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Most of Your Small Kitchen Appliances are Toxic, Except For These.

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I’m sorry. Most of your small kitchen appliances are toxic, but we searched through thousands of blenders, dehydrators, multi-cookers, coffee makers, immersion blenders, waffle makers, pressure cookers, food processors, and baby food makers to find you the safest & nontoxic ones for your family. There are thousands of small kitchen appliances available to you today. Considering the dangerous contaminants found leaching into food from small kitchen appliances, it can be daunting to find the safest brands. But never fear, Mamavation is here! You’ve trusted Mamavation to bring you investigations like safest cookware & bakeware, best & worst air purifiers, & our 2020 non-toxic gift-giving guide for the whole family, now join us as we tackle the small kitchen appliances aisle.

Disclosure: this post contains affiliate links. 

nontoxic small kitchen appliances

Table of Contents

The Small Kitchen Appliance Aisle is Problematic

Small kitchen appliances like blenders, coffee makers, food processors, and waffle makers are incredibly problematic to hormonal health based on the food contact materials that are being used and their lack of migration testing reports. But never fear, Mamavation is here to help you make sense of it. After our cookware investigation was finished, we decided to keep going and find the safest small kitchen appliances for your family.

The Mamavation-approved products listed below do not consist of ceramic, polycarbonate (BPA), polystyrene, HDPE, PET or Tritan because they’ve all tested positive for estrogenic activity (EA) or leaching of toxic chemicals. We prefer food contact materials to be made of glass and stainless steel, however, this isn’t always possible based on what is out there.

We selected small kitchen appliances with materials that have tested negative for estrogenic activity, but we strongly caution against heating any type of plastic. DON’T DO IT. Plastic materials readily break down and leach when heated, even the safest kinds.

The approved plastics are polypropylene, ABS (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene), SAN (styrene acrylonitrile), and ASA (acrylonitrile styrene acrylate). They should be avoided in their raw forms (think factory workers), but appear to be quite stable under normal use and without heating. I repeat, no heating. (And no dishwashing of plastic parts that come into contact with food!)

nontoxic small kitchen appliances

Materials to Avoid in Small Kitchen Appliances to Safeguard Your Family

There are a handful of common food contact materials in small kitchen appliances that present toxicity problems. Almost all of the materials on our list are plastic, but ceramic makes an appearance since nearly every slow cooker has a ceramic insert. Here we explain what materials we don’t recommend and why.

Non-stick Coatings

Non-stick coatings have become well known for their toxicity, and they’re bioaccumulative. Fluropolymers used in non-stick coatings were found to increase the incidents of tumors of the liver, testicles, mammary glands, and pancreas in lab animals. The EPA has also categorized perfluorinated compounds (PFAS) as likely carcinogenic. Also, a study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) discovered a shocking statistic — 98% of Americans have detectable levels of PFAS or PFCs in their bodies. Mamavation has been studying PFAS contamination closely in cookware, food packaging and water. These chemicals are linked with the following diseases and symptoms you don’t’ want:

  • metabolic diseases like obesity & diabetes
  • reduced vaccination response
  • affect the growth, learning, and behavior of infants and older children
  • lower a woman’s chance of getting pregnant
  • interfere with the body’s natural hormones
  • increase cholesterol levels
  • affect the immune system
  • increase the risk of cancer

nontoxic & safe cookware

Ceramic Glazes on Food Contact Surfaces

Ceramic kitchenware and cookware have been our biggest challenge. This applies to ceramic small kitchen appliances like slow cookers as well as cookware with quasi-ceramic coatings. As a whole, ceramic appears to be very problematic due to the glazes used on food contact surfaces.

Unfortunately, coatings of any kind are bound to wear down and chip away into food, and ceramic glazes are no different. In the same way, ceramic coatings are too fragile for long-term use and tend to scratch and chip away leaving bare base materials that immediately start contaminating your food.

Most ceramic product manufacturers will tell you they test for heavy metals and don’t even use them in food contact surfaces. The problem is that virtually no one has third-party test results to back up their claims, and we don’t run on trust alone. Proof is a must! This is our family we’re trying to protect.

What about slow cookers? Ceramic slow cookers* are glazed and there’s no thorough heavy metal testing for lead that we could locate from any brand. That also still leaves the question of other toxic materials that may be in the product. Nanoparticles have been recently discovered as a leaching byproduct of ceramic coatings. Nano titanium dioxide is the most prevalent substance found and is hazardous because it’s been shown to cause immune system disruption and pre-cancerous lesions in the gut.

Nanoparticles themselves are problematic because their tiny size allows them to enter most areas of the body and wreak havoc in the most pervasive ways. For example, asbestos is a carcinogenic nanoparticle that has taken many people’s lives. Mamavation has taken a hard stance against nanotechnology in ceramic glazes. Therefore, we recommend only using slow cookers with stainless steel interiors or Mamavation-approved clay cookers.

*Note that at-home lead testers aren’t sensitive enough to show a positive for anything less than 600 ppm.

nontoxic small kitchen appliances

Polycarbonate–Bisphenols (BPA, BPS, BPAF, etc, etc.)

Bisphenols are some of the highest volume chemicals produced worldwide used primarily in the production of polycarbonate plastics and epoxy resins for food and drink packaging, water and infant bottles, compact discs, safety equipment, medical devices, and coatings for canned food, bottle tops and water supply pipes.

