5 Ways to Store Food without Plastic

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If you’re trying to limit the amount of plastic in your life, one of the most important but most difficult places to start is in your kitchen! In this post I’ll share some of my favorite, most practical ways to store food without plastic.

Three huge pluses of switching from plastic food containers to sustainable alternatives is 1. they are better for the environment and our health, 2. they look prettier, and 3. they are more durable.

I don’t know about you, but my heart sings a little bit when I see a fridge like this one, all organized with glass and pretty bowls instead of the warped, flimsy, mismatched and discolored plastics that used to greet me every time I opened my fridge and cupboards.

Aside from these benefits, keeping your food away from plastic is better for your health. Studies show that toxic chemicals in plastics can leach from the plastics and get into your foods, then into your bodies. Those chemicals have been tied to all kinds of yucky things, including hormone imbalances and reproductive harm (which is my personal main health motivator for moving away from plastics).

Here are 5 favorite ways to store food without plastic, whether for your pantry, fridge, or freezer, for all types of foods. I’ll include a recommendation or two of some of my favorite products as well.

Just a heads up: This post contains Amazon affiliate links. That means if you click a link and make a purchase, I may receive a small commission at no cost to you. As always, all opinions are entirely my own. Thanks for supporting me!

Gramercy Kitchen Co. Glass Storage Containers with Bamboo Lids

1. Glass Storage Containers

Probably the most straightforward solution for storing food without plastic, you can totally buy food storage containers that are made of glass instead of plastic. Most of them have plastic lids, but you can find some, like the Gramercy Kitchen Co. option above, that opt for plastic alternatives like bamboo.

I personally have a big set of Pyrex containers of various sizes and shapes. I’ve had them for about a year so far and they are holding up really well! The plastic lids are BPA-free, something you definitely want to ensure if you’re buying glass containers with plastic lids.

If you have containers with plastic lids, just make sure you don’t put the lids in the microwave, because that can cause the chemicals in the plastic to leach more quickly.

Sandstone & Sage Organic Cotton Reusable Produce Bags

2. Reusable Bags

Washable reusable bags are another great option for storing food without plastic, especially for produce. I love the Sandstone & Sage bags above because they’re made with organic cotton, they’re biodegradable, and machine washable.

I also like the size of the holes in the bag – big enough to see through, but small enough to keep a lot of the debris that can come off produce (like skins on onions) inside the bag and not falling through to the bottom of your fridge drawer.

Because mesh produce bags like these are breathable, you can take them to the grocery store with you and then put them directly in your fridge.

Ball Wide Mouth Mason Jars

3. Mason Jars

Mason jars have been a longstanding option for storing food without plastic. The particular brand above, Ball, has been around since the early 1900s!

These are of course great for canning and fermenting foods, but they also can be used for storing dry goods and look lovely in a pantry or in open shelving. If you like to make your own juices or smoothies and take them with you to go or store them in the fridge for later, these are a great option for that too!

Think about getting some with a leak-proof seal (like the ones I’ve shared above). These can also be used for freezing foods – just don’t fill them to the brim.

Cotton Bowl Covers by MiniRoadEco on Etsy

4. Bowl Covers

These reusable cotton bowl covers provide a great sustainable alternative to plastic wrap and aluminum foil as another option for storing food without plastic. They look really pretty but be really practical as well. The elastic on these bowl covers stretches enough that they can be used on a variety of bowl sizes.

I haven’t found any cotton bowl covers on Amazon that I like, but there are a lot of really cute options on Etsy, like the one I’ve linked above! If you have a favorite, I’d love to hear what yours is in the comments on this post. Many options are machine washable, as well.

These are really handy for when you are using serving bowls or mixing bowls and want to prep the item but keep it in the fridge until the contents are ready to be served or go on to the next step of cooking or baking. They’re also just handy for lazy moments when you want to put a bowl of food directly in the fridge without transferring the contents to another container.

ENEY Organic Beeswax Food Wrap

5. Food Wraps

Beeswax food wraps are another great plastic-free alternative to plastic wrap that can be used for covering containers, or wrapping up food to go, like in a packed lunch. There are lots of options for these now, but I especially like the ENEY ones I’ve linked above, because along with the wraps they actually include a wax replenisher that you can use to revitalize the wraps as the wax wears off, or create your own wraps.

Also, ENEY’s food wraps are made with organic cotton and beeswax, jojoba oil and tree resin, which have been sourced responsibility. They also offer a 30 day satisfaction guarantee, so if you want to try these but you’re a little nervous, you can always get a refund if you don’t like them.

What are your favorite ways to store food without plastic? I want to check out your favorite products so be sure to comment!

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If you’re looking for more ways to cultivate a more sustainable lifestyle, check out these posts:

• 18 Ways to Reduce Single-Use Plastic Waste
• 25 Ethical Clothing Brands for Women
• 16 Ethical Clothing Brands for Men

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