Saving Plastic containers?

[mama2moonbaby]

Umm this maybe be a dumb question, but is it safe to reuse plastic containers that food comes in? I hate buying containers to store stuff and these work just fine, I just want to make sure I am not poisoning my family?! Anyone know how safe they are?

DAWN

[michaelasmommy]

They are never safe to use in the microwave, as the heat releases chemicals. They are a different type of plastic than the micro-safe ones. I personally wouldn't use them at all, especially for longer-term food storage. My mom used to when I was a kid, and they always leaked if we had liquidy foods in them. Storage contianers meant for leftovers, ect. are not that expensive-you can get a box of 20 containers or so for $10, and they'll last a lot longer. We're actually getting glass containers, but they cost more, and we're purchasing them gradually.

[Abarat]

We use them all the time.
We don't use a microwave at home, but even at work my DP heats his meals on a regular plate anyway.

I think things like whipped topping, cottage cheese/sour cream, etc. containers make great leftover storage for something that doesn't need to be kept in the fridge for more than a week. I even put cookies that will be eaten soon in them.

A lot don't have the nice tight fitting lids that store bought storage containers have, but since I'm not using them for long-term storage of things I want to keep pests out of then I don't worry about that.

It's all up to what you feel comfortable with, but I don't think they're harmful if you're not reheating them or putting super-hot foods in them.

[wannabe]

I use them all the time. Our margarine (Fleishmanns) comes in cool single serving size unmarked containers so I freeze TONS of stuff in them. They seem to be exclusively #5 plastic, which is not one of the BAD ones (think about it - they store food in them for weeks or months in the supermarket, don't they?). I also use them for taking snacks on the road - they are small but make a great bowl to eat from (and they don't have logos all over them )

I never microwave food in anything but glass or ceramic.

[mama2moonbaby]

Thanks ladies, I just wanted to be reassured that I wasn't doing something I shouldn't!