Eco-Friendly Nickel-Free Stainless Steel Cookware 2021
When it comes to switching out your old cookware with newer more efficient and better looking products, there are a lot to choose from. Of all the options, it’s likely you’ve come across some pieces made using stainless steel. Stainless steel cookware is an excellent option to renovate your kitchen with.
While stainless has been around for quite awhile, there are some considerations to make before choosing just any type of stainless steel cookware. We’ll first look more closely at the composition of stainless steel, the grades that arise from different compositions, and the dangers presented by each.
Afterward, as usual, we’ll delve into the affordability, cooking efficiency, convenience, health benefits for you and the environment, and durability of stainless steel cookware. Afterward we’ll highlight a quality brand that offers high-quality nickel-free stainless steel cookware.
This article contains affiliate links, to read our full affiliate link disclaimer click here
Stainless Steel Composition, Grades, and Dangers
To determine the nickel concentration in stainless steel there will (or should) be a number on the product telling you the type of steel it is. These numbers consist of two different numbers that look like one number sitting on another (18/0, for example). Each number represents the percentage by mass of chromium (the first or top number) and nickel (second or bottom number) present in the steel.
When cooking foods, it is common for some elements to be leached into whatever is in the cookware. Cast iron leaches iron into foods cooked in it while traditional non-stick has been known to leach toxic fluorine containing compounds.
Stainless steel cookware is made from a combination of various metals to form an alloy. The composition of the steel determines its number, common stainless steel numbers used in ‘culinary grade’ stainless are 304, 316, and 430. Stainless steel from grades 304 and 430 are the most ideal for cookware. If you happen to cook acidic foods often, grade 430 stainless steel cookware pieces are the way to go. Grade 430 stainless, otherwise known as “Nickel-Free Stainless Steel”, contains a negligible (effectively zero) amount of the element nickel.
Having negligible concentrations of nickel in the steel is important for your health and the health of the environment. During normal use, especially if cooking acidic foods (lemon, tomato, etc.) nickel – and other elements such as cadmium – are leached out of the stainless steel cookware and into your food.
Nickel is a well-known neurotoxin that can cause issues when ingested, additionally, nickel is a known human carcinogen. Nickel is also an allergen for some people, exposure can lead to reactions that vary in presentation and severity. For these reasons, it is best to eliminate nickel exposure wherever possible.
Affordability
Stainless steel cookware, like its ceramic counterpart, is on the cheaper side of the cookware spectrum. As is traditional, there are varying levels of affordability to stainless steel. Nickel-free stainless represents an extremely affordable option when the benefits of both stainless steel and the particularly the nickel-free grade 430 are considered. The longevity of stainless steel ensures that, with a bit of care and maintenance during use, you’ll likely never need to replace your stainless steel cookware.
The long lifespan of stainless makes the affordability even more positive as replacement costs will be extremely low or possibly negligible. As an added benefit, stainless steel cookware is offered in various sizes and functions to ensure all of your cooking needs can be met with the same cookware type.
Cooking Efficiency
High quality stainless steel cookware is both easy and efficient to use while cooking. The slickness of stainless cookware is increased when using oils or fats and making sure food doesn’t sit in place for too long. Cleaning stainless steel cookware is just as simple to clean as ceramic and cast iron as long as you follow some precautions when cooking.
Lower quality stainless steel can be constructed in such a way that uneven heating can occur on the cookware surface. This can lead to the development of ‘hotspots’ which can cause improper and incomplete cooking of foods. For this reason it is important to ensure the nickel-free stainless you choose is high-quality.
Convenience
There are many convenient features to stainless steel cookware. Most pieces have hanging holes in the handles for easy storage. Stainless cookware options are also available in many sizes allowing for large meals to be accommodated. Stainless steel is also similarly lightweight like ceramic cookware which makes using stainless easier than cookware such as cast iron or stoneware.
Health Benefits for You and the Environment
Nickel-free stainless steel is one of the safer cookware options to choose due to the lack of appreciable amounts of nickel and no other toxic compounds. It is important that you choose nickel-free stainless steel specifically as other grades of stainless contain higher concentrations of nickel that can leach into the foods being prepared in the cookware.
Nickel is similarly toxic to terrestrial and aquatic wildlife and is important to keep out of natural ecosystems. In addition to causing harm to animals and plants, nickel that is being leached into groundwater or streams will likely end up in contact with humans again through some exposure route. Depending on the duration of leaching, this re-exposure to nickel can be much more concentrated than before.
