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 follow you on twitter and tweeted: http://twitter.com/SoapsbySonia/status/11914411383
I love the Children’s 5-Piece Japanese Wooden Lacquerware Set!
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We are using cloth grocery bags, and even some produce bags. We have some stainless steel and glass containers for storage, too. I even recently bought stainless steel straws and a stainless steel cup for our youngest when he starts using a cup (I dont want to give him glass just yet! 🙂 )
The other thing I find interesting about Life Without Plastic is the background info about the materials they use. I appreciate that they explain the reasons behind their usage and don’t condescend to their customers. A lot of natural food/family/etc movements seem to rely too much on what somebody read somewhere instead of primary source information.
My idea for Life without Plastic is not original, but I have seen stainless steel straws sold elsewhere (they look like bendy straws but do not actual bend, they are permanently shaped that way). If only they could make them bend!
I found the information about stainless steel very interesting. I never knew that stainless steel (at least the high quality type) doesn’t rust because it is self-healing! Very cool.
My tip for avoiding plastic (for kids at restaurants) is to bring your own dishes and cutlery.
I find that you are either stuck with full-size breakable or dangerous stuff like thin plates and glasses, or they serve everything to the kids on plastic or foam.
You can imagine how weird this would look for adults, but for some reason, no one bats an eye when you bring your own kid’s cups and plates and utensils.
Since plastic apparently lines disposable coffee cups, does that mean it lines milk cartons too? If so, how do I reduce my plastic consumption while still purchasing milk, which comes in either plastic jugs or plastic-lined cartons?
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I’ve been trying to reduce our plastic as well and get stainless steel dishes for my daughter, but am very interested int he glass ones as well. I stealthily discarded our plastic drinking glasses too, because my husband likes using them!
Storage containers have been a problem area for me as well, this seems like a neat solution… I have no idea you could use these on the stovetop! Talk about convenient for packaging up leftovers in meal-sized portions.
I subscribe to your blog via google reader
I rarely used plastic to store my food anymore, we use glass dishes mainly. However, I would love to give these a try.
Just a note to say that I like your blog very much. You share such interesting information and I especially like your “green” information. Plus I would love to win your giveaway of stainless stell storage containers.
Avoiding plastic tip: carry your waterbottle with you everywhere, including into casual gatherings with family and friends. You won’t have to use a disposable plastic cup (when it’s the only option offered) if you have your waterbottle with you!
I follow you on Twitter and tweeted about this giveaway
I like the childrens’ stainless steel cup with a handle (at Life without Plastic).
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I’m excited about this giveaway; what a neat product! I’ve reduced plastics use by purchasing two sets of the Pyrex bowls and packing leftovers in them for my husband to take to work (where he uses a microwave).
I had no idea how much plastic was in my home until this post! I do use a stainless steel water bottle, but freeze ice cubes in plastic trays and ice blocks in re-used plastic containers and use a big plastic water jug for the family water supply. Right now, the purchase of a stainless steel water jug would be cost prohibitive for me, but I will certainly put it on my wish list. I have begun using cloth diapers, but do not yet have the nice cloth wraps, so am still using the pins and plastic pants method, but I do hang them out on the line and I just re-purposed an old pop-cap water bottle for a wipes solution container and grabbed some old baby wash cloths to use as wipes. The solution recipe I used called for chamomile tea, honey and boiling water. I was out of chamomile, so used another mild tea and made sure the solution had cooled before pouring it into the plastic container. I re-purposed a glass baby food jar, by poking nail holes into the cap; making it into a baking soda shaker. I began using cloth napkins and used corelle dishes for lunch – even for the kids and when my 2 yr.old daughter flung her plate to the floor, it survived! I have used my microwave less…I have done at least a dozen things in just the last few weeks to be more “green” and to use resources more wisely. Thanks Katie, for all your good suggestions and your wonderful guest bloggers!
I subscribe to your blog via RSS and LOVE it! I’ve made several improvements in my family’s eating habits already, and we’re just getting started.
I asked for new glass containers for my birthday…my wonderful husband got them for me. The rest of my family didn’t think it was such a romantic gift – but it was just what I wanted!!
What I am most interested in besides the containers is the waterbottles. I recently purchased a couple insulated ones and hope to get some small sport top bottles for my lil girls!
http://staging.kitchenstewardship.com/2010/01/18/monday-mission-green-cleaners-resolutions/
I stumbled this post under “Cbrunette”. The chart in the post was really helpful!
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I followed you on Twitter and Tweeted:
http://twitter.com/VeiledGlory/status/11879447668
.-= Anna´s last blog ..Christ is Risen =-.
Will definately be buying these for grandchildren.
I posted this giveaway on my blog.
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as a mom of 4 (almost 5) I love all the kid dishes!
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I am working on buying more pyrex and using less plastic storage containers!
i am from india and as a family we have always used stainless steel containers and lunch boxes….coming to think of it we are a lot greener without even trying 🙂
.-= sudha´s last blog ..A school girl at the UN Environment summit – Rio =-.
I’ve been using glass in the microwave since a friend’s mother had cancer several years ago, but I could use some help with what to do about lunches that take leftovers! love your emails
I had no idea plastic was so bad for us. I am new at this, but just today I got rid of several plastic storage containers and replaced them with old glass jars. I also started storing our water in a glass pitcher today! I was proud of my first steps!
I stumbled on your blog!
I really would like one of the water jugs at Life with out Plastic, I find I drink more water when it sits on the counter at room temp, they are so much though…
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I replaced half of my beloved Lock& Lock plastic containers with glass.
The other half is still here because glass is not very portable.
I’d love to try stainless steel containers. Do they leak?
I am happy with my progress of reducing our plastic usage in our household. We no longer buy bottled water, bottled juice, liquid hand soap, deoderant or plastic bags! We use our resuable shopping bags! We are eating better and making good choices each and everyday. We also know we have a long way to go and look forward to learning new ways to do WITHOUT PLASTIC! You are such an inspiration.
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I’m very interested in reducing the plastic use in my family. These containers would be a great place to start.
I’ve been reusing glass jars to take food to work in. On the plus side, they don’t leak. On the minus side, I’m not sure the lids are BPA-free.
i’ve been so interested to try these type of stainless steel containers! i too use pyrex, or else one of my many stainless bowls with a piece of foil or plastic wrap on top (for the fridge) but think these look amazing! i’m particularly interested in their ease of use for the kiddos lunches, they can get the pyrex open, but often don’t shut it all the way and then there’s a mess inside their lunch bag when they get home!
i love the look of these tins, they remind me of the tiffin man in mumbai carrying all the home cooked lunches to the school children.
i’m slowly moving away from plastic too.
we don’t have many glasses so i’ve started drinking out of empty glass jars and if i use a plastic container for baked goods i line it first.
This would be a great one to win!
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I subscribe to your blog through Google Reader. I appreciate your research, perspective and recipes.
I love real glass and china plates- and I don’t drink out of the water bottles. I can’t say I am always good about not using plastic drinking cups, but I am still trying! I also emptied out all my plastic Tupperware spice containers and bought all new glass ones little by little through my friend’s co-op and just buy organic spices in bulk to fill them up.
Life without Plastic’s blog is very informative and inspiring. I wish I had known about these things when I was loving my Tupperware Parties!
.-= Nana´s last blog ..Check out this Giveaway! =-.
I just advertised the giveaway and your great (Catholic) blog on my blog. Come over and visit sometime!
I subscribe via e-mail.