Materials To Look For At IKEA When Making Non-Toxic Kitchen Swaps

IKEA, known for its affordable home products, is an ideal place to shop when you want to make non-toxic kitchen swaps on a budget. Thanks to their abundance of products featuring stainless steel, cast iron, wood, and glass, IKEA can help you create a more eco-friendly kitchen with products you should own. No matter if you want to replace your plastic storage containers or just prep food using healthier tools, IKEA can help.

Adopting an eco-friendly lifestyle isn't just about making good choices for the environment, it's also a move to help make your home a little healthier. Microplastics, or small plastic particles that come off plastic when it degrades, are a major health concern because they're endocrine disrupters and are able to interfere with the body's hormones.  The damage of microplastics is still under review, but research shows that even small amounts can be harmful as they cause inflammation. There's even concern that accumulating microplastics in the air may be linked to rising cancer rates. The concern for microplastics in the home often centers around when you heat plastic, such as in a dishwasher or microwave. Even plastic labeled "microwave-safe" only refers to the fact that the plastic won't melt, not that it won't shed microplastics. With this in mind, swapping out your plastic for other materials is a smart choice. 

Glass is safe for the microwave, is non-porous, doesn't stain, and won't release chemicals into your food like plastic may. It's also infinitely recyclable. IKEA sells over 40 glass food storage products, whether you want to store ingredients or just put away your leftovers. The HAVSTOBIS set features glass containers in multiple sizes with silicone lids, making them easy to stack in the fridge or cabinet. One drawback is they aren't spill-proof, so you may want to avoid using them for liquids. The IKEA 365+ Food Container with Lid features a glass body paired with a sustainable bamboo lid, a good alternative if you don't want any plastic. However, the bamboo isn't dishwasher-safe and requires hand-washing. IKEA does offer a replacement glass IKEA 365+ Lid compatible with all of their round storage containers in the line. The IKEA 365+ Jar with Lid is good for storing grains, pasta, and other dry goods, but if you want an all-glass option, there's the KORKEN Jar, which offers a snap-on airtight glass lid.

Food-grade stainless steel can also be preferable to plastic for food storage, thanks to its inability to crack and leech chemicals into your food after a turn in the dishwasher. IKEA has several stainless steel storage options. The HALVVARM container features two compartments and comes with a silicone lid for a leak-proof seal. Other stainless steel products, like LÄTTUGGAD snack containers, can help you replace those disposable baggies you might use for snacks, so you enjoy both a non-toxic and eco-friendly swap. Preparing your food also can involve more sustainable swaps from IKEA.

A study in Science of The Total Environment finds both new and old plastic cookware emits both microplastics and nanoplastics. A non-toxic choice is to look for wood, stainless steel, and cast iron as alternatives. Wood doesn't conduct heat or melt, so options like IKEA's RÖRT Spoon can help minimize cooking injuries. You might also be inspired to ditch the plastic cutting board for wood boards, which are more durable than their plastic counterparts. One possible drawback of these items for anyone who doesn't like to hand wash dishes is that you should always wash wood by hand unless the manufacturer's directions state otherwise.

The rise of non-stick cookware means that home cooks no longer have food stick to the bottom of the pan as they cook, but this ingenuity can come with a risk. Non-stick cookware coating often contains per- and polyfluorinated compounds (PFAs), or "forever chemicals." Like microplastics, PFAs can be dangerous, and may cause cancer, inflammation, and hormone disruption. Scratched non-stick coating can release PFAs, sending them directly into your food. The switch to stainless steel or cast iron from non-stick pans lets you enjoy evenly-cooked food without the risk of PFAs thanks to the non-reactive feature of the material. Products like IKEA's stainless SENUSELL Pot with Lid and cast iron VARDAGEN Grill Pan can help eliminate potential toxins while you're cooking.