Nontoxic Cookware Basics
One question I get rather often is what do I use to cook with! Now I am certainly no expert about non toxic cookware, but have researched some over the years and have found it helpful to stick to the following materials: stainless steel, silicone, cast iron, enamel cast iron, and glass. As far as utensils for cooking, I use mainly silicone and wood, using stainless steel utensils occasionally.
It’s best to avoid aluminum, non-stick coatings, or teflon. I love checking thrift stores for the below materials, but I have linked my Amazon Favorites Shop at the end of the post for convenience. Ordering online can be helpful when you aren’t sure of the material at the thrift store.
Look for cookware made with these materials:
Cast iron—a well-seasoned cast iron pan is great for meats, veggies, burgers, potatoes…pretty much anything you need to sear, sauté, or fry (and will rival non-stick for eggs when cared for properly) Note: unless well seasoned, acidic foods such as tomato sauces will cause more leaching of iron into the food.
Stainless steel—great for pan-roasting, stir frying, and sautéing. Look for nickel-free stainless steel if you plan on using it for acidic foods, like tomatoes, as nickel will leach into the food. Heavy duty, nickel-free stainless steel will have the number 18/0 printed on it. “18” meaning chromium and the second number meaning nickel.
Enameled Cast Iron or Steel—awesome for roasting, braising, stewing, and sauces. Note: there is a new class of enameled cast iron known as “non-stick” enameled cast iron. Of this writing, we’d recommend avoiding this due to the concerns about non-stick coatings listed above.
Glass—while not a great conductor of heat, glass cookware (verify it is lead free with manufacturer) is great for baked foods and water-based cooking.**
In my opinion, your kitchen must have a dutch oven, cast iron skillet, and stainless steel set of pots and pans. I use these more than any other cookware.
I have several of my favorite nontoxic cookware items as well as food storage and cooking utensils linked in my Kitchen Amazon Shop. I have a couple “non-stick” options listed. Though they are not “best” I do consider them “better” if you’re still looking for a non-stick option. They are made with a ceramic non-stick that is manufactured without PFAS, PFOA, lead, and cadmium. The coating is said to not blister, peel or release any harmful fumes, even if you accidentally overheat your pan. Using silicone spatulas when using these products is best so you do not scratch the surface.