7 Safest Cooking Utensils to Keep Your Kitchen Toxin-Free (2024)

Sneaky toxins hide everywhere in your kitchen. So, choosing the safest cooking utensils is more vital than you think.

Ever leave a nylon spoon resting in a hot skillet while you sprint to the bathroom? Using the wrong utensil, you gain extra “seasoning” every time you do that.

Avoiding Teflon-coated utensils is necessary if you’re trying to eat healthily while keeping your family safe.

Toxic tools are sneaky, often hiding under “BPA-free” labels. The truth is, BPA-free plastic simply contains other unhealthy bisphenols like BPS and BPF.

The bottom line, only certain materials are safe. But where to even start? Are my current utensils dirtying my food with bizarre chemicals?

You’re in the right place. Below, we discuss the cooking utensils to avoid (and why), the safest utensil materials, and finally, review the seven most healthy kitchen utensils.

Let’s get started.

• Toxic Cooking Utensils to Avoid
  • Aluminum
  • Nylon, Non-Stick, Teflon
• What is the Safest Material for Cooking Utensils?
  • Stainless Steel
  • Silicone
  • Bamboo
  • Wood
• 7 Best Non-toxic Cooking Utensils Reviewed
  • Best Stainless Steel
  • Best Silicone
  • Best Bamboo
  • Best Wood
• FAQ

Avoid uncoated aluminum utensils and cookware for the following reasons…

First – food made with aluminum cookware or utensils will absorb bits of the material. More so with acidic foods like tomato sauce.

Second – worn-out, non-stick coated aluminum pans can leach metal into your food.

Then, you eat the absorbed aluminum. From there, it invades your bloodstream and accumulates in different organs.

Now, while aluminum does enter your body,it’s usually a harmless amount. Your kidneys filter most of it.

The exception is if you’re ingesting massive amounts of aluminum. For example, a welder with poor ventilation.

Or you have a kidney disorder and can’t filter aluminum properly. In that case, you can experience toxicity, including anemia, bowel disease, dementia, and low sperm count, to name a few.

But, uncoated aluminum can impact your food’s flavor and appearance (ever eat metallic-tasting tomato sauce?). Also,acidic ingredients can ruin the utensil.

So,ditch uncoated aluminum cookware and cooking utensils to protect your food’s flavor.

Nylon cooking utensils are everywhere. In fact, chances are good they’re sitting in your kitchen right now.

But is nylon a healthy kitchenware material?

The first big issue with nylon cooking utensils – their heat resistance (or lack thereof).

Unlike stainless steel or silicone cooking utensils, nylon’s melting point is much lower. It can range depending on the epoxy hardeners used.

Generally, nylon will start to melt around 400℉. Although food doesn’t get this hot often, your cookware does.

You can start to imagine the issue here. Petroleum-based particles melting off into your meal. Mmm.

Second – nylon cracks and splinters under stress into your food. From there, you eat those splinters.

Plus, food gets stuck in the cracks and rots (hello bacteria).

Third – plastic utensils come from petroleum – a non-renewable resource. And plastic sits around for thousands of years in landfills… The environment saysthank you(cue sarcasm).

Long story short – nylon cooking utensils provide some convenience, sure. But are they the wisest choice? Definitely not.

Instead, choose one of the following (smarter and safer) materials!

1. Stainless steel
2. Silicone
3. Bamboo
4. Wood

Stainless steel is a favorite for three reasons; safety, sustainability, and durability.

First, stainless steel is hygienic and non-porous.

As a result, steel doesn’t collect bacteria on its surface or absorb odors/ flavors.

Compared to other forms of steel, stainless won’t rust thanks to nickel and chromium. The chromium oxide layer protects the steel and prevents corrosion.

Next, stainless steel is sustainable.

Unlike plastic, you can recycle stainless without losing performance.The environment says thank you!

Third, durability!

It’s no mystery stainless steel can handle enormous abuse.Again, sustainability. High-quality stainless steel utensils can last forever. So, you’ll save money on replacements and reduce pollution.

• Hygienic and non-porous surface
• Non-reactive with foods (no altered flavor)
• Easy cleaning/ low-maintenance
• Durable enough to last forever (save money)
• Recyclable
• Dishwasher-safe (save time)

• Can scratch non-stick pans
• Gets hot to the touch
• Pricey for high-quality brands

Silicone is a rubber polymer created by combining silicon, carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen.

