Non-Toxic Kitchen Products for a Healthier Home
- Aubrynn Leystra
- Oct 3, 2024
- 9 min read
Updated: Feb 7
A study was just released that found 70% of black-colored plastic kitchen utensils, food containers and children's toys contain toxic flame-retardant particles in pretty high amounts. You can read the full article here, but these toxins are thought to result from the dirty recycling process of electronics that contain those chemicals.
Being exposed to these flame retardants through our everyday household goods has been shown to increase cancer risk, cause hormone disruption, and lead to other system toxicity and issues. In fact, CNN reported that, "people with the highest blood levels of PBDEs [the class of flame retardants found in these black plastics] were approximately 300% more likely to die from cancer as people with the lowest levels, according to an April 2024 study."
I am definitely a fan of the color black due to its sleek, sophisticated and classic feel, so I am working through my house to remove any black plastics that could be part of this problem.
The fact this is even an issue makes me angry as a consumer, because how are we supposed to trust anything we buy, consume, are exposed to, etc.? However, I want to be empowered to make spending and lifestyle choices that are the healthiest and safest for myself and my family - regardless of what information may come out, that don't care about trends, and that go back to old-fashioned, simpler roots.
I've been on a journey for awhile now to make my home and life toxin-free (or more so - I know it's almost impossible these days), so I've already implemented quite a few practices to reduce exposure to chemicals. One of the areas in my home where I've put a lot of focus is my kitchen.
Here are some of the non-toxic kitchen products I've swapped (or plan to) so my kitchen is a healthier place:
Food Storage Containers
Out with the Tupperware, and in with glass! Even before Nick and I were married, I knew I wasn't going to bring plastic food storage containers into this house. I filled our wedding registry with glass, because I knew it was the healthier option. Plus, who likes plastic that's discolored and warped from years of spaghetti and heat? (yuck!)
We have been using these glass containers for the last 4 years. They have worked great and are still in excellent condition. We place the bottom portion in the dishwasher and hand wash the lids. There is a removable silicone ring that seals the lid, so they are spill-proof and easy to clean.
I fell in love with the design of the Rubbermaid Brilliance storage containers that were all over the internet, but I was disappointed that they all seemed to be plastic. WELL! I found out they come in glass, too! They are a little bit more expensive, but they are so worth it. They function the same with the sealing technology of the plastic ones. We put the bottom portion in the dishwasher and hand wash the lid. As we replace or add containers, we will likely continue purchasing these.
Another variation of glass food storage we use and love is a three-compartment container. This has worked so well for bringing snacks on the go, as you can have 3 different ones in the same container. We have used these for car rides and to stick in the cooler while on the boat or UTVing. This also works great if you want to send a full meal along without multiple containers or food touching. You can easily heat everything up at once (or enjoy cold, based on the food!).
For our daughter's daycare lunches, we are required to send certain portions of the different food groups to align with state standards. One of the ways we found it easiest to do so was to put each food group in a different portioned container. These glass containers are perfect. Their size works well even for her now in toddler years. The top can be labeled with a dry erase marker. They are also non-spill, which is great for transporting in a lunch box. We choose to place the container part in the dishwasher but handwash the lid. I've seen reviews that say you can also place the lid in the dishwasher, but we haven't found a great way to do so in ours. These containers also work great as baby food jars! If you make your own baby food, you can store these in the fridge or freezer, which is awesome for batch prepping!
One quick note: We have sent all of these glass containers in lunch boxes (my husband is an electrician and farmer, so the environments are pretty rough) for years now and have had no issues with breaking! You can also buy glass containers with silicone on the outside for an added layer of protection - here is one I would recommend.
Kid-Friendly Place Settings
As a parent, I feel very responsible to limit my daughter's exposure to toxins since she doesn't have the knowledge to do so herself. I don't want a choice I make now to negatively impact her health in the future if it could have prevented.
One of the decisions I consciously made when we were purchasing kitchen items for babies and kids was to choose materials that were shown to be lower in toxic chemicals.
For bowls and plates, our daughter most often uses the same glass or ceramic ones we use for meals. For snacks or on the go, we have these silicone bowls and plates. They come with silicone lids that are great for traveling or storing leftovers in the fridge. Additionally, the snack cup we used when she was a little younger is also made of silicone!
For utensils, we have had three different stages of utensils as she has fine-tuned her skills. All three are made of silicone and stainless steel:
Stage 1: Baby Trainer Spoons
Stage 2: Baby Utensil Set
Stage 3 (current): Toddler Utensil Set
A note about silicone: I have heard from some people that silicone starts to make food taste bad after a few washes due to scented dish soaps. We have never had this problem. We hand wash all our silicone pieces, and we use an unscented dish soap.
For cups, we never introduced a sippy cup. From the start, she was drinking out of open cups or straws. For early drinking, learning and extra small hands, the weighted-bottom and smaller-sized silicone cups were great. They can both be used in different modes (open or with a straw and lid) and the designs help to prevent spills from unsteady hands.
