Fifteen dollars for a bowl with a lid strikes me as expensive. I’m a frugal (cheap!) girl, and I had a hard enough time going from the “4 containers for $2 minus a $1 off coupon” Gladware to the “4 containers for $6-8 and no coupons” Pyrex glass dishes.
I have to say I was intrigued and skeptical when I got to test out Life Without Plastic’s stainless steel containers. I didn’t think there would be any validating points to spend so much.
I’ve since been convinced.
(See my 2022 Life Without Plastic review, too!)
Why Stainless Steel Beats Glass
- It can go right on the stovetop. Since I more or less gave up the microwave about a year ago, I use my toaster oven and my stovetop more than most folks. Guess which one is faster? The stovetop kicks the toaster oven’s behind, but I hate dirtying the extra pot sometimes. You do know how I feel about dishes, right? I LOVE that these stainless steel dishes can be plopped right onto the stove and voila! Lunch is served.
- The kiddo factor: non-breakable. I know Maria Montessori would have me give my toddler glass dishes all the time and just teach her to use them properly. We Kimballs are clumsy people, unfortunately.
- Kiddo factor no. 2: easy to open lids. My son has trouble with the plastic lids on glass containers, and he’s almost five years old. He thinks the latches on the stainless bowls are as good as a toy.
- Lightweight. Especially when you’re packing something you’ll have to carry, stainless steel over glass is a wondrous thing.
- No plastic at all. I’m not terribly worried about the plastic lids on Pyrex glass containers, but I’ve heard from many other bloggers and commenters who are. Here’s the solution – there’s zero plastic in the stainless steel containers, so no chemical leaching concerns.
Why Stainless Steel and Glass BOTH Trump Plastic
- Please read Beth Terry of Fake Plastic Fish’s fabulous guest post about the dangers of plastic food storage containers. Glass and stainless have no health concerns.
- My favorite part, they’re not only dishwasher safe, but they dry all the way and don’t drip all over your other clean dishes because of their little nooks and crannies, like plastic containers do. Because you KNOW how I feel about dishes!
- Both can go in the toaster or conventional oven, right from the fridge. Nice – another dishes saver.
A Few Drawbacks
I’m not getting a reputation for balanced reviews for nothing. Here are the reasons I still love my glass storage containers, too:
- Stainless is pricey. However, I’m comforted by the fact that it will last forever and never break (see clumsy Kimball comment above).
- You can’t see through them. Once you get enough leftovers going in the fridge, this could be an issue. But hey – Tupperware was all opaque back in the day, too, and everyone still bought them!
- They can’t go in the microwave. For me, this is not a problem, but I understand that many people rely on the microwave for leftovers both at home and at work. You’ll want a balance of glass and stainless steel for various purposes.
Other Fun Products
The most important products that Life Without Plastic carries, in my opinion, is the glass baby bottles (no longer available) and child sippys. We need to protect our littlest ones from any potential plastic leaching as much as possible, and if you can’t breastfeed (or if you pump), please seek out a plastic-free bottle option. My friend with twins didn’t get to test it, because her girls were already too big for the nipple size (I forgot to specify; make sure you remember!). It will be put to good use by someone soon though!
I didn’t get one of these for review, but I have to give a shoutout to a product we use almost every day: our diaper bag staple is a 12-oz. Klean Kanteen with sippy spout. If you are prone to leave liquid in a bag for more than a few hours (ahem, maybe like a few days like me), you really need to avoid those plastics, which leach chemicals over time and with heat.
I also got to test out the stainless steel hot meal container, which is an awesome product for anyone trying to avoid the microwave AND avoid plastic, because you can heat up your food properly on the stovetop in the morning and have a hot meal at lunchtime. This is the modern-day version of the classic soup thermos that construction workers are often portrayed with. It’s shorter and wider, more like a traditional bowl.
After my daughter broke two glass dishes off her highchair tray in one week, I changed my mind about switching her to glass drinking glasses. I *cringe* actually use little bitty plastic ones. I was just saying before I revisited the Life Without Plastic site that I wished someone made lightweight, stainless steel cups for little ones. Well, duh, Katie – they do.
