How to choose the right food containers
I LIVE for leftovers. Or, more accurately, I live off leftovers.
My weekend routine includes making at least one large dish for easy weeknight meals, and my husband often does, too. Peek into our refrigerator at any time and you’ll probably find an assortment of containers filled with food.
Many of the containers in my overflowing cabinet are of the plastic takeout variety. Others are standard grocery store quality.
Many are missing lids; plenty are cloudy after repeat trips though the dishwasher. Getting new containers is one of those things constantly in the back of my mind, but I’ve never quite made it happen.
Where to start?
Because the number of options can make anyone’s head spin, Kim Kimbriel, a buyer for the Container Store, recommends thinking about what you’re going to be using the containers for.
Lunch on the go? Plastic. Storing food in the freezer for ovenready meals? Glass.
“Generally, glass is the most airtight,” says Sharon Franke, kitchen appliances and technology director for the Good Housekeeping Institute in New York.
Franke says containers with silicone gaskets and lids that snap on all four sides are especially effective at keeping food fresh.
Many manufacturers no longer make plastics with bisphenol-a (BPA), the controversial chemical that has been linked to possible health risks. Kimbriel says container materials also include stainless steel and silicone.
Some silicone containers collapse for easy storage. Another organising solution: sets with nesting containers and lids.
The shape of the container is another factor to consider. Most people gravitate toward rectangular pieces, Kimbriel says, because they’re easier to store.
The depth of the containers is important as well. Shallower containers facilitate quick cooling. Whatever you end up purchasing, follow the manufacturer’s care instructions.
To help you decide what type of containers are best for you, here’s a checklist to consider: Oven-safe? Glass.
Kid-friendly? Plastic.
Lightweight? Plastic.
Freezer to microwave? Both.
Lids with gaskets and clamps? Both.
Keeps food fresh? Both.
Bpa-free? Glass, some plastic. Dishwasher-safe? Glass, and plastic generally on the top rack. Stain-resistant? Glass, some
Odour-resistant? Glass, some plastic. – The Washington Post plastic.