Shared Kitchens: How do you label your kitchenware?

[Pepper88]

Hi everyone. I share a kitchen with 3 other non-celiacs. I have my own storage cubbies and color code some of my things if possible.

I was also wondering how folks labeled their kitchenware - pots, pans, baking sheets, kitchen utensils, etc. I'm failing to think of a method that is heat and water resistant. I've thought about nail polish or sharpie marker but not sure if they would actually stick well. 

Has anyone else played around with this and care to share what has worked for them?

thank you!

[Ennis-TX]

Many say to buy them in a different color or put tape on the handle. You can buy casserole pans and enameled pots in a unique color also...baking sheets I guess you could engrave the lip? Parchment paper, foil lining and crackpot liners might be a extra precaution.....or set up a camp kitchen in another room so you have a dedicated place. IE induction cook top and pans, toaster oven combo, microwave, on a table, minifridge and bus bins to wash stuff in and dump in the tub,

I honestly just got all my own stuff and moved to my own dedicated living space, before that I used nordic ware microwave cookware and just kept my baking dishes separate in a different location...I did have 1 pot and a skillet get used for gluten food after...I honestly snapped after and bent the skillet in half after getting sick....no one used my stuff again.

[Pepper88]

Yikes, I'd be SO angry if someone used my stuff. I just re-bought a whole kitchen set and would definitely be breaking things if I had to buy another. Unfortunately having my own kitchenette is not feasible at this point. I do have color coded utensils and did take your tape idea to tape up the rest of my stuff with the color green. Thanks Ennis ?

[kareng]

20 hours ago, Pepper88 said:

Yikes, I'd be SO angry if someone used my stuff. I just re-bought a whole kitchen set and would definitely be breaking things if I had to buy another. Unfortunately having my own kitchenette is not feasible at this point. I do have color coded utensils and did take your tape idea to tape up the rest of my stuff with the color green. Thanks Ennis ?

I mostly just kept an eye on my cookie sheets/ oven stuff & put away as soon as possible.   I may have used nail polish on the edge of a cookie sheet at the beginning.  

There are paints you can get at the hobby store that you bake on coffee cups or glass.  Might work for a cookie sheet?  

[Jenny8413]

When I tried a "shared kitchen" with my husband, we kept entirely separate areas to store items and I bought red colored cooking utensils etc.  Orange duct tape went on food jars etc.  But I realized that my husband was transporting gluten everywhere, setting items in his crumbs and then setting them on my cutting boards and on my areas in the fridge.  Also visitors were using the gluten sponge when cleaning shared glass bowls and leaving sticky stuff in them (so I was always re-washing shared items before using them and my hands were cracking from so much washing), and when I wasn't home who knows where the gluten was ending up.  So now we are trying 100% gluten free, and I am 1000% more relaxed without worry (or cracked hands).  If sharing a space, I hope you can block off dedicated free space for all of your items and put a big red ribbon on it to remind gluten'ers to stay out.  I'd want my own mini-fridge because I know no one else is careful enough to prevent cross contamination here.  

[Pepper88]

Thanks for the suggestions folks. I may look up the baked on paint if the tape doesn't hold up. Duct tape sounds like a good idea - right now I'm using packing tape over green mascing tape.

I totally resonate. I find myself rewashing things excessively and washing/ drying/ putting away all my things immediately after eating. I do have my own cupboards that are clearly marked. All that said and done I'm still anxious. I've been training my partner to rewash cutlery before dipping into our shared spreads and dips (and to not double dip of course etc) He finds it a chore but is trying. 

Thats great that your husband is  going gluten-free with you. Ideal situation for sure!

[notme]

my kitchen is 99% gluten free.  I keep spaghettios and some gluten snacks for the kids, lunchables, etc.  but the gluten-free is enforced - wash your hands after you eat gluten!!  husband has regular rye bread, but we make his sammiches for lunch together and he touches the bread and I throw lunch meat at it ha ha 

all my cookware is stainless except I keep a Teflon frying pan he can do whatever he wants with.  he also gets his own strainer and colander and cutting board.  when I go out of town, he makes himself a big ole pot of regular gluten spaghetti and puts it in freezer boxes.  I never get sick, so he must be cleaning everything up very well.  I am super lucky he is so on board with the whole thing but he saw how sick I was before I was diagnosed.  he thought (and I did too!) I had cancer or something.  it was starving me to death!  keeping my food and kitchen safe and clean is a small change and thank goodness for that