Choosing the right container for your food will save your food. You don’t want to find an exploded container in your freezer because the glass jar was overfilled or dried out food in your refrigerator because the lid was not airtight. Below is a description of the different kinds of food storage container materials.
They are all quite different, each material having different advantages and disadvantages. Keep calm and choose carefully! They are all reusable, but not all are ecofriendly. A word of caution: there are some food storage container materials that should be avoided. You can read about these in my post Food Storage Containers to Avoid.
Once you choose the best container, food must be stored covered. You can put it in the refrigerator uncovered to cool, but be sure and cover it once the temperature drops to about room temperature. Don’t leave it uncovered overnight. Your food could dry out or worse yet, make everything in your refrigerator smell like onions (or spaghetti, etc.)
Types of Food Storage Container Materials
Each type of food storage material has its best use. There are always pros and cons. I hope this guide is helpful as you navigate the best way to “save the food”!
Glass
I love glass! I confess, and I like all types of glass for all different purposes, and it’s not expensive. I’ve never been a big fan of plastic or other “advanced” food storage container materials. Glass is inert-what does this mean? It means it does not react with any substance-like liquids, acids, fats, colors, etc. It doesn’t pick up odors, colors, retains its texture and shape, and contains no chemical disruptors for human biochemistry!
Some glass storage items are heatproof, microwave safe and freezer safe, and you can put them in the dishwasher. With the right lids, they are airtight and leakproof. Mason jars are great for storage and are not expensive, and “Ball Mason Jars” are made in the USA.
You can find them at thrift shops, discount stores and even wholesale clubs like Costco and Sam’s Club; and you can easily buy replacement lids. Just don’t fill them to the top if you’re freezing them. Glass has a very long life (have you seen it in history museums?), and glass from food and beverage materials is 100% recyclable. Glass is really great for food storage!
Plastic
The best thing I can say about plastic as one of the common food storage container materials is that it’s lightweight and it’s inexpensive. It has great uses, but most are not for food! Plastic is good for some things, like picnics, tailgates, and storage of dry pantry items.
Acrylic food storage containers are excellent for dry items like pasta, nuts, cereals, rice, beans, etc. Some plastic containers are leakproof but not many are. It absorbs flavors, colors, most leak chemicals into wet foods that can be harmful, and it can lose its shape in the dishwasher.
BPA
Unfortunately, BPA free only means that the container has no BPA. However, it may be made of other plastics whose safety has not been established. Check the labels to be sure your plastic container is freezer safe-most plastics are not and will either become brittle during freezing or leach dangerous chemicals. This is another reason that plastic is not the best of the food storage container materials.
Do NOT put hot food into a plastic container (or a Ziploc bag). Do NOT microwave in the container, or in any other plastics, like plastic bags…even if it’s a “steamable” bag. Unhealthy chemicals leach out of plastic when it’s heated. I am not a fan of plastic for food storage. It is reusable, and that’s something, but it does require oil to produce and that not so good.
Stainless Steel
The best use for storage in stainless steel is water bottles. Yes, there are other storage container made of stainless steel, such as cute Bento Box sets or lunch kits. They look very cool, but they’re expensive and can be heavy. They do resist stains and odors. You can freeze them and put them in the oven. Read the labels for use on the stove. Some people love them-they are lighter than glass and do not break. However, do NOT microwave them! You will start a fire! They so last a long, long time, probably “forever.”Stainless steel is a good food storage container material for some things, but not many.
Silicone
This material, while not 100% natural like wood, is made mostly of sand. These safe, non-plastic, flexible food holders are great for food storage, and come in a variety of colors and many may also be oven safe. Silicone containers come in various sizes and shapes and last a long time. They have a lot of advantages. They are :1) very lightweight, compact, and easy to transport, making them great for picnics, car trips and tailgate parties 2)non-toxic and odorless 3) no BPA, latex or phthalates 4) last a long time and can also be recycled!
Ethylene Bags
The Iowa State Extension Service has great information about “green bags.” The “green bags” are designed for fruits and vegetables that ripen by the production of the plant hormone, ethylene. Ethylene gas is produced in copious quantities by certain fruits, most notably bananas. As the concentration of ethylene gas increases in an enclosed environment, the fruit ripens faster. Removal of ethylene helps keep fruits from over-ripening quickly. The green bags are made of a polymer that allows the escape of the gas while keeping others, and some of them actually use additives to the film to absorb other gases that promote ripening or deterioration.
