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When cooking meal after meal for your family each night, what you don’t need is the added stressor of toxins! While non-stick pots and pans make clean up all the easier, what we can’t see are the toxins giving them their nice non-stick qualities. But don’t lose hope! There are some great non-toxic non-stick pans out there (that also won’t ruin the aesthetic of your kitchen).
First thing first, what are these “toxins” that exist in our cookware? PFAS, or per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances, are synthetic chemicals that were discovered in 1938 and were celebrated for their role in nonstick cookware and waterproof products. Of course that celebration quickly ended when researchers realized that PFAS had a virtually indestructible nature that was linked to potential toxicity such as cancer. By then, PFAS were widespread in cookware, clothing, furniture, cosmetics, electronics, and firefighting foams. Research suggests bioaccumulation and toxicity, particularly with PFOA and PFOS, leading to various health issues. Debates persist over classifying and regulating PFAS, with calls for stricter measures and potential phase-outs for non-essential applications to address their omnipresence and health risks. So, to summarize, PFAS are synthetic chemicals used for their non-stick qualities, but those same PFAS also lead to serious health issues such as cancer– so it’s safe to say we should avoid them!
So, without further ado, here are the pots, pans, and bakeware that make cooking and clean up a breeze!
Black Friday Deal: 5 Piece Bakeware Set
Caraway’s ceramic-coated bakeware set is ideal for anyone who loves midnight snacks, or constantly sees them volunteering for bake sales. It includes 2 baking sheets, a muffin pan, a rectangle pan, AND a cabinet organizer. The entire set is entirely free of non-toxic materials typically found in nonstick pans, like Teflon.
What to bake: Corn-free, Paleo Soft Pumpkin Cookies
Black Friday Deal: Ceramic Non-Stick Pan
Our Place has just created the most aesthetic non-toxic pan, available in a bunch of soft pastel colors. Perfect for braising, searing, steaming, sauteing, frying– really anything a future Michelin star holder could need. In addition to their versatility, Our Place also used their advancedThermakind™ technology which allows for their ceramic nonstick coating to be long-lasting without creating any potentially toxic chemicals like PFAS (including PTFEs and PFOAs).
What to make: Penne a la vodka
Black Friday Deal: Cutting Board Set
Plastic kitchen products are often hubs of bacteria and toxins because of the way they’re made. By using a wooden cutting board set, you can skip all those yucky BPAs, phthalates, and plastics. Caraway’s cutting board set are made of FSC-certified Birch Wood, are food-safe mineral oil and wax. It includes a small, medium, and large cutting board, as well as an organizer.
What to bake: Oven roasted vegetables
Black Friday Deal: Ceramic Non-Stick Saucepan with Lid
While you may already have a non-stick pan, your kitchen is probably missing a non-stick pot/saucepan. Perfect for when creating gravy, pasta sauces, or really anything where you may forget about it and burn the bottom (guilty!).
What to make: Gravy
In a world where our health and well-being matter most, the choices we make in our kitchens can have a significant impact. By opting for non-toxic kitchen essentials, we not only ensure safer food preparation but also contribute to a cleaner environment. These thoughtfully selected, non-toxic kitchen finds are the first step toward a healthier, more sustainable culinary journey, where taste, style, and well-being seamlessly blend together.
