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5 Easy Swaps for a Zero Waste Kitchen

Zero Waste Kitchen

Last Updated on January 23, 2024

This is going to be a pretty short blog post!

I just wanted to share five easy zero waste kitchen swaps – ones that are great for beginners.

Iā€™m trying to write short blog posts to accompany all of my YouTube videos.

5 Easy Swaps for a Zero Waste Kitchen  from www.goingzerowaste.com #zerowaste #ecofriendly #gogreen #sustainable #kitchen

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Assuming I donā€™t already have an existing blog post for the YouTube video to go into, you can find these posts on Wednesday.

Speaking of which, if you havenā€™t check out my YouTube channelā€¦ what are you waiting for? Head on over and subscribe!

Without further ado here are five things that I use in my kitchen ALL the time!

 

1. french press:

It should come as no surprise that I LOVE my french press. I use it every single day.

I use it to make tea, but if my husband wants coffee we can make that too.

And, spoiler alertā€¦ you can actually use your french press to strain your nut milk.

Say goodbye to messy nut milk bags and HELLO to your french press.

I have a Bodum french press with a glass base and couldnā€™t be happier.

2. snapware:

It should also come as no surprise to you that I LOVE my snapware.

This was a zero waste swap that I wish I had made sooner.

I waited about a year before getting my glass snapware and it has revolutionized leftover food storage.

Itā€™s so much easier to heat up and eat leftovers from snapware than in mason jars.

I use them to freeze leftovers, or pre-make things like casseroles that can be heated up at a later time.

Theyā€™re also great to carry lunches to work.

The snapware containers can even be put in the oven, so itā€™s really a multifunctional addition to my kitchen that I couldnā€™t imagine not having.

I know that the lids are plastic, but Iā€™ve had my snapware set for three years now, and I havenā€™t had an issue with the lids breaking.

I do hand wash my lids though and try avoid putting them in the dishwasher.

Check out this post if youā€™re looking for Zero Waste Dishwashing Tips.

3. mason jars:

Alright, I mean do I love mason jars more than snapware?

I donā€™t knowā€¦. I do know that while I donā€™t love storing all my leftovers and lunch in mason jars I do love it for the pantry!

Of course, theyā€™re also the ideal form of liquid storage i.e. nut milk, smoothies (did you know you can freeze smoothies?)

Having a clear, glass, non-branded container in my pantry allows me to see what foods need to be eaten and which ones I need to buy more of.

It makes cooking meals faster, simpler, and most importantly PRETTIER.

I mean thereā€™s a reason everyone loves a pinterest perfect pantry!

Of course, you donā€™t have to go out and buy mason jars, you can upcycle them from many of the jars you already own like mustard jars, jam jars, pasta sauce etc.

And, I promise your pantry will look just as beautiful even if the jars donā€™t match!

 

 
 
 
 
 
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4. compostable dish scrubs:

Did you know youā€™re supposed to toss your sponges after only two weeks!

That adds up to a lot of unnecessary waste. It can also be pretty spendy.

Instead, why not opt for something like a compostable dish scrub?

These bamboo scrubs can be composted at the end of their lives and last for years.

My bamboo dish scrubs last on average 1.5 years, and i think thatā€™s awesome.

5. beeswax wraps:

The last item in our quick rundown of easy zero waste swapsā€¦ the beeswax wraps.

As a fair warning: Nala LOVES to eat beeswax wraps. She has eaten every set Iā€™ve ever ownedā€¦ except one!

I do love them to wrap up sandwiches and to wrap up plates/bowls of leftovers.

I have these organic cotton wraps from bumblebee wrap and I really like them!

What are your favorite zero waste swaps youā€™ve made in your kitchen?

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  1. Hey, I’ve just found this website during research for a Zero Waste company I work with – https://www.burywholefoods.co.uk/ – and I noticed that you occasionally have guest posts from your readers. I’d be interested in writing something for your site, if you could get in touch?

    Thanks in advance and keep up the good work šŸ™‚

  2. I’m working on a fruit and vegetable garden in my backyard, namely in the hopes that I stop wasting food and eat more nutritious things that taste better. I’m annoyed with grocery stores around here because some people keep bruising the food by being careless and it travels so long it just doesn’t taste as good. I don’t really trust the "farmer’s markets" around here because I’ve heard they mainly take the excess produce that the stores know they can’t get rid of in reasonable time and the drivers have to dump fast before it goes bad.

    Sometimes it stinks to live so far from others who want to live healthier and have access to genuine markets and such. I did just hear of one that opened up near an area I tend to be when I’m bored, but it’s on Sundays only. That’s still far better than nothing, and I’m all about being educated.

    In the meantime, I’m hoping the wind dies down a bit and this cold goes away so I can finish planting my fruit trees and start on my garden beds, because my herbs are already sprouting

  3. My silicone Stasher bags have become one of my favorite zero waste swaps. Coupled with beeswax wrap, they’re helping my family eliminate single-use plastic baggies, aluminum foil, and plastic wrap from our kitchen. Also love my un-paper towels with snaps because I can roll them up and store them on our paper towel holder. They’ve made the transition almost automatic because the only thing that’s different is the material.

    Love all of your posts and tips!