Frugal Tip: Reuse Food Containers

Recently I started posting a more in depth look at each of the frugal tips. Over the next few weeks I will publish the frugal tips that I have collected. Please note that not every tip will work for everyone. Chose as many of the tips that will work with you and your family and start implementing them. Today we will proceed with Tip #5 Reusing plastic food containers.

Reuse the plastic margarine, cottage cheese, etc, etc bowls to store leftover food in.


This is something I learned from my mom. It is a great way to save money. In stead of purchasing the plastic containers to store food in from the department store reuse the ones you empty of it's original contents. My mom was doing this before microwaves even came onto the scene.

Recently though there has been some warnings about using such containers in the microwave.

When food is wrapped in plastic or placed in a plastic container and microwaved, substances used in manufacturing the plastic (plasticizers) may leak into the food. In particular, fatty foods such as meats and cheeses cause a chemical called diethylhexyl adipate to leach out of the plastic. This certainly sounds scary, so it’s little wonder that a warning is making its way across the Web.
- Family Health Guide

That doesn't mean you can't use the containers for storage. It just means you can't use some of these containers for heating your food. Which a lot of people will dish their food onto their plates and then heat their plate of food. However, if you are one that would heat your food in the microwave using the same storage container, here are some important things to know.

If the container originally contained cold food or beverages that was not intended to be heated (margarine, butter, cream cheese, cottage cheese, water, etc) it is not safe to heat with.

Microwavable takeout dinner trays are formulated for one-time use only and will say so on the package.

Don’t microwave plastic storage bags or plastic bags from the grocery store.

Before microwaving food, be sure to vent the container: Leave the lid ajar, or lift the edge of the cover.

Don’t allow plastic wrap to touch food during microwaving because it may melt. Wax paper, kitchen parchment paper, or white paper towels are alternatives.

If you’re concerned about plastic wraps or containers in the microwave, transfer food to glass or ceramic containers labeled for microwave oven use.
- Family Health Guide

It is important to remember,

Plastic food containers are lightweight, durable, often transparent and cheap. Although the Food and Drug Administration assures us that it carefully approves only materials that are "safe for their intended use," there are serious concerns among consumers about using some approved plastics in your kitchen.
- E-how

Some plastics are fine for reusing. The best way to know for sure is to look on the bottom. That little (recycling) triangle has a number in it. If it is a #2 (HDPE or "high density polyethylene"), used for milk jugs, is considered safe. Likewise so is #4 (LDPE or "low density polyethylene"), used in some plastic wraps and sandwich bags, is likewise considered safe finally the same is true for #5 (PP or "polypropylene"), which yogurt tubs are made of, is considered safe for reuse.

However, Soda and water bottles are often #1, which is (PET or "polyethylene terephthalate"). Its safety is still being debated, and you should probably not reuse these bottles.
Vegetable oil bottles and plastic wrap are likely #3, which is (PVC or "polyvinyl chloride") should be avoided, as it contains phthalates. Phthalates may cause reproductive and development problems.

I hope this clears up the myths and facts around reusing plastic food containers.
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