Purging your house in the name of going non-toxic can be expensive and sometimes stressful… depending on how you go about it. Breaking the switch to non-toxic down into bite-sized pieces can help make the process friendly on your wallet and stress-free. In today’s post, we are going to cover all my favorite non-toxic kitchen products and what “toxins” to look out for in kitchen products.
Toxins in the kitchen to look out for:
Teflon:
Non-stick cookware such as frying pans and saucepans are made from Teflon. Teflon is a synthetic chemical known as C8 that is made up of carbon and fluorine atoms used to make cookware non-stick. The non-stick convenience does come at a cost to your health. The Teflon coating breaks down and is released into the food. Causing hormone disruption, infertility, cancer, and more. I opt for stainless steel and cast iron pans to avoid Teflon.
Plastic:
The plastic used for cooking utensils like spoons, spatulas, and whisks as well as plastic storage containers have been found to release harmful chemicals into food while cooking and storing food. BPA and phthalates are the two most common and problematic chemicals found in plastic cook/storage wear. Both are linked to a higher risk of heart disease, respiratory issues, liver toxicity, hormone disruption, diabetes, and more.
Formaldehyde:
Formaldehyde also referred to as DMDM hydantoin, bronopol, diazolidinyl urea, disteardimonium hectoride, imidazolidinyl urea, methylene glycol, nitromethylidynetrimethanol, and quaternium-15 is commonly used as a preservative in soaps. It’s a known carcinogen that is highly toxic and can be absorbed by the skin.
Ethanolamines:
Ethanolamines are known carcinogens used in many household products like dish soap, laundry products, etc. They are used as emulsifiers to help make products mix with soap.
A good rule of thumb when verifying if a product is non-toxic is checking on the environmental working group (EWG) app/ website. It’s quick, convenient, and gives you a rating on a scale of 1-10 of each product’s level of toxicity and a rundown of what’s in each product. Some chemicals like formaldehyde go by so many names it’s almost impossible to remember. The EWG app/website has made the switch to non-toxic easy which has helped me stay consistent!
Non-toxic Pans
There are many options when it comes to pans. My favorites are stainless steel because they are durable and easy to clean. But you can opt for copper pans, mineral-based ceramic pans, or cast iron pans. I will link the options for each below. I personally love how the stainless steel ones look and the ease when cleaning. But the grade of stainless steel does matter and can make stainless steel pans more expensive. The most ideal grade for cookware is 300. Which is also referred to as 18/10 and 18/8. This set is made of 18/10 which is why it’s more expensive. I think under 300 for a whole set is still a good deal though! Below I will link options in all price ranges.
Non-toxic cooking utensils
Wood cooking utensils are environmentally friendly, non-toxic, and my personal favorite. Look for “food-safe” wood utensils made of beechwood, maple, or teach. These types of wood have closed grain (small pores) which helps prevent stains and bacteria growth. Wood spoons do take a little extra TLC to prevent mold and extend the life of the utensil. The best practice would be to hand wash and allow to fully dry. You can put wood utensils in the dishwasher but you run the risk of them not being able to fully dry and molding/ cracking. Other than that routinely oiling the utensils will allow a long life. You can also choose stainless steel for a non-toxic swap I will link an option below!
Non-toxic food storage
Avoiding plastic is a fairly easy swap because there are many options to choose from like glass or stainless steel to name a couple storage options. My favorite are glass storage containers. The price tag of glass storage is my least favorite part but the ones I have linked have a $10 off coupon right now making them $59 for nine storage containers!
Pans, utensils, and storage are the best places to start when switching to a non-toxic kitchen! From there switching to non-toxic materials for mixing bowls, measuring cups, and measuring spoons are just tying up loose ends!
Going non-toxic takes time, patience, and budgeting. I will be making posts on other areas of the house to lay the groundwork and help make the switch easier! If you haven’t already, check out our post from last week on “Why switch to non-toxic living”.
