Today I’m sharing ten super simple steps to a more eco-friendly kitchen, from reusable storage bags to silicone drinking straws and baking mats!
Over the past few years we’ve been trying to make an effort to be less wasteful and more intentional about the items we purchase that are usually disposable. I’ve tried to find innovative ways of reducing our trash output, and today I’m sharing with you ten super easy ways that you can start doing the same thing in your kitchen too! Whether you have a kitchen inside your home, or you’ve been checking out your Outdoor Kitchen Cabinets options for your outside cooking renovation, you may want to see how green you can get, and we are not talking about painting your cabinets green.
Though I have only mentioned the products that you can use to make your kitchen more environmentally friendly, there are several other things you can do. You can cook using the natural gas pipelines in your kitchen. Natural gas grills, ovens, and stoves are, after all, the preferred kitchen appliances in restaurants and commercial kitchens across the country. And for a good reason: cooking with natural gas allows for more efficient and delicious meals, from instant heat to maintain a consistent temperature. Natural gas is a safe and convenient alternative to other types of fuel. Natural gas’s energy efficiency and environmental friendliness can benefit a lot to your home. You’d probably feel better knowing that you and your family have a reliable energy source. However, the gas pipelines must be properly installed so that there is no leakage as a result of any negligence on the part of the plumber. Hence, it is critical to contact service providers who have experience in performing gas fitting Kamloops or elsewhere.
You could also consider buying a propane stove and heating system for your home. Cooking with propane gas can be far more cost-effective and can provide better heat control than electric stoves or ovens. Propane-heated cooktops and ovens also turn off faster, which could be better for both safety and overcooking. Moreover, propane is believed to be a much safer fuel than natural gas because it has a much narrower range of flammability (minimum and maximum burn temperatures) than natural gas. Propane does not ignite when combined with air unless the ignition source is at least 920 degrees F. Hence, it could be a better alternative to opt for a propane heating and cooking system. However, after purchasing a propane stove for cooking and heating, you might need to contact a company that can provide residential delivery of propane.
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1. Reusable produce bags
How many of those thin produce bags from the grocery store do you throw away when you get home from shopping? For us, it used to be a lot! We love fresh fruit and vegetables and obviously do a lot of home-cooked meals from scratch, and so I finally purchased a set of reusable produce bags that I bring with me to the grocery store. These are a super easy way to reduce plastic waste, and are washable! Pro tip: After washing the bags, store them in your car with your normal reusable grocery bags so you don’t forget them!
2. Reusable silicone storage bags
We go through soooo many plastic storage bags. Between marinating meats, storing food in the freezer, and many more kitchen uses, this is one item that is the hardest to replace. I finally found a set of reusable silicone storage bags that I like and have started using them to replace some of our disposable plastic storage bag uses, but I will be the first to admit that this is a hard one for us!
3. Bee’s Wrap reusable food wraps
I notoriously hate plastic wrap, because not only is it wasteful but it never seems to actually stick to dishes and perform the task that it is supposed to. Therefore, I gladly purchased these reusable food wraps from Bee’s Wrap! I love them for wrapping up fruits or veggies that aren’t finished (like those half lemons or onions!) for using later. Easy to wash too!
4. Silicone baking mats
This was one of the first changes I made in our kitchen! These silicone baking mats fit perfectly on standard baking sheets, are dishwasher safe, and can replace either tin foil or parchment paper that I would normally use for cooking, roasting, or baking in the oven.
5. Glass meal prep containers
I also started replacing our plastic food storage containers with glass containers when the plastic one get worn out. I like that I don’t have to worry about chemicals from the plastic containers, and I also feel like the glass reheats the food more evenly in the microwave than plastic does!
6. Cloth napkins
This is an easy change to make! Save paper towels and paper napkins by switching them out for cloth napkins which you can easily throw in the washing machine with your kitchen towels.
7. Microfiber cloth rags
I also started switching out paper towels for microfiber cloth rags a while ago, and this is a really easy change to make. I use these cloth rags for most of my cleaning and to wipe down the kitchen counters, and then just throw them in the wash with the kitchen towels when I’m done.
8. Silicone drinking straws
I finally purchased a set of silicone drinking straws before our last Disney World trip, and they are a great option for reducing plastic use. I like these straws because they come with a handy storage bag and cleaning brush which makes traveling with them much easier!
9. Silicone ice cream containers
When I started making my own homemade ice cream, I needed a good storage system for the ice cream. Enter these silicone ice cream tubs by Tovolo! I love that they are safe and BPA-free, and dishwasher safe!
10. Green cleaning products
To be honest, kitchen cleaning is tough. If it were easy, restaurant staff would have cleaned their kitchens by themselves. Since the process is overwhelming and arduous, they often call firms like HOODZ (those interested to know more about them can search Hood Cleaning Services in Alexandria, LA on the Internet) who can do the task quickly.
My point here is that even though cleaning the kitchen is hard, I still strive to do my best to maintain cleanliness. Moreover, I’ve been replacing some of my cleaning products with items from brands that can help me clean my kitchen quickly. Also, the products that I have selected are more environmentally friendly and filled with more natural ingredients.
Specifically, I’m loving the Mrs. Meyer’s cleaning supplies right now, especially because they’ve got a Pumpkin Spice fragrance that’s perfect for this time of year!
Now it’s your turn: what is one way you’ve tried to be more eco-friendly in the kitchen? Share with me below!