Ever heard of the phrase, “the kitchen is the heart of the home”?

Not only that but the kitchen is also where you prepare food to cook. Because you are what you eat, you definitely want to work in a place that is clean, healthy and eco-friendly.

If you want to live an eco-friendly lifestyle and decrease your carbon “cook-prints” in the kitchen, you’re likely to focus on eating organic foods or eliminating the toxic cleaners from your home. But there is something else to consider as well -- your cookware.

Some cookwares are covered in coatings that release dangerous toxins when they are used over high heat or when scratched. Worry no more as now you can scramble your eggs, boil your pasta and stir fry your shrimp with confidence by choosing eco-friendly cookware.

Traditional cast-iron or stainless steel cookware has always been eco-friendly. However, these can be a challenge to maintain and look after and don’t always offer non-stick benefits. Fortunately, some cookware manufacturers have heard our pleas for a greener kitchen and came up with alternatives that use naturally non-stick ceramic, enamel or stone.

How to Make Your Kitchen Eco-Friendly

Having too many cookwares piling up and gathering dust is useless, so you may need to take some time to assess your needs. Remember, choosing quality over quantity will help you in the long run. Not sure what you need? Here’s what you can do to kick-start your cookware hunt:

Assess Your Needs

What are your favourite dishes? Do you know what you need to make them with? If yes, then you’re definitely getting somewhere. Keep in mind that being practical will not only save you kitchen space but will also be cost-friendly and your bank account will thank you.

Choose the Material

Stainless steel and cast iron are two materials that spring to mind when it comes to the topic of durability and being eco-friendly. Both materials can last long in terms of usage and withstand a fair amount of bangs and claps in the kitchen when in use.

Top 3 Eco-Friendly Cookware

Everyone has different needs in terms of diet, food preparation and cooking, so there is no one size that fits all. Finding the right eco-friendly cookware will now be your mission. But what are the best cookware brands for an eco-friendly kitchen? Here are our top 3 options for you to consider:

Fall in Love with Le Creuset

Iconic, indestructible and inspiring. That’s what Le Creuset is all about.

Founded in 1925, Le Creuset has long been recognised for its strength and durability. Cast individually in sand molds and hand-inspected by French artisans, each pot and pan represents a rich heritage and a tradition of lasting, authentic design.

The cookware is manufactured by melting down 15% pure pig iron, 35% recycled steel from cars and 50% recycled iron in huge melting pots called ‘creuset’, resulting in a range of stunning yet eco-friendly pieces.

In 1934, Le Creuset introduced its signature colour, Flame, but it wasn’t until 1964 when the brand became a worldwide sensation. These versatile yet sophisticated pieces come in a series of colours, shapes and sizes, sprucing up any table from backyard barbecues to fancy dinners.

Why Le Creuset?

The cast iron material allows heat to be evenly distributed over the entire vessel, turning it into an ideal cookware for all forms of cooking, whether you are roasting, searing, slow-cooking, or stir-frying. The smooth interior finish promotes stain resistance which prevents food from sticking to the surface. You’ll have an easier time doing the dishes and washing up after meals.

Shop our range of Le Creuset cookware here

Save the Earth with Lodge

Not a fan of French products? No worries, you can always go for pure quality American innovation. With Lodge, you can find balance in the way that you eat, live and cook.

Lodge is made in the USA since 1896 and is considered a low-tox and eco-friendly cookware options. Their professional heirloom quality cast iron cookware are designed to last for generations.

Why Lodge?

Similar to the Le Creuset, Lodge is also a great heat conductor and can be used in a variety of ways. But what sets them apart is Lodge's raw cast iron material that only gets better over time.  It will require some extra care by seasoning it occasionally with cooking oil, but in time you'll reap the benefits of a superb natural non-stick coating for your pan that will last a lifetime.

Lodge also takes pride in being eco-responsible. Some of their initiatives include using entirely biodegradable packaging materials, discovering ways to reuse foundry sand, and investing in foundry equipment that reduce pollution and minimise consumption of electricity.

Lodge offers a multitude of skillets, griddles, Dutch ovens and grills designed to complement one another and be used on all types of heat sources. This range of cookware can be used on a variety of heat sources, from campfires to stovetops and ovens.

Shop our range of Lodge cookware here

Go Green with Scanpan HaptIQ

Not to be left out of the sustainable kitchen cookware industry, the Danes have their own brand that will give you just as much bang for your buck.

The Scanpan HaptIQ is a European range of cookware with an excellent reputation. This range is part of the Scanpan family-owned business in Ryomgaard, Denmark, where they have been creating high quality cookware for more than 30 decades. 

This range was developed alongside professional chefs in 2019 to ensure the perfect balance of cooking performance and durability is provided. Scanpan HaptIQ's pan features Scanpan's enhanced Stratanium commercial-grade non-stick coating on 5-layers of cast aluminium and stainless steel clad construction to bring you a cooking experience like no other.

Why Scanpan HaptIQ?

The Scanpan HaptIQ is made from 100% recycled aluminum for even heat distribution and unparalleled durability, manufactured using the enhanced Stratanium commercial-grade non-stick coating.

The recycled aluminum is as strong as and has exactly the same heat conduction properties as non-recycled aluminum! The only difference is that the effect on the environment is greatly reduced when using recycled aluminum.

This Stratanium coating is the result of 10 years worth of research and development that improves Scanpan's already high quality non-stick coating by a further 30%. This involves adding extra layers with a combination of small and large particles to create a more hard-wearing cooking surface. The Stratanium's most notable qualities are:

• Metal utensil-safe surface
• Heat resistance, it is oven safe up to 260°C
• Rapid and even heat distribution to prevent hot spots while cooking
• PFOA and PFOS-free for healthy cooking

Aside from these highly sought qualities, what appeals to most home cooks will be Scanpan HaptIQ's suitability on all cooktops, including induction ones. The pan's stunning mirror-polished stainless steel exterior also makes it a gorgeous piece to have in your kitchen, perfect for frequent entertainers who are also avid cooks.

These plus points make the Scanpan HaptIQ cookware a good idea for any consumer who is concerned with their impact on the natural world. It could also be what you need to know to make an educated decision if you want to add this beautiful non-stick cookware to your kitchen.

Shop our range of Scanpan HaptIQ cookware here.

It is imperative to know that using eco-friendly cookware doesn’t always guarantee good health. However, by using these cookware, you are helping to reduce the amount of carbon ‘cook-prints’ in the kitchen and contributing towards a cleaner living environment.