Oct 22, 2009 8:05 pm US/Eastern
Consumer: The Best Food Storage Containers
NEW YORK (CBS) ―
It's estimated that 12 percent of all food bought for home is discarded because it goes bad before you get around to eating it. But now, new food storage containers can keep food fresh longer, and CBS 2 has the results of research that put 32 different kinds to the test.
Believe it or not, you can save up to $670 a year by avoiding some common food storage mistakes that will often land leftovers in the trash.
Most importantly, according to food safety experts, you need to use the proper storage containers. At the Good Housekeeping Research Institute, researchers evaluated 32 different kinds to figure out which are the best at keeping air out, preventing food from picking up odors from other items, and from drying out.
Their overall results?
"Glass is the most airtight container, because it keeps air from coming in through the sides," Sharon Franke, kitchen appliances and technology director at Good Housekeeping, said. "It's not porous like plastic."
In the test, Good Housekeeping found the Snapware GlassLock scored best overall among glass containers. It locks into place on all four sides to prevent air from entering, and was great at resisting leakage. The only problem was that the lids often didn't fit properly after being run through the dishwasher.
"Our advice to consumers is that they hand wash any plastic pieces that can warp in the dishwasher," Franke said.
Another winner was the Rubbermaid Lock-Its. They were one of the only plastic containers that didn't break when drop-tested with a frozen load, and the lid snaps onto the bottom of the container, making it easier to keep track of.
If it's a disposable storage container you like to use, Ziploc and Gladware fared well in the testing. However, it's important to remember not to heat up your food in any plastic containers unless it's labeled "microwave safe."
"We do recommend that if they become degraded in any way, if they start to stain, if you see any damage to them, that you toss them," Franke said.
The Good Housekeeping Institute also tested several re-sealable bags made specifically for storing dry goods. You can find these winners, and the rest,
here.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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