Sili-Blog
Silicone Cook & Bakeware – 8 Must Have Silicone Kitchen Products
Silicone Bake & Cookware to Improve Your Kitchen
Our kitchen cabinets are filled with options to mix, bake, and store our food and drinks in. So, how the heck are we supposed to choose one product from another? Well, let’s start with ditching the plastics. Besides their unstable nature of leaching toxins into our food and drinks, they last for minimal uses and then end up in our oceans and landfills, bringing harm to our wildlife and our atmosphere.
Silicone, however, when made from FDA-approved, 100% food-grade, platinum cured silicone, is BPA-free, thrives on exposure to extreme temperature changes in heating and cooling, and is non-porous. Silipints are indeed made from this quality of silicone and are safe for a lifetime of reuse, unlike plastics which commonly are produced and manufactured with the intention of a single-use. One better, here at Silipint we have a partnership with ECO USA, which takes returned products, or misprints and repurposes them into recycle-grade silicone fluid.
So, which silicone products are truly kitchen worthy? We did some research and found eight silicone products that make the cut for Silipint cupboards (a high bar to meet given our rigid standards for FDA-grade, BPA-free silicone).
For this list, we only considered products that are FDA-approved, BPA-free, and contain no fillers. We also focused on products that support earth-friendly, sustainable solutions of replacing single-use plastics.
1. Stasher Bag Set
We felt a little piece of our hearts break each time we pulled a little plastic snack bag out of the cardboard box they come in and knew this single-use plastic product needed to be replaced ASAP. Imagine our excitement when upon discovering there are silicone storage bags! Microwaves, dishwashers, freezers, watch out because these are a game-changer.
Stasher has come to the rescue and is one of a kind. Like Silipint’s kindred silicone spirit, Stasher sells the ultimate alternative to single-use plastic bags with their patented Silicone Storage Bags. Stasher bags are BPA, BPS, lead, latex, and phthalate-free. They’re dishwasher safe, sous vide safe, and will last a lifetime of use. However, if for whatever reason, you want to dispose of your bag, the company will take them back to be repurposed into safe playground pebbles.
Here are a couple of different sizes that would be a great start:
- •Half-gallon bag for $19.99 is great for storing larger quantities of food, especially in the freezer
- •15oz bag for $11.99 is perfect for packing sandwiches for lunch
2. ECOlunchbox set
This is a company set out to change the world, one lunch at a time. Strong in their plastic-free lifestyle, they’ve created a line of stainless steel lunch boxes and other containers to replace the short-term plastics in your cupboards. Those plastic to-go containers are often not safe for the dishwasher or microwave, leach toxins into your food, and then end up in our oceans and landfills. ECOlunchbox containers are free from BPA, BPS, and phthalates.
So, why is a stainless steel container on our list of silicone products needed in the kitchen? Their silicone lids! They added silicone to the family as a water-tight lid, designed to ease your mind of leaking lunch containers.
We think this pack of 3 for $29.99 is the best choice because they have tare weights on the bottom. They’re great to bring to the store to buy bulk items like spices, nuts, and trail mixes without having to use the provided plastic bags!
3. Food Huggers Set
How often do you buy fruits and veggies, cut them in half for your DIY water infusions, breakfast smoothies, and dinner recipes, all the while, the other half rots in plastic wrap before you have a chance to use it?
We are sick of seeing good food go to waste, so we searched for a company that could play double duty by replacing our needs for plastic wrap and help keep our food fresh.
We found Food Huggers and fell in love. On their website, they report that one of the biggest challenges our environment faces today is food waste.
Food Huggers sell silicone “huggers” or caps, used to cover exposed ends of fruits, vegetables, jars, cans, and other sorts of containers. They help retain 23% more moisture than plastic alternatives. All of their products have a lifetime guarantee, are FDA-grade, BPA-free, and contain no fillers. These little “hugs” help reduce our carbon footprint by replacing many single-use plastics and foils.
Check out all of these options to get started on your own collection.
4. Silipint Cups
Of course, we had a few benefits to tell you about Silipint! A set of Silipints in your kitchen makes mom-life easier, van-life more efficient, and real-life more sustainable.
All of our products are made from 100% FDA-approved, food-grade silicone that is free of BPA, BPS, phthalates and contains no fillers. Learn more about our platinum-cured silicone that also meets LFGB standards, the European standard that is more extensive than US standards even.
