For a health-conscious family, it’s essential to prioritize healthful meals storage. Since we work laborious 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 helpful and low cost selection, it’s not a safe different. Even BPA-free plastic has BPS and completely different chemical compounds which can be even worse. And although plastic meals storage containers generally aren’t single-use plastics, it’s nonetheless a difficulty to utilize plastic for meals storage.
Our family has labored laborious to transition to non-toxic and non-scratch cookware and completely different dwelling gadgets. For meals storage, plastic meals containers and plastic baggage are the traditional fare, and it could be a troublesome swap. It took me just some years, nevertheless I lastly phased out all of our plastic meals storage containers. Now we use glass, metal, or silicone instead. Although it may seem overwhelming at first, it’s really obligatory for our family’s nicely being.
Why Not Use Plastic Meals Storage Containers?
Although plastic seems to be probably the most price efficient and finest completely different, it’s perhaps the worst issue it’s possible you’ll retailer meals in. Harmful chemical compounds like BPA (or bisphenol A) and phthalates can leach into our meals, drinks, and our our bodies. BPA is an estrogen-mimicking chemical that 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. Have you learnt that solely 9% of plastic is recycled? The remaining results in landfills. There, it breaks down inside the photo voltaic, emitting toxic chemical compounds and greenhouse gases. Or worse, the plastic floats out to sea, endangering wildlife.
Apart from being greater to your nicely being and the setting, one different bonus to using non-plastic storage containers is that they’re oven-safe. Which suggests it’s possible you’ll put them instantly in an oven or convection oven to reheat, which minimizes dishes in the long run. Some are even microwave-safe (though I don’t advocate using one). And while you’re achieved 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 data is that now there are lots 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 form of meals storage need it’s possible you’ll want, from storing leftovers to dry meals to on-the-go meals.
Fridge and Freezer Meals Storage
Storing meals inside the fridge and freezer is crucial 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 to your meals. Instead of plastic baggage and containers, I now use these completely different meals storage containers inside the fridge and freezer.
Don’t overlook, when storing liquids inside the freezer, allow room for them to develop.
Glass
- Glass Mason Jars – These dishwasher-safe glass storage containers are my favorite on account 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 purchased as soon as I made the swap. These are good to retailer leftovers.
- Glasslock Oven Safe Meals Storage– I even have this set and use it regularly to retailer just about all of the issues. They’re good on account of they’re BPA-free.
- Glass Meals Storage Containers with Bamboo Lids – This meals storage container set has bamboo lids instead of plastic. They’re leakproof too!
- Ello Duraglass – These are good glass meals storage containers on account 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 like these collapsible fridge storage containers since they don’t take up rather a lot room inside the cabinets when not in use and are easy to stack inside the fridge. These are good meal prep containers, too.
- Zip Excessive – These food-grade silicone containers are good on account of they arrive in fulfilling 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 must entry normally like decrease veggies or fruit on account of they don’t break! These are moreover good for freezer storage since they’re non-breakable and match fairly rather a lot.
- Stainless Steel Meals Storage Containers – This set is freezer-safe, leakproof, air-tight, BPA-free, and stackable, so it saves room everytime you’re not using them.
Meals Wraps
One different place we use plastic meals storage nevertheless could 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 like these on account of it’s possible you’ll mould them to the type of regardless of bowl or dish it’s worthwhile to use. In case you might have time, it’s possible you’ll even make your particular person do-it-yourself 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 simply these days discovered these silicon suction lids that flip bowls you already have into fridge storage.
- Meals Huggers – These are good while you may need to refrigerate half a lemon, lime, and even an avocado. These create a good seal so the meals doesn’t develop to be dried out or stale.
- Stasher Silicone Baggage – These can be found in all forms of colors and sizes to retailer points instead of Ziploc baggage!
On-The-Go Storage
After we depart the house for journeys we use completely completely different decisions than at dwelling. Glass is troublesome everytime you’re out and about as a result of safety (it’s possible 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 Excessive – It was laborious to alternate plastic baggage for snacks and sandwiches at first, nevertheless now I like these silicone baggage.
- Silicone Collapsible Storage Containers – As soon as I’ve to pack light, I wish to make use of those BPA-free collapsible containers. After we’re achieved 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 might be utilized with room-temperature, chilly, or scorching meals to take care of them up to date. I like this one on account of the lid doesn’t have the within lip that collects meals and can get nasty.
- U Konserve Condiment Storage – I like these for hummus or do-it-yourself sauces that now we have to deal with the go. They’ve good tight-fitting lids fabricated from silicone.
- Lunchbots Bento Area – 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. Your complete dry meals along with grains, nuts, seeds, beans, flour, and so forth., need a non-toxic storage place.
- Mason Jars with Airtight Lids – I like these glass meals storage containers with locking lids for points I buy in bulk.
- Zip Excessive – Their larger meals storage baggage are good for storing dry gadgets on account of they rise up when full.
- Glass Jar with Lid – These can be found in larger sizes for points you may need to retailer a great deal of.
- Stainless Steel Canister Set – These are good on account of they aren’t breakable! I retailer my espresso beans in one amongst these on account of they’ve airtight lids.
- Glass Spice Jars – In the event you occur to buy your dried herbs and spices in bulk, these glass containers are an efficient option to retailer them. I just like the bamboo lids and customizable labels.
It’s possible you’ll be taught additional about strategies to reduce 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?