Food Storage 101

Food Storage 101

It feels like summer is here (-ish) and while I’m not a hot weather kind of gal, I do love the bounty that summer harvests bring (and eating local in season is a 10/10 for the planet).

But what about when you stock up at the farmers market, or harvest from your own garden?…food storage is often a pain point for individuals (formerly including myself).

Storing your food in plastic isn’t ideal (but also, don’t stress, most of your food is already coming in plastic- just don’t heat in it), but it’s the wasting of single use ziplocs and plastic wrap that aren’t helping the environment, or your wallet. Do you need to invest in ALL the things to make your fridge look instagram worthy? No. Normal people are making due with what they have.

But I did want to share our favorites to help you along in your reusable food storage goals.

  1. Inventory and Reuse. Take a look at what you already have. No matching lids? Repurpose and clear the clutter. Or see if you can purchase a lid to fit what you already have. Want to get rid of all the plastic? Relegate old storage containers to a craft closest or something needing organization.

  2. Made a delicious bowl of something and didn’t finish it? The easiest (and laziest) option to save for later? Throw a plate on it. The upside down plate is a too often overlooked food storage method. It’s fine for a short time, you don’t need to dirty extra dishes or transfer containers. Win-Win.

  3. Looking for something a little more….? Skip the plastic wrap and opt for reusable beeswax wraps or silicone lids instead. Pros: beeswax wraps mold to fit your containers, any shape, any size. Con: not machine washable, not ‘seal proof’ Silicone lids. We love that this set comes in a variety of sizes and are machine washable. Cons: not always super on rectangles.

  4. Jars. Don’t underestimate the power of a good glass jar. We love using bamboo lids when the original lid isn’t cutting it anymore. I mostly use these for dry food storage, but they are great for anything. Currently using a wide mouth one for my vat of iced tea in the fridge. We also love our pour lids (which realizing in real time could also be better for said ice tea!)

  5. Bread Bags. These just came in and I couldn’t be happier. Ever purchased a delicious loaf of fresh bread and accidently left it in the brown paper bag for too long? These bags from Beeswax Wraps let in (and keep out) the perfect amount of air for a fresh delicious loaf.

  6. Ambrosia Bags. I was skeptical when I first tried these, having tried (many) other expensive options, as well as ‘diy’ options (reusing plastic bags, damp flour sack towel)....I will say these 100% keep my produce fresher longer (provided you keep it a little damp time to time). Nothing better than a crisp piece of lettuce. Nothing worse than a wilted piece.

  7. Reusable seal bags: we love a Stasher, or similar, bag. Absent minded kid or just need something single use? Grab paper snack bags instead.

  8. Need some storage containers? These are hands down my favorites. We don’t sell them- just love them.

How can you make your picnic or lunch on the go more sustainable this summer? How can you work on your food storage? What works for you?

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