Healthy way of living maintains the top position in the list of new year resolutions in 2022.

A principal way to attain that goal is to monitor what goes inside our body, not just by counting the calories. As we re-evaluate our lifestyle choices, there’s a greater need to look at all aspects of it that might cause harm.

It is quite normal to think of the quality of the food first and ignore the way it was cooked. You can go 100% organic and still end up consuming chemicals by being unaware of harmful substances leeching from toxic utensils and cookware you use every day. 

We have a wide range of cookware in the market today that is free of toxic materials. There are some premium quality products available that cost quite a bit more than normal cookwares, but are a healthier alternative. Investing in these non-toxic utensils ensures you and your family stay in the best state of health in the long term.

For those looking for some inspiration to find the best cookwares, here is a list of some non-Toxic Cookware Materials that we find the safest to use.

6 Best Non-Stick Materials For Cooking And Storing Food:

1. Glass

Glass might need the highest maintenance of all the materials but also remains the safest choice for storing and cooking food. It retains more heat than metal wares, looks aesthetically pleasing to store and serve food, and is the easiest to clean as well. 

One of the main concerns people have while buying glassware for cooking is its fragility. It needs delicate handling, not only while using but even when storing food in it.

Sudden, extreme temperature changes might lead to cracks in glass utensils and cookwares. You need to remember to let the food cool for some time at room temperature before storing it in glassware in the refrigerator. 

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2. Stainless Steel

Stainless Steel is one of the materials that got widely replaced in India by non-stick cookware but is extremely safe for cooking and is leech-proof. The reason is that stainless steel tends to make the food stick to the bottom on high heat.

Good quality stainless steel is not only leach-proof, but also very easily maintained and affordable than any other material.

One good trick to avoid the sticking is to heat the pan first and then apply cold oil to the bottom. Also, remember to grease the stainless steel pan bottom generously or layer it with parchment paper when you are baking.

Stainless Steel contains Chromium and Nickel that prevents the vessels from rusting. Modern stainless steel utensils are lined with Copper and Aluminium to help with even heat distribution.

If you are wary of buying nickel based utensils, there are several brands that offer Nickel-free Stain Steel Cookwares.

3. Cast Iron

Cast Iron cookwares act as natural non-stick wares with impressive heat retention quality, even heat distribution and are easy to maintain. The material also becomes better with longer use.

It is also highly durable and can be used for a lifetime. An important thing to remember while using a new cast iron cookware is to coat it with oil before storing it.

Also, acidic foods should be cooked in enamel coated cast iron wares that don’t cause leeching of the harmful components into the cooked food.

If you can take care of it and remember to store it in the right manner, you definitely deserve at least one cast iron pot or pan in your kitchen.

4. Wood

Wood is an effective and safe material to use for chopping, stirring and whisking of ingredients. It also serves as an excellent material for low temperature cooking needs.

The best thing is you don’t need to scratch or scrape the surface in non-stick wooden pots and pans as the food does not stick at the bottom.

They are durable, aesthetic and easy to wash and store. They also add a delicious smoked woody flavours to the dishes. They great for roasting spices, cooking pizzas, meat dishes and stir frying vegetables

5. Ceramic and Other Safer Non-Stick Choices

Not all non-stick cookwares are harmful. There are safer options now available that are free of PFOAs, PTFEs, other PFAs, lead, cadmium, GenX chemicals, toxic metals, and nanoparticles.

Similarly ceramic coated utensils are also one of the safest choices that prevent leeching of harmful metals and chemicals into the food while cooking.

Care has to be taken during cleaning ceramic coated cookware to prevent the removal of ceramic layer from the bottom. Also it is advisable to use wooden or silicone coated utensils to stir and whisk in these vessels.

6. Copper

Last but not the least, Copper is one of the oldest materials used for cooking in our country. Copper heats much faster and retains heat for a longer time than other materials.

Contemporary copper vessels come with a stainless steel lining on the inside. These vessels are significantly costlier though and not everyone can afford to keep them. 

Non-Toxic Storage:

For storage, just like in cooking, glass is the safest and best option. It is best to cover food stored in these vessels with a cling film available in most supermarkets made from safe materials such as cotton, beeswax, resin, coconut oil, etc. You can use these films to wrap sandwiches, and cover bowls of chopped fruits to be stored in the refrigerator.

We hope this article helps you choose the right cookware and utensils for your kitchen. Let us know in the comment section which ones you liked the best from the list.

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