We often keep our food fresh by wrapping the bowl with a plastic wrap.
It’s what we’ve been taught to do, and it’s what many of us followed without question for a long time.
As more and more states across the US ban plastic bag use, our collective awareness of the role and impact of plastic use is also awakening.
Turns out there are important health reasons why we should avoid plastic and use plastic wrap alternatives in the kitchen.
Why use Plastic Wrap Alternatives?
Effects of Plastic Wraps on Human Bodies:
While a plastic container that’s used for storing accessories might not harm you directly, a plastic food container, or wrap will.
Studies have found that some chemicals present inside plastic seeps into the food, and if that food is consumed, it reduces fertility and causes metabolic disorders including obesity (source).
The rate at which the chemicals seep out of the plastic increases if the temperature increases. Plastic wraps are often used to store warm food, which makes them potentially more harmful.
Effects of Plastic Wraps on the Environment:
The worst thing about plastic, in general, is that most plastics last forever and that most plastics aren’t recycled at all. Although we know that plastic can be recycled, most are often lost below ground, in sewers, or the vast ocean.
The current large quantity of plastic is already harming our environment. Animals and fishes often end up eating plastic, which causes death (source).
We’ve already produced more plastic in the last 15 years than all the plastic produced before. If we keep producing plastic like this, the earth will become debris full of them soon enough.
Now that we know that plastic is harmful, we’ll look at some of the best plastic wrap alternatives. These plastic wrap alternatives will protect your food while keeping them fresh longer.
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7 Best Plastic Wrap Alternatives for a Non-toxic Kitchen
1. Silicone Bowl Covers
The features of silicone make the silicone lids great for covering food, keeping them safe from external threats, and keeping them warm as well.
The only downside with these is silicone isn’t recyclable, but it can be reused for a long time. So, if you aren’t sure that you’ll be using these in the long run, take a look at the other alternatives.
These colorful food-grade silicone bowl covers are the perfect size for bowls. They provide fast airtight sealing and can be easily pull off from the side.
Pros:
- Sturdier
- Resistant to high temperature
- Lasts for a long time
Cons:
- Can’t be recycled
2. Silicone Food Covers
Food Huggers’ innovative silicone food savers stretch to fit around sliced fruits, veggies, and other food.
A single set allows you to preserve huggable produce of all sizes. These covers are a great replacement for zip lock bags, plastic food storage containers, and plastic wrap.
Not only do they reduce plastic waste, but they also reduce food waste.
These silicone caps provide an airtight seal on produce halves and open cans so your food stays fresh longer. They work perfectly for half-sliced lemon, lime, and onions.
They are dishwasher safe, BPA-free, and phthalate-free. They even make an awesome cover for avocados and a set of rectangular covers for cheese and butter.
Pros:
- Sturdier
- Quick and easy to use
- Lasts for a long time
Cons:
- Can’t be recycled
3. Cotton Bowl Covers
No more messy food transfers when refrigerating and reheating with reusable bowl covers!
Reusable cotton bowl covers come in attractive designs with elastic edges that easily stretch over bowls to protect your food.
They also work well as dough riser bowl covers as they provide complete coverage while rising.
These bowl covers make it easy to take food to picnics, beaches, and barbeques. They keep flying and crawling things out of your dish so your food stays tasty and bug-free.
These covers are reusable and machine washable, and make a great eco-friendly alternative to single-use aluminum foil and plastic wraps.
Pros:
- Easily fits on most bowls
- Good wrap for a dough
- Lasts for a long time
Cons:
- Seal is not airtight
4. Silicone Food Bags
High-quality silicone food bags such as Stasher are made with 100% pure non-toxic platinum silicone and provide an air-tight, pinch-loc seal that is highly versatile.
They are safe for use in the freezer, microwave, boiling water, and oven up to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
I use these silicone food bags instead of disposable plastic bags for storing fruits, veggies, snacks, and more.
They are super easy to clean as they are dishwasher-safe!
Pros:
- Transparent
- Great for storing and cooking food
- Lasts for a long time
Cons:
- Can’t be recycled
5. Glass Jars
With glass jars, you won’t have to worry about any chemicals leaching into your food, and you can store every kind of food with these, as long as they fit in.
Glass jars are widely used for storing pickles, but you can use them for storing chopped fruits, vegetables, sauce, curry, or even rice!
I use these 16-ounce glass Ball mason jars to store green smoothies, homemade bone broth, and batch cooked chilis in the refrigerator and the freezer. Just remember to leave one-inch space on top when freezing liquids in glass jars to allow room for expansion.
The only issue with glass jars is they can break if you drop them. In that case, both the jar and the food in it will go to ruin.
Pros:
- Transparent
- Great for storing most things
- Available in many sizes
Cons:
- Can break upon impact
6. Beeswax Wraps:
Beeswax wrap is an amazing way of storing your food. These wraps are essentially cloth, layered with beeswax, and they are often enhanced with essential oils, such as jojoba oil.
You can use these to wrap your food, just like you do with a plastic wrap.
These wraps can be reused multiple times, and if they get dirty or stained, you can wash them with cold water.
There are a few drawbacks to the beeswax wraps. You should avoid using beeswax wraps with raw meat or fish since you can’t use hot water to fully sanitize it.
Beeswax wraps are quite affordable, and you can always get new ones after a year or so.
If you’re opting for these, you can check out these beeswax wraps in five beautiful designs.
Pros:
- Uses beeswax enhanced with essential oil to protect the food
- Can be reused by washing for up to a year
Cons:
- Can’t be used to store warm food, meat, or fish
7. Reusable Food Storage Containers
Although stainless steel containers look outdated, no one can argue about their usability and effectiveness. Even so, you can get stainless steel containers that are visually aesthetic.
This quality food-grade stainless steel food container is the best cold lunch or snack tray for packing healthy food on the go.
The compartments are convenient for packing sandwiches, snacks, and fruits. This all-in-one container comes in 5 vibrant colors.
Pros:
- Quite sturdy depending on the material
- Partition for different food types
- Lasts for a long time
Cons:
- Not recommended if you can’t store extra containers
If you’re willing to make your kitchen toxin-free, you must stop using plastic wraps as food covering. Instead, you can opt for the plastic wrap alternatives mentioned above.
With these products, you’ll be able to serve the same purpose without harming yourself or the environment! Plus, they look so much more attractive than clear plastic wraps, so why won’t you?
