We all know plastic is wreaking havoc on our bodies but in this day and age, we’re so dependent on it that it can be very difficult to figure out how to steer clear of this convenient, clear nuisance.
I’m not going to go into all of the statistics about how toxic plastic is or how microplastics are destroying our bodies. We all know the bad news – let’s focus on solutions, shall we?
Here are some of my ideas for alternatives to using plastic in the kitchen.
MASON JARS
I’m not a hoarder but if you saw my mason jar collection you might disagree. Haha! I’ve gotten pretty creative with what can go in a mason jar and the super cool thing is – in learning to use them more I’ve also learned that mason jars keep fruit way longer when it’s stored in a jar! Strawberries can last a month or so – who knew?
Hint: I get my jars from Azure Standard – they are my new favorite of all time! Way better quality than the ones you can get at the store. They even have pint and a half size which are just perfect for so many things!
Some things I store in mason jars are:
- Leftovers like spaghetti, soups, and casseroles
- Fresh berries (it’s crazy how long they last in a jar!)
- Juice and cold brew coffee
- Milk products like cream, yogurt, cream cheese, and sour cream (if it comes in a plastic bottle, I quickly move it to glass)
Get creative! Go look in your fridge right now and see what is being housed in plastic – and think of how it would do in a mason jar. You’ll be surprised at how much plastic you can get out of your life just by doing that!
BEESWAX WRAPS & BAGS
Oh my goodness, they’ve come so far with all things beeswax! From rolls of wrap to bowl covers to sandwich bags – you can find these to suit just about every need! Now there are little covers that you can put over your bowls (because the covers that come with glass bowls are still always plastic), and even put your sandwich bread in! I absolutely LOVE all things beeswax – and they are reusable. Also, if it’s a good quality beeswax wrap, you can just toss them on the compost pile when you’re done – it’s a total win!
Also, you can make your own. Beeswax wraps is on the agenda to do a class on for my Lady Homesteaders community. How fun to learn this new skill!
COTTON COVERS
I really like using cotton covers, too. They usually are elastic on the sides so they slide over bowls or containers easily and they can conform to most shapes. These are also SUPER easy to make. And if you’re looking for an idea for a crunchy friend for their birthday – these are sure to be a hit!
AN EXTRA PLATE OR A LID
I remember my mom and my Grannie both doing this when I was little. They’d cover plates and bowls with another plate. Sometimes when my dad was running late getting home from driving his log truck, she’d put his plate on a trivet on the woodstove to keep warm and she’d put a lid from a kettle over it to keep it from drying out. This was long before microwaves.
PAPER TOWELS
I swear, I try to be as self sustaining as I can possibly be but if the world turns upside down and we can no longer get paper towels, I might not make it. As Dorcas from Lark Rise to Candleford would say, “It’s my one weakness.”
Paper towels can be used to cover sourdough starter, plates of food, gosh, the possibilities are endless!
One thing to note: I do use plastic Ziploc bags but I try to put something between the plastic and my food. So if I’m putting meat in a Ziploc to freeze it, I might use some parchment or a linen wrap to put between. It’s not perfect but it’s better than not!
This doesn’t cover every plastic need but it’s a really great start. I’m still working on replacing plastic wrap – It sure is handy to just grab it and use it for just about anything but I’d like to get to the point where we don’t even have any in the drawer.
What are your favorite plastic alternatives in the kitchen? Be sure to leave a comment with your solutions!