4 ms·

You Need Deli Cups

23 points by wglb 8y ago

justinator 8y ago
What do you use for tops of your deli cups? And I honestly don't believe plastic recycling works. If I have plastic in the kitchen, it's plastic that can be used again and again for years, at least.
nimbius 8y ago
You don’t want, like, five of them. You want a box of hundreds. I'll ring the landfill and let them know to expect them. Seriously though, Ive worked in food service before...deli cups? try resealing them after a week or two of use. Get ready for cracked lids and containers that cant be microwaved safely. they arent meant for repeat use. they stain frequently and cant be cleaned easily due to the grade of plastic used. You want steam table pans with lids for refrigerator storage, and a decent set of microwaveable plasticware to decant the contents into for meal prep. pro tip: if you want good bargains on grains or legumes, buy them 20+lbs at a time dry and pick up a few 5 gallon buckets from Home Depot. The buckets are automatically food-grade, and anything over 15lbs generally gets a managers override discount, especially at restaurant supply stores like cosco/smart and final.
- gregorymichael 8y ago
  You may have been using low-quality deli cups -- perhaps intended for single-use take-out orders. The high quality ones are reusuable for at least 6-12 months.
- gnicholas 8y ago
  > microwaveable plasticware I was of the impression that plastics are generally not good to microwave. Is this untrue? I have been using Pyrex containers and have generally been happy with them.
  - loggedinmyphone 8y ago
    http://www.osteopathic.org/osteopathic-health/about-your-health/health-conditions-library/general-health/Pages/plastics-microwaving.aspx http://www.osteopathic.org/osteopathic-health/about-your-hea... says "If a plastic product is determined safe for microwave use, then you will see either a microwave-safe symbol or written instructions indicating the product is microwave-safe. The numbering system found on plastics pertains to recycling and does not indicate whether or not the plastic is safe for heating. However, Dr. Danoff warns that not all microwave-safe products are safe to use in the microwave in the same way." No elaboration on this last point other than to say don't reuse tv dinner trays. Overall I prefer to microwave glass but I'd like to know for sure one way or the other.
- newnewpdro 8y ago
  > The buckets are automatically food-grade This is not true of orange Home Depot 5-gallon buckets. You must get the white ones made from virgin (unrecycled) plastic. They will have a sticker on them advertising they are safe for potable water use.
- PhasmaFelis 8y ago
  I've never seen plastic that is actually okay in the microwave. It's "microwave-safe" in the sense that it doesn't melt or emit nasty chemicals, but it always blisters and discolors if you nuke any liquid in it. I dump stuff into ceramic bowls if I want to microwave it.
dpeck 8y ago
I'll save you the search: https://smile.amazon.com/Pactiv-YSD2516-Squat-Combo-Container/dp/B00115MUVU https://smile.amazon.com/Pactiv-YSD2516-Squat-Combo-Containe... And yes, they're very useful and cheap (though we've always just reused ones from take out until they don't hold up anymore), my sons lunch often goes to school in them.
paraxion 8y ago
Screw yo' environment. I know that - at least where I live - plastic recycling is a "meh" proposition at best: some attempt will be made but chances are it's going to the landfill.
ottonomy 8y ago
My local recycling program no longer accepts almost all plastic recycling due to China blocking shipments because what they were getting from plastic container loads were too contaminated. No thanks!
- paleotrope 8y ago
  Just put it in the regular trash then.
  - jogjayr 8y ago
    So that it disintegrates to microscopic fragments and contaminates the water over decades?
  - dingaling 8y ago
    I'm not exaggerating when I say that your comment shocked me. If your municipal authority offers 'tours' of landfill facilities I'd urge you to sign-up for one. The scale is staggering. In Northern Ireland, with fewer than 2 million inhabitants, we have one of the highest recycling rates in Europe ( about 40% ) yet still 400,000 tonnes of waste goes to landfill very year. 200kg per capita The USA generates roughly twice as much waste per capita...
jtolds 8y ago
why is this here what is happening
- gregorymichael 8y ago
  For one thing, it was written by a top 3 most up-voted user on HN. It's also an incredible life-hack.
  - i000 8y ago
    What is "incredible" about using plastic containers to hold food?
    - devicenull 8y ago
      Just wait until you hear my life hack about using plastic to prevent things from getting wet.
  - khedoros1 8y ago
    It doesn't sound like an incredible life-hack. It sounds like more plastic crap that I don't have space for trying to take the place of more-durable things that I already possess, before failing and heading off to the landfill, thence eventually to the ocean.
  - King-Aaron 8y ago
    > incredible life-hack Forgive me if you could hear me rolling my eyes from here.
ericabiz 8y ago
This is one case where an image would definitely be worth a thousand words! I had to Google what these were.
boustrophedon 8y ago
You need deli cups if you like contributing to your local landfill.
mixmastamyk 8y ago
Needed to look up three terms while reading this: - Deli cup - the clear plastic containers used at the market or deli counter to hold cole slaw, etc. - Ramekin - a little ceramic bowl/dish to hold sauce, dressing, or food, etc. - Sterno - Can of alcohol gel set aflame under banquet trays to keep them warm. The more you know…
gregorymichael 8y ago
Huge +1 to this. Roommate worked in high-end restaurants and converted me. A $35, effectively unlimited supply of delicontainers is a life-changing addition to the kitchen.
PhasmaFelis 8y ago
I'm fond of plastic jars with screw-top lids (Rubbermaid brand?). They're sturdier and longer-lasting than these, and less likely to pop open and make a horrible mess if you happen to drop them.
Psilidae 8y ago
And while you're at at: every coffee maker should be a Keurig and buy only disposable utensils to save time washing silverware.

