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!
I’ve been working on clearing out my plastic, and my Mom gave me a bunch of glass canning jars – those work great with soup and other leftovers!! I would love to try these stainless steel!!
Great giveaway! I just 2 days ago ordered some non plastic straws!
.-= Nana´s last blog ..Check out this Giveaway! =-.
I would love to try the kids stainless steel cups, just wondering how they hold up with the kids dropping them!
My best avoiding plastic tip, carry folded reusable bags in your diaper bag or large purse so you have them at every store.
I subscribe via e-mail.
I’m a brand new subscriber and am very interested in those stainless steel containers. I was attracted to your website because of the faith component—I very much look at environmental issues through a stewardship lens. My newest thing for getting away from plastic is I have just ordered reusable drawstring cloth produce bags for use at the co-op food bins (www.ecobags.com) and “Reusies” (www.reusies.com) to take the place of snack and sandwich bags. I hate washing plastic bags and I’m hoping this will make my life easier! I also get waxed paper sandwich bags at the c0-op and use waxed paper instead of plastic wrap.
I subscribe!
I am very interested in this product. The bowls, the cups… all of it- even the baby bottle you mentioned!
I stumbled this post.
.-= chanelle´s last blog ..Pig’s Head Torchon =-.
I subscribe via email.
.-= chanelle´s last blog ..Pig’s Head Torchon =-.
We have gotten rid of plastic water bottles and use stainless and glass jars. we also use glass jars (old spaghetti jars, etc.) for storage.
.-= chanelle´s last blog ..Pig’s Head Torchon =-.
I have been wanting to switch my kids’ plastic cups over to something else, but I knew I’d be picking up lots of broken glass if I went that route. Didn’t think of stainless steel! Thanks!
I’m a subscriber.
We are making the switch away from plastics too and I would love the chance to win some stainless steel containers.
.-= SuperMomNoCape´s last blog ..Independence Days Challenge – March 15th – 22nd =-.
We’ve found that storing leftover soup in a gallon jar works really well (we usually make enough for at least two meals at a time).
Those children’s dishes are so cute! The hot meal container sounds very useful, too.
I subscribed via email.
These look great! My mom and I recently began looking into the problems with plastic, and have been working to use less. One easy way we’ve done this is by using glass jars instead of plastic containers for a lot of our food storage.
I have looked at those stainless steel kids cups you mentioned many times, but have just had a hard time with the price. Instead I got some of the Duralex picardie glasses for the kids. We’ve already had one break after being dropped on the tile (another has survived a fall on the tile). Stainless is looking really good right now….
i subscribe via rss feed
We’ve made the switch to stainless water bottles and I make a concerted effort to bring my own shopping bag to avoid the plastic bags.
I would love to try the kids stainless steel cups…… they look wonderful….. and their toys look fun too!
.-= Jen´s last blog ..Chicken Tetrazzini =-.
I subscribe too…………
.-= Jen´s last blog ..Chicken Tetrazzini =-.
Oh- I would love to try these – love their website and have a number of things on my wishlist from there!
.-= Jen´s last blog ..Chicken Tetrazzini =-.
I would love to win this prize!
I have been weeding out the kids palstic drinking cups~ we still have some to go!
We used mainly glass (canning jars) to drink from!
I also get paper bags or use my reusable cloth bags when shoping (when I remember to bring them!)
Blessings,
Georgiann
Yesterday, I scored 2 glass canisters with metal lids and a glass juice pitcher at the thrift store for a grand total of $2.85 – goodbye to 2 more plastic flour storage containers & a plastic juice pitcher! Little by little, I’m getting rid of the plastic in the house.
I subscribe through google reader. Thanks!
.-= Deanna´s last blog ..Carlos O’Kelley’s Gluten Free Menu =-.
I subscribe via email. I just joined and I’m loving your site. Thanks for all the wonderful information.
I am subscribed to your blog by “following” it using Blogger.
The world of reduced plastic has been something I have been looking into the last few months. At first it seems too overwhelming as plastic is practically everywhere but step by step it is possible. I have been eyeing those stainless steel containers!
.-= Sara´s last blog ..Tossed the microwave. =-.
I subscribe through google reader. Thank you for all that you do.
I wish I were better at avoiding plastic. I’ve given it a lot of thought lately, but plastic wrap is SOOOO convenient – it’s my biggest weakness.
Blogged:
http://savenmaven.blogspot.com/2010/04/stainless-steel-container-giveaway.html
.-= Maria´s last blog ..Giant Eagle 4/8-4/14 =-.
I subscribed to your blog via rss reader.
.-= Kelly G.´s last blog ..Happy Easter =-.
I looked at Life Without Plastic to see what else interests me, well I haven’t looked at the rest of the products, but the blog itself.
I find it interesting how misinformed those people are and will not personally give my dollars, if I can help it, to those that shout so much environmentalism.
.-= Maria´s last blog ..Giant Eagle 4/8-4/14 =-.
Tweeted as Funny_Face
.-= Maria´s last blog ..Giant Eagle 4/8-4/14 =-.
I really have no questions since a group of homeschool moms and I have discuss plastic and glass, even using microwaves. 🙂 I still use plastic, but it gets reduced when I clean the fridge.
.-= Maria´s last blog ..Giant Eagle 4/8-4/14 =-.
Subscribed with Google
I subscrive via rss reader. Love your blog…
I love the Japanese wooden lacquerware at Life Without Plastic!!
I subscribe via email (but usually check in the morning – because I can’t wait until 1:15 for the email to arrive)
We are still taking baby steps in terms of plastic reduction. Hubby and I have talked about replacing some of the gladware with glass – but I am concerned about sending heavy glass in his lunch box. Stainless steal might be a good solution!
Just subscribed via email.
I have really been wanting to switch away from plastic after learning the dangers.
I’d love to win!
One way we’ve reduced our “output” for new glass containers is to recycle all small jars and bottles of incoming items: salsa jars are awesome to freeze leftovers in for my hubby’s lunches. Just remember to save the lids! *** Another bonus – the smaller glass jars from say jams or olives work great as drinking glasses for the kids (ages 4 and up) since they are usually thicker and stronger than store-bought drinking glasses. The most popular one today in our home is a hexagon-shaped jam jar with lovely grapes embossed around the top! (We live on a small farm so this “rustic” look is not so alarming to guests :). ..
I use a Kleen Kanteen for water, and canvas boat totes for groceries, and I got a set of Pyrex glass storage bowls for Christmas. They have plastic lids, but they don’t touch the food and I don’t put them on anything hot, so that will have to do. I also use a lot of mason jars if they fit the situation. But there’s always room for improvement!
I subscribe in Google Reader.
Oh, I would love some lightweight SS bowls. I need a boatload of small ones. I just checked my lunch bag – today I’m using FOUR of the Glad 1/2 cup containers and one 10-oz rectangular container for my lunch. I don’t have 1/2-cup glass, and it would be a whole lot heavier. My milk is in a mason jar, though. 🙂
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I subscribed to your blog via google reader.