The Good and Bad of Food Storage Containers

Photo by:miheco

Todd’s Note: Food storage is BIG in the Preparedness Community.  Actually, it is ONE of the BIG things (Beans, Bullets & Bandaids).  So everyone knows they need to store food, but many have questions on how.  This isn’t a guest post on how to store food, but on which type of container you should store food in.  If you are interested in other articles on food storage – you can visit the PW Tag Cloud –> Food Storage.

When putting together your food storage, there are a lot of different things that you have to think about. What kind of food should you include? What other things do you need? How do you get the longest shelf life? So perhaps on the bottom of your list of priorities might be how to store your food. However, this is actually one of the most important things that you will need to decide. How you store your food directly affects its shelf life, how much space you have, your carbon footprint, and could even affect your future health. So here is a breakdown of some of the options that are available for long term food storage.

Glass

If you are looking for an environmentally friendly way to store your food, there are few better options than a glass container. It is recyclable, reusable (as it has a long life of its own, and is incredibly durable), and made from all-natural materials. The only thing that you have to watch out for is to make sure that you use containers that are airtight. This is relatively simple however, as glass canning jars and lids are available at most grocery stores.

Biodegradable

These can be deceptive as long term storage options, as often when containers are labeled “biodegradable,” they can still release toxins into the environment, and sometimes not even break down at all. What is more, they will probably not keep your food as fresh for as long as another, better container will.

Metal

There are many different pros and cons of using metal containers to store your food. Both sturdy and environmentally friendly, they will not only last a long time, but they are easy to wash and reuse. The only disadvantage is that after some years, certain food can start to take on the taste of the metal. It can also be hard to make sure that it keeps fresh for long term storage, unless sealed. As a result, it is a good idea to buy your food storage in ready made aluminum cans, which will last for decades.

Plastic

When it comes to plastic containers, they definitely have the worst rap. However, plastic is not as bad for the environment as many people first assume. You just have to make sure that you pick the best type. Look for the recycling logo, and specifically the number underneath. Numbers 1, 2, 4, and 5 are the best for the environment, and the most easily recycled. As this plastic will be used for long term storage, it is also important to make sure that they are BPA free.

Ceramic

Ceramic is also a good material for keeping food healthy, and is also environmentally friendly. However, it is also hard to keep it airtight, but if you combine it with perhaps a plastic lid, it could be a good way to keep your food sealed for the months or years that you require.

This article first appeared on Ed That Matters.

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