The Best Brands For Eco Friendly Cookware
You’ll use it every day, and it can affect your health. So knowing the best brands for eco friendly cookware is essential!
By Lora O’Brien
If you care about what’s on your plate, there’s a high chance you also care about what you’re using to cook your food. But knowing what to cook with can be a bit of a minefield!
Toxic chemicals in your pots and pans can leach their way into your daily meals. Which then you ingest.
And even if you, personally, don’t cook with toxic pots and pans, some chemicals found in cookware, such as PFAs, are often referred to as forever chemicals. That’s because once they’ve entered the environment, they never degrade. And they get into our water, food, and bodies. No matter what you cook with.
The biggest offender? Teflon!
What’s wrong with Teflon pans?
I’m sure many of you are wondering – what’s really wrong with my Teflon pans anyway? If that’s the case, it’s pretty obvious you never watched the Mark Ruffalo movie Dark Waters! (Highly recommended!).
Some claim that Teflon is safe. But when cooked at temperatures above 500°F (260°C), it’s definitely not. That’s because the coating on non-stick cookware starts to break down at those temperatures. And then? Up to 15 toxic gasses and chemicals are then released into the air. And guess who inhales those fumes? Yep, you! They can even lead to something called Teflon flu.
Other chemicals in non stick coatings, such as PFAs, PTFE and PFAO, have been linked to infertility, birth defects, liver damage and thyroid disease.
Instead of using Teflon, look for: Non-stick ceramic coating
What about aluminium?
It’s not just Teflon you need to worry about. Uncoated aluminium can also become highly reactive and leach into food. Many opt for aluminium pots and pans because they’re cheap to buy and heat up quickly.
But not only is this cheap cookware usually made from scrap metal, but the metal leaches into food when heated. And the longer you cook food in these pans increases the byproduct of chemicals that enter your food. These can contribute to the development of impaired visual coordination, Alzheimer’s disease and organ dysfunction.
Instead of using uncoated aluminium, look for: High-quality anodised aluminium. This is safer to cook with, scratch resistant and easy to clean.
So, steel is better, right? Um…maybe
Uncoated stainless steel is much the same. It becomes a danger when cheaply made or unprotected by a safe coating. Uncoated aluminium may become increasingly more toxic over time. But uncoated stainless steel shows an even larger amount of metal leeching into food, which means trouble from first use!
The longer that uncoated stainless steel is heated and exposed to acidic foods, the greater the chance that nickel and chromium will leach into the meal. This can be detrimental for those with nickel allergies and can lead to dermatitis, eczema, and other immune issues.
Instead of using uncoated stainless steel, look for: High-quality coated stainless steel.
So, what can we cook with?
There are lots of eco-friendly cookware brands turning up the heat in the kitchen, without harming us in the process! Overall, you should look for cookware that is quality made and coated with non-toxic materials such as ceramic.
As with all cookware, you should take care to maintain its health long-term. Always stop using it if you notice it’s corroding, as this increases the risks toxins leaching into food.
Be sure to take good care of your cookware as well, and always check the cleaning instructions before you purchase to be sure you’re able to maintain it.
When metal cookware is scratched or corrodes, the risk of toxins leaching into food increases, so pay close attention to the surfaces of your cookware.
Whether you’re new to cooking or consider yourself a culinary genius, below are our favourite places to find safe, eco friendly cookware to suit all your kitchen needs!
The Best Non Toxic Cookware Brands
1. Demeyere
When it comes to a brand that knows its stuff, Demeyere has been crafting stainless steel cookware since 1908! So, if you want to feel like a chef in your own kitchen, this brand will make your culinary dreams come true. Professional chefs swear by this brand due to the high quality and high-performing products which are oven safe for up to 500F.
Their impressive 7-ply cookware allows heat to be distributed evenly while retaining heat to cook your food perfectly. Plus, not only are these pans great for health, but they do good, too. Demeyere donates to charity programs all around the world, so you can really feel good about using them.
Price: $65 – $350
Material: Aluminium nonstick, stainless steel
Eco friendly cookware offered: Saucepans, frying pans and other items such as kettles
Safety standards: Free from PFAS, PFOS, PFOA and PTFE
Shipping: Belgium, ships worldwide
2. Great Jones
What happens when best friends get together? Brands like Great Jones are born.
Yep, two best friends started this brand as they wanted to offer heirloom, quality cookware that is modern and colourful in the kitchen. Whether you want to opt for a block, bold colour or you switch it up with their patterned designs, one thing is for sure – the bold aesthetic will make an impact in any kitchen!
The Dutch oven helps cook food evenly, perfect if you’re prone to burning food, yikes! The best part is that all of the cookware range is made without the use of chemicals, using instead nontoxic materials such as stainless steel ceramic and cast iron.
Price: $40 – $800
Materials: Stainless steel, ceramic and cast iron
Eco friendly cookware offered: Cookware, bakeware and utensils
Safety standards: Free of PTFE and PFOA chemicals.
Shipping: United States
3. Le Creuset
Le Creuset is a brand many will know of, which is a testament to their timeless quality. This popular French brand uses enamelled cast iron to create its chic, bold and durable cookware for every culinary need.
The cast iron construction retains heat for even cooking and browning. It locks in moisture, nutrients, and flavour so that you can cook up many memorable dishes. The enamel interior develops a natural patina that will behave like a non-stick surface. Its finish also has great food release properties, with less seasoning required.