Disclosure: Life Without Plastics supplied three products for my review and two for you, but in no way did they influence my opinion or require a positive review. This post also contains affiliate links to Life Without Plastic. See my full disclosure statement here.
I’m well known for honest, thorough product reviews…
…and you can always tell a real family has run these products through the gauntlet.
When I review a type of item, I try to review a LOT of different brands! From over a dozen reusable sandwich bags to over 120 natural mineral sunscreens, I’m your girl for straight-up info about natural, real foodie items you’re considering buying.
Click here to see more product reviews and you’ll also love my resources page, with REAL products that have passed my rigorous testing enough to be “regulars” in the Kimball household, plus some other comprehensive reviews. Updated at least once a year to boot the losers and add new gems!
Since I still use the microwave, I’ve been storing food on on “real dishes” to reduce the plastics. Guess I need to investigate losing the microwave!
I subscribe via email.
.-= Susan´s last blog ..Tuesday’s Toolbox =-.
I follow you (midwest mama)
.-= Susan´s last blog ..Tuesday’s Toolbox =-.
I too have been trying to rid myself of plastic containers, but with four little ones glass sometimes just doesn’t work well. It would be great to be able to have something to send with dd who has hours to spend at the dance studio and needs to keep fueled.
I subscribe. ; )
Would love containers that dry and won’t drip over everything—that it a major pet peeve of mine. I’m just learning about the dangers of plastics…I’ll be a hard convert, though, it’s so easy to throw away those plastic containers when something’s been left too long in the fridge.
.-= Susan´s last blog ..Tuesday’s Toolbox =-.
I, too am trying to get the plastic out. I would love to try stainless steel containers. They would be much more sturdy than packing glass in the lunchbox! Count me in!
I am a subscriber.
HI! I am a friend of Beth’s from FPF. I posted over there, but I wanted to add that I now use to-go ware or glass for my lunch. These stainless stell containers would be a great addition to my kitchen storage as I am trying to get rid of the plastic!
Love my Klean Kanteen-use it daily and plan to purchase one soon for my baby boy! Rated #1 awhile back in Reader’s Digest. 😉
Thanks for this inspiring post. I’d love to be entered into your giveaway. Being the mom of three (nearly four) kids, I loved seeing the stainless steel cup, which is such a lovely alternative to plastic, and less frightening than glass. I’m almost certain that Mr. Rogers used to have some of these at his house! I was also inspired by the stainless steel sippy cup — just like the stainless steel water bottles that we’ve started the switch to!
This is just what I needed this week! I subscribe to Organizing Your Way and that’s how I found you. We’ve been working a lot this past year on greening our home…using less paper products, homemade cleaners, non-toxic soaps, etc but this is one I have yet to take the plunge on. Thanks for the great advice.
Oh, and I’m going to subscribe now : )
.-= Paula@Motherhood Outloud´s last blog ..Eating At Home Without Going Insane! Part 1 =-.
I am just learning about plastics and trying to come up with alternatives. I really like the stainless steel idea.
I subscribe via email.
I also use the Klean Kanteen and love it! My question is: do the containers dent easily. I have a couple of stainless steel water bottles made by another company and my 2 yr old (BOY!) had made lots of dents in the side – not a big deal if the containers dent, but just curious! Thanks!
Tip for getting rid of the plastic: if you buy from local farms in SERIOUS bulk (20 – 50 lbs. of, say, spelt berries… 🙂 ), you could get it in a big paper sack instead of any plastic! I believe the same is true at health food stores, if you buy in 20 lbs. or more quantities.
.-= Kate´s last blog ..Baby Steps in Personal Care, part 3 =-.
I subscribe.
These would be great. Thanks for a chance at them.
I like the bags at Life Without Plastic! I’m trying to replace my bulk bags now!
.-= Kate´s last blog ..Baby Steps in Personal Care, part 3 =-.
I follow you on Twitter and I tweeted this giveaway.
.-= Kate´s last blog ..Baby Steps in Personal Care, part 3 =-.
I subscribe to you.
.-= Kate´s last blog ..Baby Steps in Personal Care, part 3 =-.
