Mid-Year Kitchen Cleaning
This post is less about actual cleaning tips for your kitchen, than it is about reducing the amount of toxins that may be leaching into your food/drinks. When we use the term “toxins” in this context, we’re primarily focused on endocrine disrupting chemicals, which are chemicals that interfere with normal hormone action. For example, they can mimic or block hormones, and/or affect their production, their movement throughout the body, or their metabolism. These chemicals, like bisphenols and phthalates, are typically found in food additives, pesticides, plastics, dyes, and more.
If you’re looking for more background on these chemicals and why we recommend avoiding them, we highly encourage you to check out The Endocrine Disruption Exchange (TEDX) website. As a science-based, nonprofit research institute, they provide a thorough overview of how these chemicals react in the body and large database of potential endocrine disrupting chemicals. In their research, they utilize methods developed by the US National Toxicology Program to answer questions about the hazards that chemicals pose and publish these results in peer-reviewed scientific journals.
Before we dive into the tips, we also want to say that this post is not intended to overwhelm you or imply that you should throw out everything in your kitchen. Start small, making changes where you can, and work your way up to cleaner, greener kitchen over time. I'll admit that we still utilize zip-top bags for food storage in the freezer and the occasional plastic wrap for covering bowls. We’re also not ready to toss out all of our kitchen appliances that have plastic components (food processor, etc.) - we’re not perfect, but we’re working on it.
Overall Goal: Ditch the Plastic
If you take nothing else away from this article, let it be this:
Stop buying plastic goods to add to your kitchen gear. Look for glass and stainless steel alternatives instead. Even if you have no concern or desire to reduce endocrine disrupting chemicals, these durable products are a better buy - they simply last longer (when’s the last time you really wanted a “hand-me-down” set of flimsy plastic food storage containers?).
Stop using plastic in your kitchen where possible, particularly if your plastic products (food storage, bowls, etc.) are starting to look worn down.
If you can’t help but use plastic storage or appliances in the kitchen, stop heating them up. This includes not putting the plastic in the dishwasher or microwave. Wash by hand instead.
Why are we concerned about this? Plastics contain many additives including bisphenols and phthalates that can easily leach into foods during heating and also as the products begin to wear down (scratches, discoloration, etc.). As noted above, if you’re considering switching things out - start small.
When something breaks, or if you're looking to invest in a new appliance or cook set, choose a safer option. You can find product recommendations from Mamavation (a site dedicated to helping individuals reduce their exposure to hormone-disrupting chemicals) and Because Health (a science-based nonprofit environmental health site with tips, guides and expert advice).
Food Storage
Skip the veggies in microwavable plastic bags. If you still buy veggies in sold in these bags or other microwavable plastic wraps (looking at you individually-wrapped potatoes…), opt to heat them on the stove through steaming or sauteing, bake, or broil them.
If you still want to use the microwave, transfer the veggies into a microwave-safe glass dish. Plastic bags can leach phthalates and other harmful chemicals into the food while being microwaved.
Try to buy produce in the least amount of packaging possible.
You may not have the luxury of doing this if your local store only seems to offer overly packaged produce. Trader Joe’s, which we love, used to be pretty guilty of overly packaged produce. But, we’re very pleased to see their 2019 commitment to “reducing and removing packaging, sourcing renewable and recycled packaging materials, choosing packaging that can be realistically recycled, avoiding the use of harmful substances in packaging, and providing recycling and disposal instructions for customers.”
If you don’t have the option to choose less packaging, remember that you can always speak to the store managers or submit online feedback to voice your concerns about excess plastic packaging. Little by little, stores and manufacturers are taking note.
You can also skip the plastic produce bags (does that single yellow onion really need a bag?), or opt for reusable options, such as cotton/mesh bags.
This also includes looking carefully at any meal-delivery services. While individually packaged items for meal prep appear convenient, these services usually go overboard and generate copious amounts of trash.
Avoid plastic wraps.
These can leach phthalate-like chemicals into food. You can find a number of alternatives on the market these days, including Etee wraps and Bee’s Wrap food wraps.
Avoid silicone when possible.
Some of the chemicals used in silicones are potential endocrine disruptors. There seems to be less research in this area, but the studies that exist suggest that exposure to higher temperatures (such as baking in silicone molds) are responsible for increased leaching. So, while I think that silicone is still a better option than traditional plastics and nonstick finishes, try to use the same precautions of reducing heat exposure and hand washing when it comes to your silicone products. Also, discard any products that are excessively cloudy, full of scratches, or otherwise worn.
Cooking Surfaces
Aim to use cast iron or stainless steel cookware whenever possible.
Quality cast iron and stainless steel cookware, when cared for properly, should pretty much last forever - so these products are a good investment regardless of your interest in reducing toxins in your kitchen.
Don't buy anything labeled non-stick.
Non-stick coatings are created by adding chemicals to the surface that contain fluorine (PFAS chemicals). They are virtually indestructible.
If you’re looking for extensive coverage on PFAS and non-stick coatings, check out work from Sharon Lerner, a writer for the Intercept.