Price: $25 – $2500
Materials: Enameled cast iron, stoneware, stainless steel, nonstick and silicone
Eco friendly cookware offered: Everything! Pots, pans, utensils – you name it!
Safety standards: Free from Teflon, PTFE and PFOA
Shipping: Worldwide
4. Caraway
Caraway is likely a brand you’ve heard of lately as it has become super popular, and there’s no surprise why. Not only is their classic design cookware super affordable, they also use only ceramic and a mineral coating. The selection of pans and bakeware is designed for easy cleaning and will suit any kitchen aesthetic.
The cookware is ethically made, sent in eco-friendly packaging, and it’s also recyclable, too! The brand partners with ethical manufacturers who ensure their workers are given fair wages and work within regulated hours.
Price: $45 – $235
Materials: Recyclable ceramic cookware
Eco friendly cookware offered: Pans, Dutch ovens, bakeware and accessories
Safety standards: Free of PFAs, lead, cadmium and other harmful chemicals
Shipping: USA, Hawaii and Alaska
5. GreenPan
When it comes to understanding that we want non-stick pans minus the chemicals, GreenPan was one of the first brands to make toxic-free pans that are easy to clean, and easy to cook with. Instead of using cookware with toxic coatings, they use ceramic as a non-toxic alternative.
GreenPan uses hard anodized aluminium which allows maximum strength for pans, while also being pretty scratch-resistant. Their skillets use a diamond-infused ceramic non-stick coating which means no more mess when cooking, and scrubbing stubborn stains!
Price: $60 – $260
Materials: They use a Thermolon ceramic nonstick coating which allows high heat and is free of PFAS, PFOA, nanoparticles, and toxic fumes
Eco friendly cookware offered: Frying pans, saucepans, sauté pans, stockpots, woks, roasters, griddles, grill pans, lids and cookware sets
Safety standards: Free from PFAS, PFOA, lead, cadmium
Shipping: USA
6. Our Place
When it comes to cookware that really does it all, Our Place is the perfect brand. Their whole range was designed to provide cookware that is versatile, safe and simple to use. Their holy grail product, the Always Pan, comes in 10 soothing earth tones which includes a spatula and steaming basket for cooking all in one! It’s non-stick with a ceramic coating and designed to replace at least 8 kitchen items. Impressive, huh?
Price: $60 – $175
Materials: Ceramic nonstick coating, recycled glass, natural sand and natural dyes
Eco friendly cookware offered: Cups, plates, bowls and multifunctional pots and pans
Safety standards: Teflon-, PFOA-, and PTFE-free
Shipping: USA, Hawaii, Alaska and Puerto Rico (with Canada and UK shipping coming soon)
7. Amoretti Brothers
If cookware was given awards, the Amoretti Brothers would surely win for their gorgeous designs. The whole range is crafted using 100% recycled and hammered copper with cast bronze and lined with tin which has been designed to last several lifetimes, making it heirloom cookware you can pass down to the next generations.
Over time, the copper with naturally age, giving it a unique appearance. Copper is also naturally antibacterial and provides even heat distribution, meaning your food will cook expertly. It’s worth noting that they’re not dishwasher safe, and also won’t work on induction cooktops.
Each Amoretti Brother piece has been hand-forged by local artisans, which we love! 50% of these are women, and 100% are paid fairly for their skills.
Price: $190 – $950
Materials: 100% recycled and hammered copper
Eco friendly cookware offered: Saucepans, frying pans, woks, paella pans, roasting pans, Dutch ovens, stockpots, rondeaus, and cookware sets
Safety standards: 100% toxic free
Shipping: Worldwide
8. Alva
When it comes to a brand with an interesting history, Alva wins! The Belgian cookware company was originally founded back in 1949 and repurposed discarded war materials and metals. Fusing their history with modern inventions, they have since expanded to include non-toxic cookware.
Their pans heat up super quickly, and will retain heat providing you with the best cookware to create culinary delights! They also conserve energy, which is also crucial with rising prices.
Price: $59 – $940
Materials: Non-toxic non-stick cookware, stainless steel, cast iron and carbon steel
Eco friendly cookware offered: They specialise in pots and pans.
Safety standards: Free from PFAS and PFOA chemicals
Shipping: USA
9. Material
When things get hot in the kitchen, Material is keeping things cool with its range of superbly crafted cookware. Whether you’re cooking with a saucepan, sauté pan, coated pan or their copper eco-friendly pots and pan, their toxic-free non-stick coating will keep things from sticking to the surface.
Price: $65—$440
Materials: Toxic-free non-stick cookware, stainless steel and copper
Eco friendly cookware offered: Pretty much everything from utensils, knives and prepare to pots and pans
Safety standards: Non-toxic and free of cadmium, lead, fumes, toxins and PFOA
Shipping: USA and Canada
10. Xtrema
What is one thing doctors and nutritionists recommend? Non toxic cookware! Understanding that no one needs to stress about what they’re putting into their bodies, all Xtrema cookware is made entirely of ceramic, and free from all metals and chemicals.
These non-toxic pots are the perfect way to whip up your meals in a sustainable fashion.
Price: $50—$380
Materials: 100% natural ceramic
Eco friendly cookware offered: Skillets, saucepans, stockpots, dutch ovens, bakeware, teapots, lids, and cookware sets
Safety standards: Being 100% natural ceramic (a mix of minerals, clay, oxides, and water), these pots and pans are nonreactive and free of PFOA, PTFE, nanoparticles, glues, polymers, dyes and coatings
Shipping: Worldwide
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