It’s easy to get attached to your go-to kitchen tools: your trusty spatula, the perfectly sized plastic cutting board or a can opener you’ve had since your first apartment. But it’s important to remember that not every kitchen essential is made to last forever. While some tools like cast-iron skillets or Dutch ovens get better with age, others wear down, lose effectiveness and can even become unsanitary no matter how well you wash them.
Over time, plastic can warp, wooden utensils can harbor bacteria, and dull blades can become dangerous. If your drawers are filled with aging gadgets you haven’t looked at closely in a while, it might be time for an upgrade. Swapping out worn tools not only improves safety and hygiene, but it can also make cooking easier and more enjoyable. Not sure where to start? Here are the kitchen items experts say you should consider replacing sooner rather than later.
“Keeping your kitchen tools in good condition ensures both safety and efficiency,” says Maricel Gentile, kitchen expert and founder of cooking school Maricel’s Kitchen. “Plus, it’s the perfect excuse to explore new gadgets, and some need replacing more often than you think.”
Below you’ll find seven examples of kitchen tools that may have worn out their welcome in your kitchen.
Plastic isn’t impervious to bacteria, even if you’re regularly putting it in the dishwasher.
“Over time, knife marks can create deep grooves that are hard to clean and can harbor bacteria,” Gentile says. “Also, plastics degrade with heat and use, releasing microplastics into the food.”
Signs of wear and tear can indicate that it’s time for a change. “If your board is heavily scarred or stained, it’s time to replace it,” says Gentile. With other plastic tools, look for signs of discoloration, melting or warping.
2. Plastic storage containers
Kitchen expert Sylvia Fountaine of Feasting at Home says to ditch plastic storage containers outright. If you’re using them only to keep food in the fridge, it’s probably OK, but the temptation to take storage containers from the fridge to the microwave is what makes them less than ideal. When heated, these types of containers can leach various chemicals into your food. “Opt for glass storage containers with bamboo lids,” Fountaine says.
3. Graters, peelers and microplanes
Metal tools with sharp edges, designed to break food down into bits like shreds and zest, don’t have any of the risks associated with microplastics and are relatively easy to clean and sanitize but can overstay their utility if you’re holding on to them for too long.
The musty smell of kitchen sponges indicates that bacteria are growing. There is a nonwaste solution: “The sponge can be included in the dishwasher as long as (it) includes a sanitizing cycle,” Baum says. “If you do not have a dishwasher, replace your sponges regularly, especially when it begins to smell.”
Read more: Top 10 Foods Contaminated With Microplastics. Here’s How to Avoid Them
Source: CNET.
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