Wholesome Meals Storage Choices (With out Plastic!)

For a health-conscious household, it’s vital to prioritize wholesome meals storage. Since we work onerous to purchase and put together complete, natural meals as a lot as potential, we will’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 compounds that could 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 onerous to transition to non-toxic and non-scratch cookware and different home items. For meals storage, plastic meals containers and plastic baggage are the conventional fare, and it may be a troublesome swap. It took me just a few 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 vital 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 in all probability the worst factor you possibly can retailer meals in. Dangerous chemical compounds 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 acquire.

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, nevertheless it additionally hurts the setting. 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 compounds and greenhouse gases. Or worse, the plastic floats out to sea, endangering wildlife.

Apart from being higher to your well being and the setting, one other bonus to utilizing non-plastic storage containers is that they’re oven-safe. Meaning you possibly can put them immediately 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 achieved consuming, the leftovers can go straight into the fridge or freezer.

Non-Poisonous Meals Storage Containers

After 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 chrome steel to silicone, the alternatives are quite a few! And so they cowl nearly any kind 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 retaining an actual meals kitchen. Whether or not you’re meal prepping, batch cooking, or making freezer meals, you’ll want protected storage to your meals. As a substitute of plastic baggage and containers, I now use these different meals storage containers within the fridge and freezer.

Don’t neglect, when storing liquids within the freezer, enable room for them to develop.

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 number of the first containers I bought 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 every thing. 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 surface retains the glass from changing into too slippery when it’s frozen.

Silicone

Xtrema Silicone Meals Storage– I 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 nice meal prep containers, too.
Zip High – These food-grade silicone containers are nice as a result of they arrive in enjoyable colours and a wide selection of styles and sizes for storing absolutely anything. And so they’re dishwasher protected!

Stainless Metal

Latching Stainless Metal Containers – These are nice for storing issues that my youngsters must entry typically like minimize 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 quite a bit.
Stainless Metal Meals Storage Containers – This set is freezer-safe, leakproof, air-tight, BPA-free, and stackable, so it saves room whenever you’re not utilizing them.

Meals Wraps

One other place we use plastic meals storage however won’t give it some thought is plastic wrap, wax paper, storage baggage, and aluminum foil. I additionally ditched these once we made the swap.

Beeswax Meals Wraps – I like these as a result of you possibly can mildew them to the form of no matter bowl or dish you need to use. When you’ve got time, you possibly can even make your personal do-it-yourself 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 lately found these silicon suction lids that flip bowls you have already got into fridge storage.
Meals Huggers – These are nice when you want to refrigerate half a lemon, lime, and even an avocado. These create a decent seal so the meals doesn’t turn into dried out or stale.
Stasher Silicone Luggage – These are available in all types of colours and sizes to retailer issues as an alternative of Ziploc baggage!

On-The-Go Storage

Once we go away the home for journeys we use totally different choices than at dwelling. Glass is difficult whenever you’re out and about due to security (you possibly can’t carry 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 once we go away.

Zip High – It was onerous to exchange plastic baggage for snacks and sandwiches at first, however now I like these silicone baggage.
Silicone Collapsible Storage Containers – After I must pack mild, I like to make use of these BPA-free collapsible containers. Once we’re achieved 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 – This can be 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 contemporary. I 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 like these for hummus or do-it-yourself 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. All the dry meals together with grains, nuts, seeds, beans, flour, and so on., want a non-toxic storage place.

Mason Jars with Hermetic Lids – I like these glass meals storage containers with locking lids for issues I purchase in bulk.
Zip High – Their bigger meals storage baggage are nice for storing dry items as a result of they arise when full.
Glass Jar with Lid – These are available in bigger sizes for issues you want to retailer loads of.
Stainless Metal Canister Set – These are nice as a result of they aren’t breakable! I retailer my espresso beans in one in all these as a result of they’ve hermetic lids.
Glass Spice Jars – When you purchase your dried herbs and spices in bulk, these glass containers are a good way to retailer them. I like the bamboo lids and customizable labels.

You possibly can learn extra about learn how to scale back plastic in your house right here.

How do you retailer meals with out plastic? What’s your favourite non-plastic meals storage choice?