What happens is that you’ll have something made of plastic — like a food storage container or a water bottle — that leaches microparticles of plastic into your food when heated up, cleaned, or just used over time, and those can enter your body in a number of ways. It’s a complex scientific area of study I won’t pretend I totally understand, so to be safe I set out to eliminate as much plastic as I could from my home — to keep it out of me, the oceans, and landfills.
What Made Me Finally Quit Using Plastic Food Storage Containers
While it comes in sets of four pieces to as many as 18 in a few different colors, I opted for the $49.99 10-piece set, which includes three round containers (1.6 cups and 4.1 cups) and two larger rectangular containers (2.7 cups and 6.3 cups) with lids for each. Not only are the bottoms made of BPA- and PFAS-free glass, but it’s also durable borosilicate glass, which is even stronger than standard glass (as well as heat-resistant).
In the past, I had a set of glass food storage containers with plastic lids, which kind of defeated the purpose. These Bentgo lids are made of the same sturdy tempered glass with a silicone seal that’s totally leak-proof — even when I toss them in my bag to take on the train to work. Plus, both sides are safe to go in the dishwasher, oven, microwave, and freezer.
And please, a moment for the brilliant technology: Each lid has a built-in silicone steam valve that you can open for properly vented, splatter-free microwaving. For keeping food fresh, you just unplug the valve, pop the lid on the base, and then plug the valve back into its hole. Just like that, it creates an intense vacuum effect that makes the lid essentially impossible to get off without opening the valve again.
Most importantly, they actually save space in my kitchen cabinets because they nest! When not in use, they stack nicely into one another to take up minimal room in my limited storage. So while many microplastics in the world are somewhat unavoidable (at least for now), it’s the small changes that can help us do what we can to keep our families healthy and safe — one swap at a time.
Buy: Bentgo Signature Leak-Proof Glass Food Storage, 10-Piece Set, $49.99