Kitchen Recommendations

We wholeheartedly recommend the products we list on this page. We have purchased many of the items on this page ourselves and use them on a daily or weekly basis!

*See disclosures here.

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Our four favorite, non-toxic materials for the kitchen are: glass, stainless steel, seasoned cast iron and wood. We also have some silicone pieces, and cotton finds a home in our kitchen as well. We try to avoid non-stick, ceramic, porcelain, and plastic where we can. We do not do this perfectly, of course, and there are a few places where we have make compromises for the greater good – for example, we appreciate our refrigerator!

Note: For any wood products, you ideally want to use sustainably harvested, unfinished, naturally-sealed wood that is cut from a single piece (aka not pieces of wood glued together). This goes for everything from cutting boards to plates to spoons. For any stainless steel products, our understanding is that you ideally want to use 18/8 or 18/10. Click here or here for more details on the different types of stainless steel. When it comes to general product safety, we recommend looking through the product investigations by Mamavation and the lead testing results by Lead Safe Mama.

Check out the categories below to see what we recommend for an eco-friendly kitchen!

Dinnerware

• Glass plates and bowls – Duralex (MightyNest link here). We have their 11 inch plates, dessert plates, and both small and large bowls. Duralex’s items are microwave and dishwasher safe, and their glass is scratch and chip-resistant, 2x more than traditional glass! Their products are sold on Amazon, but for more information about the company itself, check out their website (linked at the bottom of this page under their logo). Click here to visit the shop.

• Wood plates – From Jennifer (Etsy link here). Handmade in the USA from solid maple wood and finished with natural oil. This company sells animal shaped plates, as well as rectangular plates and small circular plates. Each plate has one side with rounded out edges (for holding food) and the opposite side is flat and can be used as a cutting board. Talk about a kitchen workhorse! We own two of their rectangular plates, as well as a chicken shaped plate and a whale shaped plate. You can purchase this family’s products through their website or through Etsy.
  • While we do not have personal experience with the brand Palumba, we have received good feedback about the quality and give the materials a thumbs up.

• Wood bowls – These are a lot harder to come by. We have a set that was purchased from our registry, but they are finished so we do not feel comfortable recommending them. We suggest checking out the company Palumba (mentioned earlier, linked here) if you are interested in switching to wood bowls.

• Glass drinking glasses – Mason jars make great drinking glasses and are multipurpose. Can your garden goods in them, use them to corral pens and pencils at a desk…the list could go on and on. If mason jars are not quite your style, Duralex has some more traditional options.
  • Hosting friends or family? Check out this article on eco-friendly ways to label drinking glasses to tell them apart.

• Glass mugs – Duralex (see links above). Safe to reheat that coffee or tea in!

• Stainless steel bottles/cups – Kleen Kanteen. Ideally, if there is a lid, it should be plastic-free (here is a good example), and the outside of the bottle should be free of designs and coating (look for brushed or polished stainless steel). The main things to consider are what is touching the liquid and what is touching your lips. If having a bottle that filters your water is important, check out Clearly Filtered here.

Eating Utensils, Knives and Straws

The two main materials we see for eating utensils and knives are stainless steel and wood. See our notes at the top of this recommendation page for details on the type of wood and stainless steel we prefer for our kitchen products. Bamboo (technically not a wood, but a grass!) is another common material in world of eco-friendly cutlery. We have a few sets of bamboo utensils for our son, and Erica has a to-go set for her purse. That being said, we prefer to use stainless steel on a daily basis (for adults and older children) in our home.

• Stainless steel forks, knives, and spoons – We have this set by Dansk, made from 18/10 stainless steel.

• Stainless steel knife set – We have a block set from J.A. Henckels that has held up very well to almost daily wear-and-tear since we got married in 2014. Before purchasing knives, it is good to consider: 1) what type of knives do you need (re: function, like steak knives, serrated knives, etc.) and 2) does it make more sense to buy each piece and curate your own set or to buy a pre-made set? Do not feel pressured to buy all.the.things just because you see others doing so. Get what you need! And in case you want to learn more, here is a good article explaining the differences in chef knives.

• Straws – Glass, bamboo, stainless steel. We have tried them all. Glass broke on us even though it was not “supposed to.” Bamboo straws taste, well, like bamboo. Not a particularly appealing flavor addition to your smoothies. Stainless steel straws get the job done, but they conduct heat. If your teeth are sensitive to cold or heat, these straws may not be ideal. Another point to consider is whether or not kids will be around. We have read some concerns related to hard straws and children tripping…not a good situation. So what is our recommendation? Opt out of using straws, or if they really add to your life, try a silicone straw like this one or these.

