31 Days of Green Living day 8: green kitchen

Reuse Ziploc Bags

If what was stored in a plastic bag was not icky (i.e. raw meat), wash and reuse at least a few times to save waste & $$$. You can even get a cute plastic bag dryer.

Healthier Pots & Pans

It really is best to skip traditional nonstick pans with carcinogenic chemicals (PTFE and PFOA) in the coating altogether. There are alternatives -- like Cuisinart's GreenGourmet line, which has a nonstick interior that's ceramic rather than petroleum-based. Or keep it simple and cook with pots and pans made from stainless steel, pure cast iron, or enamel-coated cast iron. I was in dire need of new cookware last year when my cookware’s nonstick was starting to come off, yikes! I went with a traditional Stainless Steel set. It sure does take some getting used to cooking with, but just putting a little olive or grapeseed oil in your skillets-makes all the difference.

Go Plastic Free

Keeping track of which plastics are safer (Nos. 2, 4, 5) and which are more likely to release toxic phthalates, styrene, or BPA when heated or warm (Nos. 3, 6, 7) can be confusing. Make it a policy to use as little as possible in the kitchen.

A few ideas:

Glass Containers...they are freezable and microwavable.
And glass bottles and jars. Store liquids like juice, oil, and vinegar, or bulk-bought grains, beans, and nuts.
Wrap with dish towels. Surround baked goods with cloth instead of plastic wrap. You can also use a towel and rubber band to cover bowls of food to chill in the fridge before serving.

Bulk Up

There are plenty of good reasons to buy food and other items in bulk: You'll pay less in the long run, and you'll also cut back on wasteful packaging. In fact, bulk items reduce waste up to 90 percent by volume and 75 percent by weight over single-serving portions. And there are many creative ways to repackage bulk items for everyday use in your home. Keep bulk cereal, beans, and other dry goods in glass containers for easy access.

I have to tell you, in all my research for this series, I have learned a lot about what more I can be doing to go green. I hope you are learning too! What have you already changed?

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