Bisphenols are well known endocrine disrupting chemicals, and due to their ubiquitous nature and multi-route human exposure, detectable levels of BPA are found in 93% of urine samples. Adverse effects of bisphenols include reproductive cancers, early puberty, obesity, diabetes, infertility, memory impairment and learning difficulties.

Studies show that polycarbonate releases detectable BPA even at room temperature. BPA is also present in air and dust too which scientists believe can reach and contaminate nearby waterways, and when exposed to boiling water, it leaches 55x more rapidly.

Polystyrene

Styrene is a petroleum by-product is used to make plastics, rubber, and resins that can be found in packaging, cups, plates, take-out containers, and packing peanuts. Polystyrene leaches styrene which is linked to leukemia, lymphoma, organ and nervous system damage, vision and hearing loss, impaired memory and concentration, and gastrointestinal problems.

HDPE–High-Density Polyethylene

High-density polyethylene (HDPE) is common in milk jugs, juice and water bottles, detergent and shampoo bottles, grocery bags, and cereal box liners. HDPE is among the more stable plastics, but it tested positive for estrogenic activity.

In fact, bisphenol-A has been detected in HDPE bottles, and while the levels were low, it still doesn’t excuse the presence of this serious endocrine-disrupting chemical. BPA was also detected in waters of public distribution systems using HDPE supply pipes, as well as a range of esters, aldehydes, ketones, aromatic hydrocarbons and terpenoids.

HDPE water bottles and caps were found to leach low levels of octylphenol (OP) and nonylphenol (NP), along with the presence of detectable BPA in some HDPE water bottle caps. Phenols have been detected in human breast milk, blood and urine, and is associated with negative reproductive and developmental effects in rodents.

nontoxic small kitchen appliances

PET–Polyethylene Terephthalate

Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) is commonly used in disposable water bottles, and soda and sports drink bottles. Another of the more stable BPA-free plastics, it can leach antimony, a toxic metalloid that can cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach ulcers, heart problems, and muscle and joint pain.

Extended shelf time causes more leaching, but exposure to heat is the real culprit with studies showing up to 100x the amount of antimony in bottled water than in clean groundwater. Low levels of nonylphenol (NP) have also been found to migrate from PET.

Tritan

Note that at this time, we cannot recommend products made with Tritan on food contact surfaces because there is conflicting information on its safety.

Eastman, the manufacturer of Tritan copolyester, has posted safety information on their website which provides details on its estrogenic activity (EA)-free testing methods and results, however, in 2013 the scientific peer-reviewed journal Food Chemistry tested Tritan and discovered the migration of DMIP (dimethyl isophthalate), BBP (benzylbutyl phthalate) and detectable BPA from Tritan.

Two other non-intentionally added substances (NIAS), 4-nonylphenol and 2-phenoxyethanol, were also found to leach from Tritan during this testing. In addition, Biomed Central’s Environmental Health journal conducted testing that showed estrogenic activity present in 3 Tritan resins with exposure to UV radiation in natural sunlight resulting in an increased release of EA chemicals. The journal also states that triphenyl-phosphate (TPP), an additive used to manufacture some thermoplastic resins such as Tritan, exhibited EA in both testing assays.

Additionally, Mother Jones notes that the 200-plus samples of Tritan resins that were tested consistently leached estrogen-like chemicals after being exposed to a type of ultraviolet ray found in sunlight (UVA) and another kind that some parents use to sterilize baby bottles (UVC). In some cases, samples that hadn’t even been exposed to UV light also seeped estrogenic compounds.

3 Ways Plastics Become More Dangerous

The chemicals used in plastic are problematic because they can escape and migrate into food and drink in a process called leaching. There are 3 ways toxins leach from plastic:

  1. Heat is the biggest culprit. When plastic gets warm or hot, it releases toxic chemicals up to 55x faster than normal. Black plastic is known to contain extremely hazardous leaching chemicals including brominated flame retardants, chlorine, PVC, cadmium, chromium, mercury, lead, and antimony, so it’s highly important to avoid using it in the kitchen. DO NOT MICROWAVE PLASTIC. And do not put plastic food contact materials into the dishwasher either.
  2. Fats have also been found to increase leaching. Cheese, milk, yogurt, fatty meats, and oils that are packaged in plastic have a much greater chance of being contaminated with leached toxins. Studies show that BPA has been detected in milk packaged in Tetra Pack or HDPE plastic bottles which confirms that fatty foods have a better ability to extract BPA from plastics than water.
  3. Acidic foods cause lots of chemical excitement. Acidic foods are known to cause leaching in many materials including plastics, cookware, and bakeware. Citric acid, tomatoes, coffee, and citrus fruits are highly acidic and should not be stored in plastic.

It’s clear from multiple studies that we should take great care to avoid ever heating plastic. We should also be mindful that fatty and acidic foods in plastic containers are very likely contaminated with the chemicals present within the container itself, so overall, it’s best to choose non-plastic small kitchen appliances and storage containers whenever possible.

nontoxic small kitchen appliances

Small Kitchen Appliances Investigation

Okay, so which small kitchen appliances are safe for your family? I’m glad you’ve asked. Mamavation sorted through thousands of blenders, coffee makers, pressure cookers, slow cookers, food processors, air fryers, waffle makers,  baby food makers, and dehydrators to find the safest products for your family.

