As the saying goes, "you are what you eat." But did you know you're also what your food is cooked and packaged in? Here are 11 healthy non-toxic cookware and kitchen item swaps that you can make right now.
Want to Save This Post?
Enter your email & I'll send it to your inbox. Plus, get great new recipes from me every week!
There are more options available than ever before to choose healthy non-toxic alternatives for the kitchen. It's really as easy as knowing which materials are best. For example, switching your plastic containers to glass.
Here are 11 easy non-toxic cookware and kitchen item swap ideas for your everyday kitchen staples. You can easily start making these changes now. Some are simple swaps you can make today and others can be upgraded as you replace or add new kitchen items.
This post may include affiliate links. For more info, see my disclosure here.
Choosing Healthy Non-toxic Cookware
Unfortunately, not all cookware materials are created equally. Thankfully, there are some easy swaps for your clean kitchen. Choosing healthy non-toxic cookware is a good place to start.
1. Ditch Your Non-Stick Cookware
One easy swap for your non-stick pans is cast iron. Not only is cast iron incredibly durable, but it actually gets better the more it's used. This cast iron 5 piece cookware set has all your bases covered, with skillets, griddles, and even a dutch oven. I like cast iron because they can go from the stove top to oven baking without any need to swap dishes. Very handy (it cuts down on the number of dishes needing to be washed).
Uncoated stainless steel pans are a great choice if you're looking for chef-quality and an even heat spread across your cooking surface. This Cuisinart stainless steel cookware set includes all the pots and pans you could need in your kitchen. I also have two Cuisinart pans I love. I use the 3-quart chef's pan to make cranberry sauce and gravy for Thanksgiving, and the 5 ½-quart sauté pan to sauté the vegetables for stuffing.
The non-toxic ceramic cookware brand Xtrema also comes highly recommended. Xtrema guarantees that their products are 100% ceramic. This means no cadmium, lead, PFOA, PTFE, glues, polymers, coatings or dyes. (I got this one to replace my anodized aluminum skillet.)
This ceramic cookware by Caraway is gorgeous. I have these non-toxic non-stick fry pans. They are a breeze to cook with (and easy to clean). They're free of PTFE, heavy metals, PFOA and other toxic materials, oven-safe to 550 F and you can use them on gas, electric or induction stovetops. Not to mention they come in lots of great colors to match any kitchen (I have the navy blue and love it).
2. Trade In Your Non-Stick Baking Pans
These stainless steel baking sheets are free of any coating. I like that they're rust resistant and very durable. Great for everyday use. And this set of two stainless steel cookie sheets can certainly be used beyond your favorite cookie recipes. They're great for roasting veggies and baking kale chips.
Simple glass baking dishes are a great swap for their non-stick baking dish counterparts. This Pyrex pack of dishes is all you really need to tackle the casseroles and baked dishes you're whipping up in your kitchen. They're even safe for the fridge, freezer, and dishwasher.
The Best Food Storage Containers for Your Kitchen
I'm replacing the plastic in my kitchen with durable BPA-free glass food storage containers. Here's how I'm using my glass containers to store dry and fresh ingredients, as well as leftovers for lunch.
3. Use Glass Containers for Pantry & Fridge Food Storage
These nesting round glass containers are a great set to choose if your plan is to gradually replace your storage containers over time. The varying sizes are great for everything from single-serving lunches to storing a variety of other ingredients or leftovers. The large one even fits in your Instant Pot for pot-in-pot (PIP) recipes.
These mason jars are a staple of any healthy kitchen. They're BPA-free and dishwasher safe, so they work for storing a variety of ingredients. While these mason jar sets are particularly great for dry ingredients, I also like to use them to store liquids. They're a great choice for keeping bone broth on hand in the fridge and equally handy for packing a healthy smoothie to take with you as you fly out the door in the morning.
While these locking glass jars are great for canning, I like to use them for storing coconut and almond flour, nuts or even some of my spice mixes. Not only does this set of reusable glass jars look great in my pantry, but they make it easy to see your ingredients and the seal on them is quite tight. There are no worries of moisture creeping into my flours.
