8 Kitchen Swaps to Cut Microplastics From Your Vegetables

Microplastics have infiltrated nearly every aisle of the grocery store, with recent studies finding them in seafood, soft drinks, and kitchen tools of all kinds. Perhaps most surprisingly, a new study from the University of Plymouth revealed that nanoplastics can bypass plants’ natural defenses and accumulate in vegetables like radishes — another avenue for microplastics to make their way onto your dinner plate. You can’t control what happens in the soil (unless you grow your own food), but there are steps you can take to keep toxins out of your food.

Washing vegetables thoroughly, swapping to non-toxic cutting boards, and skipping the plastic produce bags at the grocery store are only some of the ways we recommend to reduce exposure when prepping, cleaning, and storing produce.

Non-Toxic Kitchen Tools for Vegetables

• OXO Good Grips Stainless Steel Salad Spinner, $60, originally $75
• Rubbermaid Brilliance Glass Food Storage Containers, Set of 4, $40, originally $43
• Material Kitchen The MK Free Board, $48
• Full Circle The Ring Bamboo Vegetable and Fruit Cleaning Brush, $9
• Pur Plus Vertical Faucet Water Filtration System, $25, originally $37
• Purifyou Reusable Produce Bags, Set of 9, $14, originally $20
• U.S. Kitchen Supply Stainless Steel Expandable Over-the-Sink Colander, $20
• Brite Concepts Mini Bamboo Cutting Board, $8

OXO Good Grips Stainless Steel Salad Spinner

While this durable, editor-loved salad spinner has a plastic internal strainer basket, the exterior is made from stainless steel. That means it introduces less plastic during the process compared to all-plastic options. It has a locking lid and a push-down pump to spin and remove moisture from produce.

Rubbermaid Brilliance Glass Food Storage Containers, Set of 4

When we tested glass food storage containers, our editors appreciated the airtight seals on this glass Rubbermaid set. They’re freezer-, microwave-, and oven-safe up to 450°F. With an average 4.7-star rating and over 3,000 purchased in the past month, they’re also a shopper favorite.

Material Kitchen The MK Free Board

If you love your plastic cutting board and need a non-toxic alternative, look no further than the MK Free Board. This plant-based pick has the look and feel of plastic and is just as easy to clean, but it has no plastic materials to shed.

Full Circle The Ring Bamboo Vegetable and Fruit Cleaning Brush

According to one shopper, the ring shape of this bamboo produce cleaning brush makes it easy to use and comfortable to hold. They noted that the recycled bristles are “just the right stiffness for almost any fruit or vegetable.”

Pur Plus Vertical Faucet Water Filtration System

Our editors’ favorite faucet water filter, this Pur Plus system connects directly to your kitchen sink. It’s easy to install and reduces contaminants in your water, so you can wash your vegetables with pure, great-tasting water.

Purifyou Reusable Produce Bags, Set of 9

Those plastic bags in the produce aisle can introduce toxins into your food before it even reaches your grocery cart. Next time, come prepared with a few of these reusable mesh bags in your tote. This set includes nine bags in three shapes and sizes.

U.S. Kitchen Supply Stainless Steel Expandable Over-the-Sink Colander

Wash your vegetables without hassle. This stainless steel mesh colander expands to sit over your sink basin — all you have to do is add your produce and get to cleaning. It has thousands of fans at Amazon, with over 5,000 of the colanders sold in the past month. Its “nicely spaced screening does a great job of letting sand and debris go through while rinsing veggies,” said one happy shopper

Brite Concepts Mini Bamboo Cutting Board

I think we can all relate to the reviewer who wrote, “I hate to dirty a big cutting board just to cut a lemon.” Bulky boards can be difficult to wash, but this mini one is easy to manage and checks all the non-toxic boxes. “Bamboo is great, as I’m trying to eliminate plastic from my life,” the shopper added.