Be Well Living /
The Master List: Everything in My Minimal + Non-Toxic Kitchen

November 19, 2024

We’re setting up our kitchens for healthy living success!

The reality is, healthy eating is made possible by cooking. And healthy cooking is a whole lot easier when you have an uncluttered kitchen with highly effective, top-quality, non-toxic tools.

After years in the kitchen, I’ve landed on my tried-and-true workhorse appliances, favorite prep tools, and clean cookware. Let’s see exactly what I use (and what I surprisingly don’t!)...

Please note, this page contains affiliate links, which means I may make a small commission at no additional cost to you if you purchase a recommended product via the link.

My kitchen philosophy:

I’m all about a mighty but minimal setup. I want my kitchen to feel intentional, uncluttered, and inviting. My kitchen is pretty lean, and I only keep the things that hit all the marks:

No toxic materials
High quality construction
Only the things I actually use

Your kitchen needs to work for you. And while it’s tempting to think you need every little gadget, that just leaves you with overcrowded drawers and a difficult time finding what you actually want. We all know what it’s like to have a yogurt maker or specialized herb chopper take up space for months without being touched. Now is the time to reevaluate, donate, and start fresh!

The materials I use and why I use them:

I’m super picky about the materials I use in my kitchen, and you should be, too! By choosing the right materials, you can easily avoid exposure to harmful toxins. Many of the things in your kitchen, such as cookware or water bottles, are used daily. This means a simple swap without much effort can drastically reduce daily exposure to toxins!

My favorite non-toxic materials:

Stainless Steel - It’s not corrosive. It’s easy to wipe clean, and (best of all?!) can be thrown into the dishwasher. I go with stainless steel for everything from kids cups and plates to tools like my garlic press.
Cast Iron and/or Enameled Cast Iron - While the upkeep on cast iron can be a little tricky, enameled cast iron doesn’t require seasoning or any extra steps. Enameled cast iron is a heavy duty material, perfect for a deep skillet or Dutch oven that might be used for soups, stews, roasts, or even sourdough bread-baking.
Glass - Inexpensive and easy to find, glass is great for mixing bowls, baking/bread pans, and casserole dishes. I use a glass 9x13 pan for roasting meats and veggies all the time.
Natural Wood - As long as it’s not treated with harsh chemicals or stains, natural wood is an excellent option for things like cutting boards, cooking utensils, and big salad bowls.
Silicone - There can be some controversy over the non-toxic nature of silicone, so I suggest never using it for baking or hot items (when its materials are more likely to leach into your food). I don’t have a ton of silicone, but a few key silicone items I like to have on hand are my Stasher bags and a few kid-friendly prep tools.
Carbon Steel - I’m including carbon steel as a safe non-toxic material, but I don’t have any personal experience with it. If you love it, then absolutely keep it!

The materials I avoid and why I avoid them:

Many materials commonly found in the kitchen should be avoided, as they’ve been found to contain harmful chemicals. These chemicals can transfer into your food and ultimately be ingested. The good news is, once you know the materials to avoid, you can easily steer clear of them with cleaner alternatives!

Kitchen materials I avoid:

Teflon and/or Other Non Stick Finishes - At high temperatures, non stick coatings can break down, releasing toxic fumes into the air and chemicals into your food. Exposure to polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), such as those found in non stick coatings, has been linked with health issues like increased cancer incidence.
Aluminum and/or Other Metals (except stainless steel, cast iron) - Exposure to aluminum and other metals can result in heavy metal toxicity, which has especially negative effects on the brain and nervous system. Ditch the aluminum foil, aluminum cookware, and aluminum single-use pans.
Plastic - We now know that when ingested, microplastics can cause oxidative damage, DNA damage, and even gene activity changes. Plastic is almost unavoidable, but we can still make easy swaps to drastically reduce our exposure. Trade plastic tupperware for glass, use stainless steel plates and cups for kiddos instead of plastic, and drink out of a glass or stainless steel water bottle rather than plastic.

A few things I retired:

Caraway + Our Place pots and pans - Like all non stick pans, I found with both of these brands that unfortunately the coating broke down over time with a lot of use. So I’ve opted for more durable, non-toxic pans that will last a lifetime.
Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer Pro - While I really loved this device, it did have a coated interior lining, so when we moved to our new home, I didn't bring it with me.

What’s in my minimal + non-toxic kitchen:

Let’s get into the goods! My tried, true, and everyday must-haves for a healthy but breathable kitchen. Here’s what I regularly reach for:

Steam Oven: Technically not a small appliance, but my steam oven deserves the top spot as my kitchen’s MVP. It basically replaces a bunch of other small appliances, including the microwave. I can reheat food quickly and easily with a little bit of steam. Curious for more? Let me tell you why I love it.

