not all silicone products are created equally."
Mizell offers the following tips to get the most from silicone kitchenware:
* Price: Low cost usually means low quality. "You truly get what you pay for," Mizell said.
* Thickness: The thicker the better for maximum heat resistance and support. This is particularly important for applications such as trivets that must withstand extended heat exposure.
* Strain whitening: When a product is bent and a white line appears and remains in the crease, this can indicate poorer quality material. High- quality materials are most critical for accessories that will endure long term heat exposure on the stove or in the oven.
* Odor: A rubber odor may indicate lower quality. This unpleasant smell, which is caused by poor quality curing agent, does not occur in higher quality kitchenware.
"Consumers also should consider color, quality, and brand, along with unique applications in which silicone really enhances the product's performance such as food storage containers, trivets, spatulas, potholders, basters and oven mitts," Mizell said.
Dow Corning (http://www.dowcorning.com ) provides performance-enhancing solutions to serve the diverse needs of more than 25,000 customers worldwide. A global leader in silicon-based technology and innovation, offering more than 7,000 products and services, Dow Corning is equally owned by The Dow Chemical Company and Corning Incorporated. More than half of Dow Corning's sales are outside the United States.