With all the talk I’ve been hearing lately about how plastics are so bad for us, I made the decision to stop heating up leftovers in my plastic ware. I’ll admit, I’ve done it plenty of times in the past. But, it can’t be good for us, can it? My mom and I were talking about this before Christmas and she had made the decision to get herself a set of glass storage pieces with lids and she got me a set too. I was thrilled!
Red lids to match my kitchen too. Now I’m all set for my storage needs and can put the leftovers directly in these cute little containers, complete with their own lid and warm up in the microwave without the fear of plastic poison. I don’t want to eat plastic!
My storage cabinet went from this jumbled mess….To this. Neat and somewhat tidy. I’ve gotten rid of all the mismatched pieces, but still held onto some of my old Rubbermaid and Tupperware plastic pieces with the tomato sauce stains. I need those for soups and pasta sauce storage. Tell me you have stained plastic too. What is it about tomatoes that does that? Maybe the acid?
Anyway, I won’t be heating up in my plastic anymore, now that I have these cute glass pieces. And my cupboard looks a lot better too.
Have you switched to glass yet?
I’m sure you are all watching the news of the Haiti earthquake disaster, which is just horrendous. Just wanted to take a moment to urge you all to give during this time. I’m going to give to Compassion International, since I support them, but here’s a post from Money Saving Mom about several agencies that you can donate money to. Let’s ALL help!
Cindy S says
I have been wondering about plastic lately, I haven’t had a microwave for the last year and a half, but have one now. I did happen to see those glass containers just yesterday in a sale flyer. Maybe I will go ahead and get them. Thanks for the nudge, Cindy S.
Amanda @ Serenity Now says
We still have the plastic, but not heating it does make sense. I might need to invest in one or two pieces for that purpose, but I don’t have much more storage space left. :s Your *new* cabinet looks great. 😉
Kathy@Creative Home Expressions says
I haven’t, but I think I might just do that, or at least use the glass I have to reheat things up. We save the soup containers from when we get Chinese food for sauce storage. This way if it stains I can just get rid of it. If I soak the plastic right away in dishwashing liquid and hot water it usually gets most of the stain off and then I throw them in the dishwasher.
Christy says
I never heat things up in plastic and I’m trying to transition from plastic to glass. I picked up a neat little container at TJ Maxx called the GlassLock Handy. It is a glass container with a plastic lid with a handle on top. It is perfect for bringing lunch leftovers to work. I don’t have to worry about chemicals leeching into my food and I don’t have to waste a paper plate either.
Laryssa @ Heaven In The Home says
I switched to glass a few years ago. I’m so glad I did. They stack so well in the fridge, you can see what’s in them and they are so much better for your health…no BPA leaching into your food.
Good for you!
Jenny K says
We have been slowly making the switch with vintage lidded glass dishes. I didn’t know anyone but Ikea (well anyone in MY price range) made glass fridge storage containers anymore. We just went to the Ikea and I couldn’t even find theirs the other day. I’ll have to look out for the Anchor set!
April in CT says
When I saw your bowls with the handle on the top shelf it reminded me we had some of those when I was growing up! I had totally forgotten about them and all of a sudden the memory came rushing back, weird how that happens!
I’ve been thinking of going to glass for storage as well. I try to be diligent on letting food cool before putting it in plastic, but it’s not always an option. I never reheat in plastic now though, always transfer it to the plate or a glass bowl first. I use red in my kitchen as well and have looked at that very set several times!
CraftTeaLady says
I switched to glass before it was the ‘popular’ thing to do, because I found I just don’t like plastic, period.
Someone asked about re-heating: you shouldn’t use the plastic lids or plastic wrap, so instead I put a salad plate or saucer on top of my container to keep the splatter down (or a paper towel).
Thanks for the daily inspiration!
WendyBee says
I’m about half and half with glass and plastic. I just like glass better, but plastic is more lightweight and travels to and from the office better. (I heat my food in microwave on a paper plate, with another inverted over the top to contain splatters. I guess that’s not too eco-friendly though, since I throw away the paper plates….) Yes, I have sauce-stained plastic. What to do, what to do?….
