Tips for Plastic in the Kitchen

• Don’t use plastic containers in the microwave.  Chemicals are more likely to be released into food when plastic is heated.  Glass is a safer option.
• If a number 3, 6, or 7 is in the recycling triangle at the bottom of a plastic food container, it is made from plastic that should be avoided.  Instead choose products in containers with 1, 2, 4, or 5.
• Don’t use cling wrap, especially in the microwave.  Cover food with a paper towel or wax paper instead.  If you do choose to use cling wrap, don’t let it touch your food.  Wrap it first in wax paper.
• Remove instant meals from plastic wrappers and trays before nuking them.  If your deli food is sealed in plastic wrap, cut off a thin layer of food where it touched the wrap and next time ask the clerk not to use plastic wrap.
• When a plastic container starts to look scratched or cloudy, recycle it if possible or throw it out.
• Use something other than plastic whenever possible.  Bring reusable cloth bags or boxes to the supermarket when buying groceries.  Replace plastic lunch boxes with stainless steel alternatives.
• At the market, choose metal and glass containers whenever possible.  At home, store leftovers in glass or stainless steel.
• Avoid buying water bottled in plastic.  Believe it or not, bottled water is less regulated than tap water.  If you have concerns about your water, get it tested and/or install a filter.  You can also buy one of the filter pitchers on the market.  Then buy your own bottle, made from stainless steel (there are many different brands available on the Internet) or plastic that does not contain harmful chemicals, for carrying the water you have filtered at home with you.
• Be careful if you are using a polycarbonate water bottle, like Nalgene or other sports bottles.  If you do use a polycarbonate water bottle, do not pour warm or hot liquids into it.  The warm liquid can cause harmful chemicals to leach into your drink.  If your sport bottle becomes scratched or cloudy, your drink becomes more vulnerable to the leaching of phthalates or bisphenol A.
• Cling wrap and sandwich bags that are phthalate-free and safe for your food include Glad cling wrap, Glad Snap Lock bags, Heft baggies, Hefty OneZip slider bags, Saran Cling Plus wrap, and Ziploc bags.

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