Plastic Reduction Challenge Day 18: Clean Out Your Tupperware Drawer

This article may contain affiliate / compensated links. For full information, please see the disclaimer here.

Tupperware, Gladware, Rubbermaid, and other plastic food storage containers, are not exactly single use, but they will deteriorate over time. Unfortunately these types of plastic are rarely able to be recycled.

Today’s challenge: Spend five or ten minutes going through your food storage container drawer. Now don’t sweat about this. It might seem like a complete disaster, but just a few minutes truly is all you need. If you don’t have a single place for these items, now is a good time to search through your kitchen and gather everything together. Separate out the plastic containers from other materials like glass and steel. You are on the hunt for any plastic containers that don’t have a matching lid or are in rough shape. Toss these now and don’t feel guilty about it. Any plastic that is warped is not safe to come in contact with food and the reality is these containers will probably just sit around cluttering up your kitchen. Anything left that is in good condition should be stacked neatly back in the drawer. These plastic containers can be used several times, but realize that they will eventually need to be discarded. I would also caution you about reheating food in plastic since the chemicals can leach into food. Your long term goal is to have a collection of food storage containers that are both functional and sustainable. Make a commitment not to buy the plastic ones again.

After you have cleaned out your drawer and assessed what you already have, it is time to look at alternatives to these plastic food storage containers that you can put on your wish list. There are lots of reusable options out there that are worth exploring. Here are a few:

“Free” option: Remember your day #5 challenge to save containers that you would typically throw away or recycle? I’m talking about the empty glass pasta and pickle jars, yogurt containers, etc. You can use those to store and transport food too. Remember, though, that you should not warm any food in a plastic container since the chemicals can leach into food. Dump it out on a plate first and then reheat. I would also keep the plastic out of the dishwasher so that it doesn’t warp. Although you will temporarily rescue a plastic container from its ultimate destination, unfortunately this is not a long term solution. I challenge you to play the long game today.
Snapware: My favorite. These are glass containers with plastic lids that snap on. There are many variations of this, some without plastic lids. These containers hit all my checkboxes because they are both microwavable (plastic lid should be removed first), and dishwasher safe. They can move straight from the fridge to my lunchbox, then to the microwave, back into my lunchbox, and directly into the dishwasher when I get home (lids are dishwasher safe, top rack). Super easy. Another advantage is that you can see what you put in the container so it is not forgotten once it is in the fridge. The glass is strong. We use them for school lunches and not a single one has been broken in over 5 years. My advice is to look for a brand with pieces that nest into each other for easier storage.
Mason jars: Similar to Snapware, they are glass and can be microwaved (remove metal top first) and placed in the dishwasher. Good for holding salads and soups, but I don’t usually use these because the size and shape are not ideal for all my food leftovers. Inexpensive.
Stainless Steel Tiffins: Tiffins and other Bento boxes lock together and have steel tops. Others have silicone or plastic lids. Steel cannot be placed in the microwave but is dishwasher safe. These are often lighter than glass containers and good for raw snacks or things to be eaten cold. The downside is that they are quite pricey. I haven’t tried these yet for that reason. Maybe someday…
Thermos: Insulated stainless steel for transporting hot soups and foods, but cannot be microwaved. Dishwasher safe. Good for school lunches.

Try out one or two of these and you will probably wonder why you ever used the plastic in the first place! Any other options out there that you currently use for food storage?