Last Updated on February 19, 2024

I spend a lot of time in the kitchen: I’m always trying out and filming new scraptastic recipes, or meal prepping for the week. 

The average American spends over 400 hours a year in the kitchen. I just finished writing my cookbook (which required a lot of recipe experimenting), and I think I might have that stat beat. Especially with all the dishes I had to wash! 

I can’t wait to share more details on my cookbook launch soon, so be on the lookout!

The kitchen can be a huge source of waste in the home. Between paper towels, plastic wrap, and food waste – a lot can end up in the landfill.

This post was sponsored by Caraway. All thoughts and opinions are my own; for more information please see my disclosure policy. Some of the links in this post are affiliate links; for more information please see my disclosure policy.

A lot of our kitchen items are made out of plastic (think Tupperware). But microwaving plastic food containers can leach plastic into your food. According to a recent study, within three minutes, some containers released as many as 4.22 million microplastics and 2.11 billion nanoplastics per square centimeter of surface area. 

Additionally, another new study found microplastics in nearly 90 percent of protein food samples tested. They estimated that an American adult could consume, on average, at least 11,000 microplastic pieces per year.

I’ve taken steps to make my kitchen as low waste and non-toxic as possible. I do this through simple swaps, like using reusable silicone bags, upcycled mason jars, glass tupperware, and Caraway cookware.

Caraway doesn’t use Teflon (more on why that’s important later) and has become quintessential to my kitchen. Their versatile and minimalist cookware items are all I need to whip up some delicious plant based meals.

It’s not just me who’s a fan: Caraway has over 60k 5 star reviews and their products have won multiple awards from Good Housekeeping, Esquire, House Beautiful and Domino. 

If you’re thinking about switching to more eco-friendly cookware, here are three reasons to try Caraway for yourself.

commitment to the environment

Every item we buy has an environmental impact. From the raw materials needed to create it, to the energy used to make it, every step in the manufacturing process matters.

In the zero waste community, end of life tends to be the talking point: Can it be recycled, composted, or reused? This matters, but there’s so much more that should be factored in before making a purchase.

Cradle to cradle design is imperative for creating sustainable products and a circular economy. This would mean a product’s environmental impact is consciously thought out from its beginning to its end.

I value brands that apply this approach to their products, and Caraway is one of them. They make high quality cookware with the environment in mind at all phases of its design.

recycling program

Did you know approximately 2.7 million pieces of cookware are being disposed of in landfills annually? That averages to over 7,000 pieces each day.

Most cookware is not recyclable through curbside recycling (but always double check your local recycling guidelines first). Thankfully, there are programs that accept and collect old pots and pans for recycling. The problem is finding them, as they’re not well known.

Caraway solves this issue and makes it easy to recycle their pots and pans at the end of their life through their recycling database. You just enter in your zip code and you can find a drop off location near you that will accept your worn out cookware. 

plastic free shipping

Caraway ships their cookware in a cardboard box with no excessive plastic packaging.

This is good for the environment because many packages use single-use plastic to cushion their products (like bubble wrap or styrofoam peanuts). These eventually end up in landfills, as it’s hard to recycle.

But Caraway ships in recycled cardboard with zero plastic bags. They also utilize low impact print dyes! Even the booklet that arrives with your order is made with recycled paper.

not coated in Teflon

The non-stick cookware you find in stores is also often coated in Teflon. Teflon is made with a specific kind of Perfluorocarbon (PFC) that makes the surface of cookware resistant to sticking.

The problem with this is when Teflon coated pans get overheated (above 500 degrees F), the Teflon coatings on nonstick cookware start to break down, releasing toxic chemicals into the air.

It only takes 2.5 minutes for a traditional non-stick pan on high heat to exceed 500 degrees F and begin releasing forever chemicals, aka PFAs.

PFAS don’t break down in our bodies, earning them the nickname “forever chemicals.” Instead they just just stay and build up in our bodies year after year.

The same is true for PFAs in the environment. Recently, PFAs have been found in rainwater and drinking water. 

When a factory makes or uses PFAs, it can travel through wastewater and contaminate natural water, soil and air around it.

Over time, PFA-containing items in landfills can also leach chemicals into the surrounding environment too. For this reason, we should be avoiding PFA-containing items, like Teflon coated pots and pans.

