When it comes to healthy cooking, what you cook your food on is as important as the food you’re eating. If you’re cooking healthy foods, but the cookware you’re using leeches harmful chemicals into the food, you could be partially negating the positive effects of the food.
The good news is that nontoxic cookware that’s safe and healthy can last you forever. Most pieces, if properly maintained, can even be passed down through the generations. Purchasing nontoxic cookware is a great investment in your health and is also smart financially.
Today I want to share with you the three basic pieces I’d choose if I was building my cookware collection from scratch. These are the three pieces I would get if I could only have three pieces in my kitchen. Just about every cooking task you need to get done in the kitchen can be done if you have these three nontoxic cookware pieces.
The 3 Essential Nontoxic Cookware Pieces for a Safe and Healthy Kitchen
This pan can replace your nonstick pans that are coated with a synthetic polymer known as PTFE. This coating breaks apart over high heat and emits toxic fumes. {Side note: if you must cook with nonstick cookware that you already have, please make sure you do so at lower temperatures to avoid overheating and allowing the PTFE to break down.} Cast iron is known as the natural nonstick option and the more you cook with it, the more “seasoned” it becomes, and the more nonstick it becomes. No, it isn’t exactly like the synthetic nonstick, but it’s a more natural option that is safe and healthy. Cast iron pans can also easily go from stovetop to oven and are known to heat very evenly.
All-Clad Stainless Steel Saucepan
When I was getting married and looking to register for some cookware, I was lost. I turned to my dad, who owned a restaurant and loves to cook. He suggested stainless steel for its safety and longevity. I went with All-Clad and have been extremely happy with my pots and pans. I use my saucepan pretty much daily. It’s a staple that every kitchen needs.
Le Creuset Enameled Cast Iron Dutch Oven
You guys have probably seen pictures of my yellow Dutch oven in many posts. I love this piece and use it all the time. It’s huge and very heavy! I use it for soups and stews, one-pot dinners, beans, roasting whole chickens, risotto, and more. You can even use this to bake bread!
So these are the three pieces I think are essential to have and all are nontoxic, safe, and healthy. Sure, I have a lot more than this (I love to cook!), but if I had to strip it down, these are the pieces I’d keep.
Cookware to Avoid
This is all well and good, but what if you aren’t sure if what you already have is safe? There are two main types of cookware I recommend avoiding. The first I already mentioned, which is nonstick cookware that is coated with Teflon. The second material I recommend avoiding is aluminum. Aluminum is cheap, but it’s also a known neurotoxin, so avoiding it as much as possible is advisable.
Remember, these nontoxic cookware pieces are not only safe and healthy, they are also investment pieces that will last forever if you take care of them. Buy purchasing nontoxic cookware, you’re making the best choice for your family and the environment.
November is the Healthy Home Challenge and I’m bringing you as many ideas as I can to help you detox your home. Check out this post for more ideas!
What’s your favorite nontoxic cookware piece? Let me know in the comments!
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Maryea, I love this post and I too use stainless steel pots and pans (and the Instant Pot for slow cooking because it has a stainless steel insert, unlike most slow cookers). However, how about baking sheets/cake pans/muffin tins? Which of those do you use?
That’s a great question! I use glass or ceramic bakeware when possible. I do have some coated/aluminum baking pieces, so when I need to use them I use a barrier. With my muffin tins, for example, I use silicone baking cups. I will use parchment paper if I use my other baking pans for bars/brownies. It’s been a learning process and journey of slowing replacing those items I’ve had for years and didn’t realize what they were made of and the dangers. My baking sheets are commercial half sheets that my parents gave me when their restaurant closed, and those are stainless steel. I hope this helps! 🙂
This is a great article. Cookware safety is very important and it’s amazing to see people become more and more aware of this, because no matter how healthy, organic or clean one’s ingredients are, the meal will never be 100% healthy if it’s cooked in toxic-filled cookware. People often focus on the source and type of ingredients and neglect to check the safety of the cookware and containers they’re actually putting those ingredients in.
Thank you, Becca!
I love my cast iron skillets!! I have them in 3 sizes. I just wish they weren’t so heavy so I can convince my mom to use them too.
Your article is beautifully written, informative, and the photography is knock out-top level.
I am really not convinced with the “non-toxic” cookware listed here. i used to think the same few years ago but then I did the alkaline baking soda test my metal and ceramic pots and pans, was surprised to find that all leached into food. I was shocked to know what I have been feeding my family. Iwent through this process with my friend and she discovered pure clay cookware. I did some more research and bought pure clay pots from MEC as they do not use any chemicals glazes for finishing. I can proudly say this was one of the best choices I made for my health. My family loves the way food cooked in these pots tastes.
Interesting. Thanks for sharing.