April's Health Genie

Dear Genie,
I bake a lot and use non-stick cooking sprays frequently, but tossing out those aluminum cans has always been an irritant.  Is there something that I can do to get the same effect, but reduce my level of waste?  I have tried using cooking oils, but haven’t been happy with the results.
Thanks,
Frustrated Baker

Dear Baker,
There is an alternative to buying pre-mixed cooking sprays that will save you money and ease the irritation you have of throwing out those cans (I hope that you are recycling them!).  Most non-stick cooking sprays are composed of two main ingredients: a cooking oil (such as olive, canola, or vegetable) and lecithin.

Lecithin is a fatty substance found in many plant and animal tissues, as well as in egg yolks. It is used in a variety of food products as an emulsifier and is commonly sourced from soy. The soybeans are kept and tempered at a consistent temperature and moisture for a few days in order to hydrate and loosen the hulls. After the soybeans are cleaned, they are cracked into small pieces and the hulls are separated. The soybean oil gets extracted via distillation. Once the oil is produced, soya lecithin is separated from the oil through the process of steam precipitation.

To make your own non-stick spray from home, you will need the following items:

  • A cooking oil - vegetable, canola, or olive oil
  • Liquid lecithin (you can find this in our Wellness Department)
  • Spray bottle of your choice (If this is plastic, make sure to use a food-grade material.)

To mix these ingredients, you will need to apply a 2 to 1 ratio of oil to liquid lecithin. A convenient amount to start with would be ½ cup of oil and 4 Tablespoons of liquid lecithin. Mix these ingredients well before placing them in your spray bottle and shake well before any subsequent application.  You can use any wide-mouthed container you wish if you are planning to use a brush to apply this mixture.  I hope this works well for you!

Love,
Genie