WEEK 11: TUPPERWARE

AVOID Tupperware. SWITCH TO glass or stainless steel.

After buying all those fruits, veggies and groceries from bulk containers. Now where do you store all your uncooked and cooked food? Avoid plastic tupperware and store them in stainless steel or glass containers :)

I. PROBLEM

I remember those days when steel containers in my house were slowly being replaced by colorful plastic tupperware. All those marketing srategies to make housewives sell them at kitty parties. The elite tupperware club. Probably brainwashed me a bit because I remember feeling ‘cooler’ at school using my new non-leaky tupperware boxes.

Gosh.. was I stupid.

So why should we switch back to the dark ages of glass and stainless-steel to store food?

1. TOXINS
   Because they avoid a host of toxins, like BPA and phthalates, that can leech into food from conventional plastic containers.
2. PLASTIC
   Because it’s reducing our planet’s plastic burden.
3. HEALTH
   Because it is healthier for you.

2. SOLUTION

Stealing EVERYTHING from https://spoonfulofwonderful.com/zero-waste-alternatives/

Now I don’t reckon you go home tonight and throw out everything that’s plastic in your kitchen. It sort of defeats the purpose of going zero-waste. Use them for storing other stuff or donate/sell them.

All the kitchen items that you can replace are listed below:

1. FOOD STORAGE

There is a lot of debate on the safety usage plastic Tupperware. Personally, I am not against using plastic Tupperware for cold items. To be safe, with time, replace them with glass or stainless steel storage and repurpose the plastic Tupperware to organize small things around the house (like storing paperclips, staples, lightbulbs, etc.)

2. CUTTING BOARDS

Replace those plastic cutting boards with bamboo or wood cutting boards. With regular polishing using either coconut oil or beeswax, your cutting boards can be used for years!

Tip: most plastic cutting boards are made with HDPE #2 Plastic, which is widely recycled. But just check with your local recycling center.

3. POTS AND PANS

Non-stick pans are easy to use, but they need to be replaced yearly due to a risk of leaching aluminum into your foods. Go for stainless steel pans or cast iron pans. They can last a lifetime, and they are a lot tougher than non-stick pans. With good care and maintenance, they will become easier and easier to use.

4. COOKING UTENSILS

Replace nylon and plastic cooking utensils for bamboo and stainless steel utensils. The stainless steel utensils will last you a lifetime. The bamboo utensils will last a long time, and when it is time to replace, you can just compost it.

5. FOOD WRAP

Plastic wrap is one that is very hard to give up because it is so easy and convenient! Switch to beeswax wrap is a simple switch. Or store them in tight boxes!

6. COFFEE

Replace disposable coffee filters with reusable coffee filters. If you own a pod machines
(eg: Keurig, Nespresso) consider investing in a reusable stainless steel capsule. A French press uses no disposable filters and the grounds can be composted.

TIPS
Some tips on plastic food containers

1. Don’t Microwave

Never nuke your food in plastic. If you’re heating up leftovers, transfer them into microwave-safe glass or stoneware — or even a paper plate — to avoid harmful chemicals.

1. Don’t dish wash it

Hot water leaches chemicals from plastic.

Microwave/dishwasher safe implies it’s safe for the plastic. Not for you.

TIPS
Some tips on zero-waste kitchen stuff.

1. Free — Every time I buy pasta sauce/salsa, I get a new glass container :)
2. $ — Buy second hand glass containers.

3. $$ — Purchased few new glass and stainless steel boxes for travel and sold most of my plastic tupperware.

3. FIN

Be safe. Buy safe.