For a health-conscious family, it’s important to prioritize healthful meals storage. Since we work arduous to buy and put collectively full, pure meals as rather a lot as potential, we’re capable of’t overlook our meals storage containers. Gone are the occasions of using Tupperware to retailer meals.
Whereas plastic seems to be a useful and low-cost selection, it’s not a safe different. Even BPA-free plastic has BPS and completely different chemical substances that might be even worse. And although plastic meals storage containers generally aren’t single-use plastics, it’s nonetheless a problem to utilize plastic for meals storage.
Our family has labored arduous to transition to non-toxic and non-scratch cookware and completely different house objects. For meals storage, plastic meals containers and plastic baggage are the standard fare, and it might be a troublesome swap. It took me a few years, nevertheless I lastly phased out all of our plastic meals storage containers. Now we use glass, metal, or silicone in its place. Although it would seem overwhelming at first, it’s truly important for our family’s effectively being.
Why Not Use Plastic Meals Storage Containers?
Although plastic seems to be essentially the most value efficient and greatest varied, it’s almost definitely the worst issue chances are you’ll retailer meals in. Harmful chemical substances like BPA (or bisphenol A) and phthalates can leach into our meals, drinks, and our our bodies. BPA is an estrogen-mimicking chemical which will disrupt hormones and end in weight purchase.
You’ll moreover uncover phthalates in plastic, although they’ve been banned in Europe. They’re notably harmful to males and boys (along with in utero).
Not solely does it harm our our our bodies, nevertheless it moreover hurts the setting. Are you aware that solely 9% of plastic is recycled? The rest leads to landfills. There, it breaks down throughout the photo voltaic, emitting toxic chemical substances and greenhouse gases. Or worse, the plastic floats out to sea, endangering wildlife.
Aside from being increased in your effectively being and the setting, one different bonus to using non-plastic storage containers is that they’re oven-safe. Which implies chances are you’ll put them straight in an oven or convection oven to reheat, which minimizes dishes in the long run. Some are even microwave-safe (though I don’t recommend using one). And while you’re executed consuming, the leftovers can go straight into the fridge or freezer.
Non-Toxic Meals Storage Containers
As soon as I first started my transition to non-toxic meals storage, there weren’t many decisions. Nevertheless the great info is that now there are a lot of decisions for high-quality plastic-free meals storage. From glass to stainless steel to silicone, the options are fairly a couple of! And they also cowl practically any type of meals storage need you may want, from storing leftovers to dry meals to on-the-go meals.
Fridge and Freezer Meals Storage
Storing meals throughout the fridge and freezer is important to holding an precise meals kitchen. Whether or not or not you’re meal prepping, batch cooking, or making freezer meals, you’ll need safe storage in your meals. In its place of plastic baggage and containers, I now use these varied meals storage containers throughout the fridge and freezer.
Don’t overlook, when storing liquids throughout the freezer, allow room for them to extend.
Glass
- Glass Mason Jars – These dishwasher-safe glass storage containers are my favorite because of they’re low-cost and versatile. Quart and half-gallon-size jars work good 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 pretty low-cost and among the many first containers I acquired as soon as I made the swap. These are good to retailer leftovers.
- Glasslock Oven Protected Meals Storage– I even have this set and use it regularly to retailer nearly each little factor. They’re good because of they’re BPA-free.
- Glass Meals Storage Containers with Bamboo Lids – This meals storage container set has bamboo lids in its place of plastic. They’re leakproof too!
- Ello Duraglass – These are good glass meals storage containers because of the lids lock into place. They’re freezer-safe and the silicone sleeve on the pores and skin retains the glass from becoming too slippery when it’s frozen.
Silicone
- Xtrema Silicone Meals Storage– I actually like these collapsible fridge storage containers since they don’t take up rather a lot room throughout the cabinets when not in use and are easy to stack throughout the fridge. These are good meal prep containers, too.
- Zip Prime – These food-grade silicone containers are good because of they arrive in pleasing colors and a big selection of sizes and shapes for storing completely something. And they also’re dishwasher safe!
Stainless Steel
- Latching Stainless Steel Containers – These are good for storing points that my kids should entry sometimes like reduce veggies or fruit because of they don’t break! These are moreover good for freezer storage since they’re non-breakable and match fairly a bit.
- Stainless Steel Meals Storage Containers – This set is freezer-safe, leakproof, air-tight, BPA-free, and stackable, so it saves room if you happen to’re not using them.
Meals Wraps
One different place we use plastic meals storage nevertheless will not give it some thought is plastic wrap, wax paper, storage baggage, and aluminum foil. I moreover ditched these as soon as we made the swap.
- Beeswax Meals Wraps – I actually like these because of chances are you’ll mould them to the type of irrespective of bowl or dish it’s worthwhile to use. You most likely have time, chances are you’ll even make your private hand-crafted reusable meals wrap.
- Pure Parchment Paper – Pure parchment paper is sweet for wrapping meats, fish, and so forth., sooner than storing.
- Silicone Lids – I moreover these days discovered these silicon suction lids that flip bowls you already have into fridge storage.
- Meals Huggers – These are good while you’ll wish to refrigerate half a lemon, lime, and even an avocado. These create a good seal so the meals doesn’t change into dried out or stale.
- Stasher Silicone Baggage – These can be found every kind of colors and sizes to retailer points in its place of Ziploc baggage!
On-The-Go Storage
As soon as we depart the house for journeys we use fully completely different decisions than at residence. Glass is hard if you happen to’re out and about on account of safety (chances are you’ll’t ship glass to the pool!). It’s moreover heavier than completely different non-plastic meals storage containers. These are the containers we use to take meals with us as soon as we depart.
- Zip Prime – It was arduous to change plastic baggage for snacks and sandwiches at first, nevertheless now I actually like these silicone baggage.
- Silicone Collapsible Storage Containers – As soon as I need to pack light, I actually prefer to make use of those BPA-free collapsible containers. As soon as we’re executed consuming, we merely break them down and it takes up hardly any room. I’ve even taken them in my suitcase as soon as I’ve traveled to make my very personal meals as quickly as I get there.
- Zipper Sandwich and Snack Bag – Good for dry snacks on the go.
- Stainless Steel Thermos – It’s a good option to take liquids on the go! It’s leakproof and may be utilized with room-temperature, chilly, or scorching meals to take care of them latest. I actually like this one because of the lid doesn’t have the within lip that collects meals and can get nasty.
- U Konserve Condiment Storage – I actually like these for hummus or hand-crafted sauces that we now have to deal with the go. They’ve good tight-fitting lids product of silicone.
- Lunchbots Bento Subject – These lunch containers are good for lunch (or dinner!) on the go.
Pantry Storage
One different place the place you’ll need non-plastic meals storage containers is the pantry. The whole dry meals along with grains, nuts, seeds, beans, flour, and so forth., desire a non-toxic storage place.
- Mason Jars with Airtight Lids – I actually like these glass meals storage containers with locking lids for points I buy in bulk.
- Zip Prime – Their greater meals storage baggage are good for storing dry objects because of they rise up when full.
- Glass Jar with Lid – These can be found greater sizes for points you will wish to retailer quite a few.
- Stainless Steel Canister Set – These are good because of they aren’t breakable! I retailer my espresso beans in definitely considered one of these because of they’ve airtight lids.
- Glass Spice Jars – For many who buy your dried herbs and spices in bulk, these glass containers are an efficient strategy to retailer them. I actually just like the bamboo lids and customizable labels.
You presumably can study further about discover ways to in the reduction of plastic in your own home proper right here.
How do you retailer meals with out plastic? What’s your favorite non-plastic meals storage selection?