BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM
A healthy kitchen goes beyond just eating green. On top of an eco-friendly diet, having planet-friendly appliances in the heart of your home can go a long way in making your household more sustainable. Although repairing existing items is a great first choice, if you do have an appliance in need of replacement, here’s a list of 10 sustainable ways to make your kitchen greener.
An electric kettle
If you currently use the stove to boil water, switching to an electric kettle for your morning tea will significantly reduce your daily electricity use. Opt for one with a measuring scale and a temperature control feature that switches off the kettle automatically when the water is boiled.
Coffee maker with reusable filter
For an eco-friendly coffee maker, it’s best to pick one that doesn’t use single-use coffee pods but instead has a reusable filter. Ideally, you should brew your coffee manually with a French press or pour-over and use old coffee grounds as fertilizer in your garden.
An eco-friendly toaster
An eco-friendly and energy-efficient toaster doesn’t have unrealistically long bread slots, toasts just two slices at a time, and has a good temperature control feature.
An energy-efficient blender
When buying a blender, pick one that doesn’t consume too much energy to process the ingredients and make sure that the plastic containers it comes with are BPA-free.
A rice cooker
A rice cooker is a great addition to the kitchen which can save you both time and energy use. Pick the one that actually meets your daily need and is sufficiently large to feed all your family members. It should also have a stainless steel bowl instead of one with Teflon which contains harmful chemicals (PTFE and PFOA).
An induction cooktop
We’ve previously written about the benefits of magnetic induction stoves. This appliance is the most energy-efficient gadget you can have in your kitchen. They use magnetic fields to produce electric charges and generate heat in pots and pans while keeping the stovetop itself cool to the touch. The food heats up only when a pot is placed over the cooktop. On top of avoiding the use of gas, it can also help to save a significant amount of energy.
An electric oven
Pair your induction cooktop with an electric oven that’s also a microwave to save both kitchen space and energy.
A dishwasher with an eco mode
By picking the right dishwasher, you can significantly minimize your energy and water use and thus save money on your utility bills. Pick one that has an eco-friendly mode. Also, while you shouldn’t get a dishwasher that’s bigger than your needs, investing in a larger machine is a good idea because it reduces the number of times you would put it in use.
A low-energy refrigerator
When choosing a refrigerator, look for the Energy Star rating. The more stars the appliance has, the less electricity it uses to run. Also make sure they don’t emit CFC and HFC (chlorofluorocarbon and hydrofluorocarbon), which are known to hurt the planet’s ozone layer.
Teflon-free frying pans
Needless to say, pans and pots are indispensable in any kitchen. One of the main things to look out for when picking these appliances is to avoid getting them with Teflon coating, which contains carcinogens and environmentally harmful chemicals such as PFOA and PFC. Instead, opt for cast iron, stainless steel, stoneware, and enamel-coated pots and pans.
