The Ultimate Guide To Non-Toxic Cookware

When you are eating a properly prepared, nutrient dense diet, you will find yourself doing a lot of cooking. When you cook, you use many tools such as pots, pans, knives, spoons, spatulas, tongs, etc. What you may not realize is just how many toxins all of your cookware and utensils are leaving behind on your food.

Toxins can cause all sorts of issues in our body including digestive issues, mental illness, hormone issues, and even cancer. Toxins can transfer from your cookware to your food during the cooking process. Hot and freezing temperatures will increase the leaching of toxins from materials like plastic. PFOAs (Perfluorooctanoic acids) are a type of PFA (per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances). PFOAs were used in the creation of Teflon coating until 2013 and even after that they still use chemicals including other PFAs. These chemicals have been linked to many health issues including pre-eclampsia in pregnant women, increased cholesterol levels, negative changes in liver enzymes, and increased risk of liver and kidney cancer.

The best way to keep the organic foods your cooking non-toxic is to replace your toxic cookware with non-toxic cookware. Below, I have provided certain brands to avoid (with an explanation as to why), non-toxic brands to replace any toxic cookware you may have, and what order to replace them in. I know you will likely not be doing a complete kitchen replacement all at once (that’s so valid, Lord knows this can get expensive), so I will highlight them in order of importance.

Non-Toxic Pots And Pans

In addition to PFAs, other toxins like lead are also prevalent in cookware. Research has shown that by the time a child turns 6, they already have about 1.4 micrograms per deciliter of lead in their blood. The CDC has been continually lowering the “safe level” of lead in the body because of new research into the negative effects that even small amounts of lead have to health. It used to be less than 5, but the recommended is now less than 3 micrograms per deciliter. Lead can be found primarily in aluminum pots and pans.

Pots and pans are your first stop in your kitchen. ANY Teflon bought before 2013 needs to go. There is a movie with Mark Ruffalo called Dark Waters. This movie is based on a true story and it follows a lawyer who is researching a string of unexplained deaths…all related to PFOAs (warning: It’s a fantastic movie and I highly recommend it, but boy-oh-boy does it evoke some anger). PFAs are what are referred to as “forever chemicals” because one they are inside you, they do not leave. PFOA in particular has pretty bad health consequences, but all PFAs have the potential to harm you. There is ongoing research into what exactly the effects are of PFAs, but the current general consensus is that while they haven’t yet been banned, it’s best to avoid them where you can. PFTA is another type of PFA that is often found in cookware. Most coatings on cookware contain either PFOAs or PFTAs.

The best materials for pots and pans are cast iron, stainless steel, and ceramic. Cast iron is designed to last for generations. This is what I personally cook on the most. Stainless steel usually has an aluminum core, but it has other metals layered on top to keep you from being exposed to the aluminum. This is a good option for pots. Ceramic is great too, it’s durable and it has a beautiful shine! Glass pots and pans do not hold up as well as the other options, which is why I don’t use them. However, glass is pretty much the only material in cookware that is truly toxin free. The rest do leach small amounts of materials/chemicals into your food. The goal is to choose cookware that doesn’t contain super harmful chemicals and/or toxins that are hard for our bodies to get rid of. These are the brands I recommend:

  • Lodge is the most used cookware in my family of 7. We’ve been using our cast iron pans and Dutch oven (Amazon links) for over 10 years and we have always been very happy with the durability and versatility. The 10in. pan is $35, the 15in. pan is $75, and the 7 quart Dutch oven is $70.
  • Xtrema is a brand of cookware that sells exclusively ceramic pots and pans. Most ceramic cookware is just ceramic coated metal. However, Xtrema’s pure ceramic pots and pans are an incredible, durable, toxin free option! Ceramic is very durable and (if well taken care of) can be passed down to your children and your children’s children. The price ranges from $50-$380.
  • Made In cookware has great stainless steel and carbon steel options for both pots and pans. This particular brand has been loved by chefs and they have a recycling program once you’ve worn out your pot or pan. Their coated non-stick and enamel cast iron is PFOA free, but does contain PFTA (another forever chemical). Stainless steel should be avoided if you have a nickel allergy because it can leach nickel in small amounts. Prices range from $70-$280.

I don’t usually like to use coating at all because the minute it chips, your usually in danger of toxin leaching. However, there are a few brands that do not use “forever chemicals” in their coating. These are:

  • Caraway uses a mineral based coating that does not contain PFOAs or PFTAs. Prices start at $90 for pots and Dutch ovens and $40 for baking pans.
  • Kana has enamel coated cast iron pans and Dutch ovens that do not contain PFOAs or PFTAs. Prices start at $79

The important thing is to follow the care instructions carefully. Use only low to medium heat and only use gentle tools like silicone or wood. When you take care of your coated cookware, it can last for several years. When you start to notice any ware, it’s time to buy a new one.

Non-Toxic Storage

Plastic leeches toxins into your food especially when exposed to heat or the freezer. These toxins can affect estrogen levels and cause endocrine disorders. Even BPA free plastics contain other harmful chemicals that cause these issues. Many people use plastic storage containers to store food in the fridge and plastic freezer bags to store food in the freezer. For fridge use, glass, silicone, beeswax, and ceramic can be used.

The best storage solution is glass. You can also use beeswax wraps and silicone bags (Amazon link), although, neither of which should be used to store hot food. They are best for fridge, room temperature, and silicone can be used in the freezer. It’s hard to find a glass container without a plastic lid. There are a couple options below, but you should be fine with a plastic lid if you don’t put hot food in the container with the lid on and you don’t stuff the container full so that the food is touching the plastic lid. If you’re uncomfortable with any form of plastic you can:

Beeswax wraps can be used in place of sandwich bags. My favorite brand can be found here. Silicone and compostable, unbleached parchment paper can both be frozen and are great options for all my batch cookers who freeze some food for later. Ceramic is not a super popular option because it’s expensive, and it takes up just as much space as glass while being less durable. When people store food in ceramic, it’s often because they cooked in ceramic cookware and choose store it in the fridge in the cookware.

Non-Toxic Utensils

Utensils are the last thing to replace because they have the least contact with your food. That being said, utensils do have direct contact with hot pans and food simultaneously. Plastic is a hugely popular material for spatulas, slotted spoons, ladles, etc. So, there is a danger of leaching.

The best options for utensils are silicone, wood, bamboo, and stainless steel.

  • Silicone is gentle on your pans and is necessary to keep pans that have coating safe and in good shape. This set of silicone kitchen utensils with acacia wood handles (Amazon link) are a great option.
  • Bamboo tools have natural antibacterial properties and are more stain resistant than wood.
  • This wooden kitchen utensil set (Amazon link) is both beautiful and lightweight.
  • Stainless steel is an option most people should have. However, it is not a gentle material. It’s a material that should only be used on very durable cookware and should be completely avoided if you have a nickel allergy.

Summary

Non-toxic cookware is an important step in taking care of your health and protecting your body. In addition to the personal health benefits, supporting businesses that focus on creating non-toxic cookware makes an impact. The more popular these brands get, the more commonplace non-toxic cookware will become!

Another added benefit is that several of these swaps replace one-use materials. Silicone is washable and reusable whereas plastic freezer bags only have a couple uses max. Beeswax wraps are the same way. Plastic containers stain, melt, and warp while glass stays the same and wood and bamboo utensils also don’t melt or warp.

Let me know if you have any questions down below. I hope you all have FUN replacing your cookware with these beautiful non-toxic options! I wish you all a beautiful week!

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