Eco-Friendly Silicone Kitchen Products
After a lot of negative press about Teflon and plastic harming the body and environment, consumers are looking for alternatives. Silicone, a synthetic rubber made from bonded silicon and oxygen, is gaining popularity.
It’s soft enough to prevent damage, like banging a ceramic cake tin on the floor, and flexible enough for tasks like scraping every last bit of batter out of a mixing bowl. Core Kitchen makes spatulas that are one piece of molded silicone.
Baking Cups & Baking Mats
Silicone baking cups are an eco-friendly alternative to traditional paper liners. They’re BPA free, dishwasher safe, and oven safe to 500 degrees Fahrenheit. This set of 12 includes a mix of colors including white, navy blue, sage green and dusty blue in a standard size that fits a standard muffin pan. They also make it easy to bake cupcakes, muffins and individual lava cakes.
Baking mats are another silicone kitchen product that replaces parchment paper and reduces waste in your kitchen. They have a nonstick surface that makes them easier to clean than your metal pans. They also eliminate the need for greasing your baking sheet, so you can cut down on your cooking oil use.
You can find mats in a variety of sizes, from 16 by 24 inches to an 11 by 17 inch rectangular version that fits on a cookie sheet. Some even have grid patterns that help you measure out ingredients or create precise shapes. They can also be used in the freezer, microwave and oven.
However, because they are thicker than parchment or tin foil, these baking mats aren’t great for roasting or browning foods. They’re best for baked goods, and many people find them a bit too slick to use with savory dishes like chicken or vegetables. Some users have found that they retain a greasy residue, especially after washing them.
Spatulas
Modern kitchen utensils come in all sorts of shapes, Silicone Spatulas sizes and materials. Some are rubber, some plastic and others made from non-stick metals or coated with silicone. Spatulas are no exception. Many are designed for scraping a bowl, but they can also be used to flip pancakes or move cookies from a baking sheet to cooling rack. Some are long and flexible like a palette knife, perfect for spreading frosting on cakes or schmearing lox and bagels at breakfast. Others are short and rigid, ideal for reaching into tight corners in a pan or bowl.
Silicone spatulas are becoming very popular because they can withstand heat and are easy on pans. These are typically BPA-free and LFGB-certified, meaning they can resist temperatures up to 600 degrees Fahrenheit. They are also very soft and flexible, making them easier to handle and clean than stainless steel. However, it’s important to note that silicone tends to hold stronger odors and can transfer them to the food you are preparing.
Wooden spatulas are another common option for kitchen utensils. They are inexpensive and can withstand high heat, but they aren’t as durable as plastic or silicone options. They are also susceptible to moisture and must be thoroughly dried before storage. Those looking for Silicone Supplies Manufacturer silicone spatulas that will last longer should look for ones that have seamless construction, which eliminates the seam that can harbor dirt and germs.
Spoons
Silicone kitchen tools and cooking utensils are extremely versatile, with a wide range of options available. Some have a soft, flexible silicone head (like a spatula or spoon) while others have an angled, paintbrush-style handle for easier gripping. Most of them have an excellent heat-resistance, up to 600oF, and they can be used with nonstick pans as well.
They are also freezer, microwave and oven safe, and dishwasher safe for easy cleanup. Many of them come in a variety of colors, too. Silicone is a very neutral, nonreactive material that doesn’t leach any unwanted chemicals into your food or beverages. It doesn’t retain odors either and is resistant to bacteria.
Interestingly, the ingredient that gives silicone its remarkable properties is actually found in nature, most often as sand or quartz. It is extracted from the earth using high temperatures, then combined with oxygen, hydrogen and carbon to form a polymer. This polymer is then molded into various shapes and sizes to create the utensils we use in our kitchens. Make sure any silicone you choose is food grade and contains no added coloring or fillers – these can be toxic to your health. Also make sure the silicone you choose is nontoxic when heated as it could release siloxanes, small compounds containing silicon, oxygen and hydrogen. These can be harmful to your health if they come into contact with your skin or if inhaled.
Wood Kitchen Utensils
There are many advantages to using wood kitchen utensils, including their beautiful grain patterns and soft texture. They also tend to be lighter in weight than stainless steel or metal utensils, which can make them easier for people of all ages and physical health to use comfortably. They’re also an environmentally-friendly option, with the added benefit of reducing your carbon footprint.
Silicone kitchen utensils are heat-resistant and non-stick, which makes them very useful for cooking and baking. They’re also flexible and easy to clean. They can be washed in warm soapy water and can even be used in your dishwasher. If you choose to purchase silicone utensils, be sure to buy food/medical-grade to ensure that your product is pure and does not contain chemical fillers. You can test this by pinching the utensil; impure silicone will turn white in your hand.
Another advantage of silicone is that it does not react with foods and does not produce toxic fumes when heated. This makes it a safer choice than some other utensils, such as metal, which can interact with certain acidic foods and corrode over time.
One disadvantage of silicone utensils is that they can be more difficult to store than utensils made from other materials. This is because they are often thicker and may not fit into your average utensil jar. Also, they can absorb odors easily, so it’s important to wash them regularly and dry thoroughly.
