5 Materials for a Healthy Kitchen ⋆ 100 Days of Real Food

The holiday season is upon us, which means many of us will soon be baking and cooking up a storm with our families! And I don't know about you, but I've been working hard these past few years to improve the materials I cook with in my kitchen. For one, non-stick is mostly out and so is plastic. Now I say "mostly" because I like to balance these goals with reality, but I do think the 80/20 rule is a great goal when it comes to these sorts of things.

So today, I'm excited to partner with our sponsor, MightyNest, to share some of the materials that you'll now find a lot of in my kitchen. They definitely know their stuff when it comes to smart choices - all their products are free from known toxic ingredients such as BPA, PVC, phthalates, lead, melamine, formaldehyde, flame retardants, parabens and more. So while many of us are here because we're concerned about what foods we're cooking - let's be sure we don't overlook what tools we're using to prepare, serve and store all that wholesome goodness as well!

Cast Iron

For years now I've read recipes that recommend using a Dutch oven but I never had one to use - until now (thanks to MightyNest)! My husband (who rarely gets excited about kitchen tools) even said, "That new pot is really cool!" And that's because it's made of cast iron, a material that can be used on the cooktop and, if necessary, transferred into the oven for continued cooking or braising. Unlike pans that are coated with a layer of that non-stick chemical stuff, cast iron cookware does not release gases or chemical particles into the air or your food when it is heated—so once you get it coated nicely you can get your sear on without worrying about what you’re inhaling or worrying about sticking, either. I can't wait to use my Dutch oven as an alternative to my slow cooker with recipes like soups, stews, roasts and chili. (As you can see below, my daughter gives it a thumbs up as well.)

5 Materials for a Healthy Kitchen on 100 Days of #RealFood

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Stainless Steel

Stainless steel is everywhere in kitchens these days, from decorative finishes to cookware and utensils. And that's because it’s a time-tested, durable, and non-toxic material that can withstand use (and even abuse) on the cooktop, in the oven, on the table, or for storage in the fridge or pantry. Many stainless steel products are also comprised of recycled material, making this a great green option if that's your thing. Higher grade stainless steel like 18/8 or 18/10 will never rust.

Now I was personally excited to get this stainless steel muffin pan because I had already switched over my baking sheets from non-stick, but not these yet. So now I can make muffins right in the pan without worrying about liners. And we were happy to discover that with a little brush of butter (before putting in the batter) the muffins will come out clean without sticking!

Bamboo

When it comes to cutting boards, bamboo is a good choice for many reasons. It absorbs very little moisture compared to other woods, and for this reason it also resists swelling, which can lead to cracking and warping. Cutting boards made from bamboo won’t dull your knives, and they're also less likely to result in cross-contamination (like raw meat juices!) than plastic boards thanks to the naturally-occurring anti-microbial compounds in bamboo. One important note: you'll need to hand wash these bad boys!

Glass

Baking, serving, and storing your food in glass means your kitchenware is free of lead and chemicals like BPA that are commonly found in plastics. Now I do avoid sending my kids to school with glass containers (for obvious reasons), but when it comes to the home use that's our storage material of choice. The key is to look for tempered glass, which can withstand temperature changes or even being dropped. We've had a set of glass containers (pictured in the front below) for over 3 years now and only ONE has broken. I kind of can't believe it. I also love that glass containers are pretty enough for both food storage and serving - plus they can go right in the dishwasher when you're all done. What's not to like?!

5 Materials for a Healthy Kitchen on 100 Days of #RealFood - 3

Ceramic

My family is a huge fan of homemade pizza, and one of the ways we love to make it is on our grill using our ceramic pizza stone! Ceramic is an earth-friendly material that can withstand extreme temperatures. It creates the crispy crusts on homemade pizza, breads and other foods when cooked on it.

Bee's Wrap (Bonus!)

Well, this creative alternative to plastic wrap was new to me - how neat! Made from organic cotton muslin, beeswax, jojoba oil and tree resin, Bee's Wrap is a totally safe and sustainable food wrap that can be used again and again (for about a year). The antibacterial qualities of beeswax and jojoba oil help keep food fresh and all it takes is the warmth of your hands to soften the wax enough to form it directly around food or open containers. A little forming creates a seal, and as it cools, the material stiffens holding the seal intact. When you're ready to use Bee's Wrap again, just wash with a little soap and cool water and allow it to air dry. It’s perfect for covering leftovers like cheese, baked goods, bread, fruit or even half a lemon. Leave it to the bees!

