Zero Waste Baking Tools (for conscious cooks)
If you enjoy baking, there are good baking tools on the market, that don’t give off toxic gases, and also are reusable and work out more affordable. Think silicone baking mats (which can be reused again and again) and bamboo mixing spoons!
Before baking, read up on food safety for people & pets (many ingredients like fresh dough are not safe near animals). Never give leftover roasties to pets, garden birds or wildfowl, due to salt (fat can also smear on feathers, affecting waterproof and insulation).
It’s best to just bin citrus, rhubarb and tomato scraps (along with alliums – onions, leeks, garlic, shallots, chives, as acids may harm compost creatures.
Tips for Using Bakeware Tools
- Avoid contact with flames, heating elements and sharp objects – use with wooden utensils.
- Cool bakeware before rinsing, to avoid thermal shock (cracking).
- For stains, add 2 tablespoons bicarbonate of soda and 1 cup white cleaning vinegar and soak for 30 minutes. Then wash (by hand), rinse and dry as normal.
- Heating any cookware (not just Teflon) is unsafe near birds. But hopefully if you live with birds, they are in a nice aviary with other birds, rather than caged in a kitchen.
A Reusable Silicone Baking Liner
Disposable baking paper and foil fill bins fast, and cost a lot of money. A reusable silicone baking liner is a small swap that cuts waste, saves money, and makes cooking easier. It lines your trays, stops sticking, and gives old tins a clean, non-stick surface in seconds.
This simple sheet turns crisp veg and golden biscuits into a fuss-free routine. Nothing welds to the tray, so you can lift food with ease and wash up in minutes. It replaces stacks of single-use sheets, works in hot ovens, and even doubles as an anti-slip mat.
If you just a little oil (say for roasting potatoes), just wrap and bin it in kitchen roll. For more oil, use a cooking oil recycling bin and have it collected for recycling (ask your council). Also never pour cream liqueurs down drains.
Avoid open flames and direct contact with heating elements. Do not use under a grill where flames or bare coils could touch the silicone. Keep it away from knives and pizza cutters, and do not use sharp tools on the mat.
Some staining can occur with tomatoes, turmeric, or dark spice rubs. Any colour change is cosmetic and does not affect non-stick performance. A paste of bicarbonate of soda and water can help brighten the surface if needed.
Storage ideas:
- Keep it flat on a tray or shelf to prevent creases
- Roll it loosely and tuck it into a drawer
- Slip it inside a baking tin, so it is ready when you preheat
Heat Resistance and Everyday Safety
With a limit of 260°C, the mat handles most home baking and roasting. It performs well for biscuits, veg, and sheet-pan meals. Use it on a baking tray, not directly on oven racks. It also works in the microwave for reheats and light crisping, placed on a microwave-safe plate.
Cleaning takes little effort. Rinse with warm, soapy water and a soft cloth or sponge, or load it in the dishwasher. Avoid abrasive pads and harsh chemicals. These can dull the surface and shorten the mat’s life.
Silicone Bakeware: Reusable and Eco-Friendly
Silicone bakeware is a favourite for zero waste kitchens. It’s light, flexible, and lasts for years. Unlike single-use cases or metal tins with chemical coatings, silicone withstands both high temperatures and freezing.
You can swap muffin cases, cake tins, or loaf pans for silicone versions that release cakes without sticking or breaking. These trays, mats, and moulds clean up fast, which saves water. They also pack away small, making life simpler for those with little space.
WAFE is a quality brand, that makes quality silicone baking mats, to replace disposable parchment paper. Sold with silicone oven gloves and a silicone band, for easy storage.
Silicone is a food-grade item made from a blend of sand and fossil fuels. Unlike plastic, this won’t disintegrate into microplastics, and is easy to recycle.
The cake and loaf tin folds effortlessly when not in use, and can also be used to make savoury dishes, like vegan lasagne.
Reinformed with metal-supported silicone handles, it’s perfect for use in ovens, air-fryers and freezers.
Health and Care Tips:
- Pick 100% food-grade silicone with no fillers or dyes.
- Let cool before washing to avoid warping.
- Clean with warm soapy water and let air dry.
- Avoid using knives inside to prevent tears.
When you look after silicone, it pays you back with years of smooth, stress-free baking.
Non-Toxic Parchment Paper Alternatives
Traditional parchment paper often contains bleach or chemical coatings. These can leach toxins into your bakes and can’t be composted. Non-toxic parchment paper skips harsh chemicals and uses materials like unbleached paper or natural silicone coatings.
If You Care is a brand that makes paper baking parchment and cupcake cases. The difference is these are not treated with chemicals, and sold in cardboard packaging. The range includes loaf pans, cupcake cases and parchment paper, along with (recycled) aluminium foil, if you use it.
Heatproof Silicone Oven Gloves
No more burnt marks or smells on fabric oven gloves. Unleash your inner chef with these silicone oven gloves. Designed to provide maximum coverage to your fingers.
The finger protectors are perfect for handling hot plates, and they stay firmly in place, no matter how big or small your hands are. Easy to clean with soap and warm water, just air-dry.
Mermaid Bakeware (built to last in Birmingham)
Reliable bakeware is not a luxury, it is the quiet backbone of every good bake. When trays stay flat, tins heat evenly, and surfaces release with ease, recipes work first time. That is why Mermaid Bakeware, made by Samuel Groves in Birmingham, has earned the trust of home cooks and professionals alike. It brings together British craft, durable materials, and designs that serve you for life.
Samuel Groves began in Birmingham, a city shaped by skilled manufacturing. From those roots came Mermaid bakeware, known for strength, even heat, and surfaces that become naturally non-stick with use. If you want gear that performs week after week, and year after year, these pieces deliver.
Key Features of Mermaid Bakeware
Hard anodised pieces have a darker, tougher finish. They are known for strength under high heat and resistance to twisting. With proper use, they build a natural patina that behaves like non-stick, without a coating that can peel.
Silver anodised pieces have a lighter finish and a smooth, easy-release surface from day one. They do not leach, peel, or rust, and they clean up fast. They also develop a patina over time, which enhances release across bakes.
The lifetime guarantee on Samuel Groves manufactured products adds peace of mind. You pay once, then rely on the gear to do its job for years. Many users praise the consistent quality, which is the result of careful manufacturing and durable finishes that do not fail under heat.
