Disposable Closable Food Containers

[Trekker4747]

You know like "Gladware"?

They advertise the stuff as being great because it's cheap and "disposable" so it doesn't matter if the person you lend them to to transport leftovers doesn't return them, or if you leave them behind at the office, etc.

But the stuff works so damn well, it's alot cheaper and easier to get ahold of than regular rubbermaid containers or even -God forbid- Tupperware, that people seem to protect it almost as much as they do the "real thing."

My mom sent me home with leftovers a couple weeks ago, I visit them yesterday, "[Trekker] you need to bring me back my containers."

" What containers? I don't have any of your containers."
"Yes you do, I gave them to you a couple weeks ago with [that dish]."
" The Gladware?!"
"Yeah I need them back!"

Confused me, the stuff is cheap. Just go get some more! I used it how you're "supposed to."

Anyway, she'll get them back, but I was wondering. Anyone else like this? Protective of their "Gladware?"

 

[pookha]

well no not protective..
but i do wash and reuse them.
but i also dont worry if i leave them some place which yeah was their intent.

 

[Trekker4747]

well no not protective..
but i do wash and reuse them.
but i also dont worry if i leave them some place which yeah was their intent.

Oh, yeah, I reuse mine too -mostly ones I got from buying foods that come packaged in them- but I wouldn't be upset if I left one behind somewhere, one was damaged, or a used one wasn't returned to me.

 

[LaxScrutiny]

At my grocery the things are something like 5 for 2 bucks.

Compared to sandwich bags they are very expensive. If I was using them and throwing them away, between me and the kids I'd be losing money. Your mom has the right idea. Keep using them until they wear out. If you happen to lose them, that's one thing, but don't lose them on purpose to some ungrateful spawn.

 

[Cutter John]

Don't carry food with me that often, but I love these things for holding and microwaving leftovers. And yeah, I wash and reuse them too.

 

[John Picard]

Don't carry food with me that often, but I love these things for holding and microwaving leftovers. And yeah, I wash and reuse them too.

A friend of mine's wife would give you quite a talking to about why food in plastic containers should not be microwaved. She works for some kind of cancer organization, so that should tell you something.

 

[Trekker4747]

I microwave food in plastic conatiners quite often. Never heard that it was "bad." And can't think of a reason for why it would be.

Anyway, FWIW, I also wash and reuse reclosable "ziplock" bags.

THIS ARTICLE suggests that microwaving foods in plastic containers isn't wholy dangerous. (But unless that container is labeled otherwise, not entirely "safe" either.)

 

[Spot's Meow]

Hmm, I didn't even know they were "disposable." I've always just treated them the same as my more durable containers.

 

[bigdaddy]

I buy ice cream from a little place a town over, I have at least a dozen of their containers and they are better than anything you can buy.

Plastic and microwaves are terrible when mixed, causes cancer......



..... like everything else on Earth.

 

[Hoser]

Plastic and microwaves are terrible when mixed, causes cancer......



..... like everything else on Earth.

It depends on the plastic, but no, generally not. Most plastics that are used with food are tested for chemical migration by the FDA in microwaves and at heats that it will likely reach. So if it says it's microwave safe, it's been tested.

 

[JAG]

I reuse them all the time. I also wash out the Chines food containers to reuse as well. The big WonTon soup container is perfect for tomato sauce, when my wife makes a big batch.

That said, if I gave you one to take leftovers home, I would not expect it back.

 

[TheSeeker]

I reuse mine as much as possible. I can't get them here in Romania!

 

[Misfit Toy]

Plastic and microwaves are terrible when mixed, causes cancer......



..... like everything else on Earth.

It depends on the plastic, but no, generally not. Most plastics that are used with food are tested for chemical migration by the FDA in microwaves and at heats that it will likely reach. So if it says it's microwave safe, it's been tested.

I dispute your claim. Microwave a mouse in a plastic container, it dies. So there.

 

[Holdfast]

I reuse them all the time. I also wash out the Chines food containers to reuse as well.

I was scrolling down the thread to post this. I reuse Indian or Chinese containers (not the foil kind obviously, but the plastic lidded ones some places use). Yeah I'm very cheap. Take care of the pennies, and the pounds will pay for more suits.

 

[John Picard]

Plastic and microwaves are terrible when mixed, causes cancer......



..... like everything else on Earth.

It depends on the plastic, but no, generally not. Most plastics that are used with food are tested for chemical migration by the FDA in microwaves and at heats that it will likely reach. So if it says it's microwave safe, it's been tested.

So they say. I seem to recall last year the dangers of harmful chemicals leaching out of water bottles over time. The FDA wants to argue the findings of an independent group. Is it too much to err on the side of caution? I think not.

 

[ltcmmanderdata]

i use them. some are disposable but durable enough to be reused a few times.

 

[Kommander]

I dispute your claim. Microwave a mouse in a plastic container, it dies. So there.

Mice taste terrible if they're microwaved. Deep frying is the best way to prepare mice.

 

[Zulu Romeo]

I reuse the plastic containers from Chinese take-aways all the time too. Granted, they're no Tupperware™ but they serve me well as containers for my parents' home cooking, packed, frozen, and ready to heat up and serve on a rainy day.