Kitchen Tools and Accessories

• Stainless Steel (no nonstick or plastic parts) – Norpro, Dash of That and All Clad. We bought our Norpro items (in this category and others on this page) through Amazon and Azure Standard. We bought our Dash of That items from our local Kroger, but it looks like this brand is also sold at many of the stores which are a part of the Kroger Co. Family. Although we do not own any All Clad cooking or baking utensils, we have used them and give their stainless steel options a thumbs up. If your budget permits, All Clad provides a good “one-stop shop” for stainless steel items in general.
  • Some of the most used stainless steel tools and accessories in our kitchen are our:
    • Dash of That turner (good for flipping pancakes, scoop up baked goods off oven trays);
    • Dash of That ladle (we use ours multiple times a week for soups, pasta, and more); and
    • Norpro scraper/chopper (use this to cut dough, chop veggies, slice pies, and more).
  • To peruse All Clad‘s stainless steel kitchen accessories and tools, click here.

• Wood – While looking into wood kitchen tools and accessories, Erica found Polder’s Old World Market. Their truly exquisite pieces are definitely pricey, but each piece comes with a lifetime warranty, and their sourcing, materials, and craftsmanship all get thumbs up from us. When we mentioned possibly buying some items from Polder’s, Erica’s uncle offered to hand carve us a few pieces. He made us two turners and a spoon, all made with love and with a smile carved into the handle. So special! Unfortunately we do not have a link to share for those! If we were to purchase any more wood items, we would definitely look into Polder’s again.
  • There may be more affordable options out there, so do not feel like wood is off limits if Polder’s is not currently in the budget. Just remember to look for sustainably harvested, unfinished, naturally sealed wood that is carved from a single piece.
  • What about bamboo? Compared to typical hard woods like maple or cherry, bamboo comes in second for us. However, we still like bamboo and think it is a much better option than plastic/nonstick items. The brand Bambu makes affordable, organic bamboo kitchen tools that also get used frequently in our home.

• Glass
  • Measuring cup – Anchor Hocking. We have the one cup and two cup size and use both frequently; depending on how often/what you cook or bake, a set of measuring cups (e.g. 1/4, 1/3, 1/2, and 1 cup) may deem these larger glass ones redundant for your kitchen. We prefer to have the markings etched in the glass rather than stuck on the surface.
  • Cutting board – We have a set of glass cutting boards that get frequent use at our house. Unfortunately we do not know the brand, but these from Amazon look good. Glass and wood (one solid piece–no glue, unstained) are our two recommendations for cutting boards. Glass is nice because you can put it in the dishwasher and sanitize it, so we like using it when working with raw meat. From Jennifer’s wooden plates (mentioned earlier) can also double as cutting boards if you’re in the market for an affordable wooden option.

• Other: Mortar and pestle – Ours is made out of marble, and we do not have a link. Use your best discretion for this kitchen accessory. It may not be necessary for every kitchen. We use ours for the occasional grinding of herbs and spices (like clove buds).

Cookware

• Stainless steel (no nonstick coating) – Calphalon (click here) or All Clad (click here). We personally have a stainless steel pot and pan set from Calphalon, but Erica also has experience cooking with All Clad. Both brands’ stainless steel lines have our seal of approval. Keep in mind that a set is not always necessary, as some pieces may be excess for your everyday cooking needs. Buying only the pieces you need not only reduces kitchen clutter, but it also allows you to keep costs down. We recommend checking out the cooking section of stores like T.J. Maxx or Ross to snag these brands for a discounted price.

• Seasoned cast iron – Lodge (linked here). Skillets, dutch ovens, griddles and presses…there are a lot of options for cooking in seasoned cast iron. This brand has a reputation for durability, safety and affordability. We own a seasoned cast iron skillet from Lodge and like to rotate through using it along with our stainless steel skillets. We also have a dutch oven and griddle from Lodge and a seasoned cast iron waffle maker from Lehman’s.

Bakeware

• Stainless steel – Norpro, Team Far, Fox Run, or All Clad.
  • Baking sheets from Norpro (we have three of these 11 inch pans; great for sheet pan dinners, baking cookies, heating up veggies, sheet pan pancakes, and more).
    • How to keep food from sticking: We typically drizzle and spread olive oil over the pan to keep things from sticking, but if you need to line your pans, we recommend using something like this unbleached parchment paper.
    Loaf pan from Norpro (we have two of these).
  • Muffin pan from Fox Run (we have two of these, and while not really necessary–after all, you can just bake something whole and then cut it up to portion it–we appreciate having these pans on hand).
  • Set of mixing bowls from All Clad (these were purchased from our wedding registry)
  • To peruse All Clad‘s other stainless steel bakeware, click here and then here. (We do not own any but give these items a thumbs up.)

• Seasoned cast iron – Lodge.

• Glass – Anchor Hocking. You can find their products on Amazon, their website, and even sometimes at stores like T.J. Maxx or Ross for a discounted price! The items we list below can be used for baking meals, breads and sweet treats, as well as for storing and heating up leftovers. Some items are sold with plastic lids. For our family, this compromise makes sense because it allows us to store food in the containers themselves without using any plastic wrap. If you are uncomfortable with this use of plastic, you may want to try out beeswax wrap like this or silicone covers like this. Depending on the food stored within, an organic cotton cover like this may also do the job.
  • Pie dish (we own 3 mini and 2 regular; the minis are great for pre-portioning food like Shepherd’s Pie or cornbread).
  • Baking dish (we own two of each size: 9×9 and 9×13).
  • Batter bowl (use as a mixing bowl, a storage container for homemade pancake mix, and more).
  • Casserole dish with glass cover (we own 2; these are so handy for hosting family and friends for meals).
  • Rectangular and square food storage containers (we use these for baking AND for food storage).