Borosilicate glass (Pyrex®) is a good choice for bakeware.
Ensure that any glass bakeware you use is tempered glass and use standard safety precautions: (1) avoid sharp temperature swings (i.e. freezer to oven); (2) do not bring liquid into contact with hot glassware (pouring liquid in, setting a hot dish into a wet sink, etc.); and (3) avoid temperatures higher than 350°F.
Fresh, Frozen, and Canned Foods & Food Handling
Choose fresh over frozen and frozen over canned foods when possible.
Can linings often contain bisphenols that can leach into the food.
While not always the case, some frozen foods are quite over-processed (particularly pre-made frozen meals). If you’re using frozen foods, as noted above, avoid heating these foods in their plastic containers (such as the “microwave-in-bag” produce).
Choose freshly prepared foods over processed foods at every opportunity.
Fresh food will contain less additives like preservatives, dyes, color stabilizers, etc.
Grown your own produce and buy from local farms that are committed to sustainable and healthy practices.
Look into Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) groups in your local community. Many of these groups aim to work with farmers that produce organically or minimize pesticide use when possible. We love Fair Shares CCSA in the St. Louis area!
Also, keep in mind that some local farms may not be “certified organic,” but follow the same practices, or even use practices that exceed organic standards. Make the effort to talk to your local producers to learn about their practices and support them when you can.
Choose organic if and when possible. If the budget allows, organic foods should be chosen to avoid certain pesticides and herbicides. Environmental Working Group’s dirty dozen is a good guide for foods you should always aim to buy organic or from trusted sources.
Wash fresh produce well before using.
Washing produce removes dirt, sand, and some topically applied pesticides and stabilizers.
Unfortunately, some pesticides are systemic (meaning that they are taken up by plants and incorporate into their tissues), and washing them won't remove them - which is why organic is preferred, particularly for certain produce.
Reducing Waste
Reduce use of single-use products.
At parties and events, look to use durable products over plastic or Styrofoam. If you don’t want to use your everyday plates and bowls, check out thrift stores for inexpensive plate sets. Trust me, if the food is good, guests won’t be commenting about potentially mismatched plates or cutlery.
Skip the individual water bottles at events and put out a large dispenser of ice water instead.
While we certainly appreciate the convenience of single-use plates, cups, and utensils, the amount of waste generated and expense can be substantial (particularly if you entertain frequently).
If you absolutely detest the idea of washing dishes post-party, look for single-use products that include recycled materials and that may be composted or which are biodegradable.
Avoid plastic straws and stirrers.
Paper, stainless steel, and glass are all great options for these products. We personally have a few sets of stainless steel straw that we love. They’re easy to clean and pop right back into the drawer for later use.
Incorporate reusable cups and bottles into your everyday routine.
Double-walled stainless steel, glass, or ceramic containers will keep your hot drinks hot and cold drinks cold.
We love the double-walled stainless steel bottles from Sip by Swell (sold at Target and online). They are easy to clean and seal tightly (to avoid risk of spills or leaks when tossed in a purse or in the car).
If you stop for coffee every workday, a reusable cup will save around 200 disposable cups, sleeves, plastic drip stoppers, and lids, from landfill!
Be a good recycler.
Learn what types of materials your local recycling center can and cannot accept and follow these rules. If you’re in St. Louis City, you can check out STL City Recycles for local tips.
For special items, like plastic bags and electronics, you may have to drive to a local drop off point for recycling.
In general, if the container is food soiled, it cannot go in recycling. This means you need to rinse out containers and remove any old food before tossing them in the recycle bin.
It might also mean you need to only recycle the top of your pizza box. Usually, if any grease spots on the box are larger than the palm of your hand, that portion of the box cannot be recycled.
Compost what you can (and use a garbage disposal if you have one) to avoid food waste in landfills.
Note that some food takeout containers that look like they should be compostable actually are not because they are coated with PFAS chemicals (look closely at the interior of these containers for a smooth/shiny coating). It’s best to toss these in the trash until the market fully abandons the use of PFAS.
Use reusable grocery bags at the grocery store.
We love BAGGU bags for how easy they are to wash, but there are so many options on the market these days. Choose one that works for you and stick with it!
Other Miscellaneous Topics
Skip the receipt at the grocery store (if possible).
Receipts contain bisphenols that easily transfer to the skin. If you have to take a receipt, always wash your hands after handling the receipt and definitely wash them before handling food.
Avoid household and kitchen cleaners and antibacterial soaps that include heavy fragrance.
Because manufacturers are allowed to simply list “fragrance” without actually specifying what is included, products can hide any number of potentially harmful ingredients.
Other cleaning options include good, old fashioned, soap and water, vinegar, lemon juice, and baking soda. Norwex is also a trusted commercial brand of cleaning products.
Wrapping Up
There’s a lot of information above, but as we said upfront, start with small, manageable changes that you can easily incorporate into your routine. Little by little, you’ll find yourself in a cleaner, greener home.
Finally, we’d like to give a huge shout out and thank you to our friend, Katie P., a highly skilled scientist and researcher in the field of endocrine disruption, who greatly helped us bring this article together.
