by guest blogger Karolina Gore

Home is an important place to detox. The kitchen is an excellent area to focus on, since most of us spend a lot of our time at home in the kitchen. It is also where we prepare and serve food.

So when you are building your dream kitchen, what should you consider?

Guest blogger, Karolina Gore, was excited to share the three tips below. From her perspective, they are three areas to consider to protect the health of those in your home and of the planet.

1. Research your appliances

Create a kitchen that incorporates energy-efficient appliances. Fridge freezers are of a particular concern because they use up a lot of electricity. In fact, on average they cost twice as much to run than the initial purchase price. An energy-efficient appliance costs less to run and uses less power, which in turn is better for the planet.

There can be a large difference in the efficiency between brands, using a comparison site can help you pick the best one. You should also look into what the fridge uses as a coolant. Although we no longer use harmful CFCs in the production of fridges, this was replaced by HFCs (Hydrofluorocarbons). HFCs don’t damage the ozone layer, however the production process results in toxic waste. Instead look for fridge freezers that use R600a hydrocarbon coolant, which is nontoxic. 

2. Avoid using plastic

One of the most common toxic plastics found in kitchens is PVC (polyvinyl chloride). It is used in a lots of cooking equipment and utensils, as well as food storage containers. Try to use glass instead for storing food, and swap plastic chopping boards for bamboo and wood. Look out for safer, non toxic plastic that will have the LPDE (polyethylene) label on it. It is also worth noting that you should never put plastics in the microwave.

3. The right cooking equipment

When you are buying cooking equipment for your nontoxic kitchen, avoid teflon or non-stick pans. They contain PFOA (perfluorooctanoic acid). This man made chemical is burned off in small amounts and is potentially harmful to humans. It has been linked with tumours. Instead of buying non-stick cookware, invest in cast iron pans. They may be more expensive, but they will last longer than a lifetime: They are often passed down in families from one generation to the next. Stainless steel or carbon steel cookware is also another good option and won’t expose you to harmful toxins when you use them. 

Having a nontoxic kitchen will protect you from man made chemicals. Your dream kitchen can be one that isn’t damaging to the environment and isn’t harmful to your health.