Caraway does not use Teflon to get their non-stick qualities they use a ceramic-coating. Ceramic-coated cookware is made with a metal core (usually aluminum but sometimes stainless steel) covered with a silica (sand)-based “sol-gel” solution that’s sprayed around it to give it the non-stick quality.

Be sure to check out these other non-toxic cookware companies that also avoid Teflon. 

RELATED: 10 Ways to Create a Non-Toxic Kitchen

ease of use and to clean

I find Caraway cookware to be really easy to use, as it acts very similar to nonstick pans there’s little to no learning curve.

They also work on any kind of stove: Gas, induction, and electric are all safe. I personally have an induction cooktop (which I highly recommend: it’s much better for your health and the environment) and I’ve had no problems using Caraway on it.

I’m all about making my items last, so I like to follow care instructions to the T. That way, my items last longer, which saves me money and reduces waste.

Here are some simple tips for caring for your Caraway cookware to make it last:

• Only use low to medium heat on the pans. Never cook it on high heat. Pro tip: If you want something to boil quicker, just place a cover over it.
• Only use wooden or silicone utensils on your Caraway cookware. These will reduce scratches and keep your cookware in overall better condition. Don’t cut or dice food in your pan.
• Handwashing is recommended. I just wash it by hand with a dish soap bar and my favorite wooden dish brush.
• For stains on the exterior of the pan, you can use a stronger sponge (like a wool sponge) with a high-strength detergent.
• Avoid drastic shifts in temperature (aka, don’t rinse a hot pan under cold water – let it cool down before washing it).
• Don’t slide your pans across metal stovetops, as this can damage the steel base.

PRO TIP:

If I do have any food that’s a bit stuck on, I recommend sprinkling some baking soda onto the surface and scrubbing it with a wooden pot brush. This always gets any stubborn food off quickly.

If you find the bottom of your pan is getting a little discolored or burnt, you can also use baking soda to improve on this.

beauty and function

Caraway’s design is appealing to the eye, but it’s also extremely functional. Each pan and pot can be used for making a variety of meals, not just one thing, making it super versatile.

For example, I can cook stovetop meals with Caraway but I can also pop it in the oven, as their products are oven safe up to 550°F.

I love their 4 piece cookware set because of how minimalist it is: You don’t need more than that to cook some delicious meals. 

Less is more: You don’t need a 16 piece set, but instead 4-6 really good, versatile cookware items that can do it all.

Focusing on fewer, more high quality pieces not only reduces clutter in the home, but also reduces the amount of resources/energy needed to make the cookware in the first place.

The 4 piece cookware set comes with:

• 10.5” fry pan: Perfect for flipping pancakes, sauteeing veggies, or making a big batch of eggs.
• 3 qt sauce pan: Ideal for cooking up risottos, mac and cheese, soups, and sauces.
• 6.5 dutch oven: ALL the pasta, soups, stews and boils.
• 4.5 qt saute pan: Wonderful for stir fries and even making impromptu toast!
• Storage: Only available with the set purchase but very handy!

You really don’t need more than this – unless you like to bake! They also offer bakeware sets that are equally amazing and easy to organize.

Related: 6 Best Non-Toxic Bakeware Sets For an Eco-Friendly Kitchen

easy to store

If you get their 4 piece cookware set, it automatically comes with a storage unit that’s both pretty and functional. This helps keep my Caraway set organized and neat, instead of all disheveled in my cabinet somewhere.

What I love most about the storage unit is how efficiently it saves space. Caraway pots and pans are kind of big, so if I had to put them away in a cabinet somewhere, I wouldn’t be able to fit anything but that inside my cabinet (haphazardly I may add).

I personally think getting the set is so worth it. The storage unit also looks lovely on my countertops and I get so many compliments on it!

They also just added a new lid organizer designed to sit on your countertop. This can be bought on its own and is compatible with all caraway pans! It stores up to 4 lids and will even connect with other Caraway organizers to keep your kitchen tidy.

Would you give Caraway’s cookware a try? Let me know in the comments below.

And, a huge thank you to Caraway for sponsoring this post. Be sure to use this link for an additional 10% off your order!

The post 3 Reasons to Try Caraway Cookware appeared first on Going Zero Waste.

3 Reasons to Try Caraway Cookware