Cookware, Pots, and Pans: Everything I cook in or on is made of stainless steel, enameled cast iron, or glass. I love my Williams Sonoma stainless steel line and All Clad stainless steel pieces. I have a couple Staub and Le Creuset enameled cast iron pieces, including a large dutch oven and a braiser. And I have the Smithey cast iron skillet, which is as gorgeous as it is functional. Other than that, just a couple of glass casserole dishes that I use for roasting meats and veggies.

Plug-In Appliances: You might be surprised at how few plug-in appliances I own! I only want to keep items that are multi-functional and/or used daily. This is my small but mighty team:

Vitamix blender with the food processor attachment and stainless steel pitcher - for everything from making Fab Four smoothies to nut milks to homemade dressing. The food processor attachment is perfect for shredding Brussels sprouts, making hummus, and throwing together an easy dip. The stainless steel pitcher allow me to blend hot soups without the worry of mixing hot foods with plastic containers.
Instant Pot with stainless steel insert - This appliance is so versatile and used often in my home. I love it for cooking meat quickly, but still making it tender. We also
Toaster - While I thought we could go without it, I finally caved for my boys who love to toast their sourdough bread and Birch Benders waffles. Turns out a toaster is more efficient and uses less electricity than my steam oven!
Breville Espresso Machine - I love a latte, like a LATTE. Still, coffee out is expensive, served in plastic-lined cups, and you can't control bean or milk quality. So for Christmas two years ago, Chris and I gifted ourselves this in lieu of other presents. It quickly paid for itself!
Coffee Grinder - Inexpensive from Amazon, but the main thing is that the interior is stainless steel.

Baking Sheets, Pans, Etc.: I have a few 100% stainless steel baking sheets that I use for everything from baking cookies to roasting veggies. I also have a stainless steel muffin/cupcake tin and a couple glass Pyrex pans for baking – 9x13, 8x8, and loaf pan sizes.

Baking Prep Drawer: We love a good remix in our house. And shifting the macronutrient profile of baked goods to make them more blood sugar friendly is something we do on the regular. My tools to do it? Stainless steel measuring cups and stainless steel measuring spoons, and glass Pyrex measuring cups.

Knives and Cutting: Rather than a whole block of knives I hardly use, I prefer a few high quality Zwilling knives, including their chef’s knife and paring knife. And I do my prep work and chopping on a Boos solid wood cutting board.

Food Prep Drawer: Just a few go-to food prep tools that I use all the time and consider my “necessities”: Kuhn Rikon garlic press, Thermapen, stainless steel whisk, wood cooking tools and silicone spatulas, citrus squeezer/juicer, grater, colander, tongs, zoodler, cookie/muffin scoop, and a mandolin.

Bowl Drawer: I keep a few glass mixing bowls, a big Pyrex measuring bowl with a handle and spout, and a set of stainless steel mixing bowls.

Kids Drawer: You probably know I’m a huge advocate for getting kids involved in the kitchen. But of course, they need tools that help them engage safely! I have a drawer with kid-friendly food prep tools: a silicone measuring cup set (less likely than glass to shatter when dropped!), silicone whisks, and children’s knives.

Our kid-friendly drawer also has my boys’ Yeti water bottles, PlanetBox Rover lunch boxes, Elk and Friends cups, stainless steel plates and cups, and a few silicone plates from Lalo for Julian.

Etc: This catch-all drawer holds extra items we use regularly or on special occasions. It has:

Stainless steel straws - for everything from smoothies to electrolytes
Stainless steel cookie cutters - I use these for every single holiday, for everything from cutting watermelon to make cookies
Stainless steel popsicle molds - Homemade popsicles are a warm weather staple for my family
If You Care parchment sheets - These pre-cut sheets make meal prep that much easier
100% Organic Cotton Bowl Covers - The non-toxic shower cap that every bowl needs :)

Storage: We keep our storage options simple. While I used to have plastic veggie saver storage containers for produce, we’ve transitioned entirely to Pyrex glass storage, Stasher Bags, and organic cotton produce bags. I put everything in glass with the exception of my salad spinner. For my greens, I rinse, spin, and throw a paper towel on top of them and store them in the spinner in my refrigerator.

Water Bottles and Tumblers: For smoothies, water, or hot beverages, I keep a few high quality bottles and tumblers. Chris and I like: Yeti water bottles, Hydroflask water bottles, Corkcicle tumblers, and insulated + lidded mugs (must-have for any parent!).

Some things you won’t find in my kitchen include: a rice cooker, an airfryer, a microwave, a Ninja Creami or other similar device, a stand mixer, or a bread maker.

Most of these items 1) are made with materials that contain a lot of non-stick coating and/or plastic pieces and 2) would not be used regularly enough for me to justify them taking up space in the kitchen. I can easily use other tools (steam oven, hand mixer, etc.) to accomplish what some of these bigger, bulkier appliances are made to do.

Let’s get cooking! (Or blending, baking, prepping…)

See, it doesn’t take much to arrange a kitchen that’s high in function and low in fluff. Now there’s just one thing missing – the food! And that’s the fun part. Let me give you some ideas for how to put those pots, pans, tools, trays, and appliances to use!