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

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.