What materials do you love to use in your kitchen?

Comments

Sarah says

April 01, 2016 at 3:37 pm

Thanks so much for the response! It looks like Mighty Nest may have removed their enamel coated dutch oven, which then had me wondering if it was as good as the non-coated options. I truly appreciate the response-have a nice weekend!

Sarah says

March 30, 2016 at 4:28 pm

These are great tips! What brand is the dutch oven pictured in this article? I clicked on the link to the MightyNest, but didn't see a similar dutch oven pictured. Thanks in advance!

- Amy Taylor (comment moderator) says
  
  March 31, 2016 at 1:33 pm
  
  Hi. Yes, this post is a couple years old and the products on Mighty Nest do change. I think it is a Lodge brand enamel coated dutch oven. Its the same one I have. Le Creuset is another very popular brand.
  
Natalie says

December 03, 2014 at 10:48 am

I love so many of your suggestions! Just one thought- I used to run a sustainable living store, and I'm not a big fan of bamboo for anything. It has to be laminated to make anything solid (like a cutting board or flooring)and the glues used for that generally contain really high levels of a type of formaldehyde which continues to offgas. And for those who care, it has a huge environmental footprint - shipping from China, plus they are continuing to cut down forests to replace them with bamboo monoculture to satisfy Western markets! We found that cork cutting boards made more sense and are better for your knives too.

Linda says

November 17, 2014 at 7:50 pm

A Dutch oven has been on my short list for quite awhile.I teach Family& Consumer Science and have been replacing baking pans with stainless steel over the years.I cannot use bamboo there because of the necessity of relying on students to wash cutting boards or put them in the dishwasher.I love reading about the new products you introduce!

Michele says

November 17, 2014 at 11:49 am

I've used Tupperware for decades and have been a (very casual, mostly for my family's and my own benefit) consultant for several years and as I understand it all of Tupperware's microwave-use containers are free from all known-to-be-harmful chemicals. I think plastic in general gets a bad rap, or at least a worse rap than it deserves, and Tupperware is a higher quality plastic than what you will find in department stores. Also, with its lifetime guarantee, combined with special price offers, it is a better investment. Glass is fine, except that it is heavy, takes up more room in my EXTREMELY limited cabinet space as well as my dishwasher, is harder to get a liquid-tight or air-tight seal, and can chip and break. (Even if it doesn't break, if you drop it on your foot, it hurts a LOT.) I'm not asking you to promote Tupperware; I just had to speak up in its defense. I love the way the products help me on my journey to better eating. (I even got the cookware through a combination of rewards and discounts and use it just as you describe your dutch oven, except I am able to wash it thoroughly between uses, unlike cast iron which is why I could never bring myself to use that.) Thanks. :)

Tracey says

November 16, 2014 at 8:56 pm

Always looking for new healthier ways to cook, store, and serve whole foods! Thanks for the info.

Sharon says

November 16, 2014 at 1:47 am

I love my Dutch Oven too. I've been using it for over 20 years for everything. And I have a cast iron fry pan with "ripples" in the bottom. Great for adding char marks to meat or sandwiches & keeps any moisture away if you want a crispy coating on a cutlet!!

Meg says

November 15, 2014 at 4:43 pm

the Bees wrap is intriguing. I love the idea of reusable food wrap! I'd love to try some.

Rust says

November 15, 2014 at 1:33 pm

I have a mini Cuisinart processor that is one of my most handiest kitchen tools.

Annie says

November 15, 2014 at 1:19 pm

Many Ceramic cookware had Cadmium and Lead in it from the color it has been painted , or the clay etc.
Have you checked about this ceramic Pizza stone?

Never heard about the Bee's Wrap,. Sounds Awesome..Will have to buy it.

- Amy Taylor (comment moderator) says
  
  November 17, 2014 at 5:48 pm
  
  Hi Annie. It does state that it is free of both. :)
  
Kayla says

November 15, 2014 at 9:04 am

I have a dutch oven that I received from my mom a year ago. I love it and got rid of most of my pots and pans after reading about toxic materials used to make them. I love the idea of a ceramic pizza stone.

Julie Mansius says

November 15, 2014 at 8:30 am

A friend gave me Bees Wrap as a gift and it's fantastic! Your cheese will never sweat again. It's also easy to clean.

Tricia says

November 14, 2014 at 9:19 pm

I love my bamboo cutting board!!! The ceramic pizza stone is intriguing....also love my cast iron dutch oven...

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