Kitchen & cooking
Nylon spatulas and spoons → wood or steel
Hot oil and pans soften plastic utensils. Wooden and steel ones don't melt, chip or leach.
Swap Priority
63/100
High priority
Swap Priority 63 out of 100: High priority- Plastic avoided
- ≈ 60 g a year
- Typical cost
- £5 – £25
- Swap from
- Nylon or plastic cooking utensils
- Last reviewed
- 26 September 2026
How strong is the evidence?
How the dials work- Exposure evidenceHow strong is the evidence that the plastic version exposes you to microplastics or plastic chemicals?
- Emerging · 2/4
- Environmental evidenceHow strong is the evidence that this swap cuts environmental harm over the product's whole life?
- Weak or mixed · 1/4
- Claim verificationHow well has the alternative's plastic-free claim been verified?
- No product yet
Why swap
Nylon (polyamide) utensils used at frying temperatures can release oligomers into food, and melted or chipped edges end up in the pan.
What to look for
- Solid hardwood (olive, beech, maple) with a plain oil finish
- Stainless steel for turners and whisks
- One-piece construction — no plastic grip
Watch out for
- Silicone spatulas count as plastic under our definition
- Black plastic utensils are often made from recycled electronics plastic
Evidence and sources
More swaps in kitchen & cooking
Kitchen & cooking71/100Swap Priority 71 out of 100: High priority
Plastic chopping board → hardwood board
Knives cut tiny pieces off plastic boards and into your food. A hardwood board avoids that and lasts for years.
High priority · about 200 g of plastic a year
Kitchen & cooking61/100Swap Priority 61 out of 100: High priority
Plastic kettle → steel kettle with no plastic in the water
Boiling water in plastic several times a day is one of the most frequent heat-plus-plastic contacts in a home.
High priority · about 250 g of plastic a year
Kitchen & cooking57/100Swap Priority 57 out of 100: Worth doing
Non-stick pan → stainless steel or cast iron
Non-stick coatings are a fluoropolymer plastic that wears off over time. Steel and iron pans last decades.
Worth doing · about 30 g of plastic a year