Recently, in the age of technology, more and more people have started to think about what is the safest material for kitchen utensils. I am one of them. So, I did a lot of research about different materials to stop poisoning my family with toxic materials.
Today we are going to talk about a variety of materials for kitchen utensils. Let’s break down the harmful and the safest materials for health. I’ve tried to back up the information written here with scientific research. I promise it will be interesting.
Read to the end and you’ll find a guide that has all the information you need to choose safe cooking utensils. Let’s get started!
Nylon
Nylon is a flexible, durable plastic with less strength and stiffness than PLA plastic and ABS copolymer. It is probably the most popular material used to make kitchen utensils.
For most homeowners, the top priority when choosing kitchen accessories is ease of use and care. Nylon kitchen utensils have caught on in kitchens because they don’t scratch nonstick cookware and they’re tough enough to flip cutlets, which a silicone spatula won’t do.
Nylon kitchen utensils are hygienic and easy to care for. If you often cook food that stains easily, stains are inevitable. The material is easy to clean by hand in warm soapy water or on the top shelf of the dishwasher. In addition, nylon kitchen utensils have a low price.
As you can see, there are quite a lot of advantages. However, nylon utensils have significant disadvantages. Nylon is considered safe if it does not melt, and therefore it should not be heated to temperatures above 200 degrees °С. This melting point is much lower than that of silicone.
In addition, nylon spatulas are more susceptible to cracking. And if that happens, food particles will linger in the cracks and provoke bacterial growth.
And of course, if the nylon ladle is overcooked with soup or left on a hot frying pan, it can release potentially toxic substances.
Therefore, do not take it to the extreme. Nylon spatulas and ladles will last you for years if you don’t heat them to 200°. If they happen to crack or melt, throw them away right away. Better to buy new nylon kitchen utensils and continue to use them safely.
Pros:
- Convenient to use.
- Easy to care for, easy to clean
Cons:
- Emits harmful substances when heated
Plastic
Plastic kitchen utensils are also very common. Compared to wooden models, plastic utensils (such as cutting boards) are resistant to stabbing and cutting tools, do not absorb unpleasant odors, are easy to clean, and do not contribute to pathogenic bacteria and fungi growth.
Dishes made of plastic, despite the many advantages, have negative properties. To overcome the fragility of polymers, many unscrupulous manufacturers add a lot of stabilizers – toxic substances. In the composition of food plastic is sometimes found:
- Formaldehyde
- Methanol
- Vinyl chloride
- Bisphenol A
- Styrene
- Phthalates
These carcinogens get into food and undermine human health if used improperly and with frequent temperature changes.
They hardly decompose and worsen the environmental situation. Only strict adherence to the rules of use and disposal of plastic utensils reduces all negative effects to zero.
Pros:
- Resistant to stabbing and cutting instruments,
- Do not absorb unpleasant odors,
- Easy to clean.
Cons:
- Emits many substances that are hazardous to health
Melamine
Melamine is commonly used in the production of several different food contact materials, from flooring to cookware.
Among the pluses of melamine cookware and utensils are that it does not break on impact or when dropped, does not bend or warp, and is easy to clean, including in any dishwasher (at t to 70°). There are also no scratches, cracks, or stains on the smooth non-porous surface. And melamine accessories weigh almost nothing, they’re even lighter than plastic.
Everything would be fine if it weren’t for this.
This study shows that formaldehyde and methanol were found in melamine cookware. Acetaldehyde, methyl formate, 2,3-butanedione, and additionally furfural at 250°C were identified in low concentrations. Consumption and inhalation of furfural cause poisoning, headache, dizziness, and nausea.
Using such cookware leaches melamine into products and can release melamine and formaldehyde when heated.
Of course, if you cook food in melamine cookware a few times, nothing bad will happen. However, chronic exposure to this material is harmful to adults and children. There is a proven direct link between melamine use and kidney disease.
Pros:
- Durability.
- Practicality
- Wear resistance
- Lightweight
Cons:
- Contains many substances hazardous to health
Copper
The aesthetics of copper cookware is difficult to overestimate: the noble matte shade of metal, and the unusual play of light on the surface attract people who appreciate truly beautiful, exclusive kitchen utensils.
In principle, this is the end of the advantages of such utensils. Clean copper kitchen utensils immediately after washing. If you keep it wet, the surface will oxidize and it forms a greenish scum.
Copper is a relatively soft metal, so handle it with care. Avoid hitting copper cookware against other kitchen utensils when storing it.
If you drop vegetable oil on a copper surface, the oil turns a dark bluish-green color, which is because the copper oxide formed has combined with the fatty acids in the oil. If this copper oxide enters the body in large quantities, it causes what is called copper colic. Such a person experiences symptoms of poisoning – cramping, nausea, headache, and diarrhea.
The fact that copper cookware can be dangerous in some cases is also known to cooks, as you won’t meet anyone who has used a copper frying pan to fry an omelet.
Pros:
- Appearance.
Cons:
- Emits copper in food.
- Prone to dents.
- Difficult to care for.
Stainless Steel
Stainless steel is a highly durable, warp-resistant material. Cookware made of it is rarely scratched or chipped. As a result at least 10 years of service life of such products without loss of their original look.
