Did you know that the amount of food wasted every year accounts for ⅓ of the food produced in the same year? Scientists and manufacturers are coming up with ways to lessen this amount and ensure that most food is consumed instead of thrown away. Of course, the most obvious way is to store your leftovers in food storage containers so you won’t be forced to finish all your food or throw it away. But what’s the best container to store your food in?
Here, we will compare the two most popular food canisters — acrylic and glass. Which container is better at keeping your food fresh? Find out below.
Table of Contents
Safety: Draw
Glass canisters are automatically the winner in safety because some plastics are more likely to leak chemicals over time. However, some BPA-free acrylic canisters are also designed to protect food the same way and make it safe for the owner. A BPA-free acrylic canister is as safe as a glass canister, but you must be more careful and specific in looking for it on the label when shopping for food canisters. You can also check out Pom Pom Party’s acrylic canister set: https://pompompartyshop.com/products/white-acrylic-canister-set
Durability: Draw
Glass can outlive several generations, as seen in several buildings. If durability is your main concern, glass is the automatic option. However, acrylic has also been proven to be competitively durable because they’re used in making storefront windows and greenhouses.
Glass and acrylic are equally durable materials for food canisters, so considering other factors is necessary. In terms of being used for years and even decades, glass canisters win in that category. In terms of surviving every drop and crash and coming out without a single chip, then acrylic canisters take the cake.
Fridge storage: Glass
All glass containers are freezer-safe and have tight, leak-proof seals to keep liquids from spilling. It is also the safest option when storing hot leftovers because you won’t have to worry about chemicals leaking into your food when you reheat the next day.
Convenience: Acrylic
An acrylic canister is much lighter and easier to carry around, which is why it’s the better option for food transportation. They also keep your food safe in case you accidentally drop your bag, unlike glass. They’re also more likely to have separate compartments for different parts of your meal.
Maintenance: Glass
Glass is dishwasher-safe and easier to clean. Even if you store food with pungent odors, it will go away immediately once you run it with water. Glass is also more scratch-resistant. In comparison, it’s more challenging to wash out the grease and remove the odors from acrylic containers because they’re more likely to absorb odors and stains. For light scratches on acrylic, these can be removed using grit soaking sandpaper.
Storage: Acrylic
A kitchen can easily get cluttered, so you have to find more efficient storing methods. The most obvious is to save space by stacking containers on top of each other. Because of how light and shatter-proof acrylic canisters are, they can easily be stacked together in one cupboard. However, you need to be more careful with glass canisters and avoid putting them on top of each other because they can slip and break easily.
Environmentally Friendly: Glass
Glass containers are made to last for several decades, but they are entirely recyclable if you decide to get rid of them. No part is unusable, and no amount will go unused. In comparison, plastic has a significant amount that is unrecyclable in most programs. Not enough plastic is being recycled compared to how much is being produced.
Cost: Draw
You’d think that glass would automatically be more expensive, but considering that acrylic has almost the same benefits as glass and uses more quality materials than simple plastic containers, they can have the same price range. Glass can be a bit more expensive if it has more advanced features, though the difference is not that significant.
Takeaway
In conclusion, choosing which food canister depends on which factors you value the most in keeping and storing your food. Glass has endless benefits, but acrylic can compete in terms of quality because most of them are BPA-free and chemical resistant. If you want the simple look and durability of glass canisters but also want the convenience and storage, opt for acrylic canisters.
