After 20 years of marriage, many of our beloved kitchen gadgets and appliances are breaking down or becoming obsolete. There are also several items that just need to be replaced on a regular basis (I’m looking at you dingy dish towels and stinky, stained cutting boards), so I thought it would be a good time to give our kitchen a little refresh. This time, I am being much more conscious about materials regarding both sustainability and safety. I’m selecting products made with glass, stainless steel, cast iron, wood, bamboo and other non/low-toxic surfaces as much as I possibly can without sacrificing functionality or completely breaking the bank. It’s impossible to avoid every single toxin and concerning chemical in the kitchen but you can definitely reduce your exposure with some thoughtfully chosen items.

Ten Essentials I’m Buying For My Fall Kitchen Refresh

Cuisinart 14-Cup Food Processor - After 20 years of use, our old Cuisinart food processor finally broke down. We need a new one because we use it multiple times a week and after a lot of research, I decided to stay with the Cuisinart brand. I like the large capacity and the fact that it lasted 20 years says a lot about its quality. It comes with multiple blades for slicing, mixing, chopping and shredding. There are food processors that use glass or stainless steel instead of plastic. However, they just can’t compete with the Cuisinart capacity and they now use BPA-free plastic, which is not perfect but it’s better. Cuisinart 14-Cup Food Processor $249.95 on Amazon with options for paying over time.

Lodge Pre-Seasoned Cast Iron Cookware Set - After years of research and buying and trying different pans, I decided to go back to good old-fashioned cast iron. However, now you can buy pre-seasoned cast iron and avoid the hassle of cooking and cleaning unseasoned cast iron cookware. Yes, the pre-seasoning is non-toxic and much safer than any non-stick cookware on the market right now. Lodge 5-Piece Pre-Seasoned Cast Iron Cookware Set $106.34 on Amazon with options for paying over time.

Emeril Lagasse Power Air Fryer 360 - My son has been bothering us to get an air fryer for a while now and we also need to replace our toaster oven. I like this particular model because it also functions as a toaster oven which means I can replace our old one and get an air fryer without taking up any additional counter space. It also has nearly 9,000 5-star reviews, so I feel I can buy with confidence. Special note: This air fryer does come with a Prop 65 warning but it refers to BPA in the cord which does not affect the food in any way. Emeril Lagasse Power Air Fryer 360 $165 on Amazon.

Greener Chef Organic Bamboo Cutting Board - My larger cutting boards are getting old and breaking down and I want to replace them with bamboo. I like that bamboo is renewable and this one, by Greener Chef, is non-toxic. It’s free of dyes, stains, chemical resins, plastic and formaldehyde. The larger size is perfect for meal prep but small enough that I can store it away when I’m not using it. Greener Chef is another small business that sells their products on Amazon and I like supporting small business as much as possible. This cutting board has over 11,000 5-star reviews, so this one makes it on my list. Greener Chef Organic Bamboo Extra Large Cutting Board $19.99 on Amazon.

Joseph Joseph Nest Prep & Store - This set of four mixing bowls are made with stainless steel and include lids so that you can easily go from prep to storage. I’m eyeing the larger bowl as good storage for soups and other leftovers that may not fit into our regular storage containers. The nesting design allows both the lids and bowls to fit neatly together for efficient storage. The bowls also have non-slip bases and we know how helpful that is. Joseph Joseph Nest Prep & Store $100 at Williams-Sonoma.

Williams-Sonoma Stainless Steel Salad Spinner - We need another salad spinner and I like that the inner part that holds the greens is stainless steel and can be used as a strainer for other food items. The strainer holes are small enough so that you can spin dry smaller greens like sprouts and micro-greens without them falling through or getting caught. The outer plastic parts that have little to no food contact are made of BPA-free plastic. Salad spinners help dry your greens so that dressing stick to them better and they also work as a good storage vessel! Williams-Sonoma Stainless Steel Salad Spinner $69.95 at Williams-Sonoma.

Williams-Sonoma Spider Skimmer - Have you ever had a tool mysteriously disappear from your kitchen? Perhaps we lost in our move a few years ago or maybe it broke and someone forgot to let me know. In any case, I have needed a new one of these for a while. Skimmers come in handy for a variety of kitchen tasks including deep frying, stir frying and sauteing. Made of non-reactive stainless steel. Williams-Sonoma Spider Skimmer $39.95 at Williams-Sonoma.

Chef’n Glass Mandoline - A mandoline is so handy to have in the kitchen for slicing and other cuts like crinkle cuts and julienne but the one we own is large, clunky and hard to use. I love this one by Chef’n because it’s small and easy to use and I can store it right in the drawers in my island for easy access. It’s also made of glass and stainless steel (the pusher part is made of plastic). Chef’n Glass Mandoline $109.95 at Williams-Sonoma.

Set of 6, Weck Tulip Jars (35.9 ounce) - Weck glass jars are one of the best things to happen to my kitchen in a long time. They are so incredibly versatile. They are originally designed for canning but can be used so many other ways. I want this set of larger jars for larger amounts of soups, sauces and broths as well as dry items in my pantry but I know they will have so many more uses. I do recommend buying the plastic or wooden lids as they are much easier to use than the canning lids. I will link those here as well. Set of 6, Weck Tulip Jars (35.9 ounce) $34.95 at Williams-Sonoma and lids are linked here (you will need lids in the LARGE size for these particular jars).

Dish Towels - My kitchen towels definitely need a refresh since we use them so often for so many things and they get dingy fast. I like to take my old kitchen towels and use them for rags in other areas if the house like the bathrooms. I’m going to link a couple towel options; one is really inexpensive and great for dirtier kitchen tasks and the other is higher quality, nicer looking and really absorbent. Both options are 100% organic cotton and use non-toxic dyes and both are sold by small businesses. Full Circle Organic Cotton Dish Towels, Set of 3 for $8 and Coyuchi Organic Waffle Kitchen Towels, Set of 6 for $58.

*The Quiet Life Chronicles partners with several affiliate programs, meaning that I can earn a commission from purchases/clicks by those who visit this site at no additional cost to you!