Is it safe to store food in plastic containers?

Whether you’re transporting food for an event or simply taking it to work, using a plastic container as storage may be convenient.

Plastic storage containers for food have several benefits over tin foil and clingfilm, such as being easier to seal food in and keep fresh. Are you really doing more harm than good by using plastic before other acceptable materials?

Is it a good idea to store food in plastic containers?

In reality, a lot of the food we consume is produced utilizing plastic materials, sold in plastic packaging, and any leftovers are stored in a plastic container, making it difficult to entirely avoid using the material.

However, there is a very minor but genuine concern that may result from using plastic to store food if hazardous chemicals are used in the material or manufacturing process. If your meal is contaminated with these substances, it has the potential to do harm to people who eat the tainted food.

It’s critical to know which plastics are safe to use. For example, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polycarbonate (PC) and polystyrene (PS) are all unsafe because harmful chemicals are used in their manufacture.

It’s not certain that these chemicals will contaminate the food you store in a container composed of this material, but it’s best to avoid them.

You can safely store food in plastic containers that aren’t made from any of the above materials as long as they are not.

Junk Mail Boxes and Take-Home Organizers, on the other hand, fall into this category because they’re constructed of polypropylene, which is a kind of plastic that’s been shown to be safe for food storage.

You might always go cautious and store your food in a storage container that has been designed for it. Even if you opt to do this, avoid microwaving your dinner inside the container. Although numerous of these plastics claim to be oven or microwave safe, excessively heating a container may cause the plastic to melt and release volatile compounds into your meal.

The same may be said for storing food in a plastic container after washing it with hot water. You might be creating the identical response, and though this isn’t always true, it’s better to wash plastic containers by hand rather than putting them in the dishwasher.

Some experts would argue that no hot or cooked food should be kept in plastic containers, but it is perfectly safe to do so as long as it has been cooled first.

Which plastic containers are safe for food storage?

In 1988, the Society of Plastics Industry (SPI) created a mechanism to distinguish various types of plastic. This is an indication that the material can be recycled and has a number in the middle.

This not only identifies the differences between each material and what they can and can’t be recycled with, but it also aids in the distinction of which are safe for food storage.

At the same time, some chemicals that are safer for food storage in this classification include:

Polyethylene terephthalate (PET or PETE)

PET, or polyethylene terephthalate, is a type of plastic that is often used for water bottles, soft drinks, and juice. PET is considered safe to reuse as long as it’s properly cleaned with hot water between uses. However, if your bottle or other goods constructed from this sort of plastic become cracked or hazy in appearance they should be recycled.

High-density polyethylene (HDPE)

HDPE is a more rigid type of plastic that has been used for milk jugs, but it’s also been utilized for food containers and other similar objects.

Low-density polyethylene (LDPE)

LDPE is most often used for kitchen items like clingfilm, ketchup bottles, and sandwich bags as a thinner variant of HDPE.

Polypropylene (PP)

PP is frequently used for plastic storage containers, and it’s ideal for food storage since it’s safe, doesn’t leak, and can be recycled.

Bio-plastics

Bio-plastics include plastic cutlery, plates, and cups. They’re formed from starch-rich materials like potatoes, corn, and sugarcane, making them quickly biodegradable.