If you look over your black bin and recycling, the chances are that much of the single use plastic derives from the kitchen, so it’s full of opportunity if you’re ready to make some swaps, and making your own is a great way to start the journey towards a plastic free kitchen.
Perhaps you can’t get to a zero waste shop, or your family love certain foods that only seem to come wrapped in plastic, perhaps not even recyclable plastic at that. But with the internet at your disposal, you might be surprised at what you can come up with (I certainly was, and my family will confirm that I’m no chef!).
If you can buy milk loose or in glass, then with very little effort and no fancy tools (except a square of muslin), you can make yourself delicious plastic free yoghurt (try this recipe from Epicurious) and a variety of easy cheeses, like this paneer which takes under an hour to make and is delicious fried and included in a Sag Paneer. Both are cheap and extremely satisfying to make, and avoid the additives that may be included in the commercial equivalent. Ricotta is next on my list.
Biscuits and crackers can be another tricky area, but again these are super easy to make for yourself – try olive oil crackers, homemade crisps, roasted chickpeas or sourdough crackers. Those last two are recipes from The Zero Waste Chef, who might be your best guide to all things homemade and delicious – Anne-Marie’s recipe index is a great place to start.
Baking your own cookies and cakes might take a little advance preparation, but your plastic footprint will thank you, and again, when you can choose what’s going into your snacks, the chances are you’ll be healthier too. How about homemade granola bars for the packed lunch, cookies for coffee, or flourless chocolate coconut cake for a treat.
There’s so much more out there to try – let us know your favourites. And while you’re at it, why not check out our Plastic Free Home page for a detailed list of things all the other changes you might be able to make towards a plastic free kitchen.
Image credit: Macao Photo Agency, Unsplash