Gift Guide — Non Toxic Cookware
There are good gifts and then there are great gifts. And we can’t personally think of a greater gift that rounds out a year spent largely in the kitchen (shout out banana bread) and includes our two of favorite 2020 buzzwords (non toxic and sustainable) than safe, high quality cooking essentials.
We reach for local and organic food because it is richer in nutrients, reduces carbon output and has lower pesticide residues. So we should also reach for cookware and tools used to make those carefully selected foods with the same shared goal of healthier choices and lower impact on the environment. We recommend ditching the plastic (bye BPA) and your old non-stick pans (bye Teflon), and helping your loved ones upgrade to more safe and sustainable options. (Learn more about toxin free cookware here). We look for brands that are transparent, use natural materials, are committed to quality craftsmanship and create smart, reusable designs.
Here’s our food lover gift recommendations from small businesses.
Our Place Always Pan
It’s no surprise that the Our Place Always Pan is one of the most recommended products by Carte Editors. The multifunctional pan was designed to replace 8 pieces of cookware: a steamer/strainer, fry pan, saute pan, skillet, saucier, saucepan, non-stick pan, spatula, and spoon rest. The Always Pan is coated in a non-toxic, environmentally-friendly ceramic non-stick coating. No PFOA, PTFE, GenX chemicals or other questionable materials in sight! Plus, it comes in beautiful matte colors.
Caraway Cookware Set
Ditch the chemicals with Caraway’s ceramic-coated non-stick cookware that is free of toxins (no Teflon®) and eco-friendly. Their mineral-based coating that won’t leach toxic materials into your clean & healthy ingredients. Their complete set has everything you'll need for healthy cooking in your kitchen, staying organized their both our pot and lid holders, and looking good while doing so. Their set of 4 cookware essentials includes a Fry Pan, Saucepan, Saute Pan and Dutch Oven. Bonus points for offering the range in seriously stylish color options.
SUSTAINABLE
Brightland Olive Oil
Brightland extra virgin olive oils and vinegars are consciously made in California, and contain nothing more than fruit, love and sunshine. With Brightland, you know exactly what you’re getting - authentic olive oils and vinegars that are never rotten, overprocessed, or fraudulent (which, unfortunately, many conventional olive oils are). Brightland has absolutely no fillers or artificial preservatives. Their sole ingredient comes from trees that live on for thousands of years; so you can rest assured that what you’re putting into your body is straight from the earth.
All of their sets would make delicious gifts — our favorites are the Mini Essentials Set, their classic Duo (a kitchen must-have for us) or their Artists Capsule for artsy foodies.
Evermill Spices + SPice Rack
Evermill spices are organically grown on land that is free of synthetic fertilizers, growth regulators, insecticides, and herbicides. The spices are sourced globally and then ground in small batches, allowing them to obtain the finest quality ingredients from the source without any compromises.
Equally elegant on your countertop or mounted to your wall, their Spice Rack keeps your spices organized and close at hand. Their patent pending self-aligning wells ensure your labels are always perfectly centered. Dark amber glass preserves your spices by protecting them from light and heat. There’s also an in-drawer option.
Starting at $179 — Shop
Material Kitchen Fundamentals
Materials kitchen tool set offers seven pieces of kitchenware you’ll reach for every day, for every meal. Each item serves a fundamental purpose (or two or three), and is designed down to its finest detail using high-end materials such as Japanese steel knives, heavy duty stainless steel spatulas and European beech and American Walnut spoons.
$175 (on sale for $145) — Shop
Farmhouse Pottery Mixing Bowls
Once you get your hands on this bowl, you'll never let it be too far away again. Whether mixing ingredients, rising dough or whisking eggs, this vessel is both beautiful and incredibly useful. The easy pour spout makes cooking and baking a breeze. The durable American stoneware is wheel thrown in Vermont. It’s oven, microwave, dishwasher safe
Starting at $46 — Shop
Fellow Electric Kettle
Many electric kettles contain plastic interior parts that can leach chemicals into our water. Kettles get extremely hot and can cause the plastic to break down over time, especially as we use them daily. The last thing we want is for plastic particles to end up in our artisanal cup of coffee or tea.
The Stagg EKG Electric Kettle Whether is your countertop partner in the pursuit of a ridiculously good cup of coffee or tea. It featuring a precision pour spout (perfect for pour overs), variable temperature control, LCD screen, 60-minute hold mode, a brew stopwatch, and a stunning, minimalist design. No plastic comes in touch with the boiling water in the Fellow Stagg kettle. The only non-metallic component that does is the food-grade silicone gasket needed to seal the electronics from the thermometer.
Yield Glass French Press
The Glass French Press is an evolution of the classic press pot. The press brews a perfect a full-bodied pot of coffee or tea in the traditional French Press method. Made of premium heat-proof borosilicate glass, it is durable and able to withstand extreme temperatures. The Glass French Press is an uncompromising marriage of function and beauty. It has a fine mesh steel filter and no plastic.
$85 — Shop
W&P Ceramic Porter Bowl
Porter Bowl’s minimalist design & muted hues let you cut down on single-use plastics and look good doing it. Roomy, one-liter capacity packs everything from big salads and grain bowls to pasta and veggies. It’s crafted from high-quality ceramic, BPA-free plastic & silicone. The silicone snap-strap secures the plastic lid. Microwave and dishwasher safe.
$40 — Shop
SnackSheets Food Wraps
A stylish and sustainable alternative to plastic wrap. Ditch plastic and stick to the good stuff. Snacksheets are made 100% certified organic cotton, organic coconut oil, tree resin and not one, but two natural waxes. And that's it! No crazy chemicals, no dyes, no bees... only smiles.
SUSTAINABLE
ETU European CUTTING & Charcuterie BoardS
Etu’s classic European boards are handcrafted from reclaimed wood, demonstrating the unique skill of the artisan in a world of mass production. They are produced from responsibly sourced wood that is reclaimed and salvaged from Europe. This item is food safe and contains no toxins or harmful substances.
In the products featured above, the smooth oak side makes this wood board ideal for cutting and chopping, as well as serving. The rectangle board is made up of rich oak hardwood that is distinguished by two strips of walnut timber to prevent warping of the reclaimed wood. These large, top of the line, reclaimed boards are an amazing quality and will last for generations to come.
SUSTAINABLE
Great Jones CUSTOM ENGRAVED POT LIDS
Just the way you like it. Personalize a lid with your name, anniversary, signature dish, or any message on any of Great Jones’ stainless steel pots. 20 character limit on custom engraving.
MADE IN Personalized Chef & Santoku Knives
Inspired by tradition and innovation, Made In partnered with a family-owned, 5th generation knife maker from the knife capital of the world to create a fully-forged, nitrogen-treated chef knife. Hammered from one single rod of nitrogen-treated, premium X50CrMoV15 metal, this chef knife achieves a Rockwell score of 58-60 and will become the star in your knife block. Their knives are produced in Thiers, France.
You can custom engrave the knife with your favorite chef’s name for a personal gift they’ll use daily.
Farm Fresh To YOu Produce Box Subscription
Farm Fresh To You delivers organic fruits & vegetables fresh from their fields to your doorstep. Whether you are a fruit fanatic, veg head or love it all, you can choose (and change) the size and type of produce box that works for you.
It’s recommended by holistic chef and nutritionist Tara Sowlaty.