Now that our daughter is a little older and more capable, she will use the same glass cups we use during meals (the 8oz size instead of the 12oz). If she is on the move or outside, we use these glass cups. They have a removable silicone layer to reduce the chance of breaking (we have had no issues) and a silicone straw (which is hard to find. They also come in a stainless steel version. Both the glass and stainless steel come with alternative lids that don't have a straw hole; this would make these great food or milk containers for on-the-go, as well!
As a general rule of thumb: for kids' items, if I can replace with silicone, glass, or wood, I will. This is true for toys, as well. Rather than plastic versions of toys, I opt for silicone or wood. They tend to be better quality in addition to less toxic.
Plates and Cups
This was another area we said no to plastic in before we were married.
Our everyday plates and bowls are made of a chip-resistant glass. I was a little nervous I would end up feeling like a grandma with old-fashioned Correlle, but I found the Winter Frost White color line, and I'm so happy with it. It is timeless and clean, so it won't date itself. It's also practical and ensures you can have all your different pieces in the set matching. We have never had a plate or bowl break in the four years we've owned these.
We do also have a set of ceramic dishes for when we host. I have ensured that any serving tray or specialty dinnerware sets I purchase fall into the ceramic or glass buckets.
For cups, we have these glass ones for daily use. They come in both 8oz and 12oz sizes. Again, these are simple and just have a timeless appearance. I have broken a few, but it has all been due to human error. For any specialty cups (tumblers, wine and cocktail glasses, coffee cups, etc.), we also have only stainless steel, glass, or ceramic.
An additional mention in this category is the water bottle. Every water bottle we own is made of stainless steel, silicone, and/or glass. Here are some of my favorites for adults and kids:
Cooking Utensils
This is the area in which I will have the most issues with the black-colored plastic. Most of our registry items from our wedding four years ago were black. I know I have a few spoons and turners that are black plastic and will need to be tossed. Thankfully, the majority of my utensils are silicone, stainless steel and/or wood.
Here are a few of my current favorite non-toxic utensils I'm already using:
To replace my serving spoons and turners, I am looking at several different options. The first is the most cost-effective. It is the Carote brand and has 4.7 from over 1,000 different reviews. They are made with wooden handles and silicone heads. I like that they still have a clean look.
The second option is middle-of-the-road. This Williams Sonoma set is made with stainless steel and silicone. Again, it has a clean look to it. I love the large size of the turner and ladle.
The third and final option is definitely a splurge. The Caraway set features a knife block and all-wooden utensils. It truly is beautiful and I love the different color options. I have never cooked with all wood before, though, so that scares me a bit. If you have tips or love cooking with wooden utensils, let me know!!
Cookware and Bakeware
I've known for a long time that non-stick is no good... yet here I am using it.
For my bakeware, I do have glass pyrex dishes and ceramic and glass dishes I use most frequently. However, my cookie sheets, cupcake tins and cake pans are mostly coated with non-stick. I recently purchased a few Nordic Ware aluminum baking sheets. I do love them and have only used them with parchment paper. However, after some research, aluminum can still create toxins if used incorrectly. I will plan to continue only using these sheets with parchment paper to reduce the chance of aluminum leaching into our food.
A better choice for non-toxic bakeware is stainless steel or ceramic. I've had my eyes on GreenPan Ceramic Bakeware Set or the Caraway Ceramic Bakeware Set. I love that both have the ceramic coating to make them naturally nonstick.
For cookware, I am looking to replace this before anything else. We have a nice set, but the nonstick coating is starting flake off in some spots. (Reminder: never use metal with a non-stick coated pot or pan, as it can increase risk of peeling off the coating!) I know that is a red flag for toxicity, so they need to be tossed. I am pretty set on purchasing Our Place cookware. The reviews are amazing, and I've seen quite a bit of buzz surrounding this brand on social media.
Dish Soap and Detergent
RIP to the beloved Dawn Dish Soap. It really does work well, but it also contains some ingredients that can be harmful to health. In full transparency, I will still keep a small bottle around (and my free & clear powerwash for laundry stains and super dirty messes) because it can be magic. But, for the most part, once this bottle is empty, I will be replacing with a non-toxic dish soap. It's honestly hard to find one, and especially hard to find which one is best, so it might take some trial and error. However, I plan to purchase and try the Puracy Dish Soap. I think the scent (Green Tea + Lime) sounds so good, and the reviews also seem positive!
For dishwasher detergent, we started using the Molly Suds pods. They have great reviews, and I can attest to them doing just as good of a job as Cascade. I am very happy with this decision, so I think we will continue to use this brand. Again, there are a lot out there, though, so we may try others to see how they stack up!
As you can see, plastic and poor ingredients really lead the way for toxins. While it stinks we have to even worry about this in the first place, I'm happy it is becoming easier to find products that have clean ingredients and materials. I can say it feels really good to know we are living healthier lives by making relatively simple switches in our kitchen and beyond!
What is a non-toxic swap you've made that has helped you to create a healthier home and life?
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