5 Eco-Friendly Kitchen Gadget Everyone Needs
The Fountain Jet Home Soda Maker, the GreenPan and More
Jan 15, 2009
So what do cooks do if they want to be efficient in the kitchen and summon their inner tree hugger? Here are 5 eco-friendly kitchen gadgets everyone needs.
The Fountain Jet Home Soda Maker
According to the Global Market Information Database, published by Euromonitor, Americans consume more than 216 liters (57 gallons) of soda and carbonated beverages each year. Shipping these bottles uses huge amounts of gasoline, cause environmental damage and pollution. Recycling consumes energy, plastic bottles can contain Phthalates, PCB and Bisphenol-A (BPA) and diet sodas contain chemically addicting artificial sweeteners. So what's the "Green" soda fanatic to do?
Make your own. Soda-Club's Fountain Jet Home Soda Maker ($199), com actually lives up to its hype. It isn't powered by batteries or electricity; it runs on compressed air. You can purchase natural juice concentrates or, even better, make your own simple syrups in order to control both the flavor profile and heal aspects of your beverage. It reuses the bottles, so there is no waste or recycling needed. Now's your chance to be a mixologist at home. It's easy, it's fun, it's environmentally friendly and extremely tasty.
GreenPan
Many people are not lovers of no-stick pans. Cast iron is the work horse in some of the best kitchens. You can do almost everything in them except boil water. However, every now and then one needs and wants what a non-stick pan can provide. So what do you one do if you want to use a non-stick pan without the environmental and human hazards?
GreenPan ($29.90), is an eco-friendly non-stick pan that it's 100% PFOA and PTFE-free. According to the PR hype, the GreenPan uses a Thermolon ceramic-based nano non-stick technology that has high heat resistance (850°F/450°C), is scratch and abrasion resistance with a coating that will not will not break down or wear over time. Plus there are also claims that Thermolon-based cookware releases 50% fewer greenhouse-gasses during production.
Bamboo Cutting Board
Slicing, dicing and making julienne fries for the environment.
The Malibu Company out of Malibu, California ($45), handcrafts bamboo cutting boards along with bowls and chopping blocks. Bamboo is a renewable, sustainable resource. The Malibu Company uses the Moso strain of bamboo, a fast growing species yielding a vary hard (16% harder than maple), durable bamboo tube. At harvest, all parts of the plant are used, nothing goes to waste and reseeding is not required.
OXO ($20) also makes a non-slip bamboo cutting board. Stylish, durable and green.
Composting Made Easy
Compost can smell, it's messy and you don't have the space. So what do you do it you live in an apartment or just don't have room for that compost bin on the back forty?
NatureMill's indoor, automatic composters ($250), is the answer. They have a line of clean, green and easy machines that turns almost all of your food waste into a gardener's "black gold". According to the company, "their composters recycle its weight in waste every 10 days, diverting over two tons of waste from landfills over its life."
The really cool part is that their gadgets do it automatically requiring no interaction, there's no odor, no worms or bugs are required, and most models fit under the kitchen sink.
Go Old School
A Mortal and Pestle. Yes, you read that right.
A mortal and pestle (also called suribachi and surikogi in Japan, lesung in Southeast Asia and molcajete y tejolote in Mexico) is your manual food processor. It's been used for centuries to make everything from mayonnaise, grind spices, pestos, and even making your own chocolate or ground beef. It requires no external power (except people power), has a zero carbon footprint, doesn't absorb or transfer food odors, easy to clean and will never require replacement parts.
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