You’ll notice silicone utensils are gaining steam lately as a trendy option. And for good reasons…

First, silicone is flexible, soft, and non-stick.Cleaning is a breeze after cooking, and the softness is child-friendly.

Plus, silicone makes the best non-scratch utensils that protect your pots and pans – thanks to the soft texture.A notable benefit over stainless steel.

Second, unlike plastic, these BPA-free kitchen utensils are inert and stable.Silicone endures heating up to 600℉, down to -40℉ without leaching chemicals.

• Made from natural, non-toxic materials
• Soft and flexible (won’t scratch your cookware)
• Non-stick and easy cleaning
• Inert during extreme temperature exposure
• Stays cool to the touch
• Dishwasher-safe (save time)
• Recyclable

• Low-quality silicone brands use plastic fillers (not the brands on this page!)
• Can stain and hold food odors if not cleaned well (can happen with acidic foods like tomato sauce).
• Although recyclable, not every recycling center deals with silicone.

I can write a book on all the attractive benefits of bamboo utensils. But for now, here are the top three!

First, bamboo is biodegradable and eco-friendly.The bamboo plant is (technically) grass and regrows at breakneck speeds when cut.In fact, certain species grow 36″ inches in only 24 hours! Talk about sustainability!

Second, bamboo utensils are sanitary.Bamboo is naturally antimicrobial and doesn’t absorb as much water as wooden utensils.As a result, bamboo warps and cracks less than wooden utensils. Plus, it’s more stain and odor-resistant.For those reasons, bamboo is popular for many items, not just utensils… Bamboo cutting boards are one popular use, since they don’t absorb as much food juice and bacteria as wood.

But, bamboo still absorbs small amounts of moisture. So, you should hand-wash to protect your investment.

Third, bamboo performs!It’s surprisingly sturdy compared to its wood counterpart, although lighter in weight. Bamboo is even used for making durable and safe cutting boards.Not as durable as stainless steel, of course, but lighter and easier to maneuver.Plus, bamboo won’t scratch your non-stick cookware or get hot to the touch!

• Sustainable and renewable
• All-natural
• Biodegradable (the landfills will thank you)
• Very affordable
• Hygienic and antimicrobial properties
• Lightweight yet very durable
• Stays cool to the touch
• Won’t scratch pans (cookware is expensive, don’t scratch it!)
• Resists moisture (less cracking)

• Although durable, bamboo is not as strong as stainless steel and can still break.
• Not dishwasher-safe (dishwasher decreases lifespan).

Wooden cooking utensils are durable yet soft enough to protect your cookware’s non-stick surface.Wood is inert (does not leach), stays cool, and is antimicrobial.

But, comparing bamboo spoons vs. wooden spoons, you’ll notice bamboo utensils crush wood in sustainability.Trees grow back much slower.Bamboo also resists moisture better than wood, helping the tool last longer.

So why include wooden utensils on our list?Wooden cooking utensils are a proven, time-tested option used for thousands of years. This list is incomplete without wood.As a kid, I remember my grandmother wielding a wooden spoon to stir her homemade gravy as I awaited dinner (anxiously).

Another point, certain types of wood make better cooking utensils than others.Teak, for example, better resists moisture than most wood.

So, is teak wood good for cooking utensils?You bet! Teak is one of the best wooden cooking utensils out there (#7 is a teak wood set)!Plus, teak has a unique, classic look to it.

• Biodegradable
• All-natural
• Renewable (although slower than bamboo)
• Hygienic and antimicrobial properties
• Very durable
• Stays cool to the touch
• Won’t scratch pans

• Porous surface (absorbs water)
• Not dishwasher-safe
• Can stain (mostly with tomato sauce)

1. FineDine Stainless Steel Kitchen Utensil Set (10-piece)
2. Home Hero Stainless Steel Kitchen Utensil Set (29 Cooking Utensils)
3. HomeHero Silicone Cooking Utensils Set (8-piece)
4. Oxo Good Grips Tongs
5. Riveira 6-piece Bamboo Cooking Utensil Set
6. Oxo Wooden Spoons
7. Mondayou Teak Wood Cooking Utensils Set

Here are seven of the best and most non-toxic cooking utensils.

Our research team vetted these options by material, hundreds of reviews, and brand research, so you don’t have to. These are some of the safest options I’ve found.

