#FoodWasteFriday: Zero Waste Food Storage
You managed to cook at home - yay! - and now you probably have some leftovers ready to go into the fridge. Having a variety of food storage options is handy to be sure food stays fresh and doesn’t go to waste. Here are some tips for zero waste food storage for transitioning to a non-toxic and eco-friendly kitchen!
Beeswax Wraps
A popular alternative to disposable kitchen wraps made of plastic, aluminum, or paper are beeswax wraps. Touted as a sustainable option, the wraps are long-lasting, washable and reusable, and even compostable after they wear out.
Essentially a beeswax wrap consists of cotton cloth coated in beeswax, jojoba oil, and tree resin. You can buy them pre-made or DIY your own!
Cotton Produce Bags
Cotton produce bags have a drawstring closure and flat bottom for easy use. As they’re made of cloth, the bags are also reusable and washable. Cotton offers more breathability than plastic. While this can be good in some situations, food can get dried out by the fan in the refrigerator unless stored in a crisper drawer, so be sure to store food properly.
Glass
Long accepted as a material for food storage and cookware, glass containers are nonporous, meaning they won’t absorb food odors or flavors. Containers made from glass won’t leach any chemicals into food or water, and most types of glass are also microwave and dishwasher safe.
Most food-grade, glass storage containers also work in both high heat and cold temperatures due to tempered glass. However, always check with the manufacturer to ensure containers are safe to freeze.
Stainless Steel
Some stainless steel containers are leakproof and airtight with silicone-sealing, snap-on lids. Unless you have x-ray vision, you won’t be able to see what’s inside them, like you can with glass. But unlike glass, stainless steel won’t break. You also won’t have to worry about stainless steel contributing any chemicals to your food or water.
Reusable Silicone Bags
So long single use ziplock bags! These are airtight, resealable, endlessly reusable, plastic free, and food grade silicone storage bag. You can toss them into the dishwasher, microwave, into boiling water, the freezer, and oven safe up to 400F!
It is possible to store food at home sustainably without using plastic, and you can make it as simple or as complicated (or as cheap or expensive) as you like. The most important thing is to make conscious choices. Look at your options, and decide what is practical and within your budget. There’s no need to buy new things straightaway. Take your time and choose well.
Happy eating!
