How to Have a Plastic Free Kitchen! Learn the Essentials Necessary to Maintain a Plastic Free Kitchen and the Benefits Too.(2021)

How to Have a Plastic Free Kitchen! Learn the Essentials Necessary to Maintain a Plastic Free Kitchen and the Benefits Too.(2021)

Plastics, in general, are hazardous, having them in the kitchen is thus not a good idea. While you might be wondering where to store food items or how to replace the plastic utensils, you need to worry not, as this catalogue will guide you through exemplary kitchen items you can acquire as well as how to have a plastic-free kitchen.

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A Plastic Free Kitchen: An Eco-friendly and Healthy Choice

As they say, “too much of anything is bad”, this applies to plastic as well. Plastic, since its invention in the 1860s, has been used by mankind for making life easier and comfortable. So much so, that life without plastic seems almost impossible in the 21st century. Look around! In your house, in the office, gym, school, public places, you’ll find umpteen items made of plastic or items in which plastic is used in one or the other way. Use of plastic furniture, bathroom items, laundry basket, etc, is okay up to some extent as most of these items are long-lasting and wouldn’t pose any direct harm to your health. However, the use of plastic in the kitchen is an unhealthy trend which many people are following simply because of their unawareness about the health risks involved. Moreover, the masses prefer storing food items in plastic containers as they are cheap, lightweight, and available in many beautiful colors.

However, what people don’t realize is that the use of so much plastic is not good for the environment and certainly not for their own health. Have you ever noticed the difference in smell and taste of water when you drink from a plastic glass and when you drink in a steel or glass tumbler! Food packed in plastic containers or bags are prone to change in smell, this won’t taste natural. Moreover, the chemicals present in the plastic may leave toxic traces that can mix with the food particles and are hazardous for your health. Plastic has a component called BPA which is a serious threat to our well-being and even the BPA-free plastic bottles, containers, or tableware aren’t fully safe to store or consume food.

How to have a Plastic Free Kitchen: Changes that will Help You Reduce Plastic in Your Kitchen

If we keep using plastic at the current pace, we’ll find more plastic in the oceans than fishes by the year 2050. And, we all are witnessing the increasing pollution levels and global warming issues. To have a plastic-free kitchen is not only good for your well being, but you also provide your little contribution to a greener and cleaner planet. Now let’s check a few tips which can guide you to have a plastic-free kitchen.

  • Use Earthen Pots for Storing Water – Time to bid goodbye to those plastic containers, bottles, etc, in which you store your drinking water. Try to use the earthen pots that are made from 100% natural clay and also add a nice earthen smell into your drinking water. What more, they are economic and long-lasting if handled carefully. Not only are these earthen pots eco-friendly, but storing water in these clay pots comes with added health benefits due to the various minerals and vitamins which include - maintaining the PH balance, improving digestion, boost metabolism, and prevents sunstrokes. Clean your pot every alternate day and refill fresh water.

  • Use Copper Jugs in place of Water Bottles – Copper is known to have various health benefits and replacing your plastic jugs with Copper Jugs is a wise idea. Drinking water that is kept in a copper vessel for at least 6 to 48 hours has many medicinal benefits due to the anti-carcinogenic, antioxidant, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory properties. Few benefits include – aids digestion, helps heal wounds faster, aid weight loss, good for heart health, protects from infection, reduces the risk of cancer, boosts metabolism, and slows down aging.

  • Buy Mason Jars to Store Spices, Condiments and Grains – You can either invest in new mason jars or use the pickle jars, jam jars, or jars received with other staples. These are BPA and chemical-free and doesn’t leach any chemical or odor in your food items. You can store grains, flours, seeds, spices, smoothies, or salad dressings in these jars if you’re looking for an eco-friendly storage option.

  • Use Stainless Steel Containers for All Grocery Items – You will get stainless steel containers in various shapes, designs, and models in which you can keep grain, pulses, flour, rice, sugar, and other staples. These containers are expensive as compared to plastic containers, but won’t leave any chemical or odor in your food items. Moreover, they are long-lasting and durable, thus a good and useful investment for your kitchen if you’re concerned about glass containers breaking easily.