Their versatile and flexible nature makes them great for baking, sipping, eating, and packing. Then, when you’re done, toss them all in the dishwasher for easy cleanup.
With so many variations to choose from, here are some specific benefits for particular sizes:
- •A 16 oz Silipint equipped with a Travel Lid XL makes everyday life a breeze. Enjoy hot coffee, a refreshing smoothie, lunchtime soup on-the-go or aprés ski beer. Plus, take it with you to refill at food shops (think coffee, soda, tea, etc.) and help eliminate wasteful paper coffee cups and plastic lids!
- •8 oz Half Pints and a 12 oz Base make an ideal duo for their multi-purpose powers. The Half Pint is a great kid’s cup option, especially when paired with our Silicone Travel Lid. These sizes are also great for baking personalized dips and desserts for parties because they’re safe in the oven up to 400°F and microwave safe. They’re also are great sizes for cocktails!
- •A 14 oz Stemless Wine is the ultimate wine glass that you can easily pack and carry without any fear of breaking, ever! Add a Silicone Travel Lid for an adult-sized wine sippy cup to keep dirt, bugs, and sand out!
5. Silipint Squeeze-a-Bowl
One of the greatest additions to the Silipint family is the 18 oz Squeeze-a-Bowl. This is the ultimate silicone bowl for your cupboard. Its ability to be microwaved, frozen and baked, makes it the most versatile bowl you own.
From soups, salads, and snacks, to a personalized quiche you can bake and bring to work for breakfast, you’ll be squeezing one of these bowls into every travel bag you own. Not to mention replacing all of your kid’s plates, camping gear and cracked/chipped ceramic ware.
Our customers have great things to say about their silicone bowls from Silipint. They’ve become a must for the RV. Customers have said that they’ve replaced all of their bowls with Squeeze-a-Bowlsbecause they’re unbreakable and super easy to clean. You only need one, but you’ll want them all.
6. Silicone Straws
We have all seen the frightening statistics about plastic straws littering our oceans, among other plastic products. Yet, we still see so many places offering and selling plastic straws. Stand out and ditch the plastic straw for a reusable silicone straw. Silistraws are flexible, safe for the dishwasher, freezer or microwave and can be boiled for a thorough cleaning. If you need a kid-friendly option for a straw, this is it. Our silicone straws are free of BPA, BPS and phthalates and fit perfectly inside of our two Travel Lids.
Another great thing about Silistraws is that they’re an incredibly affordable alternative to single-use straws. For just $1.50 you will have a straw that will last you forever.
Switching to an eco-friendly straw alternative is a great first step towards a more sustainable lifestyle.
7. Artisan Silicone Baking Mat
This company makes silicone baking sheets that act as a liner in your bakeware. It’s a great substitute for cooking sprays, single-use foils, and parchment papers. These silicone baking mats can be safely put in the oven up to 480°F (no direct flames) and disperse heat to cook food evenly and thoroughly. You can also put them in the microwave or in the freezer. Then, they can be hand washed or put on the top rack of your dishwasher for easy cleanup!
Their baking sheets are made from food-grade silicone and are LFGB certified and FDA-approved. For under $15 you can purchase Artisan Silicone Baking Mats from Amazon.
8. Di Oro Silicone Spatula Set
This is an area of products where you’ll find an endless amount of Silicone cookware utensils online, so when determining which one is better, start by skipping any and all that have plastic handles, the idea is to move away from plastic wherever we can. You’ll want to narrow it down to the ones that have steel-core handles, and then from there just be sure to look for the guarantee of being BPA-free, FDA approved, food-grade silicone. Wood handles are also problematic as they tend to separate (and never really go back) from the spatula at some point.
Added bonus, no more scratching your fancy non-stick pans with abrasive, metal spatulas. Scratched non-stick pans lead to toxins being released into your foods, definitely want to stay away from that!
Di Oro silicone spatulas are great for heavy-duty mixing and whipping up the perfect stir-fry. This set of three found on Amazon has reinforced steel-core handles, they’re safe for coated and non-stick cookware and has a lifetime guarantee. The set includes a large silicone spoon, a large silicone spatula, and a small silicone spatula.
What To Know Before You Buy
While there are so many options out there for silicone cookware and bakeware, there a few things to look for to ensure safety regulations have been met. Under FAQ sections, company policy or product information, there should be details provided that ensure their silicone products are FDA-approved, made from 100% food-grade silicone, and contain no BPA. If you’re unable to find this information, contact the company with those questions before you buy.
