These Under-$20 Non-Toxic Utensils Will Upgrade Your Cooking

There’s a magical balance between cooking great food and feeling good while doing it. On the one hand, if you only buy kitchen gear you think looks cool, it might not be the best tool for how you cook. On the other hand, if you go the full-on practical route, your space will just end up looking like an industrial kitchen. On top of it, you probably want to make sure the tools and utensils you’re using are safe and non-toxic. Luckily, meeting somewhere in the middle of all these needs is easy to do.

Over Thanksgiving, probably due to the recent reports of black plastic kitchen utensils being not so great for us, I was paying special attention to the utensils I was using. I’ve made a point of abandoning black plastic and found myself appreciating some of the pieces I’ve accumulated over many years of cooking, professionally and at home. Thus, here are six of my favorite non-toxic cooking utensils under $20.

Best Non-Toxic Cooking Utensils Under $20

• Earlywood 10-Inch Handmade Wood Scraper and Turner, $19
• OXO Good Grips 12-Inch Locking Tongs, $16
• KitchenAid Kitchen Shears, $9, originally $12
• Winco Stainless Steel Fish Spatula, $12
• Zulay Stainless Steel Soup Ladle, $14
• Riviera 6-Piece Bamboo Utensil Set, $15, originally $21
• OXO Good Grips Balloon Whisk, $10, originally $12
• KitchenAid Stainless Steel Wire Masher, $8, originally $18

Earlywood 10-Inch Handmade Wood Scraper and Turner

Earlywood sent me this wood scraper and turner to test out a few months ago, and it was love at first tofu scramble. This is truly one of the best pieces of kitchen gear I’ve ever used — I cannot recommend it enough. A thin edge helps you scrape veggies and proteins without tearing or mashing, while a hefty but thin body gives you plenty of control. It’s also a great turner if you’re making something wide, like pieces of zucchini, eggplant, or chicken wings. 

OXO Good Grips 12-Inch Locking Tongs

Whether you’re braising, frying, or roasting, you absolutely need a durable, dependable set of tongs. OXO’s stainless steel iteration is an obvious choice. There’s a reason they have over 11,500 perfect ratings at Amazon — I use them daily, and would dish out a perfect score as well.

KitchenAid Kitchen Shears

Dependable kitchen shears are one of the easiest ways to quickly elevate your prep game. Whether you’re snipping some herbs, cutting tough pieces of protein, or making precise slices of fruits and vegetables, the stainless steel shears from KitchenAid are an important tool to have.

Winco Stainless Steel Fish Spatula

I’m a big believer that the humble fish spatula is among the most versatile and useful kitchen utensils ever created — and having one inexpensive stainless steel option at home is a game changer. I use mine every day to flip roasted sweet potatoes, tempeh, burgers, caramelized onions, and more. My wife swears by it for pan-seared salmon. Plus, you look like a pro when using one of these.

Zulay Stainless Steel 13-Inch Steel Soup Ladle

Having a handsome ladle is an inexpensive flex but a nice one — it makes you look like you take soup very seriously (which you do). From fancy lobster bisque to dependable pantry pasta, this all-stainless steel ladle will let you dish soups, stews, and more in style and without adding harmful toxins.

Riviera 6-Piece Bamboo Utensil Set

I’m not always a fan of bamboo. I don’t love bamboo cutting boards or tongs, but when it comes to spoons, turners, and spatulas, I think they’re great. If you’re moving around some stir fry, tossing pasta, or flipping roasted veggies, these look and feel solid and do the job. More importantly, they’re made from organic material and are free of BPAs.

OXO Good Grips Balloon Whisk

Whether you love baking or regularly whip up luscious cheese sauces, every kitchen should have a whisk. Over 4,000 Amazon shoppers have picked up this dishwasher-safe whisk in the past month, meaning droves of home cooks are finding it an important tool. And nearly 20,000 of them have given it a perfect five stars. 

KitchenAid Stainless Steel Wire Masher

Most meat and/or potato mashers are plastic or silicone, but this stainless steel wire option is free of those toxins and super strong. This has over 11,000 five-star ratings on Amazon, with one shopper calling it the “best and sturdiest masher ever.”