  • Use Cotton Reusable Bags for Storing Vegetables and Fruits – Ditch the plastic bags in which you store your fruits, vegetables, etc in the fridge or in the kitchen and replace them with eco-friendly cotton bags that are reusable, washable, and long-lasting. You can also take them along to the market while you head to the grocery and vegetable market as they are available in many attractive designs. These bags are breathable, thus your veggies will remain fresh for a longer time in the fridge.

  • Add in Wooden Containers and Utensils – Wooden containers and utensils add natural warmth and an earthen look to your kitchen. You can keep your spices, pulses, and other food staples in wooden boxes as they won’t change the flavor of your food items, nor would they leave any odor like plastic containers. Wooden spatulas, plates, spoons, plates, and roti dabbas look presentable, beautiful, and sober, and being durable they can be kept for years. Another addition to this family can be products made from bamboo or cane-like fruit baskets, water bottles, cutlery, tray, and bowls, etc.

  • Silicone Storage Pouches – A great alternative to plastic bags for keeping that leftover food, the cut fruits, greens, or even those sliced chicken pieces. Silicone is BPA free, reusable, eco-friendly, and is safe for frozen as well as hot food items.

  • Ceramic Products – Ceramic is made by mixing various earthen elements, clay, and different powders to prepare a soft mixture that can be molded into different shapes and then are heated at high temperatures to solidify them. The vessels, pots, crockery, etc made of ceramic are free of any type of chemicals and you can eat hot or cold food in them without any worry plus they are eco-friendly and aesthetic.

  • Dish Brushes – Why only containers and cutlery, you can get rid of the plastic cleaning brushes and scrubbers as well, and replace them with eco-friendly items made from jute and bamboo. While you’re cleaning your dishes, cutlery, and containers with a plastic brush, tiny plastic particles may remain in them if not washed properly.

  • Avoid food packed in single-use plastic – Food items that come in single-use packaging are generally packed in single-use plastic and these containers are made from the lowest quality of plastic, thus not a very good option from the health point of view. Avoid packaged water, soft drinks, pre-prepared food, pickles, sauce, and packaged vegetables, etc, which are available in such packaging.

You can take ideas from the above-mentioned points and choose products for you which aren’t too expensive, but made from natural and eco-friendly material and can replace the plastic items in your kitchen.

Its Takes Effort: Why You Need to Stop Using Plastic in the Kitchen

Plastic is a disastrous substance for the environment as most of the plastic produced is non-recyclable (only 9% is recycled), and a simple plastic bag can take years to decompose in the soil, and even after decomposition it leaves a lot of chemicals in the soil and degrade the quality of the soil. Plastic has dangerous chemicals which are hazardous to human life. Few of these chemicals include BPA, which is a chemical known to result in health complications like infant brain and reproductive problems, and neonatal disorders.

Moreover, the products which are marketed as ‘BPA free’ contain two common replacements which are – BPS and BPF, and may have similar effects as BPA. Studies reveal that BPS can cause problems like disruption of cell functioning, while both BPS and BPF are linked to childhood obesity. There are other chemicals in plastic, the effects of which are still under research and the results till now are concerning. Another chemical exposure happens to food items when they are heated in microwave-safe plastic containers as the heat in the microwave can break down polypropylene and polyethylene, which can leach various chemicals into your food. Thus, there are various, known as well as unknown risks associated with using plastic items in your kitchen.

Plastic Free Kitchen Products

For your convenience, we have chosen a few products which will help you to have a plastic-free kitchen.

Kurtzy Airtight Glass Jar Storage

Source www.amazon.in

The airtight glass jars by Kurtzy comes with a buckle clip lid to keep them locked and airtight. You can store different staples like cloves, pulses, grams, etc, and pantry items like tea, coffee, sugar, salt, dry fruits, or nuts in these beautiful jars. Each jar has a capacity of 200 ml and a set of 6 glass jars is available for Rs. 899 on Amazon.