Love your red lids — I have lots of red in my kitchen too. Love red for the kitchen! So cheery and rich!
WendyBee
Sheila says
Hi Rhoda,
I’m still using plastic but mainly just for storage. I’m very conscious of the harmful effects plastic has when it’s heated. Right now I transfer the food to a glass bowl before reheating. The same goes for covering your food with plastic wrap when reheating the food so I always cover with a paper towel. I am slowing changing to glass storage though. I read once that if you spray your plastic container with a cooking spray before adding the food that this helps to eliminate the staining. On the rare occasion when I do reheat in plastic I have noticed that spraying it beforehand does help. TFS! Sheila
Rhoda says
It’s not a good idea to put any plastic lids in the microwave either, they can definitely curl & melt in the heat. I have been using waxed paper over my food to keep it from splattering. It works great, even better than a paper towel, since it doesn’t stick to everything.
One of my pet peeves: Nothing worse than a splattered microwave that reminds me of being at an office. I can’t tell you how many offices I’ve worked at with dirty microwaves. No one wants to take responsibility for those messy splatters! Cover that food!
deb says
Good for you! Yep, I made the switch too. Really like the glass alot better. Still have a few plastics tho…what is it about not getting rid of them?? Love your new set!
*hugs*deb
Beth@The Stories of A to Z says
I haven’t switched to glass yet, but I try to transfer everything to a plate before popping it in the microwave. I also started covering the plate with a paper towel instead of plastic wrap. Oh the things we have to worry about in our industrialized world to try and stay healthy :). I’m not ready to give up plastic in a house of boys!
Kathy says
Have not used plastic in years Rhoda…..glad to hear you switched…
Another thing I have not used in years is salt….we use sea salt instead….just thought I’d throw that out !!!
I have given to the American Red Cross… and sent out many, many prayers !!! God Bless them all !!!!
Kathy 🙂
Carmen says
I need to invest in some glass storage ware, that’s for sure. I am so sick of my plastic storage ware falling all over my lazy susan.
Bonnie says
I count myself among all of you who’ve made the switch to glass. Also, if you occasionally buy packaged-in-plastic frozen food- you may want to transfer them to a plate before heating, too.
I have those domed *plastic* microwave splatter thingies. They work great and keep your microwave spotless. They don’t come in contact with the food BUT now I’m thinking….. probably not such a good idea, either! 🙁
Thanks! Great post!
Meredith says
glass is so much better!
re: tomato stains, the newest rubbermaid doesn’t have those stains. we just got married in july so we got a set for the wedding. during the holidays some tomato sauce got shoved to the very back of the fridge, and i’m sure it was back there for a long time but who knows how long! anyway, it wasn’t stained. i put salsa in small containers in my husband’s lunch, never stained. i store mexican food leftovers (that i know we’ll heat on plates) and it has never stained. it’s another marvel of modern science!
love your blog! check me out at newmandesigns.etsy.com
Beckie says
Yes, I have been using more glass for quite a while. I use plastic (Tupperware) only for things that won’t be heated up in them. I was married in 1972, in the Corning ware time, so I have lots of Corning containers. I need to purge my Tupperware & recycled plastic containers. With my physical abilities lessening with arthritis, the back of lower cabinets become black holes for Tupperware! I need slide out shelves, etc!
Joyce says
Glass is so much better but I can’t part with my tupperware that is abut 35 years old and all stained. Once a year I take out a box of Arm and Hammer and clean it all up to get most of the stains off. Infact I just ordered cereal bowls with lids this summer on QVC (yes I have been known to watch that show at 3AM when I can’t sleep). I find the cereal bowls are the best for stacking leftovers in my fridge. My closets always like a plastic nightmare no matter how many times I organize them and the babies like to play in the cabinet so I blame them for the mess:)
Joyce
Diane at InMyOwnStyle says
A few years ago I bought a set of glass storarge containers. My real purpose in buying them, was not for the glass in particular, but they were all square or regtangular shapes, so much easier to store and stack. Round containers leave too unused space around them. Yours are verry pretty and they all match. What a delight when you open your cabinets now. Enjoy your weekend.