And we’ve come up with suggestions based on the most current understanding of hormone disruption in food contact materials, testing & court records that have been made public, public court documents, and reviews for the efficiency of use.

Air Fryers

Most air fryers are full of toxic PFAS “forever chemical” coatings either on food contact surfaces or on the interior walls. Here are the products with no such coatings. Mamavation’s full investigation on air fryers is here.

Best Air Fryers without Issues:

Air Fryers with Some Issues You Can Solve:

Blenders

Fortunately, we were able to find a lot of blenders with glass or stainless steel jars. We wanted to avoid any blender that was made from plastic because of the potential of leaching. Blenders are used so often, put into the dishwasher, and potentially can contain hot contents that we do not recommend you purchase one where plastic is touching the food. Check out our full investigation on BPA-free blenders.

The following food processors are made with Tritan food contact surfaces and therefore cannot be Mamavation-approved:

  • AVOID: All plastic Blendtec blenders
  • AVOID: All plastic Ninja blenders
  • AVOID: All plastic NutriBullet blenders
  • AVOID: All plastic Vitamix blenders (get the stainless steel pitcher!)

nontoxic small kitchen appliances

Toasters & Toaster Ovens

Most toasters and toaster ovens have PFAS “forever chemical” coatings either on food contact surfaces or inside the interior where it can become airborne and part of your food. Mamavation did a full investigation of toasters and toaster ovens and am sharing with you the “best” brands from that study.

Immersion Blenders

Chlorinated paraffins (CPs) have been discovered in the hood of immersion blenders just above the spinning blade that mixes food. Not only that, but CPs have been shown to leak from hand blenders reaching the food and causing significant human exposures.

We were not able to find labs on this, so we wanted to warn you about that and if you still wanted one, these are the immersion blenders that are made of stainless steel and do not have plastic food contact materials:

Vegetable juice raw food - healthy eating woman with juicer juicing green vegetables and apple fruits as part of her wellness food. Beautiful happy mixed Asian woman with juice maker in kitchen.

Juicers

When we looked at juicers, we ran across lots of Tritan, melanmine, and other polycarbonate plastics. We opted for some plastic juicers, but ones that seemed to be the least problematic because you are not heating juice. However, it’s important to know that acidic foods, like oranges are also known to leach some plastics, so we prefer stainless steel and glass. Some products had polycarbonate containers that you can simply avoid using and use your own glass catch.

The following juicers are made with Tritan or polyethylene food contact surfaces and therefore cannot be Mamavation-approved:

  • AVOID: Barsetto (Tritan)
  • AVOID: PopBabies (Tritan)
  • AVOID: Crenova (Tritan)
  • AVOID: Koios Juicer (polyethylene (PEI))
  • AVOID: Breville (polycarbonate containers, so if you purchase replace it with your own glass) 

nontoxic small kitchen appliances

Coffee Makers

Have you ever noticed how many black plastic coffee makers there are out there? Well, we’ve already talked about heating plastic and how that can cause leaching of the contaminants inside the plastic out into your food. Well, the same goes for your coffee.

Black plastic, in particular, has been shown to leach fire retardants, heavy metals, and phthalates. And that’s because most black plastic is made from recycled end-of-life electronics and has contamination similar to electronics. Long story short, if your coffee has any plastic parts touching your coffee, pitch it, and pick up one of these instead.

The following coffee makers are made with plastic food contact surfaces and therefore cannot be Mamavation-approved:

  • AVOID Kuerig machines (and all the k-cups)
  • AVOID all the Hamilton Beach made with plastic food contact materials
  • AVOID all the Cuisinart made with plastic food contact materials
  • AVOID Nespresso machines
  • AVOID all Mr. Coffee
  • AVOID all Ninja coffee makers
  • AVOID all Krupps coffee makers

Coffee Grinders

Since you may be finding yourself grinding coffee for the first time, we’ve included some of our favorite manual coffee grinders in case you find yourself without power or just want to do it while saving power, and of course electric coffee grinders.

Electric & Glass Kettles

The basic rules on heating water is to not all it to touch any plastic food contact surfaces while it’s hot. These brands use only glass or stainless steel as food contact materials.

nontoxic small kitchen appliances

Pressure Cookers, Slow Cookers, and Multi-Cookers

No ceramic products are acceptable at this time due to lack of availability of independent heavy metal testing and nanoparticle glazes. The following list consists of stainless steel or safe clay pressure cookers, slow cookers, and multi-cookers.

The following pressure cookers are made with ceramic or non-stick interior cooking pots and therefore cannot be Mamavation-approved:

  • AVOID: Bella multi-cooker (non-stick interior pot)
  • AVOID: Black + Decker multi-cooker (non-stick interior pot)
  • AVOID: Crock Pot multi-cooker (non-stick interior pot)
  • AVOID: Gourmia multi-cooker (non-stick interior pot)
  • AVOID: GraniteWare multi-cooker (aluminum)
  • AVOID: Geek Chef multi-cooker (aluminum non-stick interior pot) but one above is okay
  • AVOID: Instant Pot ceramic non-stock interior pot (this is the safer interior pot)
  • AVOID: Ninja multi-cooker (ceramic-enameled non-stick interior pot)
  • AVOID: NuWave multi-cooker (non-stick interior pot)
  • AVOID: Emeril multi-cooker (non-stick & unknown ceramic glaze)
  • AVOID: Power Pressure Cooker multi-cooker (non-stick interior pot)
  • AVOID: Prestige pressure cookers (aluminum)
  • AVOID: De’Longhi Livenza (nonstick, aluminium)

nontoxic kitchen appliances

Food Processors, Mixers, and Choppers

Food contact materials are listed in parenthesis for your information. Stainless steel food mills are also widely available.

