Most of us store food on a regular basis, whether it's leftovers, packed lunches for school and work, or meals cooked ahead of time for the coming week. If you haven't given much thought to the plastic and glass containers you're using for food storage, here's some information to help you with your choices.
Plastic Food Containers
Plastic containers are one of the most convenient ways to store food. However, not all plastics are food-safe. Some contain toxic chemicals that can leach into your food and create health issues.
In order to tell if a plastic is safe to store food, every container manufactured after 1988 should have a Resin Identification Code (RIC) that identifies the type of plastic with a number from 1 to 7 inside a little triangle.
Advantages of Plastic Containers
Weigh very little and are easy to carry.
Not as expensive.
Stackable.
Not easily broken.
Child-friendly.
Disadvantages of Plastic Containers
Most plastics can't be heated in the microwave, or placed in the dishwasher. None are oven-safe. Higher temperatures result in the release of toxins.
Easily stained and retains odors. Need to be thoroughly cleaned.
Many can't be recycled.
Not all are transparent for viewing the contents.
Don't last as long. Can lose their shape, crack, chip, peel, and melt under high temperatures. For safety reasons damaged plastic containers should be thrown out.
Shouldn't be used to store food long-term.