FineDine provides everything you need with this one compact (and affordable) stainless steel cooking utensils set.

The ten most vital tools to prep, cook, grill, and serve, all for a low price.

Here’s what you get:

• A basting spoon
• Slotted spoon
• Square slotted turner
• Ladle
• Skimmer spoon
• Potato masher
• Whisk
• Spaghetti spoon
• Tongs
• And a sleek utensil holder (7″ x 4.5″) for storage

Want to hang your tools and save counter space?Thanks to the built-in loopholes, you can hang them anywhere you want.

These sturdy kitchen utensils are precision crafted from a solid piece of stainless steel. Plus, the comfortable heat-proof grip keeps your hand cool.And cleaning is a breeze – just toss them in the dishwasher! They come out gleaming like new every time.

Drawbacks:You can’t use these utensils on non-stick pans. Steel can scratch the pan’s coating.

Looking for a complete cooking utensil overhaul where everything matches?Home Hero’s deluxe stainless steel kitchen utensil set gives youeverything you need… and then some.

You gain everything from sturdy stainless cooking spoons and spatulas – to can openers, tongs, measuring spoons, and tea strainers.

Like the previous set, each piece comes from a solid chunk of high-quality stainless steel.Plus, the handles are heat-proof, comfortable to hold and have a well-weighted feel for sturdy egg flipping.

Of course, a loophole is present to hang your cooking utensils and avoid clutter.

The tongs and spatula have flexible silicone heads to prevent scratching and add a better grip.

Here’s what you get:

• A skimmer
• Egg whisk
• Slotted turner, non-slotted turner, & extra-wide Asian turner
• Garlic press
• Tea strainer
• Cheese knife
• Pizza cutter
• Bottle opener & can opener
• Potato peeler & potato masher
• BBQ/ kitchen tongs
• Scraper
• Soup ladle
• Grater & strainer
• Four measuring spoons & four measuring cups
• Slotted draining spoon
• Serving spoon
• And a pasta server

All pieces are dishwasher-safe for easy cleanup.And Home Hero offers a full 2-year warranty just in case.

Drawbacks: Like the previous set, these are greatutensils for stainless steeland cast iron cookware, but not non-stick. It’ll scratch the coating.

Go ahead and release your inner chef without spending an arm and a leg with this 29-piece set!

This was the first silicone cooking utensil set I owned, and these things are great (and affordable)!

Each food-grade silicone utensil sports a thick acacia handle –a scratch-resistant and naturally antibacterial hardwood that’s tougher than maple.It’scomfortable to hold and has just enough texture to provide a good grip.Plus, the wood and silicone stay cool to the touch.

And with silicone’s higher melting point than plastic utensils, they won’t melt if you leave a spoon in the pan… Silicone stays looking new for years!

Now, at first glance, I thought the silicone would be too floppy to flip pancakes, but that’s not the case.They’re rigid enough for almost any task, though scraping stuck-on food off of stainless steel is a bit too much. The beveled spatula makes up for that, easily gliding underneath thin items like crepes to flip.

Even further, you’ll preserve your non-stick cookware’s surface with the soft, non-scratch silicone heads – and the silicone doesn’t smell, either.

Here’s what you get:

• A solid spoon
• Slotted spoon
• Soup ladle
• Pasta server
• Solid turner
• Slotted turner
• Rounded spatula
• And a scraper

For storage, you can hang your cooking utensils with the convenient loopholes.

Drawbacks: You shouldn’t use the dishwasher due to the wood. Instead, hand-wash to extend its lifespan. But don’t worry – both the wood, and especially silicone, wipe clean in seconds.

Home Hero’s silicone utensils with wooden handles earn thousands of positive reviews on Amazon – check them out!

Oxo crafts their 14″ x 2″ Good Grips tongs from food-grade silicone with high-grade stainless steel handles.

The firm yet flexible, non-toxic silicone heads provide grip to maneuver delicate foods – without being too floppy. Turn fish, scallops, and asparagus with precision.

Its perforated head helps with straining juices and oils from food.Plus, the rounded design enables you to scoop, and the straight front edge allows deglazing and pan scraping.

Speaking of scooping, the flat head with thin and flexible edges will glide under your food with ease!And, the silicone will never scratch your non-stick pans– or melt, thanks to its 600°F heat resistance…Versatile enough to deep fry chicken. Flip hot dogs on the grill. Or, simply serve spaghetti.

