It is simple to make your food usage and storage more sustainable. Knowing how to properly store food is critical for reducing food waste. Furthermore, using nontoxic and long-lasting storage containers is healthier for the environment and your family’s health. According to a 2019 research, 92% of plastic is never recycled, ending up in landfills and the seas. What are the consequences of sing-use plastics on our health and the environment? How can we preserve food in an environmentally responsible manner? Not sure where to begin? Here are 5 ways you can ditch single-use plastics in your food storage.
Buying & Cooking
Shopping wisely is the first step toward wasting less food. Make a meal plan or a list of the things you or your family generally eat in a week, and then go out and buy them. Chop up a week’s worth of vegetable items ahead of time so they’re ready to go when needed--this will reduce the likelihood of them spoiling in the fridge. Learn to alter recipes or create your own based on what you have on hand. Utilize leftovers and vegetables by making your own soups, salads, or casseroles from scratch. Who knows, you could wind yourself creating the next family favorite recipe.
Reusable Food Wraps
Put down the plastic cling wrap, these reusable food wraps will save your money. It’s amazing how just warming your hands makes these reusable wraps so simple to use.
Beeswax Wraps have inherent self-adhering characteristics and will cover your leftovers with a great seal once warmed with your body heat. They also come in a variety of sizes. You have alternatives for covering a salad bowl or a half-eaten baguette. Each reusable wrap is made from 100% cotton with organic beeswax.
Glass Containers
For food preservation, glass containers reign supreme. They are freezer, microwave, oven and dishwasher safe, and the nonporous surface does not absorb smells. While glass containers are more expensive than plastic containers, the investment is well worth it--plastic containers that smell like last week’s spaghetti sauce can make anyone lose their appetite. Glass will also endure far longer than plastic and is 100% recycle when the time comes.
Silicone Covers
Silicone covers are another plastic wrap substitute for when you need a tighter closure around a container than reusable food wraps can provide. To keep things fresh, wrap these elastic sheets of good-grade silicone over plates, jars, pots, and even sliced fruit like melons. Buy a set with a range of sizes for maximum usage in your kitchen.
Veggie Bags
While they are nice to have on hand at the grocery store most of the time, they are also fantastic for keeping fruits and veggies fresh. Ecoday makes high-quality
produce bags that are machine washable and available in packs of five. If you don’t already have produce bags, I highly recommend trying them out. You can always make your own out of leftover fabric, but the mesh material is more breathable and ideal for all of your fruits and vegetables.
