Question from Stacy D
I would like to buy my son a stainless steel food container (preferally insulated) to use for packing school lunches. With so many brands, I’m not sure which to buy. Any suggestions? I’m looking for something bigger than the soup containers that I have been seeing in the stores. I want something that I can pack a mini-meal. I bought him a stainless steel water bottle (Thermos brand). When I was looking at them in the store I noticed a metal smell inside when opening them- Not sure if that will go away after washing. I ‘m trying to get away from plastic and do not want to pack his lunch in glass- in case he drops it. Is stainless steel the next best alternative after glass? I don’t want any metals leaching into his food!!!
Debra’s Answer
The metal smell doesn’t go away. Metals might leach from stainless steel containers more or less, depending on the acidity of the food.
Personally, after glass, I would choose a polyethylene plastic container over a stainless steel container. Polyethylene is very stable and does not smell or leach in my experience.
I no longer use stainless steel anything.
Is there a website or which brands do you recommend in general for packing hot lunches? And cold water to school?
This is a difficult question. I’m not packing lunches to school so I don’t have experience with this, nor do I know the school requirements. I know some schools don’t allow glass.
All the lists of “nontoxic” lunch packing ideas use stainless steel, which I don’t recommend.
So I honestly don’t know. I would pack a cold lunch. As an adult I would put the food in a glass jar and wrap the jar with a few bandanas.
I am looking for a non-toxic travel mug for hot tea.
Most are stainless steel lined with plastic lids.
Any suggestions?
Thankyou, Heather
Debra, I’m wondering if you or your readers have been able to locate a glass-lined thermos for food? I use glass for storing food at home, but I would like to find a thermos for taking food along when away from home, and to have that food stay warm (or cold, if needed). Depending on where we are going, I use glass dishes in a cooler bag with ice packs and such. But sometimes the situation isn’t really conducive to bringing all of that along; and for keeping meals warm, of course, the ice packs don’t do the trick. 🙂 Just wondering if there are any good thermos options available. I do have some stainless ones, and I haven’t put anything acidic (like chili, for instance) in them; I’ve so far only used them to store cheese and meat and other “dry” leftovers.
Actually Thermos brand still makes glass lined vacuum bottles. Here’s the page on their website: http://www.thermos.com/product_catalog.aspx?CatCode=BEVG
Polyethelene bottles would either be labeled #1 or #2 is there a prefenrence from the two? Im also curious as to why you haven’t listed polypropelene (PP #5) as an option? Although not as widely recyclable as #1 and #2, I would assume it would be more durable.
Thanks for your help!
COMMENT FROM DEBRA:
No reason not to mention polypropylene. Many food safe containers are made from PP.
Hello Debra!
I was wondering if using stainless steel that is 18/0 also leach metals into foods?
Thanks E.K.
COMMENT FROM DEBRA:
18/0 wouldn’t leach nickel because there is no nickel used to make it. But it would leach other metals.
Do you still recommend polyethelene over Stainless Steel for a thermos? I cant find one made from anything but plastic or SS. I love my glass lined one for tea but cant find that in a food jar size. I have also looked for ceramic with no luck. Thank you Debra!
COMMENT FROM DEBRA:
Yes.
Debra, do you still recommend polyethylene to be the safest choice for a thermos? I no longer use Stainless Steel for cooking & use glass lined insulated mugs for hot drinks…but I can not find any thermos type containers (for my son’s school meals) lined with any thing else but SS & plastic. I even looked for ceramic.
Thank you so much for being my favorite go-to non toxic resource! You have been the biggest influence in building a safer homestead for my family.
COMMENT FROM DEBRA:
You’re welcome. Yes, if you can’t use glass, polyethylene is the next best.