Hi Katie,
I subsbribe via e-mail. I also wanted to pass on this link for tempered glass dishes for kids: http://www.zoebonline.com/kidishes-kid-friendly-tempered-glass-duralex.html. I haven’t bought them yet (want to so bad!), but I think they had a great review from Mothering magazine. Thanks!
I’m subscribed to your blog!
I have been trying to switch over to glass instead of plastic. The weight of the glass is a bit annoying when I’m trying to bring something with me. The stainless steel sounds great!
Katie,
I LOVE my KKs. Each member of my family has one. And I, too, have been known to leave them around for, um, days…(and that’s only sometimes because my toddler hides them from me) and let the kids drink the water still. It’s safe!
As for the “hot food container,” THANK YOU! I did not know about this. We don’t ever use a microwave at home, it’s in the basement. And we switched my husband’s lunches into the Pyrex a few months back (his hair actually stopped growing on top because he was heating plastic in the microwave at lunch!! It’s growing now that he uses glass) but he still uses the microwave at work because we couldn’t find a better solution. We talked awesome thermos (stainless steel, of course), hot plates, etc. and nothing. This might be it!!
.-= Kate´s last blog ..Baby Steps in Personal Care, part 3 =-.
The kids’ dishes at Life Without Plastic would be a great answer to my issues with my kids’ current dishes.
Recently, I’ve been wondering about the safety of eating from plastic containers and my kids from plastic dishes. Thank you for this post. I’d love to try the stainless steel storage containers.
I agree with you that it can be hard to justify the cost of stainless steel containers. They do make great gifts though. Instead of buying someone another knick-knack, give a durable, reusable stainless food container!
I subscribed via email!
i am already a subsciber and would love to win this giveaway. Any Suggestions on how to store freezer things in the freezer. ie homemade jams, leftovers, produce frozen for winter, etc….?
I subscribe! This stuff is so daunting!!! 🙂
I switched my kids, 7 and 4, to glass drinking cups a couple of months ago. They haven’t broken any so far. In that same time period, I’ve broken 5. Now, I need to throw away the old plastic ones.
I love the divided plate!
I also sent that I would like a VERY large dough bowl! I make a large refrigerated dough recipe but the only bowls large enough to accomodate the dough are always plastic! I hate that!
I’m an email subscriber now–thanks to this particular topic actually!
I’ve been slowly cutting down on plastics, but no where near as well as y’all…you are an inspiration! My only problem is, I love glass…but stainless steel bothers me, I can taste a difference in the food and that makes me wonder if it’s truly safe.A
I would like to see Life without Plastic make a big mixing bowl with the stainless steel airtight lid. When I make bread dough that sits in the fridge overnight, I am supposed to cover it with saran wrap–which ends up touching the dough as it rises. It would also be great for chilling up ingredients to make homemade ice cream!
I already subscribe to your posts via e-mail!
I cringe at the mound of air-tight lock n’ lock plastic food storage containers that I spent so much money on–but I cringe even more at the thought of plastic leaching into my food!
I already subscribe to Kitchen Stewardship via RSS. Thanks!
I’ve just started thinking about replacing plastic, but have been cringing at the expense. Great giveaway – and I love the kids’ dishes on the Life without Plastic site… I’ve been wondering how to reduce plastic with little ones!
The non-plastic toys are awesome. It’s unbelievable how many plastic toys we use!
I linked this via my blog! 🙂 http://1prayingmom.blogspot.com/2010/04/check-it-out.html
.-= Stacey´s last blog ..Check It Out! =-.
I love the stainless steel kid dishes with the animals on them.
I subscribe!
THese look great!
I subscribe on google reader.
I have a bunch of glass and ceramic dishes with lids that I hadn’t even thought about using for leftover storage until reading these posts!
I love the idea of using stainless storage containers. We’re trying to remove all the plastics from our home in baby steps, but it’s a pricey venture. I definitely plan to get some glass baby bottles for the new bambina .
I am trying to get over the guilt over getting rid of all the tupperware and containers that I have either been given as a gift or have bought myself. It is my dream to be done with all the questionable plastic in my kitchen that comes in contact with food! It is a slow process, and not inexpensive. And then you have friends or family wondering of you are getting “fanatical”. I hate that! I prefer to live by example and not be preachy. I would love to win these containers and blog about them, too.