There are so many choices to make when it comes to the kitchen, whether you’re choosing a potato peeler or a set of measuring cups.<\/p>\n
Containers are a staple in many households, and while plastic may have been the default, more glass options are becoming available.<\/p>\n
We asked experts about the merits of glass food storage when compared to plastic. Here’s what they had to say.<\/p>\n
Do glass containers keep food fresher?<\/p>\n
Some glass food container brands boast they “keep food fresher for longer”, which you may have seen on social media.<\/p>\n
Senaka Ranadheera is a food scientist and associate professor at the University of Melbourne in Naarm. Dr Ranadheera’s expertise is in food microbiology, but he teaches food safety and quality as well.<\/p>\n
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Senaka Ranadheera says he prefers glass food containers. (Supplied: Senaka Ranadheera)<\/p>\n
He recommends opting for glass rather than plastic “as much as you can”.<\/p>\n
Dr Ranadheera says glass containers with airtight lids have “many benefits in terms of keeping food preserved well, especially in the refrigerator”, though he acknowledges more research is needed in this space.<\/p>\n
Glass is a “non-porous and also non-reactive material”. Dr Ranadheera says this helps prevent air and moisture from speeding up the decay of food.<\/p>\n
For these reasons, he says glass helps food remain in “good condition”.<\/p>\n
But all leftovers should be consumed within two to three days<\/a>, he cautions.<\/p>\n Fiona Mair, a home economist and kitchen expert with consumer group Choice, says it’s the “air tightness and seal of the container that’s the biggest priority”.<\/p>\n On Gadigal land in Sydney, Ms Mair says “it doesn’t matter if it’s glass or plastic, you want that lid to fit tightly \u2026 that will keep your food fresher”.<\/p>\n What about microplastic concerns?<\/p>\n University of Queensland researcher Cassandra Rauert focuses on “human exposure to micro and nano plastics”.<\/p>\n In Meanjin\/Brisbane, Dr Rauert says if you’re using food containers to microwave food and you’re concerned about microplastics exposure, there’s an advantage to glass.<\/p>\n “So from studies that we’re doing in the lab here, we’ve shown that when you are heating your food inside those plastic containers, they do shed plastics into the food inside them.<\/p>\n “When I’m reheating things, I try to have them in glass instead of plastic.”<\/p>\n