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Food Storage Ideas Without Using Toxic Plastic
Photo credit: bigstock.com
Many people would love to ditch the plastic habit, bur really have no idea where to start. Especially when it comes to food storage. How are you supposed to store the food in your fridge without zip lock plastic bags, Tupperware, or other types of plastic containers?
You really don’t want to keep using that plastic stuff. You probably already know the dangers of BPA, but did you know that the alternative, BPS, is just as bad, or even worse in some instances? It can cause everything from brain damage to heart problems. It’s better to just break the plastic habit and find some alternatives. Yes, this might mean spending a few bucks, but what an excellent investment in your future health!
There are plenty of alternatives to choose from. Keep reading and find out what you can use to break the plastic food storage habit.
1. Instead of Plastic Wrap
Whatever you call it– plastic wrap, plastic cling, or cling wrap– you know what we are taking about: the thin plastic sheet you put over a container, such as a bowl, when you want to store it in the refrigerator and not let it dry out. There are two cheap and easy solutions for this problem: first, you can use plain old fashioned wax paper to cover the bowl, or you can put a plate or saucer on top of the bowl. You can use the saucer with or without the wax paper, or you can use only wax paper with a rubber band around it to keep it in place. Either way, plastic wrap is on the way out!
2. Le Parfait
These are a great way to keep your food fresh in a pretty little glass container. You can use these in your refrigerator or in the panty.
3. Anchor or Pyrex
These are both old time favorites because you can use these to mix your ingredients, put it in the oven, serve it, then put it in the fridge and never have to transfer it to another container! Although most Pyrex and Anchor glass products use plastic lids, they are BPA free and as long as you don’t heat them with the lid on, there are no worries about chemicals leeching into your food.
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Photo credit: bigstock.com
4. LunchBots
If your old lunchbox is made of vinyl, then swap it out for a cool stainless steel lunch box that will remind you of your school days. These are really awesome as they come in a variety of divided or single containers. The divided containers are perfect for salads or sandwiches. You’ll need another container for soup, however, since these are not watertight.
5. Plastic Bag Alternative
For storing produce or dry goods, such as cereal, try Origami Cloth Sacks. These work just as well as those zip lock bags. There are also plenty of cloth alternatives for sale online. Just be sure to avoid any bag that lists itself as “modern oil cloth,” as those are actually made of vinyl.
SEE ALSO: How Many Toxins Can You Buy for One Dollar?
6. Any Kind of Glass Jar
Instead of putting your glass jars, such as spaghetti, mayonnaise, or peanut butter jars in the recycling bin, start keeping them to use later! These can be washed and reused for just about everything from storing frozen foods to juice, to rice, beans, grains, and nuts. Yes, you can use glass jars in the freezer- just fill them only two thirds of the way full so the contents have room to expand.
7. Stainless Steel
Aluminum has been linked to Alzheimer’s disease, so use stainless steel instead. There are several brands of airtight, stainless steel containers for sale if you look online. These can’t go in the microwave, but since they are airtight, they really can’t be beat!
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Photo credit: bigstock.com
8. Food Grade Silicon
If you don’t trust your young child with a glass container for lunch, try some of the food grade silicon lunchboxes that are currently available, such as Smashbox. Food grade silicon is dishwasher safe, microwave safe, and good for the freezer as well. There are several different types to choose from, some of the best of them have two or three different compartments for a sandwich, snacks, and some fruit slices.
9. Breathable Wraps
Some foods should never go in the freezer (such as lettuce) and other foods don’t need to be refrigerated (such as honey), but there are some foods that need to breathe and shouldn’t be suffocated in plastic anyway. There are numerous beeswax wraps, such as Abeego, that are perfect for cut melons or cheese. Many of these can even be used in the freezer. One of the great things about many of these beeswax wraps is that they won’t absorb colors or odors like plastic does.
YOU MIGHT ALSO BE INTERESTED IN:30 Creative Ways to Use Less Plastic and Go Green!
10. Water Bottles
The safest alternative to those awful plastic water bottles is a reusable, refillable food grade stainless steel water bottle. If you shop around, you can find some that are insulated and super leak-proof. One company, Klean Kanteen, also makes stainless steel food canisters that are super for storing either cold or hot food.
Although it can be next to impossible to remove all plastic from your life, you can take baby steps towards at least limiting the amount of dangerously toxic plastic you bring into your home. Changing your food storage habits is a great way to start.
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