Storing your food safely is as important as eating a healthy diet. Proper food storage preserves raw and cooked foods, retains flavors and texture and prevents the growth of bacteria that can cause food-borne illnesses. Keep your food fresh and your family safe by choosing the appropriate container and storing it right.
Materials
Most healthy food storage containers are made of plastic. Rigid and flexible plastic is airtight, waterproof, leakproof and grease-resistant--qualities that aid safe food storage by lowering the risk of spoilage and cross-contamination. Plastic is generally inexpensive and durable, as well. Other types of storage containers are made of glass, paper and aluminum foil.
Types of Containers
Healthy food storage containers are commonly available in three types: rigid plastic containers with snap-on lids, flexible plastic bags with sealable tops and heat-tempered glass canning jars. Supermarkets, drugstores and housewares stores often sell sets of rigid plastic containers with varying sizes. Less-common glass jars appear in hardware stores, big-box retailers and general stores.
Uses
The National Center for Home Food Preservation recommends rigid plastic containers with airtight lids for all types of healthy food storage, especially for liquid or semi-liquid foods destined for the refrigerator or freezer. Flexible plastic freezer bags with zip-top seals effectively store solid foods that have less chance of leaking. While consumers can use both types of plastic containers to store purchased foods and leftovers, glass canning jars mainly preserve home-grown foods, like garden produce, jams and pickles. Freezer wrap and aluminum foil wrap solid foods securely for freezing to prevent freezer burn.
Length of Storage
You can store food in rigid plastic containers, sealed plastic bags or wrap in the freezer indefinitely, but it may lose flavor and appeal after a year. Foods in properly sealed vacuum-packed canning jars need no refrigeration and will stay edible for years, but always discard food from jars where the lids can be pressed down, indicating a broken seal. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration recommends consuming any foods in the fridge, whether stored in plastic, glass or foil, within a few days of purchase to avoid food-borne illness.
What to Avoid
The Mayo Clinic advises against microwaving plastic food containers due to potentially adverse health effects linked to bisphenol A, a chemical used in plastic that could leech into food, though more research into bisphenol A and diseases is needed. Don't use regular glass jars in the freezer; the glass can't withstand extremes in temperature. Refrain from reusing butter tubs, yogurt cups or milk jugs as freezer storage containers because the seals between container and lid are not airtight.
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