The following food processors are made with Tritan or polycarbonate food contact surfaces and therefore cannot be Mamavation-approved:

  • AVOID: Phillips
  • AVOID: Breville
  • AVOID: All DeLonghi food processors
  • AVOID: NutriBullet (tritan) 
  • AVOID: Ninja 

nontoxic small kitchen appliances

Clay Multi-Cookers & Earthenware

Clay can be very hazardous when the geographical origins are unknown. We could locate only two brands of clay cookware that conduct testing for heavy metals commonly found in clay and glazes. Both companies do not glaze their products, so the testing reflects the makeup of the clay itself.

nontoxic small kitchen appliances

Waffle Makers and Griddles

Almost every single waffle maker and griddle have a non-stick or ceramic coating. There are only a few manufacturers that offer Mamavation-approved products. Check out our larger investigation here on waffle makers. We’ve included waffle irons with silicone-based coatings, and other waffle makers with no coatings that are meant for camping.

Waffle Makers with Silicone-Based Coatings

Waffle Makers with No Coatings

The following waffle makers are made with plastic or non-stick food contact surfaces and therefore cannot be Mamavation-approved:

  • AVOID: Presto (non-stick)
  • AVOID: Chefman (non-stick)
  • AVOID: KUTIME Pancake Pan (nonstick)
  • AVOID: Black and Decker (nonstick, stainless steel, plastic)
  • AVOID: OSTBA (nonstick)
  • AVOID: Dash (nonstick)
  • AVOID: Anxin (nonstick, aluminum)

little girl buried in popcorn

Popcorn Makers

Popcorn makers were found to use lots of non-stick coating and plastics that they didn’t label. Here were the ones we found that were made of safe food contact materials.

The following popcorn makers are made with plastic or non-stick food contact surfaces and therefore cannot be Mamavation-approved:

  • AVOID: Dash (nonstick coating, unnamed plastic)
  • AVOID: Nordic Ware (melamine plastic shouldn’t be heated)
  • AVOID: HIRIFULL (nonstick, plastic unnamed)
  • AVOID: Presto (polycarbonate + BPA plastic)

nontoxic small kitchen appliances

Baby Food Makers

This category is a mess. It’s not as easy to get away from plastic, and baby food in general isn’t really a good idea. The latest research looking at evolutionary dentistry says that softening a baby’s food prevents them from fully developing their jaw, which can lead to a list of ailments in adulthood like sleep apnea. But if you must, I have some more bad news for you, it’s close to impossible to get automatic grinders that don’t touch plastic to food. So what we’ve done here is found the least problematic ones. Many modern baby food makers are made of Tritan, but we were able to locate several options that aren’t. Food contact materials are listed in parenthesis for your information.

Different sorts of Ice Cream in a waffles

Ice Cream Makers

In the ice cream maker section, plastic abounds. You want to avoid Tritan, polycarbonate, and plastics that are just not labeled. This is what we found from safer food contact materials.

nontoxic small kitchen appliances

Dehydrators

Many dehydrators are constructed with polycarbonate (BPA) plastic in the lining inside and/or the housing itself. We were told by Excalibur that because the dehydrators stay at such a low temperature, up to 160° F, the polycarbonate doesn’t have a chance to heat enough to leach chemicals within. Unfortunately, the National Library of Medicine has found that polycarbonate releases detectable BPA even at room temperature, so we recommend steering clear altogether. Additionally, it’s been discovered that BPA is present in air and dust too which scientists believe can reach and contaminate nearby waterways, and that points to potential off-gassing/sloughing and is yet another source of bisphenol exposure.

Best (& Worst) Non-Toxic Indoor Kitchen Grills & Paninis Sans PFAS 3

Indoor Kitchen Grills & Paninis

The vast majority of indoor kitchen grills & paninis are full of PFAS “forever chemical” coatings and nano-particles. Here are all the options that avoid those two scenarios. If you want to see the whole investigation, go here.

Products with Silicone Type Non-Stick Coatings:

 

Products with No Coatings (Other than Oils):

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Most of your small kitchen appliances are toxic. Mamavation investigated thousands of small kitchen appliances so that you can purchase the safest ones for your family.

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Comments

  1. tiktokio

    This post was eye-opening! I had no idea how many small kitchen appliances could potentially contain toxic materials. I’m definitely going to be more mindful about the products I choose now. Thanks for shedding light on this important topic!

    Reply

  2. Paolo

    Thanks for your work, since this is from 2020 hopefully you will do some retesting and have an updated result with current brands. It’s sad that we are surrounded with so much toxic materials, from food additives to the instruments we use to cook with. It’s shocking, thanks again.

    Reply

  3. Karen

    Do you have any other recommendations for French press in stainless steel? The Kuissential isn’t available. Will you be doing another investigation on coffee makers soon?
    Thanks for all you do!

