The Hows and Whys of Storing in Glass

For several years, I have been using glass containers for food storage.  I try to avoid using plastic to store food in it, and instead reach for my Glasslock or other glass containers.

The advantages:

-Glass doesn’t hold odors the way that plastic tends to do.

-Glass is easier to clean and doesn’t stain (even things like red pasta sauces, etc.).

-Glass is freezer-, dishwasher-, and microwave-safe.

-Glass doesn’t get brittle and old with use the way plastic does.

-Food can be heated in glass without worry of toxic chemicals (like BPA and PVC) leaching into the food.

How to do it:

-Glass containers can be expensive, so start by recycling glass jars from salsa, pasta sauce, etc. and use them to store soups, sauces, and other leftovers.  Mason jars work well too for anything from salad to stock!

-One of the best places I have found to buy Glasslock containers (square glass containers with rubber seals) is at TJ Maxx (or similar stores, like Ross, Marshalls, or HomeGoods).  The cheapest way, ultimately, is to get a large set, but if you just want to get a couple pieces slowly, these stores are the way to go.

-You can also find round glass containers with plastic lids (made by Pyrex or other brands) at Target or Walmart.  (The blue/green set pictured in this post was a special buy from Aldi!)

-Build your collection over time, replacing your plastic containers as you can afford to do so.  (I still have a few that I use for storing muffins or cornbread, or for giving meals to others.)

Do you store in glass?