Reusable Silicone Storage Pouch

These silicone storage bag by Ada are microwave safe, dishwasher safe, and freezer safe. They are made of 100% platinum grade silicone and are safe to store meat, snacks, vegetables, fruits, milk, or leftover food. Pack of 2 Ada silicone storage pouch is listed on Flipkart for Rs. 399.

Handmade Earthen Clay Dinner Set

The rusty look of this handmade earthen clay dinner set will definitely add some natural shade to your kitchen. The server set is crafted using the age-old terracotta pottery method and has a smooth finish for an appealing look. You can purchase this clay dinner set from Unravel India for Rs. 499.

Steel Canisters Containers with lid for Kitchen Storage

Source www.amazon.in

These stainless steel containers by EBun are available in different sizes and the 9 boxes have a capacity of 850 gm, 1,200 gm, 1,400 gm, 1,950 gm, 2.5 kg, 3,200 gm, 4 kg, 5 kg, and 6 kg respectively. The containers have heavy gauge mirror polish and have a see-through window made of acrylic to easily recognize the staples without opening the containers. These containers can be stored inside each other when not in use and the nickel and chromium polish make them corrosion free and long-lasting. You can own the set of 9 containers for Rs. 5,188 from Amazon.

Cello H2O Stainless Steel Water Bottle

Source www.amazon.in

This stainless steel H2O by Cello is a fridge bottle that can be a useful plastic-free substitute for storing drinking water. The steel water bottle is made of 100% food-grade material and is odorless, BPA-free, and fridge safe. These leak-proof bottles can be purchased for Rs. 430 per piece from Amazon.

Fridge Bags for Vegetables (100% Cotton)

These multipurpose fridge bags are made from 100% pure cotton, are eco-friendly and breathable, thus keep your veggies and fruits fresh and nutritious in the fridge for a longer time. The bags have a drawstring closure and a set of 4 bags can be ordered from Qtrove for Rs. 384.

Reusable Silicone Stretch Lids - Set of 6

The set of these reusable stretch lids are made of food-grade silicone which is soft, durable, and non-toxic. The six lids are of different sizes to suit your needs and you can cover bowls, cups, and even fruits with these stretchable lids. The dishwasher, microwave, and freezer safe lids can be purchased from Pra Pra Kart for Rs. 399.

Wooden Spice Box with 9 Container

This stylish wooden spice box comes with nine different containers to keep your spices handy for everyday use and is made of Sheesham wood. The dimensions of the box are 8-inch x 8-inch x 2 inches, weighs 700 gm, and has a glass lid to view your spices. You also get a wooden spoon along with the container and this product is available for Rs. 499 at Handicrafts Goods.

Plastic Free Kitchen Cleaners Combo

Clean your kitchen utensils and bottles the eco-friendly way with this plastic-free kitchen cleaner combo that consists of 3 natural bristles bottle cleaning brushes and 3 natural dishwasher scrubs. You can order this kitchen cleaner set from Brown Living for Rs. 357.

Blue Whale Salt & Pepper Cellar

Time to throw away that old salt and pepper shakers made of plastic into the bin and order the Blue Whale designed salt and pepper cellar which are made from ceramic and would enhance the aesthetics of your dining table. This attractive set of Blue Whale Salt & Pepper Cellar is available on Chumbak for Rs. 595.

Writer
Rahul Banerji
Rahul began his stint as a freelance writer after working in the corporate world for ten years. He enjoys writing on various topics and is an avid blogger. His interest in science, technology, politics, current affairs and the latest trends helps him to back his writing with well researched facts. Rahul finds solace in gadgets, nature and spirituality.
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From our editorial team

Shun from using Plastic Kitchen Items and have Your Kitchen Plastic Free

As mentioned above, plastic is dangerous, as it contains some harmful chemicals such as the BPA, BPF and BPS and many others. These chemicals are harmful to your health. For this reason, replacing them with safe and eco-friendly items would be the best way to go. You can replace the plastic items with ceramic, silicon, steel or even wooden utensils that are user friendly. Some great suggestions have been provided to help you keep your kitchen plastic free.