Plastic or glass containers

[dmpmercury]

I need some containers to organize my pantry and I am debating whether I should get glass or plastic. I looked on craiglist and freecycle for glass containers and will check cosignment shops but I probably won't find enough of what I need. I don't buy thnigs very often. In general I'm not against plastic. I think the big areas like living in a small place, conserving energy recycling, eating habits, driving habits etc etc are more important than the little things but I do try to do little things too but in general I lower my heat and live in a small place but don't fret if I forget my reusable shopping bags or if I use some non reusable products on occasion.

I'm not against getting plastic containers and I don't limit all plastic from my life. I get natural quality things when possible but my kids have plastic toys and I reuse plastic containers from food. I like things that last a long time but I am wondering with kids if the plastic will actually last longer than the glass since I'm sure some glass will break. The plastic will be used for storage so it won't be put through a lot of wear and won't go through the dishwasher. I saw some tupperware types in all sizes at Costco I was thinking of getting but I have a hard time buying it. From a practically standpoint it might be a better option though.

I like to hear others thoughts.

[Cavy]

Originally Posted by dmpmercury

I don't buy thnigs very often. In general I'm not against plastic.

I think that glass would last a lot longer, if you do buy new.
I am very impressed that your really don't buy that much stuff, I would manage to make up the requirement by just saving tubs of stuff we bought, like (glass) mayonaise, olives, jam and (plastic) margerine, ice cream, humus.

[LittleBlessings]

we use plastic but i am also wanting to change over to glass

[jennlyn]

I use wide mouth canning jars for some pantry storage and gallon sized glass jars for the rest. The gallon jars I got from a container place locally that sells all sorts of glass /plastic - it isn't a traditional storefront, rather a supplier that also sells to the public. I use Pyrex with plastic lids for refrigerator storage. Plastic can leach into your food , especially if you put food in the container while it is warm so I prefer to avoid storing food in plastic if at all possible.

[ollyoxenfree]

Over the past few years, I've eliminated most of the plastic storage from our cupboards. I'm concerned about the health issues of plastic, as well as the long-term environmental impact of plastics in landfill. I gave away most of the plastic to others.

I reuse glass jars (pasta sauce, jam etc.) for a lot of things. I've been shopping around for larger glass storage for flour, sugar etc. I haven't quite found the perfect combination of mouth size, closure etc. The one negative of glass is that it's a lot heavier than plastic, and I have some flimsy shelving, so I have to be careful.

[BaBaBa]

Originally Posted by jennlyn

I use wide mouth canning jars for some pantry storage and gallon sized glass jars for the rest. The gallon jars I got from a container place locally that sells all sorts of glass /plastic - it isn't a traditional storefront, rather a supplier that also sells to the public. I use Pyrex with plastic lids for refrigerator storage. Plastic can leach into your food , especially if you put food in the container while it is warm so I prefer to avoid storing food in plastic if at all possible.

This.

I use all different sizes of canning jars. They come as big as 1.5 L. Breakage isn't a problem. They're very strong.

Also Pyrex with plastic lids for leftovers, stocks etc.

I find many foods will pick up an unpleasant taste when in plastic containers for extended periods of time.

[MrsAprilMay]

My DH actually showed me the concept of saving glass jars from tomato sauce ect. to reuse as storage. I used to buy tupperware and then toss it when it started to get yucky. You know, starting to smell like food no matter how hard you scrub? That never happens with glass. Now I have a hard time keeping canning jars because DH filches them to use for his spices and herbs. lol

[zjande]

I too store everything in glass jars of many sizes. My biggest concern is just touching plastic- after reading about the evils of the many toxins in plastics, I just don't want to be absorbing that crapola through my skin. Y'know? There are sooo many toxins in my environment that I just can't reasonably avoid that I do like to avoid the ones I can! So, my vote is glass.

[dmpmercury]

I don't really get anything from the grocery store that uses glass jars. We make spaghetti sauce. I can look into some canning jars. What ones are breakage resistant. My kids are always getting into the pantry and pulling things out to ask me to eat.

[zjande]

I make our sauce, too. The jars I use most frequently are my canning jars. Or, I love our half gallon jars the raw milk we get comes in. Also I have several large pickle jars from before I made our own pickles. And a few bought by me or as a gift to us brand new. And some from thrift stores, different sizes & colors. It's tricky to find used ones that still have their lids, you just have to keep looking. I love any excuse to go to the thrift store every week.

The only jar we've ever broken was by my husband when he dropped a large (3 gallons) jar on our concrete garage floor.

Good luck!