    Reply

  5. Albert Woolman

    I as well as my buddies came looking through the great tips and hints located on the website then at once developed an awful suspicion I never expressed respect to the web blog owner for those techniques. All the young boys are already certainly passionate to study all of them and have now pretty much been loving these things. Many thanks for actually being considerably accommodating and then for finding this kind of remarkable subject matter millions of individuals are really wanting to learn about. Our honest regret for not saying thanks to earlier.

    https://www.electricpercolatorcoffeepot.com

    Reply

  6. Cathy

    Thank you for all the work you’re doing.

    Unfortunately, I’m finding that several of the dehydrators you’ve recommended have issues.
    The STX has a plastic handle which is on the inside of the oven, so where the air is circulating around the food.
    The Cosori door has ABS plastic on the inside.
    The Samson Silent has a plastic drip tray, an interior of galvanized steel (which from what i can tell, is unsafe, because zinc when heated can be harmful), and the circuit/control board has plastic components.
    Still making my way through the list, but thought I’d share what I’ve found. The TSM looks promising, except its price tag is beyond my budget. So sad. It’s way too hard and expensive to achieve a healthy lifestyle in America. European countries have regulations that help the consumer stay healthy! Please, if you find a truly stainless steel dehydrator, (that’s not $500 or more), let us know!

    Reply

  7. Katie

    I am worried because I got the Chefman electric kettle on your list and it has the California cancer warning sticker on the bottom?

    Reply

  10. Marianne

    What does Cuisinart resellers only, ABS, multiple models mean? I just purchased the 14 cup DFP-14N series, I hope this was the good one??? Was it?

    Reply

  12. Mimi

    I have tons of Pampered Chef – from small items to the electronics. Have any studies been done on their products?

    Reply

  13. Jennifer

    I found this FANTASTIC article after hours and hours of research on a good food dehydrator and an ice cream maker. Everything that I have been finding lines up with this article; good to know I’m on the right path. 🙂

    With regard to the COSORI, Samson Silent, and STX International food dehydrators, what kind of metal is inside the unit? I know the Samson Silent has galvanized metal inside the unit; however, since they are a product of China’s manufacturing, I am very concerned about exactly what metal is inside the unit. Does it contain nickel, aluminum, copper, etc.? I am confident the TSM Products are safe.

    Just an FYI:
    With regard to glass jars for blenders (or any container for that matter), one must be careful there is no lead in the glass. Many glass containers contain lead. Ball glass jars that are clear in color (not amber or blue, etc.) are lead free.

    You have saved me so much time with this article! Wish I found it sooner!

    Thank you!

    Reply

    • Wen

      I bought a 5-tray TSM dehydrator in 2010 and have loved it ever since. I bought it only after communicating with the company which verified that the unit I was interested in (they make one with chrome racks) was 100% steel *made in the USA.*

      In addition to dehydrating fruits and vegetables, I use it to make all manner of goodies, including crackers, kale chips, scones, flat breads, and to gently melt coconut oil. For those on a raw-food diet, it can gently warm up food before serving, without loss of nutritional value from high heat.

      I also save banana peels, dehydrate them, and then pulverize them to a powder in my VitaMix. I sprinkle the powdered peel on the soil under my flowering plants, which love the potassium.

      BTW — I don’t use the Teflex sheets that most chefs and instructions tell you to use on the dehydrator trays. Instead, I used unbleached cooking parchment paper (cut to size). It works great.

      The TSM dehydrator has undergone some improvements since I bought mine, but since mine still works just fine, I can’t justify replacing it.

      Reply

      • Jennifer

        I have decided to get the TSM. I spoke with them today, and they said it is unlimited warranty on all parts. So you use unbleached parchment under all food you dehydrate? Does it take longer to get them dried? Thank you!

        Reply

    • Liz

      I bought the buydeem electric kettle and it has a plastic looking circle at the base. It is either plastic or silicone. Also when I passed a qtip on top it came up w metal stuff on it. I returned the product

      Reply

  14. Erin

    I’ve noticed that many of the KitchenAid Mixer attachments have a Prop65. So many people have those mixers, I am wondering what the concern is?

    Reply

  15. TeeM

    Since heating plastics is bad “hormonally” and “carcinogenically”, wouldn’t it be bad to have ANY plastic dishes/containers/tools anywhere in your home, regardless of the type? Because, when you wash them, they are superheated in an attempt to sterilize them for future use.

    Reply

  16. Laura

    Great article! What is your opinion on GreenPan kitchen appliances? I know you recommend their cookware so I wasn’t sure if their appliances are recommended as well. They use the same Thermolon coating on the appliances as on the cookware so I assume that it is okay. I’m curious to hear your thoughts.

    Thanks for everything you do!

    Reply

    • Cathy

      Hi Laura,

      Greenpan has been sued on the contention that Thermolon actually is composed of toxic elements, and therefore is not safe as advertised. So, in fact, it might not be safe cookware. Curious what Mamavation thinks…

      Reply

  17. Deb

    Have you done an investigation on electric skillets? I need to replace mine. It was a gift from a long time ago & is Teflon coated. So, I need to get one that is safe. Thank you for all of your investigations! It is greatly appreciated!
    Deb

    Reply

  18. Susan

    Leah,

    If you take a closer look, several of the recommended electric tea kettles have full or partial plastic lids or mesh filters. The condensate from the boiling water would touch the lid and fall back into the kettle, as well as the water touches the filter as you pour. Those kettles should be removed from your list! Yuck, multiple Amazon reviewers mention their water tasting of plastic.

