Bamboo Food Containers
Every household needs a way to store food. Whether it’s dinner leftovers, premade lunches, or cooking ingredients we all use boxes or storage containers every day. Bamboo kitchen gear is more popular now than ever before, but people are still asking if bamboo food containers are safe?
Bamboo food containers are a safe, stylish, sustainable, and often cheaper alternative to plastic containers. Most have a glass body with bamboo lids fitted with an airtight seal. Always check the label on the bamboo you’re buying to make sure it doesn’t contain and BPA’s, PVC, and phthalates.
Some of these are toxins are found in low-quality bamboo products. They result from materials used during the manufacturing of dinnerware or storage containers. Since bamboo isn’t molded like wood or plastic, it needs glue and other chemicals to be glued and pressed together.
Are Bamboo Food Containers Non-Toxic
Even though most bamboo dinnerware, dishes, or food containers come with tags stating they don’t contain any BPA, PVC, and phthalates, it’s worth taking a look at what these things are and how they affect your bamboo products.
Bamboo food containers aren’t toxic, in the same way, that some low-quality plastics can be. Since they are often made of borosilicate glass with bamboo lids, they don’t transfer or absorbs flavors or smells.
If you’re shopping for new food containers make sure the package on your bamboo says it’s BPA, PVC, and phthalates free.
BPA (bisphenol A) is a chemical used in plastics to make them clear and strong. BPA can cause hormone disorders.
PVC (polyvinyl chloride) makes materials like plastic more flexible.
Phthalates are chemicals added to plastics to make them more flexible and durable.
You’re probably thinking, all these are plastic additives, what do they have to do with bamboo? Well, someone tried to make low-quality bamboo products with the same chemicals used in plastic, but that didn’t work out too well.
Is Bamboo Safer than Plastic?
Every home needs food containers to cut back on food waste, store material for later, and organize cooking ingredients. Most of us are familiar with the handy plastic boxes, but more people are starting to experiment with alternative and more sustainable options like bamboo.
Since bamboo is a natural product, it doesn’t require the same amount of chemicals to produce making it safer than plastic. Bamboo food containers are safer than plastic ones, the same way that bamboo dinnerware is safer than plastic dishes.
Even though there are chemicals used to make bamboo products, such as glue, they are not as toxic as the chemicals found in plastic. When choosing food containers, glass cases with bamboo lids are a healthier choice than plastic.
Pros and Cons of Bamboo Food Containers
If you’re looking for the best possible food containers there are many reasons to consider buying ones made from bamboo material. People all over the world are switching to bamboo because of its style and sustainability. Here are the pros and cons of bamboo food containers:
Benefits of Bamboo Food Containers:
- Longevity – A bamboo food containers can last a lifetime.
- Inexpensive – On average they cost less than their competition.
- Warp Resistant – Won’t bend or morph over time.
- Lightweight – Easily portable as lunch boxes.
- Stylish – They are bright and filled with attractive unusual patterns.
- Sustainable – Easier to produce than wood.
Drawbacks of Bamboo Food Containers:
- Not Microwavable – Avoid using wood-like products in the microwave.
There are certainly more reasons to love bamboo food containers than to hate them.
Summary
I wanted to put together a helpful guide on bamboo food containers and bamboo-related products, and hopefully put your mind at ease. At least in regard to the question, are bamboo food containers safe.
Previous concerns of toxins in bamboo products refer to low-quality bamboo dishes and mugs and don’t refer to modern-day food containers.
Also, consider storing your nonperishables in containers with bamboo linds. They are great for pasta, nuts, sugar, flour, and all types of cooking ingredients. They give your kitchen a little extra brightness and style.
Every modern kitchen needs a way to store extra food or ingredients. People used to use foil, plastic wrap, or even paper to save foods for many years until the invention of plastic containers and Tupperware.
In fact, most people just refer to plastic food containers as Tupperware. Now more than ever before, people are turning away from plastic materials and searching for sustainable options, like bamboo.
Related Questions
What are the Best Food Containers?
The best food containers for short and long-term food storage are made from borosilicate glass with airtight lids. These food containers won’t transfer taste or smell and won’t release any unwanted toxins into your food.
Bamboo Group is a collaboration of individuals who love the world’s most sustainable and eco-friendly natural material. We believe every home can benefit from the natural colors and patterns of bamboo. We’re excited to see bamboo grow in popularity and get the recognition it deserves. Years of experience growing bamboo plants have taught us a lot we want to share with the world.