We are back with our Safe Swap Series and today we are sharing safe swaps for your kitchen! I’m not sure about you, but the kitchen is where we spend most of our time. There aren’t necessarily as many safe swaps to make in your kitchen as your bathroom. However, there are definitely some things worth mentioning that aren’t “products”.
Don’t worry, I will definitely be sharing your standard kitchen safe swaps. But I will also dig into things like your pots and pans, plastic containers and reusable bags. Those things can impact your health in the long term and are definitely worth considering. Let’s get started.
Safe Swaps for your Kitchen
Soap & Dishes
When it comes to kitchen safe swaps, most of them are going to be located around your sink. Dish soap and dishwasher packets are what come to my mind. Here are a few of my favorites that are affordable and easy to find.
All Purpose Cleaner
Every household needs a good all purpose cleaner. Whether it’s for your kitchen, bathrooms, laundry room, it’s important to have a safe option that actually works. Here are some premade options as well as one you can make yourself using Dr. Bronners castile soap and essential oils. In a glass spray bottle mix 1/8 cup Dr. Bronners soap, 10 drops lemon or citrus essential oil and top with warm water. Use on everything except wood and glass.
I’m linking my favorite kitchen essential oils. The Healthy Place in Madison carries my favorite brand of essential oils, Plant Therapy. They are a wealth of knowledge and have everything fully stocked. Here is a thorough article that talks about using essential oils for cleaning.
Plant Therapy Citrus Burst EO
Plant Therapy Lemon EO
Dr. Bronners Castile Soap
Glass Spray Bottles
Pots and pans
Have you ever thought about the safety of your pots and pans? Sure, “nonstick” is awesome for cooking, but the metals and coatings that they use to make them can be toxic. Nonstick cookware typically contains the chemical perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA or C8).
The American Cancer Society states that, “PFOA has the potential to be a health concern because it can stay in the environment and in the human body for long periods of time… and studies found that exposure to PFOA increases the risk of certain types of tumors of the liver, testicles, mammary glands (breasts) and pancreas in these animals.” When the pans are heated to high temperatures, the chemicals that create the coating start to break down and release toxic particles and gases. Here is an article that talks more about it if you’d like to learn more.
My favorite safe swaps for your pots and pans are stainless steel, cast iron and ceramic options. All can be safely heated to high temperatures and are good for cooking. Stainless steel and cast iron take a little bit of getting used to, but once you learn how to best care for them, they are great!
Kitchen storage
According to Harvard Health, studies have found that certain chemicals in plastic can leach out of plastic and into the food and beverages that we consume. This also happens at higher rates when heated. This article does a great job explaining the specific chemicals, the science behind it and the risks.
Here is the moral of the story. Avoid plastic containers and packaging if you’re able. Never microwave plastic. I know we can’t all be perfect all of the time, but start with your kitchen. Invest in some great glass or stainless steel containers. Obviously, using glass for reheating. Here are some of my favorite options.
Miscellaneous
Lastly, here are a few of my favorite miscellaneous kitchen items that I love! They are things that I have purchased to try to cut down on my overall plastic and garbage use.
