Q&A: “Glass” Tupperware
by Kara DiCamillo, Newport, Rhode Island 
on 11. 2.05
We received a question from Marcello F. that read “Does Treehugger know of any companies that make "glass" Tupperware or something to store your food in rather than using plastic? I'm thinking that it can't be the best thing for you when microwaving food in it.” Well, Marcello, good question. We’ve seen a few different websites with information about this “urban legend” if you will and while there has never been any proven incidents that contaminants have posed a serious threat, the U.S. Food & Drug Administration says that chemical components can possibly “migrate” into food from plastics at microwaving temperatures. We say, why take the risk? On Crate & Barrel’s website we found several different types of glass storage containers, some with plastic lids and some with glass. Because there are so many, we’ll direct you to the main storage container link. We also found a few on Williams Sonoma, but expect to pay a little more. Although we searched, we couldn’t find any recycled glass storage containers that were also microwavable. If you’re still dead-set on using your plastic containers, just make sure they say “Microwave safe.” ::Crate & Barrel ::Williams Sonoma
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I just wash out used spaghetti jars and use those. If you rip off the label, they look quite nice. Best of all, they're free (after you've eaten the food, anyway).
Pyrex makes glass containers that are oven and microwave safe. The lids are plastic to get a good seal. Cheap, long-lasting, stylish. What more could you want in food storage?
IKEA makes great glass tupperware-esque products, and they're cheap too. I use my fair share of rinsed out jars and other recycled containers, but commercial glass containers have their place. (In particular, they're strong enough that I can cook some things in them, and then just leave the food in the original cookware for storage.)
I have been using several Crate & Barrel types for the very reasons listed in this post (and even now that I rarely use my microwave). The style pictured in this post is very useful, as are the round versions with white plastic tops - see here: http://www.crateandbarrel.com/family.aspx?c=850&f=8665&viewall=1
One other issue to bring up: using glass, wood and metal also prevents much of the chemical leaching that can occur when you store foods in the fridge for several days. Although some metals also leach. This also extends to the type of metals I use to cook stovetop with - for more info see here: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/chronicle/archive/2005/06/15/FDGMFD2KM01.DTL
Im going to second Dean on the PYREX dishes. You can pick them up at your local Target for under 4 dollars for 3 of the smaller ones. They also sell larger baking dishes as well.
If you have a microwave, why not just dump your food onto a plate prior to zapping?
I prefer using old hummus containers as my storage solution. Light weight, they are easy to take with you. But you may need an elastic to make sure the lid stays on. Refrigerating glass containers takes more energy to cool the container as well as the contents.
Canning jars work well for storing leftovers. They come in a variety of sizes and seal well, but the mouths are too small for some foods.
For those foods, try a casserole dish. If the dish doesn't have a lid or the lid is too tall to fit on your fridge shelf, use a plate instead. The dish and lid or plate don't seal as well as a canning jar; placing a layer of waxed paper between the dish and top seems to help.
The cheapest place to get canning jars, casseroles, and plates is at a garage sale, followed by a resale/thrift shop. Wash them carefully before you use them, and buy new lids for the jars.
Don't forget that glass is not completely inert - lead crystal decanters (and lead glazes on pottery - which ought never be used on tableware) will leach lead into wine left in them for a significant period - equally, recycled glass if it contains contaminant material able to leach out might not be perfectly safe.. but then what is?
I use glass food storage containers (from Ikea) in the fridge, but if you're concerned about your health you WILL NOT eat microwaved food. Govts and corporations hav tried to suppress scientific research into the health effects of eating microwave food. Early researchers into the effects of microwaves had their careers and then their families threatened.
Comparative tests analysing the blood of people after they ate conventionally heated or microwaved foods have shown changes in the composition of the blood of the latter - to resemble the reaction of the blood to cancer (or something like that, don't recall the exact details). The chance of food poisoning is also less with stovetop heating. Booo to microwaves & lack of transparency on health research.
We bought our "refrigerator dishes" at antique malls before the prices went out of sight. I actually prefer the glass lids to the plastic ones. The tiny bit of ventilation seems to prevent molding a little better.