Food Storage and Prep

• Glass – Anchor Hocking and Mason jars. See information for Anchor Hocking under “Bakeware.” We really appreciate that our Anchor Hocking food storage/prep containers double as bakeware. This makes for less wasted space and more versatility. Same goes for the Mason jars!

• Stainless steel – ECOlunchbox, LunchBots, and To-Go Ware. We have a mix of brands of stainless steel food storage containers, all mostly sandwich size and smaller. We appreciate how light they are compared to glass, but do keep in mind that you cannot reheat food in stainless steel. There are some options on the market for insulated stainless steel containers. In our experience, these seem to work best for light or more viscous foods like pastas and soups.

• Alternate lid/cover options for food storage – In a pinch, we have been known to use a flat plate or a cotton towel with a rubber band to cover a bowl of leftovers. Necessity is the father of invention! That being said, if your budget permits, the following options may be more helpful to have on hand:
  • Beeswax wraps – Bees Wrap. We have tried these before but are not big fans. We have a hard time getting a good seal. Some people rave about them though, so we have included them here in case they are of interest.
  • Silicone stretch covers – ModFamily. We have a set of their circular covers. They are so handy for covering bowls, pans, and even sealing foods themselves like apples or onions. Full disclosure: we do not know much about how ModFamily makes their silicone, so there may be better alternatives out there. Definitely reach out and let us know if you find a better brand!
  • Organic cotton covers – Aplat. This brand meets our standards for materials, craftsmanship and sustainability, and these covers are great for bowls whose contents can handle a little bit of air flow.

Small Appliances

• French press – We have a single-cup French press from Bonjor similar to this one. We like that our coffee is held in glass and strained through stainless steel mesh, although there are some plastic pieces. If you want to be really fancy, we found this completely plastic-free French press that is also double-walled for insulation.

Large Appliances

• Instant Pot – This one appliance has taken the place of multiple others in our home. We use ours as a pressure cooker, rice cooker, slow cooker, and more. The inner pot is stainless steel, and the inside of the lid is stainless steel with a silicone sealing ring. This means our food does not come into any contact with any plastic or nonstick coating! Our top five uses for our Instant Pot are: making rice, slow cooking pot roasts, pressure cooking chili, pressure cooking potatoes, and pressure cooking dried beans. This is the specific model we own (purchased back in 2019 and still going strong). We also have a second inner pot for when we need to cook more than one thing, one right after the other. Our Instant Pot is hands down the most used large kitchen appliance we own (outside of our toaster oven which we often use in place of our actual oven)!

• Vitamix – We have a regular container and a dry goods container. Both containers are plastic, but they allow us to make homemade foods, so we are happy to make this compromise. We also know our food is not spending much time in these containers. We use our Vitamix to make smoothies, soups, condiments, grind our own flours and coffee beans, and more.

• KitchenAid Stand Mixer – This appliance is certainly not a need, but it does make cooking and baking easier. Zack bought Erica a glass bowl model a few years into their marriage. She has since cracked it and replaced it with a stainless steel bowl. We mainly use our mixer for mashing potatoes and mixing various doughs (e.g. muffin, bread, cupcake). It can also be used to shred cooked meats like chicken and pork. In the future, we may consider buying attachments that would allow us to grind our own meat, make our own pasta and grind our own flour.

Cleaning and Linens

Below are the brands we are currently using and enjoying for cleaning around the kitchen:

• Dish soap – Branch Basics concentrate (we use their spray bottle with All Purpose dilution; $10 off for new customers using this link) and Earthy Browns liquid Castile/olive oil soap (we purchase a gallon about once or twice a year for all our liquid soap needs).

• Dishwasher detergent and rinse – Azure Standard’s “Azure Clean Automatic Dishwasher Powder” for detergent, along with their organic apple cider vinegar in the rinse compartment. We purchase the dishwasher powder in bulk (their 8 lb bottle lasts us about a year) and the ACV in gallon jugs (since we use them for many things around the home and homestead). If you prefer or need to hand wash dishes, we recommend Branch Basics!

• Counters and appliance spray – Branch Basics (spray bottle with All Purpose dilution; see link above).

• Linens – We look for 100% cotton washcloths for cleaning + a paper towel replacement (Costco has been a good price point for us) and 100% cotton hand towels for drying hands + dishes. In an ideal world, we could find organic cotton, made in USA ones that we like, but we have not found any yet. For cloth napkins, we are still using sets made for us by a family friend as a wedding gift! We have also added to our stash by purchasing 100% cotton ones from World Market. Not perfect, but they have held up well and are affordable. Tablecloths are a bit harder for us to come by, as the table Zack built is over ten feet long! So far we have made do with a giant 100% cotton, linen-colored drop cloth + a set of red organic cotton tablecloths from Pottery Barn. As you can see, our main goal is 100% natural fabrics for all of our cloth products!