Choosing the Right Food Storage Equipment

Whether you're on a quest to prevent food waste or you want to store emergency foods more efficiently, plastic, glass, and metal containers can do the job. But some food containers are safer and last longer than others when it comes to personal and environmental health. Long-term food storage is an important aspect of emergency preparedness and it can be difficult to manage food reserves for extended periods of time, so consider adding our MREs to your food storage kits to be fully prepared for every situation.

For those interested in the easiest ways to safely store foods for extended periods of time, we’ve put together the most important tips for storing and preserving foods.

•    Know the code. On the bottom of plastic food storage containers, you’ll find a tiny triangle with a number in it (resin identification code) ranging from 1 to 7, indicating the type of plastic. In general, the safest choices for food use are numbers 1, 2, 4 and 5. That's because number 3 is vinyl or polyvinyl chloride (PVC), 6 is polystyrene and 7 can be various plastics. Some plastic containers with the resin codes of 3 and 7 may contain Bisphenol-A (BPA).

•    Go BPA free. BPA is a chemical used in manufacturing polycarbonate plastics and epoxy resins, including some food packaging. Since BPA can leach from plastic containers into foods and beverages, especially when the containers are heated, it may pose a potential risk to the environment and your health, notably your children's health.

•    Keep it cool. Though polycarbonate plastic is strong and long-lasting, it can break down over time from high temperatures and overuse. Never microwave foods in plastic food containers, including margarine tubs and restaurant carryout containers. Plastic containers from packaged microwavable meals shouldn't be reused after their initial use; they're safely designed for one-time-use only.

•    Recycle as appropriate. Not enough people are doing this! According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the U.S. only recycled about 14 percent of plastic containers and packaging in 2012. Nearly 12 million tons was disposed! This can contribute to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, impacting the health of the environment.

•    Go with Glass. Glass is overall a safer bet for food storage than plastic. Glass can be safely used for hot foods or liquids. (Ceramic, stoneware or stainless steel containers can be safe bets, too.)

•    Use and reuse. You can reuse glass containers since they don't pose harmful risks to environmental or personal health. They don't leach potentially harmful chemicals when in contact with food.

Canned Foods

And canned food, in particular, can stay safe for extended periods of time. In 1974, scientists at the National Food Processors Association in Washington, D.C., got their hands on several old cans of food. Janet Dudek, now semi-retired and living in Vienna, Va., was among the scientists who analyzed this old food. Her assignment was a can of corn, vintage 1934, that was found in someone's basement in California. When they opened the can, Dudek says, the contents looked and smelled pretty much like ordinary canned corn. Analysis showed that it had most of the usual complement of nutrients — although there were lower levels of a few, such as vitamin C. 

Results were similar for century-old canned oysters, tomatoes and red peppers in cans recovered from a sunken steamboat, buried in river silt near Omaha, Neb. Dudek says, as far as she knows, nobody actually tasted this food. That just wasn't done, she says. But they probably could have. "It would have been safe to eat if the can itself maintained its integrity," she says.

Following these simple guidelines for food storage can save you time, money and keep your family save from harmful plastics or spoiled food when it matters most. Make sure your family is prepared with emergency MREs and proper food storage equipment from Hikingware.com today!