In my friend’s comment yesterday, she alluded to the troubling issue of plastics and food storage. I’m glad she did because this topic has been on my mind for awhile now.
Plastics are somewhat of a four-letter word in our house. As I’ve learned more about BPA and phthalates, I’ve switched from plastic food containers to (glass) Pyrex; discarded my old Nalgene; tossed out plastic sippy cups and replaced them with sturdy glasses from Crate & Barrel; and spent good money on cloth or wood toys to replace plastic ones I tucked away. I buy unbleached wax paper bags for school lunches and think twice before using the microwave. When I do use it, I never cover foods with plastic wrap.
But I’m stumped for a good replacement for zip-top plastic bags when it comes to freezing foods for the winter.
I do my best to minimize our exposure to any chemicals that might leach out of them upon heating (when transfer is the worst, I’m told) by trying to let foods cool before bagging them. Later, when I remove the bag from the freezer, I cut open the plastic bag and heat the contents on the stovetop, rather than placing the bag in hot water or in the microwave. Still, I worry about the plastic.
Anyone else concerned? Any thoughts on good substitutes for food storage?
I’ve heard a little about this and have cut back a little on plastics use (not as much as you have!). Where can I read more?
Hi,
It is troubling, isn’t it? I haven’t found a solution to freezing either. I just put up 80lbs of tomatoes that we sauced this summer — all in ziplock bags. I, too, am careful to let defrost over night and then pour into a saucepan so that I don’t have to ever defrost in the microwave or bowl of hot water w/ the sauce still in the bag. I just don’t know another solution – glass? I guess maybe I could start canning instead of freezing, but what about all the other thing I freeze – pesto sauce, beans (I cook big batches of beans in my crockpot and then freeze in quart bags for easy use), meat that my husband buys in bulk, leftover soups, etc…?!
My latest troubling news was when I read in Prevention magazine last month that one of the biggest things we need to avoid is canned tomatoes. I don’t often buy them, but sometimes I’m in a bind and have to have them for a recipe. Here’s an excerpt from the article:
“The resin linings of tin cans contain bisphenol-A, a synthetic estrogen that has been linked to ailments ranging from reproductive problems to heart disease, diabetes, and obesity. Unfortunately, acidity (a prominent characteristic of tomatoes) causes BPA to leach into your food. Studies show that the BPA in most people’s body exceeds the amount that suppresses sperm production or causes chromosomal damage to the eggs of animals. “You can get 50 mcg of BPA per liter out of a tomato can, and that’s a level that is going to impact people, particularly the young,” says vom Saal. “I won’t go near canned tomatoes.”
The solution: Choose tomatoes in glass bottles (which do not need resin linings), such as the brands Bionaturae and Coluccio. You can also get several types in Tetra Pak boxes, like Trader Joe’s and Pomi.”
I remember my grandmother used to freeze veggies in boxes that had an interior wax coating. I’m not sure if these are available anymore, but it might be worth looking into. She never froze anything in plastic, mostly because I think it wasn’t available.
I’ve never heard of this but I’ll definitely check it out. Thanks so much for the tip!
I too have become painfully aware of the dangers of food storage in plastic. I freeze my peaches and tomatoes in plastic bags and have started cutting open the plastic and letting them thaw in glass. Hopefully, this reduces the risks some.
I just don’t have time to can during harvest season. I’ve decided I need a personal chef during harvest season so I can go back to canning at home and to eating local produce all year long. The news about canned tomatoes added another to my “things to aviod” list. Oh my!
For liquid like items, we pour stuff in to ice cube trays, freeze them, then transfer them to pyrex containers in our freezer. It’s certainly not as space efficient as plastic bags, but we can defrost a little or a lot very easily.
Thanks Adam! I like the ice-cube tray idea. Are there plastic-free ice-cube trays? I’m sure there are… I’ll have to look into that. I cook for one too and I’ve also been wondering about this issue. Thanks for this topic!
[...] When you talk about freezing, you can’t help but talk about what to freeze in. Last year, SeedtoSpoon readers debated the problems of freezing in plastic bags, given the potential hazards of the plastic. I still use Ziploc bags, but I put the contents in after they’re cool and don’t thaw them in the microwave or in hot water. If you take the plastic bag route, remember to double bag your food and squeeze out the excess air. To find this string of posts and comments, click here. [...]