Hi all!
As you've probably seen from a few of my posts, a big goal is to stay a bit more eco-friendly in this consumerized world. I wouldn't say I'm a minimalist or simple living, but I do try to be thoughtful with my purchases and only buy items I feel I realistically need and will definitely reuse.
I have been switching out many of my plastic items for plastic-free, biodegradable, or eco-friendly options lately, and these are some of my favorites I wanted to share with you today!
Disclaimer, all Amazon products linked in this blog post are affiliate links. You can also make a purchase without using the affiliate link, but using it helps me tremendously, so thank you!
First, let's look at a tried-and-true classic that can even have health benefits! As a woman of reproductive age with perpetual anemia, the cast iron pan is a great way to up my iron and avoid the harm of unnecessary chemicals. It's nonstick and oven-safe! I've made an immense number of one-pan meals in these puppies. It also creates a perfect crisp when frying with it! They are easier to care for than you think and can last generations! Do you want a fantastic date night or to impress your friends and family? This is a super cool cast iron hot plate for KBBQ-style meals! We use it with a portable propane stove so we can cook it and eat it on a tabletop, but it would also efficiently work on a stovetop. Make sure you have a drip catcher, though!
This is one of our go-to's to bring on camping trips or camping music festivals! It impresses the neighbors, and we always bring extra to share!
No more dry chicken, pork, or turkey. This will alert you the second a safe internal temperature is reached. It also can check on two internal temps at once, which helps with bigger dishes like turkey, so you can ensure you get all sides cooked thoroughly, or if you are making dinner and dessert at the same time and want to set it and forget it all in the oven until dinner time. This will alert you it's finished so you can get the rest of the preparations done!
This is a weird, considerable expense that I cannot stress enough, but it is worth it. Primarily, this is super convenient if you work a lot with food items that increase the risk of salmonella, and you need to wash your hands frequently. It helps you reduce water usage and is optionally touch-free. It was also beginner-friendly to install, making it an easy upgrade in your home! This one has mixed reviews on whether it is truly good for the environment, but having one fewer traditional plastic bag in a landfill is a win. This is a relatively affordable way to try out compostable trash bags, which come in different sizes! I like the small ones for the bathroom trash, but I also sometimes get the larger 13-gallon bags, especially when I think I will be doing a lot of cooking and have a lot of organic waste going into the bin. If you have a Keurig, this one is for you! Those pods are terrible for the environment! Do not fret! There is an alternative. Firstly, use the pods you have left. Compost the grounds, feed them to your plant, and throw them away as usual. Then wash your single-use cup and recycle it. Then get these! Yes, these have plastic, and I have mentioned how I've been trying to move away from plastic, but until these are made with metal or some other material, this is what I will be using. These are awesome. These are money-saving as well. If you live to drink coffee, this will be a godsend for your wallet.
You simply fill these with the grounds of your choice, keep them refrigerated until use, then dump, rinse (or wash), and reuse.
When my husband realized how inexpensive whole bean coffee was and started grinding them and using these, the quality of his cup of joe went up, and our expenses went down. We are a massive fan of the changes these have made in our lives!
UPDATE:
I found these that are almost entirely stainless steel, and although there are fewer in a pack and they are a bit more expensive, they are more durable! I also realized when I got there that we don't use more than one or two reusable pods at a time! So, this was an even bigger win than the first purchase. If you aren't worried about plastics, the above product is for you, but this is excellent for folks trying to avoid plastics!
These are interesting! Have you ever wondered what an eco-conscious alternative to cling wrap would be? This is that! Beeswax wrap is so versatile you can wrap it around the whole item or just around a bowl or a plate to cover the item. The only downside, in my opinion, is that it requires handwashing- which I hate. Thankfully, it's very quick to handwash! These are also a fun way to give your friends a snack to take home- with a gift! I have given a few pals their food in these, and they have gotten use from the beeswax wrap in their own homes. It's the gift that keeps on giving! These also come in a ton of cute designs. I liked the lemon patterns best. With so many plastics coming from measuring cups and spoons, I have been trying to switch out all of my kitchen gear to glass or metal- including the measuring ware and mixing bowls. These are a certified classic. They are so classic, and you might be able to find them at goodwill as well. This has been the case since the advent of plastic when it took over, and everyone started using it instead of glass. Let me tell you why you want the glass ones (besides pfas, microplastics, etc-etc). These are sturdy, microwave-safe, and dishwasher-safe and will last you at least a generation if you treat them well. You can hand these suckers down to your grandkids if you aren't willy-nilly. I was worried about having glass because I am clumsy, but these are stalwart. One of the best zesters out there that had minimal plastic. There are some zesters with none, but you have to risk slicing little bits of your hand off into the food, and I wasn't willing to risk it. With this one, you have something to hold that won't shred you while you get the ultimate zest! Did someone say dishwasher safe? I'm in.
If you always make homemade soups and then are disappointed because you have a ton of left overs and know you will not be able to eat them all before the soup goes bad in the fridge- this is for you. You simply fill the channels for the perfect servings of soup and pop them in the freezer. I personally wait until they freeze, and then I store them as individual blocks (I find it saves space), but now I have soup I made months ago at my call. Nothing better than homemade soup! Do you want to get away from plastic cups but don't want to compromise on size, or are you scared glass will break or get foggy? These are for you. These stay COLD, and they are stylish, sleek, and plastic-free. They clean up well in the sink or via dishwasher, and I am just obsessed. I really wanted big cups that I could accidentally drop and not have my whole day ruined, and the solution has been found! These are what I got to go over my steel cups as the cats tend to hunt for water resources throughout the day. It's adorable but also icky when I go to have a sip, get a whiff of cat, and then look into the cup to see hair and whiskers floating around. No thanks. So these are wonderful. They also have little carrying bags so you can take them with you out and about. They are also fantastic at the club, as they fit over almost any cup and help reduce the risk of being roofied. Plus, they are dishwasher-safe and come in delightful colors! My pride and joy- these bamboo cutting boards. They are beautiful, plastic-free, and easy to clean. Being bamboo, they are antimicrobial, hand wash, and dishwasher safe (though you will have to oil them if you dishwash them), and they look so sleek in the kitchen. This pack comes with four and sometimes goes on super sale, as shown in the above photo, making it a steal! As a kid, I always thought fancy wood cutting boards had meant that you've "made it", and you know what, as an adult who owns them, I think kid me was onto something. I feel chuffed with my purchase.
So what do yall think? Do you own any of these items? Am I missing any kitchen essentials I should check out? Let me know your thoughts in the comments! Thanks for reading!
Amazon products linked in this blog post are affiliate links. You can purchase without using the affiliate link, but using it helps me tremendously, so thank you!
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