4. Pack Glass Containers In Your Lunch (for Meal Prepping Like a Pro)
These 2-cup containers are just the right size to take to work for lunch. Made out of pyrex glass with BPA-free lids, these base dishes are safe to use in the oven, microwave, fridge or freezer. I have eight of these round pyrex containers and use them to freeze single servings of soup, chili, as well as any other leftovers for quick and easy on-the-go meals.
If you're short on fridge space, square or rectangular containers take up less room in the fridge or freezer. And the colored lids make them really easy to sort if you happen to be one of those people that loves a meticulously organized kitchen.
Likewise, these divided containers make meal prepping different lunch dishes easy.
Healthy Alternatives to Plastic Straws, Bottles, Bags, Wrap & More
Finding alternatives to disposable plastic products is also about the health of our planet. Here are some BPA-free swaps that will help you limit your single-use plastic consumption.
5. Use Glass or Stainless Steel Straws Instead of Plastic
Making this kitchen item swap makes a positive impact on the consumption of this single-use plastic. It might seem like just one small item, but National Geographic states that "in just the U.S. alone, one estimate suggests 500 million straws are used every single day."
Whether you choose glass straws or stainless steel straws, this swap can follow you on the go too. Both of these sets give you enough straws to keep one at home and one at the office. And these reusable straw sets include a cleaning brush.
6. Swap Your Plastic Water Bottle for Glass or Stainless Steel
You've probably also seen the staggering statistics when it comes to single-use plastic water bottles. Switching to a glass or insulated stainless steel water bottle is a more eco-friendly choice for our planet.
While the insulated stainless steel bottle is dishwasher safe, this glass Contigo water bottle is top rack friendly for your dishwasher. And this product swap will have you feeling great about staying hydrated. I never leave home without my reusable water bottle.
7. Use Bamboo Instead of Plastic
These items are easily replaced with sustainable alternatives. I like bamboo for these products because it's a naturally renewable material that requires relatively little resources during the manufacturing process.
I like these simple bamboo cooking utensils because they're gentle on my cookware. I don't need to worry about damaging my cookware surfaces. I also like using these stainless steel spoons for serving up soups and sauces.
This take-along cutlery set (with a carrying case made of recycled plastic bottles.) is great for packed lunches and camping trips. What an easy and convenient plastic cutlery alternative.
Finally, try using bamboo cutting boards instead of regular plastic cutting boards. They also work as serving trays or charcuterie boards.
8. Replace Zip-Top Plastic Bags With Silicone Storage Bags
These silicone food storage bags give you all of the versatility and convenience of a zip-top bag, without the worries of chemical leaching and the environmental impact of single-use plastics. The Stasher food bags are completely free of BPA, PVC, and latex.
These self-sealing food baggies are actually so much more versatile than zip-top bags. They're a no-brainer for snacks and sandwiches, but they're also dishwasher and boiling-water safe.
9. Start Using Beeswax Wraps Instead of Plastic Wrap
Not only are these beeswax wraps breathable, they actually work better for storing food too. They're great for storing your fruits and veggies.
And made with 100% eco-friendly materials, these Bee's Wrap food wraps are washable, reusable and even compostable. Better for the environment throughout its entire product lifecycle.
Other Healthy Eco-Friendly Kitchen Products
Here are a few more easy kitchen essential swaps beyond the rest of your cookware.
10. Choose Non-Toxic Dishwashing Products
Dish soap and dishwasher soap are often-overlooked products that touch all of the surfaces we eat off of, so it's critical that the soaps we use are free of fragrances and harmful chemicals. I love that these plastic-free tablets are EWG verified and cruelty-free, but they work hard on tough cooked-on foods.
11. Skip Disposable Coffee Cups
Stainless steel travel coffee cups aren't just a great choice for the environment, they can keep your latte hot longer. I like this YETI model because it fits most cup holders, is BPA-free, dishwasher safe and the double-wall design ensures that your hands always stay comfortable and dry.
Of course, keeping a clean and healthy kitchen doesn't end with our cookware and utensils. It also extends to the ingredients in our pantry and fridge.
Here are a few resources to help you plan for healthier grocery shopping trips:
Leave a Reply