Finally, a Blog Post About Plastic Containers

How have I never blogged about plastic food containers before?  These handy and prolific little

items, found in every kitchen EVER.

I taught a Kitchen Organizing class a few weeks ago, and we chatted quite a bit about these storage containers.  We love and hate them at the same time! These containers are handy.  Re-usable.  With a million and one uses.  And  they occasionally drive us crazy.

Can you identify with any of these problems?

• You have way too many containers and lids, they are stashed in every cabinet and drawer, and they occasionally fall out in a heap. And yet…
• When you need a container, it’s difficult to find matching containers and lids.
• When you use your containers in the fridge, its difficult to tell the difference between leftovers in a butter tub and actual butter in a butter tub.
• You worry because you have heard that re-purposing or reheating food in plastic containers can leach chemicals into your foods.
• Your soup or leftovers have leaked in your lunch bag.

Here’s how to fix these problems:

• Pull out all the Plastic Crate in your kitchen and pair up the bottoms and lids.  Recycle or re-purpose the solo ones.  Do this every couple of months.
• Dedicate one cabinet or one drawer as a home for your containers, and only store them there.
• Buy clear (or mostly clear) containers, so you can easily identify their contents.
• Find a brand you like, and stick with it.
• Choose a few sizes of containers, and stick with just those.  (We have  GladWares small rounds,  round 2-cup containers with screw-on lids, flat squares and a few large ones for our recent homemade ice cream habit!).
• Buy containers that stack, both while in use and when not in use. Most brands offer snap-together lids.
• Keep just a pile or two.   If you find that you never get to the second or third pile of containers, then you probably don’t need the second or third pile of containers.
• Glass storage containers are an option.  Many folks have made the switch. They 
• keep fewer containers overall, but can safely use the glass containers for storage, cooking and reheating.

• If you have too many containers right now, spread the love. Re-purpose them as drawer dividers, send home leftovers with friends, donate them to a class room for craft time, recycle them
• Don’t fall into the “it was free, I guess I’ll keep it” trap.  Deli containers, sherbet bowls, butter tubs or cottage cheese containers (and related items) are not made to last.   Recycle them!

All source by : Peaceofmindpo