    Reply

  20. Gina

    I truly appreciate your intention and research. I looked up most of the blenders you listed as “safe” and unfortunately (after reading the Q&A’s that people posted and/or digging a little deeper), I found none of them to be safe. They were either not BPA free, or they did include titan, or there was lead. It’s a very frustrating situation for those of us who are seeking products that are free from toxins. I wish all of us well 🙂

    Reply

    • E

      Yes, back in 2018. It was tested by Tamara Rubin/ Lead Safe Mama. I was wondering if maybe something changed but she has no new info and the VitaClay website still shows leach testing results (clay pot only) from 2018. :/

      It’s also mentioned in a 2020 article here on Mamavation about safer small appliances. Seems like some updates are needed until it has been shown that Vita Clay is actually free of heavy metals and other toxins.

      Reply

    • E

      Sorry I thought I was posting this under the 2021 gift giving guide. I had multiple tabs open. But yeah VitaClay is recommended in both places.

      Reply

  23. Julie

    Hi, thanks for this. I’ve been looking at air fryers/convection ovens. The ones that have the glass bowl look like the best bet. I wanted to let you know that the Cuisinart convection oven air fryer does have a non-stick coating. I looked it up on their website. I tried to find a website for OSTBA but it doesn’t seem to exist. I’m betting the only safe option are the ones with glass bowls.

    Also, thanks for the tip about Vitamix having a stainless steel pitcher. It was not available when I bought my blender.

    It’s a lot of work to compile a list like this. Thank you!

    Reply

  24. Danielle

    What about toasters? I definitely feel like this group of small appliances should have been included in the investigation.

    Reply

    • Leah Segedie

      We really should add that and we can in the next update. We did add a ton more small appliances this year that we didn’t have last year. Thanks for that suggestion!

      Reply

  26. Chelsea

    Great post! I knew when we purchased the Ninja that the plastic was bad. But at the time, everything was plastic so I didn’t know a way around it. When this one dies, we’ll invest in glass for sure. I hope we find one that has the glass food processor attachment too because I like the all-in-one motor that Ninja uses. The coffee maker investigation is interesting. I didn’t know that black plastic was made of old electronics. Um. Ew! I have a Capresso espresso machine and the coffee is held in a metal cup but it passes through two black plastic rings before going into my mug! Gah! I’m pinning this post so I can come back to it when I make my next purchase. Also, I’m curious if you plan to add toasters? Thanks!

    Reply

      • C

        Actually, cancer treatments may be covered by Medicaid and patient would not have to pay a thing. I am just being real here and poverty is a thing and you take what you can get even if it means chemicals. It’s sad and goes to show where health is not a priority in this country. Next time you see someone buying ramen noodles, try not to judge so much. It’s rough on the other side.

        Reply

      • Erin

        This is one of the most toxic and dismissive comments I’ve seen on one of these non-toxic websites. Zero empathy. How many parents would love to buy all organic, perfect, non-toxic stuff for their kids but can barely afford ANY diapers?

        Sheesh. In addition to shopping your way out of cancer why don’t you advocate for better standards and regulations so ALL kids and ALL families can buy products, at any price point, that are safe and healthy.

        Reply

  30. Mia

    Any information on a safe tea/coffee pot, the kind you would use to boil water on the stove? I am not opposed to glass if no plastic is present, nor to high quality stainless, preferably made in the USA or Europe. I have made several replacements on cookware, including using Chemex for coffee, thanks to your recommendations, but am having a terrible time with conflicting information on actual tea pots. I was ready to go with the All Clad tea kettle but it has some concerning reviews on Amazon. A glass pot that I purchased is going back because they did not disclose a plastic or silicone sealant at the bottom which is in direct contact with the water…so you see my confusion!

    Reply

  31. Maria

    Thank you for your informative article. Can you please explain what only the Cuisinart https://amzn.to/2WrGChH that is mentioned in the article is a good one? I spoke to the company and they make all the jars from Tritan. What is different in this one? Thank you!

    Reply

  33. Shannon

    I appreciate all of the research and information. However, when I went one step further and visited the Black + Decker website to look at this product on your blender list – Black + Decker (glass jar) – it listed a Prop 65 warning. For this reason, I do not feel comfortable purchasing this product. The Black + Decker glass bowl chopper had the same warning.

    Reply

  34. Shell

    I have emailed a couple times with no response, hoping to get answer. NO ice cream makers, coffee grinder, or cookie sheets on this list . And you do have some immersion blenders listed, are those safe> contradictory to message above

    Reply

  35. Terry

    When I was ready for a new waffle iron years ago I searched and searched for one that was NOT nonstick as I was sure I’d seen one or two on the web, and even requested one for Christmas. (I wrote to Lodge and suggested that they design one, and while the idea seemed well-received I haven’t seen it yet.) Not even my mother-in-law who was a lifetime cook could find one, and I was presented with a stovetop model that was not only “non-stick” but performed abysmally. It was eventually replaced with a countertop model (also a gift) that performs much better but is also non-stick. I was surprised to find here that cast iron models have appeared again on the market, so it seems that these come and go. Given the mixed reviews there are apparently tradeoffs with this particular type of appliance.

    Reply

  36. Nicole

    I’m curious what you would think about Intelibed? I’ve had a few chiropractors recommend it, but I’m having troubles figuring out what is actually in it.

