Did you know what you cook your food in could be just as important as the quality of food you’re cooking? The vessels you choose to cook meals in could be tremendously adding toxic elements to your meals without you knowing it.

There are healthier options, however, so there’s no need to worry.

Let’s talk about how to detox your cookware for healthier alternatives to those most popular cookware choices.

Teflon

Nonstick cookware certainly makes cooking and cleanup a breeze, but with Teflon, heating it above 572F can lead to toxic fumes being released. On top of that, it contains PFOA, a chemical compound that has ties to several types of health issues. You can use other nonstick cookware options free of PTFE and PFOA, but the coating must stay intact. It’s typically thin and can chip easily.

Instead, choose cast iron cookware. It might be heavy, but it heats evenly, and you can season it so it will be nonstick naturally. There are other nontoxic brands of pots and pans to choose from. Just do your due diligence when researching the best options for you and your family.

Aluminum

This applies to aluminum cookware as well as aluminum foil. The appeal is easy since it’s easy to find, strong, lightweight, and versatile. However, aluminum is neurotoxic, which can affect your central nervous system. Even aluminum cookware with a coating is prone to chipping, which can release toxins into your food.

Glass cookware is a much better choice. You won’t get any toxins, and it’s environmentally-friendly. While it isn’t nonstick, you can always oil your glass cookware to help keep things from sticking.

Copper

Copper cookware looks beautiful and conducts heat quite well. As copper is an element we need, it’s good for our health, but only in small quantities. Copper cookware without coating can release copper into your foods, especially if you’re making something acidic.

Choose stainless steel cookware instead. You’ll love how lightweight and easy it is to care for. The only thing to watch for here is that you buy the higher food-grade quality options of stainless steel as they won’t contain chromium or nickel — there are nontoxic options for stainless steel cookware.

Ceramic-coated

It looks nice, plus ceramic is safe for cooking. If you’re dealing with ceramic coating, though, the soft ceramic coating will chip away over time. That means lead and cadmium that usually appears in the coating can be going directly into your food.

Instead, go for 100% ceramic cookware. It’s made with all-natural materials and has no potential to peel or chip, leaving you exposed to unsavory toxins.

These cookware options are an investment, but you can start one by one until you have replaced your cookware with healthier options. These options tend to be of better quality, as well, so they will last you for years to come.