For a health-conscious household, it’s important to prioritize healthy food storage. Since we work arduous to purchase and put together entire, natural meals as a lot as doable, we will’t overlook our food storage containers. Gone are the times of utilizing Tupperware to retailer food.
While plastic appears to be a handy and cheap option, it’s not a safe choice. Even BPA-free plastic has BPS and different chemical compounds that could be even worse. And though plastic food storage containers sometimes aren’t single-use plastics, it’s nonetheless a downside to make use of plastic for food storage.
Our household has labored arduous to transition to non-toxic and non-scratch cookware and other household items. For food storage, plastic food containers and plastic baggage are the traditional fare, and it may be a tough change. It took me a few years, however I lastly phased out all of our plastic food storage containers. Now we use glass, metallic, or silicone as an alternative. Although it could appear overwhelming at first, it’s actually important for our household’s health.
Why Not Use Plastic Food Storage Containers?
Although plastic appears to be the most cost effective and best different, it’s most likely the worst factor you possibly can retailer food in. Harmful chemical compounds like BPA (or bisphenol A) and phthalates can leach into our food, drinks, and our bodies. BPA is an estrogen-mimicking chemical that may disrupt hormones and result in weight gain.
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 damage our our bodies, however it additionally hurts the environment. Did you understand that solely 9% of plastic is recycled? The relaxation ends up in landfills. There, it breaks down within the solar, emitting poisonous chemical compounds and greenhouse gases. Or worse, the plastic floats out to sea, endangering wildlife.
Aside from being higher in your health and the atmosphere, one other bonus to utilizing non-plastic storage containers is that they’re oven-safe. That means you possibly can put them straight in an oven or convection oven to reheat, which minimizes dishes within the long run. Some are even microwave-safe (although I don’t recommend utilizing one). And when you’re accomplished eating, the leftovers can go straight into the fridge or freezer.
Non-Toxic Food Storage Containers
When I first began my transition to non-toxic food storage, there weren’t many choices. But the great information is that now there are heaps of choices for high-quality plastic-free food storage. From glass to stainless-steel to silicone, the alternatives are quite a few! And they cowl nearly any kind of food storage need you may need, from storing leftovers to dry meals to on-the-go meals.
Refrigerator and Freezer Food Storage
Storing food within the fridge and freezer is essential to conserving a actual food kitchen. Whether you’re meal prepping, batch cooking, or making freezer meals, you’ll need protected storage in your food. Instead of plastic baggage and containers, I now use these different food storage containers within the fridge and freezer.
Don’t overlook, when storing liquids within the freezer, enable room for them to increase.
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 great for storing soups, sauces, broth, and even leftover casseroles and sides.
- Pyrex Glass Containers with Lids– Although these have BPA-free plastic lids, they’re fairly cheap and a few of the primary containers I obtained after I made the change. These are great to retailer leftovers.
- Glasslock Oven Safe Food Storage– I even have this set and use it all of the time to retailer virtually every little thing. They’re great as a result of they’re BPA-free.
- Glass Food Storage Containers with Bamboo Lids – This food storage container set has bamboo lids as an alternative of plastic. They’re leakproof too!
- Ello Duraglass – These are great glass food 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 Food 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 simple to stack within the fridge. These are great meal prep containers, too.
- Zip Top – These food-grade silicone containers are great as a result of they arrive in enjoyable colours and a big range of dimensions and shapes for storing absolutely anything. And they’re dishwasher protected!
Stainless Steel
- Latching Stainless Steel Containers – These are great for storing issues that my youngsters need to entry usually like cut veggies or fruit as a result of they don’t break! These are additionally great for freezer storage since they’re non-breakable and match a lot.
- Stainless Steel Food Storage Containers – This set is freezer-safe, leakproof, air-tight, BPA-free, and stackable, so it saves room whenever you’re not utilizing them.
Food Wraps
Another place we use plastic food storage however won’t give it some thought is plastic wrap, wax paper, storage baggage, and aluminum foil. I additionally ditched these after we made the change.
- Beeswax Food Wraps – I really like these as a result of you possibly can mildew them to the form of no matter bowl or dish you wish to use. If you’ve time, you possibly can even make your own selfmade reusable food wrap.
- Natural Parchment Paper – Natural parchment paper is great for wrapping meats, fish, and so on., earlier than storing.
- Silicone Lids – I additionally just lately found these silicon suction lids that flip bowls you have already got into fridge storage.
- Food Huggers – These are great whenever you need to refrigerate half a lemon, lime, and even an avocado. These create a tight seal so the food doesn’t turn out to be dried out or stale.
- Stasher Silicone Bags – These are available all types of colours and sizes to retailer issues as an alternative of Ziploc baggage!
On-The-Go Storage
When we depart the home for journeys we use totally different choices than at home. Glass is tough whenever you’re out and about as a result of of security (you possibly can’t convey glass to the pool!). It’s additionally heavier than different non-plastic food storage containers. These are the containers we use to take food with us after we depart.
- Zip Top – It was arduous to interchange plastic baggage for snacks and sandwiches at first, however now I really like these silicone baggage.
- Silicone Collapsible Storage Containers – When I need to pack gentle, I really like to make use of these BPA-free collapsible containers. When we’re accomplished eating, we simply break them down and it takes up hardly any room. I’ve even taken them in my suitcase after I’ve traveled to make my own meals as soon as I get there.
- Zipper Sandwich and Snack Bag – Great for dry snacks on the go.!
- Stainless Steel Thermos – This is a great option to take liquids on the go! It’s leakproof and can be utilized with room-temperature, chilly, or scorching meals to maintain them contemporary. I really like this one as a result of the lid doesn’t have the inside lip that collects food and will get nasty.!
- U Konserve Condiment Storage – I really like these for hummus or selfmade sauces that we need to tackle the go. They have great tight-fitting lids made of silicone.
- Lunchbots Bento Box – These lunch containers are great for lunch (or dinner!) on the go.
Pantry Storage
Another place the place you’ll need non-plastic food storage containers is the pantry. All of the dry meals together with grains, nuts, seeds, beans, flour, and so on., need a non-toxic storage place.
- Mason Jars with Airtight Lids – I really like these glass food storage containers with locking lids for issues I purchase in bulk.
- Zip Top – Their bigger food storage baggage are great for storing dry items as a result of they stand up when full.
- Glass Jar with Lid – These are available bigger sizes for stuff you need to retailer a lot of.
- Stainless Steel Canister Set – These are great as a result of they aren’t breakable! I retailer my espresso beans in a single of these as a result of they’ve hermetic lids.
- Glass Spice Jars – If you purchase your dried herbs and spices in bulk, these glass containers are a great technique to retailer them. I really like the bamboo lids and customizable labels.
How do you retailer food with out plastic? What’s your favourite non-plastic food storage option?