    Reply

    • Nikki R.

      Thank you so much for all the research done. It is so incredibly organized and easy to read through. Appreciate your site very much!

      Reply

  38. Whimpop

    This page seems to suggest vaccines are good for health. It really puts a damper on the integrity of the information presented.

    Reply

  39. Wimpop

    Vinyl taste leached from glass blender: Oster glass blender from Walmart. What good is glass when the gasket in contact with the food is toxic?

    Reply

  40. Ashley Thompson

    I’ve been trying to find a food processor and immersion blender. I finally bought the recommended Cuisinart 4-cup but it says the bowl is made of Lexan, not ABS. Has this changed since you published?

    Also, any thoughts on Bamix?

    Reply

  41. Carmelle

    Is there a toaster that does not contain STYRENE? I just bought a 2 Slice Black & Decker and there is a warning that it does contain it!

    Reply

  42. Daniel

    There are at least four immersion blenders that are tested as safe from chlorinated parrafins.

    Philips response to a question about their immersion blender on Amazon: Hello! Within Philips Personal Health, we have the highest quality- and sustainability standards that follow and exceed the EU Commission Regulation and REACH. Philips can confirm that all our products are free of chlorinated paraffin’s and all other substances restricted by REACH and other EU Regulations.

    Reply

    • Mimi

      Have you watched any big company documentaries? You cannot trust anything they say. Forget the immersion blender at this point. It’s only a matter of time before they do another test, and you find out that the immersion blender you were using had leached CP too.

      Reply

  44. KHALID OBAID

    The Link duplicated in the air fryer section.
    When you click on (Elite Platinum ) it takes you to (Vanaheim) Link.

    And I am Vitamix fan, unfortunately, it belongs to avoid category. I guess I will not out it in a dishwasher machine nor I will use it for making hot soup.

    Reply

  45. Sandra

    Hi, this is fenomenal! Thank you SOOOO much ! I have been looking for a mini oven that is non toxic, and found a great culinary one. The problem now, is that I;;l be moving to Portugal and cannot find any toaster ovens that are non toxic. Super frustrating as my daughter has an autoimmune condition and I can’t risk anything with her. Do you know of any brands by any chance? Much appreciated!

    Reply

    • Joanne

      Bring along a good electric transformer with the correct adapter for the wall plug in Portugal. You’ll be able to use the oven in Portugal. Another tip: I have found and purchased small and large appliances for use in europe with the correct foreign electrical current (usually up to 240) and the correct adapter for the wall plug for the specific country. These are readily available in stores in NY. They are easy to locate on google searching for international home appliances..foreign use.

      Reply

    • Bobbie

      Could you please share which toaster oven you found that does not have these chemicals in it. I have Been looking for over a week now.

      Reply

  46. Andrea

    I’m looking for a safe non toxic toaster oven. Any to avoid? Any that you recommend? Thank you.

    Reply

  47. Deb M Nevsimal

    In the food processor section you noted out Cuisinart as approved then right after you mention to avoid all of Cuisinart. Which is it?

    Reply

  49. ShadowCat2006

    this is one of the Articles I’m going to have to re-read until I have everything right because I don’t think I have the right equipment in my kitchen

    Reply

    • Joanne

      I think that goes for most of us readers!!!!! I am taking notes, sharing with my kids.. What a great help this website is !

      Reply

  50. Irina

    Hello,
    First of all HUGE THANK YOU FOR DOING WHAT YOU DO!!!!!!!!!!!
    I have a question: I am looking for a new range…. and all I found is toxic… toxic…. toxic fumes people complain about… do you/did you recommend anything? I found this thread:
    https://www.debralynndadd.com/q-a/new-general-electric-stove-is-toxic/
    And this:
    https://www.greenbuildingadvisor.com/question/suggestions-for-non-toxic-dishwasher-and-range
    Now I am lost… which range to go for… I was thinking to switch to gas…
    I think that maybe having a counter top small oven+small cooking top is a better/safer option…. Any thoughts? Please help! Is there anybody who did an extensive research on the ranges? And if there is company which makes a safer solution? Thank you SO MUCH!!!!!

    Reply

  51. Haroon

    Hi

    Thanks for the infomation above, just want to make sure the green underline is the recommendation?

    Secondly bossilicate glass blenders are there safe to use? Does any lead or any chemicals leach when prepairing recipes or blending fruit in them and same goes for Pyrex views on Pyrex

    Thanks

    Reply

    • Leah Segedie

      Hey! I know Andrea. I’ll reach out to her and ask her if there are any updates. Our advisors were against us recommending any of these brands, but we can pull more info and regroup to see what happens.

      Reply

  56. Nick L.

    Any concerns with Nickel toxicity from stainless steel? I noticed you recommended a stainless steel french press, but I’m been concerned with metal leeching, especially when you are making something both hot and acidic.

    Thanks!

    Reply

  57. Kathy

    Thank you so much for this information. I went to the Miriam’s earthen ware site to look at their products. You need to use a heat diffuser. They have two on their site. One is Tin (aluminum) and the other is made of zero carbon steel and is enameled. Your info did not seem to be recommending anything with enamel due to nanoparticles. So what can you use for a diffuser?

    Reply

  58. Sara Dunn

    An Amazon review states this about the Oster blender you suggested—- “The blending jar is glass. The smoothie cup and food processor are both made of BPA-free plastic.” Soo, still plastic contacting (maybe hot) foods.

