Fortunately, switching to plastic-free food containers has gained a lot of steam. With steel and glass as the main alternatives, how do you choose? Both containers have their advantages, like being BPA free and long-lasting. To make choosing easier, here is a list of pros and cons for each.
Both glass and steel food containers avoid a host of toxins, like BPA and phthalates, that can leech into food from conventional plastic containers. Going plastic-free is not only healthier for you, it's greener too by reducing our planet's plastic burden.
Steel Container Pros:
• Extremely lightweight, making it easy to toss into your bag or briefcase.
• Durable and long-lasting.
• Leak-proof options are available.
Steel Container Cons:
• Not microwaveable.
Glass Container Pros:
• Transfers easily from the refrigerator to the microwave.
• Tempered varieties like Pyrex allows you to bake in them, then stores any leftovers.
• Microwaveable.
• Looks attractive enough to serve on your tabletop.
• Transparent, making it easy to identify and manage the food in your fridge.
• Leak-proof options are available.
Glass Container Cons:
• On the heavier side in terms of portability, especially when carrying multiples.
• Breakable on the go.
The Verdict:
They're both champions in their respective realms, so whether one or the other is the right fit for you depends on your lifestyle. If you're the person on the go, steel containers are the clear winner. Their lightweight portability making them convenient to take to work, the park, or on a hike. If you're more the homebody, glass containers' versatility makes it the obvious winner. It acts as cookware, serveware, and storage.
As for me, I'm a little bit homebody and with a dash of "on the go," so most of my food containers are glass, supplemented by a couple of steel containers for hikes or the playground.
(Shown above from left to right)
1 Group photo of featured products.
2 Set of 12 Storage Bowls With Clear Lids, $23.40 from Crate and Barrel
3 Nesting Trio - Ocean (Set of 3), $27.00 from Kids Konserve
Related: Looking for Glass Lunch Containers That Stack Well
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Glass Container Cons: Plastic lids get worn out and you'll end up searching for them.
Glass and steel containers are great, but most of them aren't plastic free (unless you think the lids don't count.)
I use steel for snacks and things for my kid. But I can't store things in them in the fridge because I forget what's in them. I need to be able to see like with the glass.
I've always felt that as long as the food wasn't in contact with the plastic lid then you're probably okay. What I'm most weary of is microwaving the plastic, so we make sure to never microwave the lids and instead cover the containers with paper towels.
err, wary.
I'm a big glass fan, and I don't microwave either way, BUT it's important to know that most home-canning jar lids contain BPA! In fact, I've only found one company out there that makes BPA free canning lids, and when I discovered them I bought a whole ton so I'd be set for a few seasons (if anyone else is interested in this, there's a link in the right sidebar of my blog).
Generally not a steel fan--for looks, feel, and the fact that you can't see into them. I also think they can impart a flavor to the food, depending on the container. Glass all the way, baby!
Bad Mama Genny
I just bought my first lunch bots steel container to bring to work with me and I love it! They're great to throw some snacks in - fruit, veggies, things you wouldn't microwave anyway. And the lids are steel too, so completely plastic free.
Like genevievecharet mentioned, stainless steel tastes like metal. That alone means that it's glass, glass, and glass&plastic in our house, depending on the use. We use Weck jars for almost everything (glass and rubber, which doesn't touch the food), with some supplemental Ball jars and tempered glass jars and bowls with plastic lids.
When I grew up (in India), it was steel all the way. From lunch boxes, tiffin carriers, storage containers, tumblers, plates, cookware, you name it. Part of it was because of the longevity of the product. Plastic was frowned upon. Now, things have changed. It's plastic everywhere for everything!
I love glass for all the pros mentioned. I wish we get steel lids for glass containers.
I'm a huge fan of the Glasslock containers, which do have plastic lids, but they're BPA free. There seem to be a few different brand though, and not all of them say they're BPA free.
I don't use mine for reheating at all, since I don't have a microwave.
I bought my dad a whole set for xmas and told him to throw out all his nasty old plastic stuff that'd been microwaved to death. Scary.
I love glass storage, and far and away my favorite source is fishs eddy. I LOVE their floral storage bowls, they used to sell giftsets with all 6 patterns, and I wound up with two by accident, but I love them so much that it is totally fine. And they sell extra lids, so you can be prepared for when you inevitably lose/ruin yours. I also completely love their working glasses, which you can buy plastic lids for. I use them to bring a big glass of chia seed juice to work every day for breakfast, but they also work around the house as normal glasses. I still want basically all of the rest of their storage bowls, but I already have more than I need!
^^I just realized they totally still sell the giftsets, so everyone should buy them because they are totally great.
I have those Crate & Barrel glass containers and just hot water from the tap in the kitchen was enough to warp the lid so it no longer fits. But we mostly use glass or pyrex for storing and carrying food just so we're not going through yards and yards of plastic wrap or aluminum foil or bags.
For short-term storage, just flip the canning lids upside down and tighten the lid. That way the lining isn't in contact with the food.
Obviously, this won't work for canning...
Glass all the way. I like to be able to see in my containers. This is by far my favorite set: http://www.target.com/p/Pyrex-6-pc-Storage-Value-Pack/-/A-10507546 . It is inexpensive and the sizing is perfect. Cheaper than there other lines because these aren't the fancy microwave lids.
Plenty of plastic containers do not produce BPA, particularly low- and high-density polyethylene, polypropylene, and PET.
stainless steel for the kiddo that eats her lunch room temperature or with the help of a thermos (also stainless steel). glass for grown up lunches and old stackable fridge pyrex for large batches of leftovers in the fridge.
I agree with Aneelee. I love the vintage Pyrex fridge dishes with glass lids. You can find them on ebay or in thrift stores sometimes. They can go straight from fridge to microwave. I also use vintage Corningware to microwave or use on the stovetop (the newer version can't go on the stovetop.)
I just threw out a bunch of old plastic stuff and went with the Pyrex set from Target. I love these new bowls! I don't even mind carrying the heavy bowls to work. For some reason, I feel like food stays better longer.
There are some steel containers that also have steel lids, but since I mostly use my containers to store leftovers that I want to reheat in the microwave (because I'm lazy), I vote for GlassLock containers all the way! I've never had a leak, ever, although I did once manage to vacuum seal the lid in the microwave.