Sustainable Food Storage for Your Fridge

If your resolution this year is to be more environmentally friendly, a good place to start is with your refrigerator. Plastic products, from single-use bags to plastic wrap, often end up in landfills. And while containers may be longer lasting, they can also contain chemicals that are hazardous to your health, even when they are BPA-free. Here are some greener alternatives to consider instead.

Beeswax wraps

For those who adore cute fabrics, these reusable coverings are the bee’s knees. Pliable and breathable, they’re excellent for storing cold or room-temperature breads, cheeses, fruits, and veggies—but not raw meat or fish, since you can’t sterilize the wraps with hot water without melting their beeswax coatings. Avoid using them with hot items for this same reason. If you hand-wash your wraps in cold water and hang them to dry, they should last about a year, at which point you can compost them.

Cloth

Instead of storing your produce in plastic bags from the grocery store, consider wrapping it in biodegradable fabric like a cotton or muslin produce bag or a tea towel. Since these can be easily washed, you’ll be able to reuse them potentially for years, eliminating a high amount of plastic waste. For leafy greens, asparagus, and herbs, be sure to dampen the fabric first to help keep them fresher.

Glass containers

Although somewhat fragile, glass is one of the best eco-friendly choices since it’s 100 percent natural and recyclable. It’s also nonporous, so it won’t absorb germs or food smells. Glass containers can serve multiple functions since they are fridge and dishwasher friendly and can often be safely used in the microwave, oven, and freezer. Popular options include Pyrex sets and Mason jars, or you could repurpose your empty pasta sauce, pickle, or other food jars for storage. Some glass container sets are sold with matching plastic lids, but you can also get ones with earth-friendly bamboo covers.

Paper

If you commonly use plastic wrap or bags to preserve your food in your fridge, you could switch to a various assortment of biodegradable paper. For instance, wrap a loaf of banana bread in parchment or wax paper, place lettuce in a damp paper towel, or store strawberries in a closed brown paper bag. A plus is that paper can help absorb extra moisture.

Silicone storage

Since they can be cleaned and reused multiple times, silicone bags are a more sustainable option than single-use plastic ones. They’re also convenient for packing on-the-go foods like sandwiches and snacks, and most can be used in a refrigerator, microwave, oven, and freezer and washed in a dishwasher. However, stick with brands like Stasher, which uses natural, food-grade silicone; otherwise, your containers could contain unhealthy impurities.

Stainless-steel containers

These items, which are durable and nonporous, don’t absorb food odors or bacteria and won’t leach chemicals like cast iron or copper would. Paired with airtight lids, they can also reduce the chance of your food going bad too quickly. They’re great for storing leftovers because they can go straight from the fridge into the oven (though they can’t be used in the microwave). Look for options that contain between 8 and 10 percent nickel, which will help reduce the possibility your containers will rust within a few months.

Using less plastic in the kitchen can be a rewarding first step toward making your entire home more eco-friendly. Just make sure to recycle your plastic storage containers when you swap them out for any of these more natural options—you can do so through TerraCycle or perhaps even through your local municipality. The environment will thank you.