5 Reusable Plastic Wrap Alternatives
Plastic wrap was a kitchen essential for me my entire life. I used it to wrap up almost everything. But with climate change, the problems with recycling and the inherent toxicity of all polymers, what I really needed were reusable plastic wrap alternatives.
Plastic Wrap Is Problematic
Plastic wrap is very handy, which is the reason it grew to be so popular in kitchens across the world. Like other plastic products, however, it has issues. One of those issues–the presence of plasticizers that are carcinogenic–has recently been (somewhat) corrected: most brands of plastic wrap, including Saran Wrap, are no longer made with polyvinyl chloride (PVC).
But the longstanding environmental problems with plastic wrap are mind boggling. American households use plastic wrap in tremendous quantities, and plastic wrap is not recyclable, because it gets caught in the recycling machinery.
A Plastic Wrap Mind Shift
In the past couple of years, as I made a conscious effort to remove all plastic from my kitchen (and bathrooms, and bedrooms, and entire home), I discovered that there are many easy alternatives to plastic wrap, and all I really needed to do was a little online research.
I invested in a few items: one package of beeswax wraps, three fabric bowl covers, reusable zip–top silicone bags, and compostable zip–top sandwich & snack baggies. Eventually, I ended up making my own Homemade Fabric Sandwich & Snack Bags with Velcro and Homemade Fabric Bowl Covers with elastic.
It’s been about a year now and in that time, I’ve not had any need to use plastic wrap. What I’ve learned is that the biggest part of changing to a plastic–free and zero waste lifestyle is the mindset: to break off with the idea that plastic is the only solution to any kitchen need.
This list of alternatives to plastic wrap is embarrassingly simple:
1. Plate On Top Of Bowl
It’s as easy as that. Skip the plastic wrap and put a plate on top of the bowl of leftovers.
2. Fabric Bowl Covers
Similar to #1 above is a fabric bowl cover. They can be made of plastic (they look like little shower caps). I prefer to go totally plastic–free, and so I made my own with fabric (leftover fabric scraps are good for this) and elastic, or buy them ready–made from a kitchenware store.
3. Beeswax Wraps
You can see my post for ways to Make Your Own Wax Food Wraps. These are reusable, moldable wrappers made of a cloth square covered in beeswax. Or you can buy them, affordably. I use them to top bowls of food and also to wrap a hunk of cheese or the end of a half–eaten cucumber or avocado. I was skeptical at first, but now I’m completely reliant on them.
4. Glass Container or Jar
For pungent leftover food like half of an onion that would ruin the flavor of all other foods in the refrigerator. Instead of sheathing it in plastic wrap, put it in a Mason jar with the top closed. Or a glass storage dish with cover.
5. Sandwich & Snack Bags
Plastic wrap is good at wrapping a sandwich and containing leaks, but compostable and silicone reusable sandwich bags are equally as serviceable. And you can easily make your own Homemade Fabric Sandwich & Snack Bags. They cut down on waste because they can be made from fabric scraps and can be reused countless times. Although they may require a wipe down at the end of the day depending on their soil level.
Here is the change in mindset: something worth saving is worth the trouble of washing. It’s a little bit of extra work but it has long–lasting health and environmental impacts.
Sources:
5 Reusable Plastic Wrap Alternatives
https://foodprint.org/blog/reusable-plastic-wrap-alternatives/
by Jerusha Klemperer 9/24/19