what we cook our food in should match the quality of the food we buy.
Soul Source NH Blog
What we use to cook truly affects the quality, safety, and even taste of our food. It’s pretty wild that most of the cookware we have in our homes or that we find in stores contains toxic chemicals. So why would we spend the extra money to purchase organic, chemical-free food just to bring it home and cook in unsafe cookware?
Here at Soul Source NH, we take great care to find the best cookware products because we believe that what we cook our food in should match the quality of the food we buy, making cooking joyous, safe, and of course, delicious!
Here are six reasons to opt in for nontoxic cookware:
Avoidance of Harmful Chemicals: You’re probably familiar with teflon as a nonstick surface for pots and pans. You might not know that Teflon is in the category of chemicals called PFAS (Per- and Polyfluorinated Substances) - known as forever chemicals - that cause a lot of harm to human bodies and our environment. Other common toxins in cookware include lead, cadmium, and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) that can leach into food during cooking. (National Institutes of Health - Tox Town)
Preservation of Food Nutrients: High-quality nontoxic cookware made of materials like stainless steel or cast iron can help retain the nutritional value of food. These materials generally have minimal reactivity with food and do not leach harmful substances that can degrade the nutritional content. (Journal of Food Science)
Reduction of Reactive Metals: Some traditional cookware, such as aluminum, copper, or nonstick-coated pans, can react with acidic or alkaline foods, leading to metal leaching. Non Toxic cookware, such as stainless steel or cast iron, reduces the risk of metal migration, helping to maintain food quality and safety. (U.S. Food and Drug Administration)
Environmental Friendliness: Nontoxic cookware is often more environmentally friendly because it avoids the use of harmful substances and materials. PFAS are known as forever chemicals, after all, and this harms not just our bodies but our environment, too. Many nontoxic options are durable and long-lasting, reducing the need for frequent replacements and minimizing waste. (Green America)
Versatility and Durability: Nontoxic cookware made of materials like stainless steel and cast iron is known for its durability and versatility. These materials can withstand high temperatures, work well for various cooking methods (including stovetop and oven), and have a longer lifespan compared to some other types of cookware. So it might cost a bit more up front, but it will last in the long run! (Serious Eats)
Enhanced Flavors: Cooking with materials like cast iron can enhance the flavors of food by imparting a slight amount of iron into the cooked dishes. This can be beneficial for individuals with iron deficiency, and bring a whole new flavor dimension and depth to your food. (National Institutes of Health - Office of Dietary Supplements)
We know it’s hard to keep up with all the acronyms, impacts, and emerging knowledge of the chemicals that might show up in our cookware, and it’s not realistic for all of us to become experts on this stuff.
That’s why Soul Source is here to do the research for you and create access to safe - and beautiful - products for our homes.
Now let's get to the fun part - the better, safer options for cookware that we have for you right here in the store!
Soul Source chosen two lines of cookware that are both nontoxic, have incredibly ‘green’ facilities within the United States employing people here, are excellent to use on induction stoves, and both can be go into the oven – because why would you purchase a product to use on the top of your stove and have to purchase another product to go into your oven or on the grill?
We are pleased to partner with the following companies to bring you the best cookware on the market:
360 Cookware
Made out of three primary metals - stainless steel, chromium, nickel. Aluminum is layered in between the stainless layers so that it does not touch the food, but does allow for a more even distribution of heat.
Chemical free! This is the only stainless cookware made in the USA that is not sprayed with chemicals in order to finish the product. Instead, 360 Cookware uses a somewhat old-fashioned process of sanding their products. No smoke stacks are in their facility, their works are not required to wear masks, and no harmful chemicals are trucked off the premises.
The sanding process allows for a much less porous finish than most stainless steel products. Being less porous, the surface is as ‘nonstick’ as other products that have sprayed on surfaces - that will come off over time.
Made in the US: 78% of Americans prefer to buy products in the US.
Nest Homeware: Cast Iron Cookware
Matt Cavallaro founded Nest Homeware in 2013 with a vision to make beautiful products that would last forever. His interest in ancient materials and his need for physical interaction with his work led him to cast iron.
Cast iron adds nutrients and flavor to your food. No synthetic polymers coming into contact with your food. While non-stick coatings are wonderfully slippery, the fumes that come off of them at high heat have been linked to health complications and even cancer.
This exquisite product is made in Providence, Rhode Island. Nest finishes their product with 2 coatings of flax seed giving it a unique bronze look. So it is pre–seasoned and ready to use.
Cast iron is made from 2 products; sand and iron. A heating process creates the finished product, but that is all that is in there.
If you’re looking for the most gorgeous cookware - this is it! Their tagline is “Art at the Table”.
Come on in to Soul Source NH at 102 East Main Street in Bradford and get to know these products close up. We promise you'll want to swap out all your old cookware for these quality, safe, beautiful products!