9 Non-Toxic Kitchen Tools, Recommended by a Former Chef

Before I started a career in food media, I was a chef for just under 10 years. I worked at a variety of places, including brunch, fine dining, all-vegan, and classic Italian restaurants. In my near-decade of time behind the line, I’ve used thousands of pieces of cookware and kitchen equipment. So naturally, I have some serious opinions on what actually works.

In the past few years, the focus on non-toxic kitchen gear has grown. Many tools meant for professional kitchens are made out of durable materials like stainless steel, cast iron, or wood, so many of them are, by default, non-toxic. So skip the Teflon and black plastic and check out my top picks for non-toxic kitchen tools I still use at home. 

Best Chef-Recommended Non-Toxic Kitchen Tools Overall

• Tramontina Stainless Steel 10-Inch Frying Pan, $40, originally $60
• Vollrath Set of 3 Mixing Bowls, $45, originally $50
• Tovolo Wooden Angled Turner $10, originally $12
• Nordic Ware Naturals Eighth Sheet, 2-Pack, $13, originally $17
• Lodge 10.25-Inch Cast Iron Skillet with Red Silicon Hot Handle Holder, $25, originally $30

Tramontina Stainless Steel 10-Inch Frying Pan

I worked at a restaurant where, across the three back burners of the 6-burner range, I would stack four or five of these stainless steel skillets on each burner and set them to low heat so I always had a hot pan ready. The stainless steel is nonreactive, non-toxic, and feels indestructible. I’d yank one out from under the stack, slam it down onto a gas burner set to high, cook with it at a ripping-hot temperature, then toss it into my dish pile, and they barely showed wear and tear. I still have one at home that I purchased in 2018. 

Vollrath Set of 3 Mixing Bowls

Similar to the skillet above, I love these mixing bowls because they’re so durable. Unlike glass, they won’t shatter, and unlike plastic, they can handle high heat. I use these to toss together a quick salad, proof bread dough, whisk hollandaise over a double boiler, and more. 

Tovolo Wooden Angled Turner

I am particular about my wooden spoons. Working in restaurants, I built an affinity for ones like this spoon with a squared-off head. It is unmatched when it comes to surface area in contact with the pan for scraping up all the browned bits. Plus, it effortlessly gets into the corners of any pot or pan. 

Nordic Ware Naturals Eighth Sheet, 2-Pack

Every restaurant I’ve ever worked at had stacks of these tiny aluminum sheet trays. They’re perfect for quickly melting cheese over a piece of toast in the oven or sliding a chicken thigh under the broiler. At home, I use them to bake a single hunk of frozen cookie dough, corral dipping sauce cups, and set up breading stations.  

Lodge 10.25-Inch Cast Iron Skillet with Red Silicon Hot Handle Holder

One of the first skills I learned as a cook was how to sear a steak in a Lodge cast iron skillet. Shortly after, I bought one for my house. Years later, I own three sizes, and when properly heated and seasoned, I use them for baking projects, pancakes, and even eggs. It can be a nearly nonstick surface without any potentially toxic coatings. 

U-Taste Silicone Spatula Set

One thing I learned working the egg station at brunch is never to trust someone else’s spatulas. Most restaurant spatulas are two pieces: a silicone head and a plastic handle. This makes them easier to wash, but it also means I can accidentally pull the handle out of my spatula mid-omelet flip during the Sunday morning rush — so, I quickly learned to bring my own. These U-Taste spatulas skip the plastic altogether and opt for a fully silicone construction that’s heatproof up to 600°F and safe to use on all types of cookware. 

Pro Dough Pastry Scraper

Even on days I wasn’t working with dough, my handy bench scraper was always on my prep station. It’s excellent for scooping up mounds of chopped veggies or just moving items around your cutting board. I like this all-metal version because it doesn’t have any potentially harmful plastics, and there are no seams for food to hide in.

Anchor Hocking Glass Measuring Cups, 3-Piece

Like most professionals, I use a kitchen scale for most of my recipes. But some things require liquid measuring, and for that, I always reach for my Anchor Hocking Glass Measuring Cups. They’re made from ultra-durable glass that resists shattering due to thermal shock and can handle microwaving or boiling liquids — something plastic just can’t measure up to. 

Winco Extra Heavyweight Stainless Steel Utility Tongs

If I had to choose just one kitchen tool to use for the rest of my life, it would be metal tongs. I buy these Winco tongs in bulk from my local restaurant supply store. At work, I’d use them for everything. Of course, there’s the obvious stuff like turning steaks or reaching into the fryer basket, but after a few years, they became an extension of my hand. Grabbing an eighth-sheet out of the oven, getting a rag to get into a tight space while cleaning, reaching something off a high shelf … all tasks for tongs. And because they’re steel, I know that they’re durable and nonreactive.