My Non-Toxic Kitchen Essentials

The Things I Let Touch My Food.

A few years ago, after numerous doctor visits and exams, I was diagnosed with a hormone imbalance that no one could fully explain. My body had stopped functioning the way it should, and that diagnosis forced me to begin researching on my own. What I learned changed the way I looked at everything in my home, and it ultimately led me to replace my everyday products, one by one, starting in my kitchen.

My plan became simple. If I touched it, consumed it, and wore it, I researched it. I committed to understanding as much as I possibly could.

And as we all probably know, and I learned, the products we cook with, store our food in, and use every single day can leach toxins, act as endocrine disruptors (hello hormones!), and even release heavy metals directly into what we consume. These toxins don’t just pass through. They accumulate and interfere with hormone production, metabolism, reproductive health, and even how our bodies process stress.

The more educated I became, the more I realized I had been poisoning myself in small, invisible ways for years without even knowing it. So, along with changes to my nutrition, movement, and guidance from my doctors, I credit swapping out my everyday products as part of what helped my body regulate itself.

It is a sobering realization, but one I’m grateful I came to when I did.

Here are my top tried-and-true kitchen products—the ones I’ve been using for years.

Side note: Less is truly more. I believe a capsule kitchen collection built around the right materials and the right function will outdo any kitchen packed with things accumulated over time without intention.

No.1 AquaTru Carafe Alkaline Countertop Water Purifier System

Independently certified to meet NSF/ANSI (independent public health organizations) national safety standards, meaning it has been third-party tested to verify it reduces contaminants like lead, PFAS “forever chemicals,” fluoride, chlorine, heavy metals, and microplastics from drinking water.

No.2 Easyworkz Diego Stovetop Espresso Maker

Made entirely from 18/8 (corrosion-resistant, non-reactive) food-grade stainless steel, including a heavy-gauge magnetic stainless-steel base, which means no interior plastic components are coming into contact with heat or your coffee, reducing the risk of chemical leaching at high temperatures.

No.3 Heritage Steel 2 Quart Saucepan

This cookware is made with 316Ti stainless steel (a grade of material often used in marine and medical environments), a titanium-stabilized alloy that is highly resistant to corrosion, pitting, and chemical reactions, helping preserve the integrity and taste of food without relying on synthetic coatings.

No.4 Heritage Steel 12 Inch Frying Pan

This frying pan is made from fully clad 5-ply stainless steel with no chemical coatings (no aluminum in between the layers), meaning there are no PFAS, PTFE, ceramic sol-gels, or synthetic layers to degrade over time.

No. 5 Staub Cast Iron Dutch Oven 4-qt Round Cocotte

Staub’s enameled cast iron is coated with a glass-based enamel that is chemically inert and free from PFAS or synthetic nonstick coatings, creating a durable, non-reactive cooking surface that complies with strict European food safety standards

As I write this, it’s currently 50% off, which I’ve genuinely never seen before.

No.6 Endlessly Elated Walnut Cutting Board

Crafted from solid domestic walnut, these cutting boards are made from a single natural material rather than plastic composites, meaning no synthetic binders or chemical adhesives are coming into contact with your food.

No.7 TeamFar Mixing Bowls with Lids

These bowls are made from pure stainless steel rather than plastic; they won’t scratch, shed microplastics, or absorb oils and odors over time, making them a more durable and hygienic option for daily food prep.

No.8 Glass Food Storage Containers with Bamboo Lids

Made from borosilicate glass, these containers are highly resistant to thermal shock and chemically inert, meaning they won’t react with acidic foods, warp with temperature changes, or break down over time, the way plastic storage containers can.

Over on Substack…

If you’re a paid Substack subscriber, you also have access to my comprehensive Non-Toxic Home Swaps Guide. It goes far beyond the kitchen and includes over 25 practical swaps, a chemical glossary, research-backed context on everyday exposures, and common pitfalls to avoid. It’s designed to help you make changes with intention, because I didn’t do this overnight. It actually took me a long time. So, I’m not here to fear-monger. I still go out. I don’t live in a bubble. What I believe in is controlling what I can control within my own space. The 80/20 rule. If 80% of what I’m exposed to at home is clean, the 20% that happens out in the world doesn’t undo it. Nuance, not perfection.

If you’re currently a free Substack subscriber and this work has resonated, upgrading gives you access to the full guide along with full podcast episodes, exclusive thought pieces, a curated mood board, a weekly menu created personally for you, plus wellness resources that far exceed the cost of the subscription. Upgrade, here.

See you on the inside.

With love,

Kathleen

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