With thumb rests molded into the soft and non-slip handles, you can maneuver food without the tongs slipping from your hand.

For cleaning, hand-wash or toss in the dishwasher to save time!

Drawbacks: The silicone can sometimes get slippery and be challenging to turn round items like sausages. But, flat items like burgers, chicken, bacon, etc., aren’t an issue.

Altogether, Oxo is a highly-rated brand with over 30 years of experience.

This reliable 6-piece set of bamboo cooking utensils is one of the most budget-friendly options you’ll find anywhere.But does that mean it’s low-quality? Absolutely not!

Riveira uses only the purest organic bamboo, grown without chemical fertilizers, pesticides, or other unnatural agents.Plus, it’s a rapidly renewable resource and biodegradable!

Here’s what you get:

• A slotted turner
• Solid turner
• Scraper
• Slotted and solid bamboo cooking spoons
• And a cooking spork for multipurpose use

All the basics for the majority of your cooking at a ridiculously affordable price.

Each utensil is lightweight and easy to hold.Also stain, odor, and moisture-resistant – in other words, goodbye, nasty mold!

Like silicone, the bamboo will not scratch your cookware. And the non-stick surface repels stuck-on foods for easier cleanup.

Of course, if you leave a spoon sitting on your hot skillet by accident, no melting (or worries). Lastly, Riveira covers you with a limited lifetime warranty!

Drawbacks: Not dishwasher-safe –hand-wash only. Although bamboo’s tighter grains are less absorbent than wood, they can still swell from prolonged heat and moisture. Beware of dishwasher-safe bamboo. It contains melamine (formaldehyde) additives.

Oxo’s tried and true craftsmanship shines here again with this 3-pack of wooden spoons.Another affordable, classic, and non-toxic alternative to plastic utensils.

This set includes three large cooking spoons: one slotted, one solid, and one wooden turner –all produced from a single solid piece of all-natural beechwood.

Beechwood is a high-density hardwood used to produce flooring, furniture, and even drums, due to its uniform texture and ruggedness.Translation… Oxo wooden spoons will smile at all your cooking needs. Plus, they’re well-balanced and comfortable to hold.

Although rock-solid, they’re gentle enough to protect your cookware’s non-stick surface. And of course, no worries of melting!

For storage, a loophole sits in each handle, allowing you to hang your spoons for easy access.

Drawbacks: As usual, you don’t want to use the dishwasher.Hand-wash your wooden kitchen spoons instead. They wipe clean easy anyway, thanks to beechwood’s smooth grain.

This cooking utensil set gives you five high-quality spoons and spatulas… All crafted from a single piece of organic tropical teak wood.

Teak wood cooking utensils even the scoreboard with bamboo.Because of their high oil content and tight grain, teak wood utensils resist water, warping, and cracking.Thus, improving safety (no splinters) and longevity (lasts longer).

And, teak’s oil content provides a unique, high-gloss look, not found in many other wooden utensils.

Use them for high heat sauteing or flip eggs on your non-stick skillet without damaging the coating.And they make attractive serving utensils too.

Here’s what you get:

• A teak wood spatula
• Wok spatula
• Wooden spork
• Strainer spoon
• And soup ladle.

For storage, Mondayou drills loopholes in the handles for convenient hanging.

Drawbacks: Not dishwasher-safe. For cleaning, you should hand-wash your teak kitchen utensils to maximize longevity.

While both are non-scratch and great for protecting your non-stick cookware, silicone utensils are more desirable for three main reasons:

1. Silicone is a non-toxic, inert material that will not leach out chemicals under extreme heat like nylon.
2. Speaking of heat, silicone can withstand up to 600℉, while nylon will melt around 400℉.
3. Silicone is non-stick and easier to clean.

Preparing and eating healthy foods is a crucial step for keeping your family healthy.And how you prepare your food is just as important as the food itself.

Using the wrong cookware, dinnerware, cooking utensils, orfood containers can taint your meals and impact your healthy-eating efforts.So, opt for non-toxic materials and choose the healthiest kitchen utensils you can.

In this post, we laid out 7 of the safest cooking utensils to use that help you steer clear of toxic toppings!

Now that you have non-toxic cooking utensils, you might wonder, “is my cookware itself toxic…?”

Find out in this post here! You’ll uncover how to identify toxic cookware and ten of the safest pots and pans out there!