The green bags do work for certain types of produce. But there are some caveats-the shelf life is extended as long as the produce is very dry (mold growth appears to be a problem in damp produce). Also, the bags have a shelf life and can only be reused 10 times. They are not intended to be used in the freezer. If you plan to eat a product quickly, say strawberries, it might not make economic sense to use the green bag. I’ll get into more specifics in the section on storing produce.
Beeswax Covers
Most consumers agree that beeswax covers for food storage of any brand perform about the same. They are all made basically the same way: cloth covered in beeswax. The slightly sticky beeswax will adhere to the surface of bowls or even to itself when wrapped around a piece of fruit or vegetable. The heat of your hands helps them adhere to edges of bowls.
Some brands do this better than others. However, they all work (some are better at some wrapping than others). With beeswax covers, you can significantly decrease your plastic wrap usage. But they do not work for all foods (like meat or fish) and they are pricey. They are easily washed, last about a year or maybe longer, and can be recycled when they’ve outlived their usefulness.
Mesh Bags
These bags come in cotton or plastic and can be a big help at the farmer’s market or produce section of the grocery store and reduce the use of plastic. They can also help you sort your produce easier if you use bags of different colors. Try hanging onions, potatoes, or garlic in bags in a cool, dark place.
Cloth Food Sacks
Great for nuts and other dry snacks, you can make your own if you have basic sewing skills (they are available for sale in many stores in case sewing isn’t your thing). You can also take them to the grocery store for your produce and avoid using plastic bags..less waste! Bigger ones can also be used to store potatoes and onions.
Guide for Choosing the Right Food Storage Container Material
Oven-safe? Glass, Stainless Steel
Kid-friendly? Plastic, Stainless Steel, Silicone
Lightweight? Plastic, Silicone
Freezer to microwave? Glass, Stainless Steel, Silicone
Lids with gaskets and clamps? Glass, plastic, and stainless steel
Keeps food fresh (airtight/leakproof)? Plastic (some better than others), Glass, Silicone, Stainless Steel, Beeswax wraps
BPA-free? Glass, Stainless Steel, some plastic
NO harmful chemicals? Glass, stainless steel, silicone
Dishwasher-safe? Glass, Stainless Steel, and plastic generally on the top rack
Stain-resistant? Glass, Stainless Steel, silicone, some plastic
Do’s and Don’ts for Food Storage Container Materials
DO store food covered
DO use glass for refrigerator/freezer storage.
DO be careful of glass in the freezer. It is very brittle and can break easily.
Do NOT use plastic for freezing fatty or acidic foods.
Do NOT use ceramics from China or Mexico for food.
NEVER microwave in plastic.
DO use plastic for dry food storage or transporting cold food.
Do NOT put hot food in plastic.
Do NOT reuse single use plastic like deli containers.
Guide for Choosing the Right Food Storage Container Materials
Oven-safe? Glass, Stainless Steel
Kid-friendly? Plastic, Stainless Steel, Silicone
Lightweight? Plastic, Silicone
Freezer to microwave? Glass, Stainless Steel, Silicone
Lids with gaskets and clamps? Glass, plastic, and stainless steel
Keeps food fresh (airtight/leakproof)? Plastic (some better than others), Glass, Silicone, Stainless Steel, Beeswax wraps
BPA-free? Glass, Stainless Steel, some plastic
NO harmful chemicals? Glass, stainless steel, silicone
Dishwasher-safe? Glass, Stainless Steel, and plastic generally on the top rack
Stain-resistant? Glass, Stainless Steel, silicone, some plastic
Do’s and Don’ts
DO store food covered
Glass is best for refrigerator/freezer storage.
DO be careful of glass in the freezer. It is very brittle and can break easily.
Do NOT use plastic for freezing fatty or acidic foods.
Do NOT use ceramics from China or Mexico for food.
NEVER microwave in plastic.
Use plastic for dry storage or transporting cold food.
Do NOT put hot food in plastic.
Do NOT reuse single use plastic like deli containers.
Special Events: Picnics, Tailgates and Covered Dish Buffets
First, I have to say that in the era of COVID-19, I don’t recommend sharing utensils. I do recommend social distancing! Hand sanitizer should be number one on your list; and you should consider having some people wearing gloves (and masks) be designated as servers. There will be times you need to transport food. Plastic is good for cold or dry items. If you put hot foods in plastic, BPA may leak into the food. This is a problem with hot take out foods that may come in plastic or Styrofoam dishes. Please, avoid these when you can.
Retail Therapy
You have a lot of choices in food storage containers, and just when you think you’ve seen them all, you go through Marshall’s and there’s one so unique, you have no idea what it’s for! Try not to be taken in with the emotion of retail therapy or you’ll end up with a lot of interesting things for a garage sale!