Which material is best for food storage containers: plastic or Glass? Several buyers ask this question, but deciding which material to choose can be tough.
First, most of our decisions are based on personal choices and preferences. Nevertheless, in addition, there are other factors of choice such as environmental and safety. However, some buyers show concern about weight, space, and functionalities when buying bulk food storage containers.
Below is a brief comparison between plastic and glass containers to help determine which container is best for you and your kitchen.
Plastic or Glass food storage container: Which is best?
Plastic food storage containers
Advantages:
- Plastic food containers are durable and have a longer life than glass containers, especially if you frequently use them for food or traveling.
- Plastic is less fragile, and It may crack down when dropped. However, the chance of breaking it down into pieces is less.
- Being an affordable and lightweight item, you can buy more units in less amount and easily carry them, which is best for frequent travelers.
- Plastic is the best option for safe storage space. Surprisingly, plastic containers come in different sizes, providing ease in storing food.
Disadvantages:
Plastic can get scratch, and its material wraps up if you put hot food. Even sometimes, the jar becomes too reshaped, which leads to losing the top cover—every time, you need to keep the container horizontal to avoid leakage due to less grip. Plastic containers absorb the odors and flavors of food due to their no retentive nature. However, it releases toxic chemicals when heated in the microwave. You cannot recycle plastic, so it is not environmentally safe.
Glass Food Container
Advantages
- The glass container is safe for storing food and does not react with any drink or food stored in it due to its inert nature.
- Glass containers are more transparent for finding the desired food item, especially when you have several storage containers in your refrigerator.
- Glass container does not rust, decompose, or fade itself. Glass takes years to break down and decompose on its own.
- It does not wrap up when storing hot food and can decompose easily along with its pollution-free nature.
Disadvantages
Glass containers are fragile, which means; users need to handle them with care. Moreover, its material is safe when it comes to health factors. These containers have more weight than plastic, so people avoid taking glass containers when traveling. Lastly, Glass is an expensive material; however, due to its fragile and high-cost factor, you need more care to handle these containers.
Conclusion
Plastic can be a great material for food storage as long as you select the right type and avoid those that are made with harmful chemicals. Glass containers are a good option to keep the food stay cold or hot for an extended period. Still, they can also be more expensive and heavier than plastic containers. So ultimately, the best material for your food storage needs depends on what you are storing.