Reasons You Should Choose Glass Alternatives Over Plastic

Since their introduction for commercial food packaging in the 1980s, plastic containers have become ubiquitous in homes, too. However, glass alternatives are making a comeback. Glass itself has been around for centuries, and it was widely used for beverages and foods until its popularity started to decline in the 1970s. While not always portable for work or school lunches, glass is a better alternative overall for home food storage. It's better for your health and the environment, and glass is also easier to clean and can handle heat and cold.

Specifically, plastic containers can be harmful to your health due to chemicals such as bisphenol A (BPA) and phthalates. What's more, heating up plastic containers in the microwave or placing takeout containers in the dishwasher can cause some of these chemicals to leach out and get into your food. Collectively, the more you use plastic food containers, the more exposure you may have to microplastic ingestion. On top of this, the widespread use of plastic containers is having a negative environmental impact, with only an estimated 9% of plastics getting recycled, per The Guardian. Plastics that make it into landfills or waterways ultimately create more microplastics in the environment that impact all species, including humans. Such risks certainly are among the reasons you might stop using plastic bags and containers.

Not only are glass containers better than plastic versions from a health and environmental perspective, but they're also more versatile and easier to clean. You may have a habit of microwaving plastic containers or even freezing them, but it's a myth that you cannot do the same with glass. The key is to make sure your containers are strong enough for either task. Any glass container labeled as "microwave safe" can be used for such purposes, but the general rule of thumb is to not exceed microwaving for three minutes at a time. 

You can also freeze leftovers in glass containers, so long as you don't fill them all the way to capacity, and that they're allowed to cool before popping them in the freezer. The same rule applies to placing glass jars in the freezer. Thawing containers in the refrigerator before heating can also reduce the risk of the glass cracking. As long as you keep these tips in mind, you can safely store food in glass containers without the harmful effects of plastic.

If you've had to throw out plastic containers due to food stains, you know the struggle to keep these types of items clean can be challenging. This is especially a problem with acidic food items and lycopene-containing foods, such as tomato sauces. As such, cleanliness is another situation in which glass containers reign over plastic versions. Store-bought plastic containers can be cleaned in the dishwasher, but they can still lose their integrity over time and possibly break down into foods you store them in. What's more, plastic can sometimes melt in the dishwasher due to high water temperatures. 

Glass containers, on the other hand, have longer lifespans and can withstand cleanings for years to come. They're also not porous, so they will not stain and are less likely to carry stuck-on food. Whether you use a dishwasher or wash your containers by hand, you'll likely notice that glass tends to come out clean more often than plastic.