Additionally, chromium can also be leached from stainless steel cookware of any grade. This occurs mostly during the cooking of acidic foods such as tomatoes and citrus. Chromium is an essential element for the healthy functioning of our bodies unlike nickel, though the health impacts of leached chromium consumption are not thoroughly researched.
For clarity, the most important form of chromium to avoid is Chromium (VI) also known as Chromium 6. Chromium is a transition metal which has various oxidation states and studies have shown the (VI) oxidation state is most deleterious to human health and the environment. Quality stainless steel manufacturers should not be using Chromium (VI) in their cookware.
Durability
Stainless steel cookware’s durability is similar to cast iron cookware and is a bit more durable than ceramic cookware. Like ceramic, stainless steel can be scratched and marred by metal objects. Stainless is a bit more forgiving than ceramic as it is harder to scratch. Treated properly and maintained well, stainless steel cookware should last a very long time and continue to work very well as a healthy eco-friendly cookware option.
Extra care should be taken to limit the scratching of stainless steel as much as possible. While it is likely not going to make an appreciable difference, once the surface is damaged, potential chemical leaching can become more pronounced. This is true of nearly all materials though and shouldn’t be a deal-breaker for stainless steel.
The easiest way to prevent scratching any cookware is to use utensils that are softer than the cookware material. Bamboo and eco-friendly silicone utensils are excellent options to protect your cookware from damage.
Stainless Steel Cookware, Overview and Brands
Nickel-free stainless steel cookware has several benefits over other cookware types and should be a definite contender for anyone looking to change up their cookware selection. Lightweight like ceramic but a bit more durable, affordable for most budgets, safer for your family and the environment then traditional nonstick, and as efficient as any other quality cookware, nickel-free stainless is a solid cookware choice.
Like everything in life, nickel-free stainless steel cookware is not without fault. While the worry of nickel leaching is all but completely removed, cooking acidic foods for long periods of time can expose you to some leaching of chromium. While this might not be a big deal for some people, others may choose to look at another cookware option to avoid the possible dietary increase in chromium.
If stainless steel doesn’t sound like the best fit for your family kitchen, feel free to check out our reviews for stainless steel alternatives like ceramic or the age old cast iron cookware.
Now that we’ve covered some benefits and drawbacks of stainless steel, let’s look at a cookware brand we trust and recommend for their high quality nickel-free stainless steel cookware.
Homichef Stainless Steel Cookware, Ecologically Minded Stainless
Homichef offers several cookware products made with nickel-free stainless steel. Homichef’s nickel-free cookware products are great for healthy cooking without the worry of nickel leaching. In addition to standalone cookware pieces, Homichef offers cookware sets that make a full kitchen overhaul easier and more affordable.
Each Homichef product has a professional design adding to the visual appearance of your kitchen while providing you with eco-friendly healthy cookware to make your favorite meals. Homichef is one of the only companies that make ecologically safe nickel-free stainless steel. When properly treated and maintained, Homichef’s nickel-free stainless will last for a long time and perform excellent during each use.
Homichef Nickel-Free Stainless Top Picks
1.75 Quart Matte Polished Sauce Pan
8 Piece Hudson Cookware Set
10 Piece SearSmart Hard Anodized Cookware Set
1.75 Quart Matte Polished Sauce Pan
Pros
- Matte finish is stylish and eye-catching
- Size is suitable for a range of soups, pastas, and sauces
- Included lid is handy for simmering
Cons
- No vent in saucepan lid
- Matte finish may not be
3.5 Quart Matte Polished Stock Pot
Pros
- Large capacity is ideal for larger family-sized meals
- Long handles don’t get too hot while in use allowing for safe handling
Cons
- No vent in stock pot lid
10 Piece Copper Banded Cookware Set
Pros
- Helpful assortment of cookware pieces for most all cooking needs
- Chromed appearance and copper band around cookware base give a professional appearance
Cons
- No vents in cookware set lids
- Utensils are not included in cookware set
Eco-Friendly Cooking Without the Worry
When it comes to stainless steel cookware, you can rest ease knowing that nickel-free stainless will perform just as well as other stainless grades without the worry of added nickel. Cooking should be fun and enjoyable not a task where you need to worry about what unsafe materials might be lurking within your foods.