4 Free Alternatives to Plastic Wrap
It’s Time to Break Up with Plastic Wrap… for free
There is so much unnecessary plastic in our lives. It’s bad for the environment, and it is also bad for our health - especially in the kitchen. (Did you know toxic chemicals in plastic wrap can leach into our food?) Plastic wrap cannot be recycled. A 2019 study published in Environmental Science & Technology tested 34 everyday products, including coffee cup lids, plastic wrap, freezer bags, and yogurt containers. Seventy-four percent of the plastics tested were toxic to some degree. The study found that toxicity can be found in every type of plastic.
So often, we use plastic out of habit rather than necessity. Plastic wrap is one of those bad habits. About eight years ago, we decided to stop using plastic wrap. We had one roll left in our pantry, and going forward, we were determined to use it as sparingly as possible as we looked for alternatives. Two surprising things happened. 1. We found equally effective substitutes. And 2., instead of going through that one roll in a few months, it took us SEVEN years to finish it. What we found was that plastic wrap was an easy plastic to cut out of our lives. Here is a list of 4 free plastic wrap alternatives:
1. Repurpose a dishcloth
So many baking recipes call for plastic wrap to cover a bowl of dough. Instead, we use a dishcloth and a rubber band - two things you likely have on hand in your kitchen. It’s easy, cost-effective, and works well.
2. Use a plate
There are a few ways to use a plate as a plastic wrap alternative:
1. Take an empty plate and place it on top of a plate of food.
2. Place halved fruit, like this cantaloupe, face down on a plate instead of face up and covered in wrap.
It’s all about utilizing what you already own and preserving your food well.
3. Try a jar
A jar is a great substitute for plastic wrap because it helps keep food fresher for longer. Vegetables do much better when stored in jars. Onions, half of a cucumber, lettuce, peeled carrots… they all last longer when stored in glass.
If you don’t have mason jars lying around, use glass food packaging. We reuse our jam and yogurt jars (both of which come in glass) to store everything! Pictured here is an onion we’ve stored in an old guacamole jar. There is no need to spend money to store food. You likely have everything you need on hand.
4. Use a food container
Instead of reaching for your roll of plastic wrap, put food into a container that has a lid. For years, my mom would cut fruit, put it in a bowl, and cover it with plastic wrap before putting it in the fridge. I picked up the same habit. I cringe to think of how much plastic we used over the years just to cover some prepped food. Chances are you have a ton of Tupperware in your cupboard. If not, look at the packaging your food comes in. Reuse what you already have - it’s that simple.
