5 Ways to Store Food Without Plastic

Food Storage

Plastic wrap, plastic storage containers and plastic baggies of every shape and size line the shelves in our grocery stores – in some cases, plastic food storage can take up half an aisle! I swear, plastic food containers are a scourge to our society. If I weren’t so tired from my funfull days, I might even be kept up at night knowing that the makers of the most popular brand of plastic wrap and plastic food storage containers were once my clients in my life working in advertising.

Plastics have invaded our lives to the extent that we feel we can’t survive without them – but the risks to our plastic consumption far outweigh the benefit of convenience. Plastics threaten our endocrine systems and hormonal health, the environment, our oceans and marine life.

According to this NPR article, Americans recycle at the lamentable rate of 34.5% and recycle plastic packaging at the even measlier rate of 14%. So the majority of that food packaging is ending up in landfills, or on the street as litter, where it may eventually get swept into the ocean. There, our wrappers and cans and cups become a much bigger problem — microplastics, a direct threat to marine life that may ingest it and die.

As I wrote in my book UnDiet:

Whether we recycle it or not, once a piece of plastic is created, it is with us forever. Every piece of plastic ever created on this planet since plastic started being created still remains in one form or another. According to Worldwatch Institute’s State of the World 2004 report, “an estimated four to five trillion plastic bags—including large trash bags, thick shopping bags, and thin grocery bags—were produced globally in 2002.

Roughly 80 percent of those bags were used in North America and Western Europe. Every year, Americans reportedly throw away 100 billion plastic grocery bags, which can clog drains, crowd landfills, and leave an unsightly blot on the landscape. About a thousand miles west of San Francisco is the Great Pacific Garbage Patch (also called the Pacific Trash Vortex), a heaping floating mass of plastic debris twice the size of Texas.

In addition to the environmental impact, plastics also pose a threat to our health.

All plastics are marked with an identification coding system. This is the number surrounded by arrows usually on the bottom.

BPA-Free Isn’t The Answer

Get to know the number 7 (polycarbonate) really well. These are the plastics that tend to be very hard and clear, almost tricking us into thinking they’re solid, stable and glass-like. These often have BPA in them and include things like food-storage containers, water bottles and plastic tableware. You’ll also find this stuff in the lining of tin cans including canned fruits and vegetables, soda, beans and lentils. The more acidic the food in the can, such as tomatoes, the more leaching that happens.

There was big noise made about five years ago as parents discovered that BPA, a hormone disrupting chemical found in soothers, baby bottles and toys was – well – present in soothers, baby bottles and toys. This was largely removed from these items.

Here’s the issue though: the chemical being used to replace BPA in plastic might actually be worse. A groundbreaking new study has linked the BPA alternative to disruption in brain activity, causing hyperactivity.

The problem, as outlined by the study, is that “A lot of the alternative chemicals have not been adequately tested because they don’t have to be,” said lead author Deborah Kurrasch. “A compound is considered safe (by the Food and Drug Administration) until proven otherwise.” The American Chemistry Council of course is questioning the validity of the study. They also spent millions trying to dispute the BPA legislation, proclaiming it safe, until they lost and then changed their tune on that one too.

Better Than Plastic: how to store food without plastic

We can do better than plastic. Much better.

Fortunately, there are a ton of ways we can store food without plastic. This costs less in the long run, keeps food a little more free of a little more chemicals, keeps less waste in the landfills, rivers, lakes and oceans and of course, is much more beautiful! Here are some of my favourite environmentally-friendly, health-supportive food storage methods.

1. Mason Jars

These reusable storage jars come in a wide variety of sizes and are inexpensive to buy at your local hardware store. If you want to save some cash, you can also thoroughly clean and reuse glass jars from food you’ve purchased.

Mason jars are great way to store food without plastic. They’re great for storing anything and everything – soups, broths, salad dressings, grains and flours, smoothies and juices, herbs and spices, nuts and seeds, herbal tinctures. They’re also a good choice for storing chopped veggies you’ve prepped in advance for the week. If you’re on the go, packing your meals in mason jars is certainly heavier than plastic containers or baggies, but think of it as your weight-bearing exercise for the day.
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2. Glass Food Storage Containers

Wean Green ContainersIf the shape of mason jars doesn’t suit your eating style, take your lunch in glass food storage containers instead. I love the Wean Green containers pictured above. These are typically appropriate for items like salads, sandwiches, burgers, wraps, roasted veggies, cooked grains, and other meals that are easier to grab and eat straight from the container. They’re also a good choice if you’re packing your child’s lunch, as many of these containers have brightly coloured snap-on lids that are easy for kids to remove. They are also made of tempered glass, which renders them shatter proof and also dishwasher safe for easy clean-up. Of course, you can also use glass food containers for storing your leftovers or any other odds and sods!


3. Beeswax Wraps

Abeego Wraps - how to store food without plastic

This is my favourite alternative to plastic wrap. Reusable wraps made of beeswax like these from Abeego are an incredibly versatile tool for storing and transporting food. Similar to plastic wrap, you can use beeswax wraps to cover foods like half-cut onions and avocados (or any other fruit or veg), tent them over bowls for storage, or make pockets with them to carry snacks, sandwiches and baked goods. Beeswax wraps are very mold-able, so you can just warm them with your hands to help them adhere around a bowl or your food.

These are a great option to store food without plastic for people who like to use plastic wrap or aluminum foil to take food on the go. It’s just as easy to wrap your food in beeswax, and you receive the same lightweight benefits. Then all you need to do is wash them and they are ready to use again.


