For a health-conscious household, it’s essential to prioritize wholesome meals storage. Since we work laborious to purchase and put together entire, natural meals as a lot as attainable, we are able to’t overlook our meals storage containers. Gone are the times of utilizing Tupperware to retailer meals.
Whereas plastic appears to be a handy and cheap choice, it’s not a protected selection. Even BPA-free plastic has BPS and different chemical substances which may be even worse. And though plastic meals storage containers usually aren’t single-use plastics, it’s nonetheless an issue to make use of plastic for meals storage.
Our household has labored laborious to transition to non-toxic and non-scratch cookware and different home goods. For meals storage, plastic meals containers and plastic luggage are the traditional fare, and it may be a troublesome swap. It took me a number of years, however I lastly phased out all of our plastic meals storage containers. Now we use glass, steel, or silicone as an alternative. Though it could appear overwhelming at first, it’s actually essential for our household’s well being.
Why Not Use Plastic Meals Storage Containers?
Though plastic appears to be the most affordable and best different, it’s most likely the worst factor you may retailer meals in. Dangerous chemical substances like BPA (or bisphenol A) and phthalates can leach into our meals, drinks, and our bodies. BPA is an estrogen-mimicking chemical that may disrupt hormones and result in weight achieve.
You’ll additionally discover phthalates in plastic, though they’ve been banned in Europe. They’re particularly dangerous to males and boys (together with in utero).
Not solely does it harm our our bodies, however it additionally hurts the atmosphere. Do you know that solely 9% of plastic is recycled? The remainder leads to landfills. There, it breaks down within the solar, emitting poisonous chemical substances and greenhouse gases. Or worse, the plastic floats out to sea, endangering wildlife.
Except for being higher in your well being and the atmosphere, one other bonus to utilizing non-plastic storage containers is that they’re oven-safe. Which means you may put them instantly in an oven or convection oven to reheat, which minimizes dishes in the long term. Some are even microwave-safe (although I don’t advocate utilizing one). And when you’re performed consuming, the leftovers can go straight into the fridge or freezer.
Non-Poisonous Meals Storage Containers
Once I first began my transition to non-toxic meals storage, there weren’t many choices. However the nice information is that now there are many choices for high-quality plastic-free meals storage. From glass to stainless-steel to silicone, the alternatives are quite a few! They usually cowl nearly any sort of meals storage want you may need, from storing leftovers to dry meals to on-the-go meals.
Fridge and Freezer Meals Storage
Storing meals within the fridge and freezer is essential to conserving an actual meals kitchen. Whether or not you’re meal prepping, batch cooking, or making freezer meals, you’ll want protected storage in your meals. As a substitute of plastic luggage and containers, I now use these different meals storage containers within the fridge and freezer.
Don’t neglect, when storing liquids within the freezer, permit room for them to broaden.
Glass
- Glass Mason Jars – These dishwasher-safe glass storage containers are my favourite as a result of they’re cheap and versatile. Quart and half-gallon-size jars work nice for storing soups, sauces, broth, and even leftover casseroles and sides.
- Pyrex Glass Containers with Lids– Though these have BPA-free plastic lids, they’re fairly cheap and a few of the first containers I acquired once I made the swap. These are nice to retailer leftovers.
- Glasslock Oven Protected Meals Storage– I even have this set and use it on a regular basis to retailer nearly the whole lot. They’re nice as a result of they’re BPA-free.
- Glass Meals Storage Containers with Bamboo Lids – This meals storage container set has bamboo lids as an alternative of plastic. They’re leakproof too!
- Ello Duraglass – These are nice glass meals storage containers as a result of the lids lock into place. They’re freezer-safe and the silicone sleeve on the skin retains the glass from changing into too slippery when it’s frozen.
Silicone
- Xtrema Silicone Meals Storage– I really like these collapsible fridge storage containers since they don’t take up a lot room within the cupboards when not in use and are straightforward to stack within the fridge. These are nice meal prep containers, too.
- Zip Prime – These food-grade silicone containers are nice as a result of they arrive in enjoyable colours and a big selection of configurations and dimensions for storing absolutely anything. They usually’re dishwasher protected!
Stainless Metal
- Latching Stainless Metal Containers – These are nice for storing issues that my youngsters must entry usually like reduce veggies or fruit as a result of they don’t break! These are additionally nice for freezer storage since they’re non-breakable and match loads.
- Stainless Metal Meals Storage Containers – This set is freezer-safe, leakproof, air-tight, BPA-free, and stackable, so it saves room if you’re not utilizing them.
Meals Wraps
One other place we use plastic meals storage however may not give it some thought is plastic wrap, wax paper, storage luggage, and aluminum foil. I additionally ditched these after we made the swap.
- Beeswax Meals Wraps – I really like these as a result of you may mildew them to the form of no matter bowl or dish you need to use. When you’ve got time, you may even make your personal home made reusable meals wrap.
- Pure Parchment Paper – Pure parchment paper is nice for wrapping meats, fish, and so on., earlier than storing.
- Silicone Lids – I additionally not too long ago found these silicon suction lids that flip bowls you have already got into fridge storage.
- Meals Huggers – These are nice when you have to refrigerate half a lemon, lime, and even an avocado. These create a good seal so the meals doesn’t develop into dried out or stale.
- Stasher Silicone Baggage – These are available in all kinds of colours and sizes to retailer issues as an alternative of Ziploc luggage!
On-The-Go Storage
Once we go away the home for journeys we use completely different choices than at house. Glass is difficult if you’re out and about due to security (you may’t convey glass to the pool!). It’s additionally heavier than different non-plastic meals storage containers. These are the containers we use to take meals with us after we go away.
- Zip Prime – It was laborious to interchange plastic luggage for snacks and sandwiches at first, however now I really like these silicone luggage.
- Silicone Collapsible Storage Containers – Once I must pack mild, I really like to make use of these BPA-free collapsible containers. Once we’re performed consuming, we simply break them down and it takes up hardly any room. I’ve even taken them in my suitcase once I’ve traveled to make my very own meals as soon as I get there.
- Zipper Sandwich and Snack Bag – Nice for dry snacks on the go.!
- Stainless Metal Thermos – It is a nice choice to take liquids on the go! It’s leakproof and can be utilized with room-temperature, chilly, or sizzling meals to maintain them recent. I really like this one as a result of the lid doesn’t have the inside lip that collects meals and will get nasty.!
- U Konserve Condiment Storage – I really like these for hummus or home made sauces that we have to tackle the go. They’ve nice tight-fitting lids product of silicone.
- Lunchbots Bento Field – These lunch containers are nice for lunch (or dinner!) on the go.
Pantry Storage
One other place the place you’ll want non-plastic meals storage containers is the pantry. The entire dry meals together with grains, nuts, seeds, beans, flour, and so on., want a non-toxic storage place.
- Mason Jars with Hermetic Lids – I really like these glass meals storage containers with locking lids for issues I purchase in bulk.
- Zip Prime – Their bigger meals storage luggage are nice for storing dry items as a result of they rise up when full.
- Glass Jar with Lid – These are available in bigger sizes for issues you have to retailer a whole lot of.
- Stainless Metal Canister Set – These are nice as a result of they aren’t breakable! I retailer my espresso beans in one in every of these as a result of they’ve hermetic lids.
- Glass Spice Jars – If you happen to purchase your dried herbs and spices in bulk, these glass containers are an effective way to retailer them. I really like the bamboo lids and customizable labels.
How do you retailer meals with out plastic? What’s your favourite non-plastic meals storage choice?
