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Kitchen Detox 101: The Complete Guide to a Plastic-Free Kitchen

Your kitchen is the single biggest source of microplastic and chemical exposure in your home. This guide walks you through it in order, from the swaps with the highest health impact to the ones you can save for later. Six articles, ranked by priority, no fluff.

6 in-depth guides
~100 min total read time
35+ peer-reviewed sources
No. 1 highest-impact room

Your kitchen detox, in order

Start at step 1. Each swap is ranked by health impact, so if you only do the first three, you've already cut most of your exposure.

1
Drinking Water

How to Remove Microplastics from Drinking Water

Tap water contains thousands of microplastic particles per liter. The right filter removes 99% of them. Start here, this is the highest impact, lowest cost change you can make.

16 min read High impact
2
Cookware

Cast Iron vs Stainless Steel vs Ceramic Cookware

Nonstick cookware sheds PFAS into your food at every meal. Side-by-side comparison of the three safe alternatives, with cost, durability, and what each is best for.

18 min read High impact
3
Appliances

The Most (and Least) Toxic Kitchen Appliances, Ranked

From air fryers shedding PFAS to safe stainless steel picks. Which appliances actually leach into your food, and the specific non-toxic swaps worth the counter space.

28 min read High impact
4
Food Storage

Best Plastic-Free Food Storage Containers

Plastic containers leach more when they hold hot, oily, or acidic food. The glass, stainless, and silicone options that actually hold up, and the brands worth buying.

12 min read Medium impact
5
Prep Tools

Best Non-Toxic Cutting Boards

A 2022 study found a single plastic cutting board sheds up to 50 grams of microplastic per year directly onto your food. The wood, bamboo, and composite options that don't.

11 min read Medium impact
6
Groceries

Plastic in Groceries: What Really Matters

Not all grocery plastic is equal. The foods you should always buy plastic-free, the ones that are fine in plastic but should be re-stored at home, and the ones not worth worrying about.

18 min read Lower impact

Top 5 recommended swaps

Vetted picks from our store. Affiliate links: we earn a small commission when you buy, at no cost to you. We never accept paid placements.

Lodge Enameled Cast Iron Dutch Oven (6 Qt)
$$

Lodge Enameled Cast Iron Dutch Oven (6 Qt)

Best plastic-free cookware for soups, stews, bread

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John Boos Maple End Grain Cutting Board
$$$

John Boos Maple End Grain Cutting Board

Best premium hardwood cutting board

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Bodum Chambord French Press (34oz)
$

Bodum Chambord French Press (34oz)

Best all-around plastic-free coffee brewer

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Cosori Glass Electric Kettle
$

Cosori Glass Electric Kettle

Best value plastic-free kettle

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Forlife Stainless Steel Tea Infuser
$

Forlife Stainless Steel Tea Infuser

Best mug infuser for loose-leaf tea

View on Amazon →

Ready to make the swaps?

Browse our curated kitchen products: cookware, food storage, coffee gear, and more, all vetted against the criteria in this guide. Or take the free whole-home detox quiz to get a personalized priority list.

Shop Kitchen Swaps Take the whole-home quiz →

Quick answers

Common kitchen detox questions, with deep-dive guides for each.

How do I make coffee without plastic?
Use a French press, pour-over with a steel filter, or a stovetop moka pot, all metal or glass brewers that don't leach. Avoid Keurig pods (they shed millions of particles when heated), plastic-lined paper filters, and plastic drip baskets. If you must use a drip machine, look for stainless steel components and unbleached paper filters.
Read the full guide →
Are tea bags shedding plastic into my tea?
Yes. A 2019 McGill University study found a single plastic tea bag releases 11.6 billion microplastic and 3.1 billion nanoplastic particles per cup at brewing temperature. Even "paper" tea bags often contain polypropylene to seal them. Switch to loose-leaf tea with a stainless steel infuser, or buy brands explicitly labeled plastic-free (Pukka, Numi, Clipper).
Read the full guide →
Can my water filter remove nanoplastics?
Most can't. Pitcher and basic carbon filters miss particles smaller than 1 micron. Only reverse osmosis and nanofiltration consistently remove nanoplastics. If you want full nanoplastic protection, look for systems certified to NSF P473 standards.
Read the full guide →
Does my filter also remove PFAS?
Standard activated carbon filters miss most PFAS. Look for NSF/ANSI 53 or 401 certification specifically labeled for "PFOA/PFOS reduction." Reverse osmosis is most reliable; certified pitcher filters like Clearly Filtered and ZeroWater also remove PFAS.
Read the full guide →
Is "BPA-free" plastic actually safe?
No. Manufacturers replaced BPA with BPS, BPF, and BPB, chemicals shown in peer-reviewed studies to cause similar endocrine disruption. "BPA-free" is a marketing claim about what's missing, not a guarantee about what's safe. Choose glass or stainless steel for food storage and water bottles.
Read the full guide →
Am I making swaps that backfire?
Common backfires: DIY toothpaste (often abrasive and erodes enamel), DIY laundry detergent (doesn't dissolve, damages clothes and machine), bamboo toothbrushes that still have plastic bristles, charcoal toothpaste (linked to gum recession), and going fluoride-free for kids (significantly increases cavity risk).
Read the full guide →

Continue your detox

Other rooms and topics to tackle next.

Water Detox 101
4 articles
Bedroom & Air 101
3 articles
Personal Care 101
4 articles
Baby & Kids 101
2 articles