10 Food Containers that Don’t Involve Plastic
6 Minute Read.
Who’s hungry?
Oh wait…that’s me!
But seriously, let’s talk about food ‘cus I’ve got some goodies for you.
One of the biggest sources of household waste comes from the kitchen: Ziploc bags, plastic tupperware, and dare I say it . . . CLING WRAP. Not to mention . . . paper towels, paper towels, paper towels. We’ve definitely got some work to do in this department, but guess what? It’s gonna be soooooooo eaassyyyyy! These 10 food containers (and bags) allow you to transport and store food without plastic, save you cash, and completely exorcise the aforementioned b**ches. Except for the paper towels . . . that’s a whole other blog post. From leak proof containers to stainless steel containers to silicone containers, I’ve got you covered with pretty much every food container you could ever possibly need.
Let’s start with how we get our food. When you’re at the grocery, make sure to bring your reusable bags and produce bags. As I mentioned in a previous blog post, “160,000 plastic bags are used globally every second.” Carrying your own bags is an essential step here and can significantly reduce the amount of plastic waste we create.
Now as most of you know, my all-time favorite reusable bag is Baggu, but I recently found another company called flip & tumble, which has a bunch of different options, and they also sell produce bags that are extremely lightweight. So much so that you don’t even need to pay attention to the tare weight because its pretty much non-existent.
**fyi: tare weight is the weight of the package or container your food comes in. When buying food by-the-pound, the cashier should subtract the tare weight, so you are only charged for the food itself (and not the added weight of the container).
flip & tumble reusable grocery bag
flip & tumble reusable produce bags
I also use these produce bags to store food without plastic in my pantry. They’re great for dry goods like nuts and beans, since they don’t need to be stored in air-tight containers.
girlllllll, Keep it Fresh:
I get a lot of questions about how to keep fruits and veggies fresh without using those plastic produce bags you get in the grocery. The reality is: you probably also use those bags to store your produce in the fridge. Although those plastic f***ers do a great job of preventing your produce from withering, there are better ways to keep your food freshtastic without the plastic (did you see what I did there? 😉 ).
I give you the vejibag – a reusable, plastic-free alternative for storing fruits and veggies in the fridge. Its an organic cotton bag that maintains a moist, yet breathable environment, preserving your produce for up to 2 weeks. You simply wet the vejibag with water, wring out the excess, stuff it with your favorite greens, and you’re good to go.
vejibagShow your fruit some love.
A silicone Food Hugger is the perfect soul mate for every half-eaten avocado, onion and tomato. Instead of leaving your cut fruits and veggies to dry out in the fridge, you can slip one of these food huggers on to protect the exposed side. This is also a money-saver since your food stays fresh for longer, making it less likely to end up in the garbage.
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Wrap it up!
If you’re looking for a cling wrap alternative, look no further. Bee’s wraps are made out of organic cotton and bees wax. You can use them to wrap up bread/fruit/veggies, cover bowls of leftovers, and preserve blocks of cheese, among other things. You simply cover the food and use the warmth of your hands to set the wrap into place. This is where the beeswax comes into play.
beeswax wraps**tip: only use these with food that is at room temperature or cooler. Being exposed to heat messes with the tackiness of the wax. I shamefully didn’t read the label when I got my first batch and had to do a little recon to reset the wax. You’ll be much better about reading the instructions than I was though . . . right 😉 ?
see all my kitchen recommendations
It’s Peanut Butter Jelly Time!
Like me, your childhood was probably filled with soggy PB&J’s that were carried around in Ziploc bags. We had a good run, but ultimately, the relationship was just too toxic. Since then, I’ve moved onto stasher, and not just because it has a cool name. It’s honestly the ultimate plastic bag replacement. It’s made of pure platinum silicone, is dishwasher and microwave safe, and has a Pinch-loc seal just like a Ziploc bag so you don’t have to worry about leaks.
**Added bonus: it comes in a few different sizes, so you can also use them to store first-aid essentials, legos, toiletries, etc.
Old Faithful.
Glass tupperware is definitely an oldie but a goodie. In fact, my guess is that it’s probably already in your kitchen. Pyrex is made of high quality glass; is safe to use in the dishwasher, microwave and even the oven; and is surprisingly, made in the USA. The ones I use the most are the 3-cup food containers. They stack really well in the fridge, don’t take up a lot of space, and are the perfect portion for a meal. Glass tupperware is one of the few reusable food containers that can literally last you a lifetime, making one of the most legit sustainable solutions.
Contain Yourself:
Up next is one of my most recent finds: a stainless steel container. After doing a ton of research, I bought it for my recent trip to Trinidad when I was looking for a lighter alternative to glass. It’s TSA approved and is light enough to carry around for 10+ hours, which is pretty damn good if you ask me. The company that makes this stainless steel container also makes a leak proof container with a silicone lid.
Leak Proof Container (stainless steel and silicone)
Ok. These are honestly my all-time favorite.
Silicone lids are the shit, and they’re one of the easiest ways to store food without plastic. They come in a variety pack, ensuring that you have a cover for every dish in your kitchen. You simply stretch the lid over the container and you have an air-tight seal. They are dishwasher safe (that is, if you have a dishwasher) and are just as easy to clean in the sink. I even got my mom hooked on them, and we all know she’s a ninja in the kitchen.
silicone lidThat’s all folks! 10 Mama Eco approved food containers to store you food with zero plastic! What else do you need in life?!?!
See my eco-friendly faves on Amazon
I love the beeswax wraps!
Love these tips, thank you!