    Reply

  60. Julie

    Thank you for researching these appliances. I’m always trying to stay away from plastic and nonstick pans. I was given an air fryer recently and I’ve been worried about if they were safe and haven’t found much info on them. I’ve used a few times and absolutely LOVE it but I’ve been worried about the materials. I’ve been looking into purchasing a bigger one so I’m glad to know there are safer options out there. I currently have the nuwave brand. Any info on that brand? I was looking for a bigger one though and was going to get an all stainless one. One thing I did notice on the Kohl’s website was the elite Platinum brand comes with a warning label that states “this product may contain one or more substances or chemicals to cause cancer and birth defects or other reproductive harm” This was the only brand I noticed this warning label on. Made me nervous for sure!

    Reply

  61. Samantha

    Thank you so much for these investigations! Will be replacing the coffee maker stat! Can you recommend any toaster/convection ovens?

    Reply

  62. Elaine Danforth

    Hi Leah,
    Thank you for sharing all your great research on small kitchen appliances here.

    I’m curious about a few brands/products you don’t mention.

    1. Le Creuset pots/pans (I know, not really an appliance perhaps you’ve covered these in another article on cookware), but they come to mind because they are ceramic coated)

    Silit pressure cookers.
    https://www.wmf.com/en/company/global-consumer-goods/brands/silit.html
    Note:
    They do say they’re ceramic. I know a number of natural chefs who use and/or recommend them.

    If you have not looked into them, I’d be curious to get the results if you ever do. Or, next time I’m shopping for a pressure cooker, I guess I’ll look into the materials myself.
    https://www.wmf.com/en/company/global-consumer-goods/brands/silit.html

    3. Berkey Water Filters (mostly metal, but apparently, on at least some set-ups, the water comes in contact with plastic.

    Reply

  63. Sunny

    What about chlorinated paraffins in regular blenders? These chemicals are used during blade manufacturing, which would be similar in both types of blenders. Any tests?
    Also, while I do not have a link, I’ve read that Braun immersion blender was found to be free of these nastiness by tests in Europe.

    Reply

    • Melissa

      Thanks so much, Leah, for this awesome, informative post. I’m sad to throw out my Cuisinart immersion blender because I love making pureed soups, but for now I will just use my Oster blender for that. Thank you for all that you have done for me and my family through your helpful blog posts.

      I contacted Braun to see if it’s true that they do not have CPs and their response is below, for anyone curious. To take it a step further, I will probably contact them for the published 3rd party test results before deciding to buy their immersion blender.

      “We thank you for contacting us. Braun, as an international brand, considers the health and safety of its customers of paramount concern. First of all we want to reassure you that all materials within Braun brand products have been carefully designed and evaluated in order to guarantee high performance, reliability, and safety. All parts intended to come in contact with food are food grade and tested according to applicable requirements.

      We would also reassure that for example the MQ725 hand blender, apply a metal shaft, that can come in contact with food, and it has been tested for SCCPs release into the food by an internationally qualified and certified third-party laboratory, simulating a normal use of the appliance; based on the outcomes of above said testing, we can reassure you that it does not release SCCPs.

      We hope this information addresses your question. Should you have any further request, please, do not hesitate to contact us again. Best Regards”

      Reply

      • Thale

        Thank you for the information. Did you contact Braun for that published 3rd party test results, and what did you end up with? I had decided to buy the Braun immersion, but now I’m very doubtful. I know they were leaking befor due to the warning by the Canadian government, but can’t find anything to prove that they no longer leak SCCP.

        Reply

      • Michelle

        Seems like they’re not confirming the fact that SCCPs are NOT used, but that it passed a test for not leaking. Surely they can be made without this chemical right?

        Reply

    • Michelle

      Immersion blender chlorinated parrafins were mentioned – but what about pitcher style blenders, personal size blenders, and large kitchen aid mixers?

      When I asked kitchenaid here was their response: “ I apologize that we do not have access to all the chemicals used in manufacturing our products.

      Whirlpool/KitchenAid meets or exceeds all standards for safe materials”

      Do USA regulations prohibit them from using it? My
      understanding is that only the EU has prohibited them.

      Reply

  64. Brenda

    Thank you so much for this guide. Several years ago I began trying to replace my small appliances with ones where plastic did not come in contact with your food, it was a very difficult task and so I abandon it. Your recommendations have come just in time because I will be kiting out a new kitchen in a second home very soon. Did you do any tests on Nespresso coffee makers? It is my one guilty pleasure.

    Reply

  65. Anonymous

    THE GREEN LETTERS ARE HARD TO READ AFTER I MAKE A SCREENSHOT AND SEND IT TO MY SISTERS.PLEASE GO ON WITH YOUR
    DIGGING! THANKS FOR IT , ALICE.

    Reply

  66. Leah

    Just a note: stainless steel options (like Instantpot) are often also not ideal. Cheaper stainless steel (unless you’re paying $400 per piece… yours probably qualifies, though it’s difficult to find exactly what grade stainless steel is because the manufacturers don’t have to disclose it) can leach nickel and cadmium, both heavy metals. This is a huge problem in cooking pots (like instantpot) because any acidic food cooked in it will draw these metals out and lace the food. I see that you have recommended VitaClay, which is what I use and highly recommend for a clean, ethical option that makes food taste amazing.

    Reply

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