4. Stainless Steel Containers

LunchBots Container - how to store food without plastic

Stainless steel food containers are another lightweight, eco-friendly alternative for storing food. You can purchase them in many different sizes, and there are also leak-proof, insulated and bento box-style options. Stainless steel is practical and durable, especially if you are concerned about glass containers breaking. It can take a lot of wear and tear! Just ensure you buy 100% food grade stainless steel containers, not aluminum.


5. Reusable Snack and Sandwich Bags

If you want the flexibility of plastic baggies without using plastic, opt for reusable snack and sandwich bags. These are another great lunch box option, as they can be used for dry items like baked goods and trail mix as well as fresh fruits and veggies. Choose brands that offer organic, non-toxic fabrics – and it’s an extra bonus if they’re machine washable.

Plastic Toxicity Infographic

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(Featured photo: Copyright: Gudella)

32 Comments

  1. My kids have stainless steel bentonite box type of lunch boxes and I absolutely love them! So easy to fill and clean. We also have reusable snack bags, tons of mason jars & glass containers, and next on my to-buy list are the Abeego wraps. My question to you is, what/how do you store washed lettuce/greens? I can only find plastic water-draining containers. Thanks!

  2. I like to make soup and freeze it in individual containers to take in my lunch. (No, I don’t heat the soup in the containers!) But other than plastic, what would you suggest? Prefer something that is relatively unbreakable, since sometimes they fall out of my upright freezer :-(

  3. very interesting indeed. what about the plastic lids of the glass containers? what can i use instead of tin foil? how can i tell which plastics are ok is there something on the containers themselves like on the plastic spice bottles, etc.
    thank you and if you have any other helpful info would like to hear of them. take care

  4. I use mason jars for so much, and I have a exactly four glass storage containers that I am constantly shuffling food between. I refuse to store anything for my daughter in plastic. Except I realized upon reading this that I only do so with prepared foods. I use cloth bags for shopping BUT I always put my kale/greens and broccoli in the clear plastic vegetable bags. Other things I don’t use those bags for, and get angry when I see people putting stuff like plastic wrapped cucumbers in them! But greens and broccoli get wilty in the fridge without that layer to keep in the moisture. What would you recommend?Actually I imagine you would tell me to wash and prep everything when I get home and store in glass. Sometimes i do wash my greens right away so they are ready to eat (wash and store in my plastic salad spinner grrr). But I’m a single mom with a one year old and I already feel like all I do is cook and feed her and clean up. Anyway, I won’t use the “no time” excuse. I will think about this. I will say that I sometimes use Tupperware for washed greens and veggies I guess because they are cold and fat-free. I make sure never to put warm or fat-containing foods in plastic.

  5. Do you have any suggestions for storing a large amount of portion sized produce in the freezer? I remember my grandmother used to use re-usable round waxed cardboard cartons in the freezer for berries. Do you know if these are still being made?

    We have a large garden and eat from it all year round – partly by canning and freezing. We use glass mason jars to freeze and store soup broth, homemade juice, and other liquids but they just aren’t practical for things like frozen plums, berries, green beans, whole ears of corn, fresh wild salmon steaks etc. We can’t afford to buy the quantity of stainless steel storage containers or multi sized tempered glass containers that we would need (100s) for the amount we freeze, plus I would worry about the glass breaking if stacked.

  6. Excellent post! I particularly liked:
    “We can do better than plastic. Much better.”
    Thanks for including Abeego. I’d love to invite your readers to reach out to us directly if they have any questions about Abeego or natural ways to store food in general. We have 7 years of experience and are happy to help!
    Toni
    Founder of Abeego

  7. Thanks for this important re-minder(!) Rescue & Repair are 2 more important “re-” words. Great article Meghan. Love how these small changes (choosing glass over plastic) make a big difference.

  8. what do you replace garbage bags with for the trash company to pick up as they specify all garbage must be bagged.

  9. It seems most food is sold in plastic. I am trying to source food without plastic packaging, namely seeds, dried fruit and dried beans. Any suggestions?

  10. There are food grade plastics that are perfectly safe. I prefer plastic for they’re lightweight and they’re easier to stack. Every time people find what they think is a solution to a problem they uncover a whole sleuth of other problems.

  11. Hi,

    Looking for a solution to freeze sandwiches without plastic wraps, do you have a suggestion? I don’t seem to find any alternative for freezing sandwiches.

    thanks
    Julie

  12. I am looking to make my own trail mix for a café and currently all competitors sell in small plastic tubs which are idea in weight and throwaway for the purchaser…..however how do we tackle this problem without using any forms of plastic but still market the product on the shelves?

  13. In response to Fay, you can help business a bit if you use glass jars. The customers can return the empty jars for a few dollars off of their next purchase. That way you can help the environment, save money buy not buying more jars than necessary, and possibly increase customer/revenue.

  14. Butcher’s freezer paper works for sandwiches, soeakingvfrom experience. Small paper sandwich bags would work for Granola, and I agree that you could offer incentives to customers who bring their own glass jar. Just need to use a scale I guess. Good on you for trying!

  15. I am curious about silicons. Are they safe? Such as ice cube, spoons, and silicone baking mat.

  16. Sarah, what I’ve found works best for kale and other large greens is to wrap it in a towel or put it in a cloth bag, then put it in a plastic bag and keep the whole thing in the fridge. I find I can generally keep kale looking pretty decent for almost a week.

  17. The sad part about plastics recycling is that most of it gets dumped into the landfill anyways. Since China stopped buying our plastic recyclables a few years ago, the USA recyclers do not make the money they need to recycle the plastics. So they literally dump it back into the landfill. I think only 9% of plastics we throw in the recycling bin actually get recycled.

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