Stainless steel, even under the influence of high temperature does not react with alkalis and acids contained in many products.
Stainless steel products can be easily cleaned from food residues with common detergents and a smooth sponge. In addition, it is from such dishes the easiest to remove the soot, which somehow forms on any such items over time. To do this, it is enough to use a detergent with abrasive particles, whereas, in the case of dishes made of other materials, it is not recommended to do this.
Of the disadvantages, I will note that such means can not be used for coated dishes. But to have, for example, a stainless steel whisk is the best solution. Mine has served me very well for many years.
Pros:
• Easy care
• Does not emit any harmful substances
• Durability
Cons:
• Cannot be used on coated cookware
If I were choosing a set of kitchen utensils for myself now, I would choose this option, or this one, with a lot of items
Wood
Let’s focus on this in a little more detail. Products made of wood are the most environmentally friendly material.
In addition to the fact that such kitchen utensils aesthetically look and fit into modern design, it does not emit any harmful substances and is considered the safest material. After all, we take it from nature, and nature never gives us anything harmful. Wooden dishes are especially appreciated by supporters of the Zero Waste principle.
The only thing to pay attention to when buying wooden utensils is that they should be made from a single piece of wood and not use glue when gluing the parts together. This glue can get into the food when cooking.
Even such a beautiful material can have disadvantages. Wood can change color and stains can remain on it. You should also pay special attention to regular cleaning because wood products accumulate bacteria that can breed on the surface of the product. Even if your wood kitchen utensils are unsightly, you can replace them with new ones and it won’t harm the environment.
Pros:
- Aesthetic design
- Does not emit any harmful substances
- Doesn’t pollute nature
- Suitable for Teflon-coated cookware
Cons:
- Stains on the product
- Breeds bacteria on the surface
This or this set from Amazon is love at first sight!
Bamboo
I would like to combine bamboo and wood in one item, but still these two materials have some differences.
Bamboo, like wood, is considered an environmentally friendly material. You can not be afraid that kitchen utensils made of bamboo will harm your health.
A great advantage over wood is that it does not absorb odors, moisture, and therefore they can not stay and reproduce bacteria, products are easy to clean and wash. And last such a product can last quite a long time.
If you use bamboo products correctly, avoid using them at extreme temperatures and in microwave ovens, then we can say that these products have no disadvantages. Now that’s news!
Pros:
- Eco-friendliness
- Easy to care for
- Resistant to wear and tear
- Prevents the growth of bacteria on the surface
Cons:
- Not detected
This decent option with good reviews on Amazon will fit into your kitchen design!
Silicone
Silicone boasts impressive heat resistance. Most silicone cookware can withstand heat up to 315°C and will not melt when it comes in contact with the hot edges of a pan or pot.
The likelihood that it will release toxic substances when heated is negligible. It is one of the safest materials for the kitchen. Doctors confidently state: silicone cookware and kitchen utensils are safe for health and do not emit harmful vapors.
They have no pores, which means they do not trap food particles, which subsequently lead to the growth of bacteria.
They don’t stick to food, which makes pancakes and pancakes easy to flip.
However, silicone spatulas cannot be considered universal. After all, such a spatula is very difficult to turn food in a pan. But in the preparation of various cakes and pastry creams, the silicone spatula is my personal indispensable helper!
On the downside, the silicone changes color a lot from contact with food. I have repeatedly changed silicone utensils only because the appearance of the product ceased to be presentable. Therefore, it is better to choose silicone of dark colors, like this, which will not show stains.
Pros:
- Does not emit harmful substances
- Does not stick to food
- Withstands high temperatures
- Does not trap food particles
Cons:
- It is too soft for some dishes
- Changes color, looks dirty
What is the Safest Material for Kitchen Utensils?
We found out that the safest materials are wood and bamboo. I would put silicone and stainless steel in second place.
However, we made sure that you don’t have to choose all kitchen utensils from one material. You can buy a stainless steel whisk, a silicone spatula, and a bamboo or wood stirring spoon.
Name of the material | Pros | Cons | Buy on Amazon |
Bamboo | • Eco-friendliness | • Not detected |  |
Wood | • Aesthetic design | • Stains on the product |  |
Silicone | • Does not emit harmful substances | • It is too soft for some dishes |  |
Stainless Steel | • Easy care | • Cannot be used on coated cookware |  |
Copper | • Appearance | • Emits copper in food. | --- |
Plastic | • Resistant to stabbing and cutting instruments, | • Emits many substances that are hazardous to health | --- |
Nylon | • Convenient to use, • Easy to clean | • Emits harmful substances when heated | --- |
Melamine | • Durability. | • Contains many substances hazardous to health | --- |
I invite you to cook according to the most popular recipes on my website
Conclusion
So, guys, I hope this article helped you find the safest kitchen utensils. I’m interested to hear your opinions on what material you use. Please write about it in the comments.
Of course, by using non-sustainable cookware, we are not consuming these substances in concentrated amounts. However, with prolonged use, these substances can accumulate in our bodies and cause various diseases. And the interesting thing is that we will never attribute our illnesses to the cookware we use.
Many scientific studies show that what we use in the kitchen affects our health. Stay healthy and take care of yourself and your loved ones!