23 points by wglb 8y ago

What do you use for tops of your deli cups? And I honestly don't believe plastic recycling works. If I have plastic in the kitchen, it's plastic that can be used again and again for years, at least.

nimbius 8y ago

You don’t want, like, five of them. You want a box of hundreds. I'll ring the landfill and let them know to expect them. Seriously though, Ive worked in food service before...deli cups? try resealing them after a week or two of use. Get ready for cracked lids and containers that cant be microwaved safely. they arent meant for repeat use. they stain frequently and cant be cleaned easily due to the grade of plastic used. You want steam table pans with lids for refrigerator storage, and a decent set of microwaveable plasticware to decant the contents into for meal prep. pro tip: if you want good bargains on grains or legumes, buy them 20+lbs at a time dry and pick up a few 5 gallon buckets from Home Depot. The buckets are automatically food-grade, and anything over 15lbs generally gets a managers override discount, especially at restaurant supply stores like cosco/smart and final.

gregorymichael 8y ago
You may have been using low-quality deli cups -- perhaps intended for single-use take-out orders. The high quality ones are reusuable for at least 6-12 months.
gnicholas 8y ago
> microwaveable plasticware I was of the impression that plastics are generally not good to microwave. Is this untrue? I have been using Pyrex containers and have generally been happy with them.
- loggedinmyphone 8y ago
  http://www.osteopathic.org/osteopathic-health/about-your-health/health-conditions-library/general-health/Pages/plastics-microwaving.aspx http://www.osteopathic.org/osteopathic-health/about-your-hea... says "If a plastic product is determined safe for microwave use, then you will see either a microwave-safe symbol or written instructions indicating the product is microwave-safe. The numbering system found on plastics pertains to recycling and does not indicate whether or not the plastic is safe for heating. However, Dr. Danoff warns that not all microwave-safe products are safe to use in the microwave in the same way." No elaboration on this last point other than to say don't reuse tv dinner trays. Overall I prefer to microwave glass but I'd like to know for sure one way or the other.
newnewpdro 8y ago
> The buckets are automatically food-grade This is not true of orange Home Depot 5-gallon buckets. You must get the white ones made from virgin (unrecycled) plastic. They will have a sticker on them advertising they are safe for potable water use.
PhasmaFelis 8y ago
I've never seen plastic that is actually okay in the microwave. It's "microwave-safe" in the sense that it doesn't melt or emit nasty chemicals, but it always blisters and discolors if you nuke any liquid in it. I dump stuff into ceramic bowls if I want to microwave it.

dpeck 8y ago

I'll save you the search: https://smile.amazon.com/Pactiv-YSD2516-Squat-Combo-Container/dp/B00115MUVU https://smile.amazon.com/Pactiv-YSD2516-Squat-Combo-Containe... And yes, they're very useful and cheap (though we've always just reused ones from take out until they don't hold up anymore), my sons lunch often goes to school in them.

paraxion 8y ago

Screw yo' environment. I know that - at least where I live - plastic recycling is a "meh" proposition at best: some attempt will be made but chances are it's going to the landfill.

ottonomy 8y ago

My local recycling program no longer accepts almost all plastic recycling due to China blocking shipments because what they were getting from plastic container loads were too contaminated. No thanks!

paleotrope 8y ago
Just put it in the regular trash then.
- jogjayr 8y ago
  So that it disintegrates to microscopic fragments and contaminates the water over decades?
- dingaling 8y ago
  I'm not exaggerating when I say that your comment shocked me. If your municipal authority offers 'tours' of landfill facilities I'd urge you to sign-up for one. The scale is staggering. In Northern Ireland, with fewer than 2 million inhabitants, we have one of the highest recycling rates in Europe ( about 40% ) yet still 400,000 tonnes of waste goes to landfill very year. 200kg per capita The USA generates roughly twice as much waste per capita...

jtolds 8y ago

why is this here what is happening

gregorymichael 8y ago
For one thing, it was written by a top 3 most up-voted user on HN. It's also an incredible life-hack.
- i000 8y ago
  What is "incredible" about using plastic containers to hold food?
  - devicenull 8y ago
    Just wait until you hear my life hack about using plastic to prevent things from getting wet.
- khedoros1 8y ago
  It doesn't sound like an incredible life-hack. It sounds like more plastic crap that I don't have space for trying to take the place of more-durable things that I already possess, before failing and heading off to the landfill, thence eventually to the ocean.
- King-Aaron 8y ago
  > incredible life-hack Forgive me if you could hear me rolling my eyes from here.

ericabiz 8y ago

This is one case where an image would definitely be worth a thousand words! I had to Google what these were.

boustrophedon 8y ago

You need deli cups if you like contributing to your local landfill.

mixmastamyk 8y ago

Needed to look up three terms while reading this: - Deli cup - the clear plastic containers used at the market or deli counter to hold cole slaw, etc. - Ramekin - a little ceramic bowl/dish to hold sauce, dressing, or food, etc. - Sterno - Can of alcohol gel set aflame under banquet trays to keep them warm. The more you know…

gregorymichael 8y ago

Huge +1 to this. Roommate worked in high-end restaurants and converted me. A $35, effectively unlimited supply of delicontainers is a life-changing addition to the kitchen.

PhasmaFelis 8y ago

I'm fond of plastic jars with screw-top lids (Rubbermaid brand?). They're sturdier and longer-lasting than these, and less likely to pop open and make a horrible mess if you happen to drop them.

Psilidae 8y ago

And while you're at at: every coffee maker should be a Keurig and buy only disposable utensils to save time washing silverware.