4 ms·

Just spitballing, but I wonder if switching to traditional retail actually hurt them. I checked them out at target and did not think they were much better than

Just spitballing, but I wonder if switching to traditional retail actually hurt them. I checked them out at target and did not think they were much better than the other stuff on the shelf. Years of mystique built up by the ladies in my extended family evaporated by a 45 second interaction. Personally I prefer glass anyways, since I can avoid all the problems plastic may have and the spaghetti wont stain it.

dyauspitr 2y ago
People are hopefully just avoiding plastic containers.
- TimTheTinker 2y ago
  Yes - They should pivoted into other more environmentally friendly (and less potentially toxic) materials. They could have gotten ahead of this with some foresight. Always at least have some budget for R&D, no matter how successful you are.
linsomniac 2y ago
We tried switching from plastic to glass a few years ago and while I liked the idea, the execution was terrible. The biggest issue was simply storage efficiency. They don't nest nearly as well as the plastic containers, so our drawer was always a disaster and overflowing. The lids of the ones we got all cracked fairly quickly, so I bought some silicone replacements which are great but super expensive. Also, our family isn't careful enough for glass containers, we had a lot of breakage. IMHO you can't beat those cheap plastic clear containers with blue lids: They nest really well, you can see into them, they last a long time... They're sold under a number of brands: ZipLock, Glad...
- hmmm-i-wonder 2y ago
  We switched to glass and never looked back. We had the space to store them without issues. Previously we had started hand-washing the plastic Tupperware/Ziplock containers because of warping in the dishwasher. They also stained and discoloured and no matter how much cleaning hand or machine wouldn't go back to looking clean. We still hand-wash the plastic lids but the glass goes into the dishwasher. Now we have no more warped lids or containers. The containers are microwave safe. We also don't have breakage issues we haven't broken one in 5+ years. To each their own I guess. My glass/steel dishes are vastly outlasting any plastic ones I've ever owned and are more enjoyable to use.
  - linsomniac 2y ago
    Interesting, we haven't had any issues with the plastic containers warping in the dishwasher, and I'm firmly of the opinion that we only have things that can go in the dishwasher. However, we only put them on the top (glasses) rack, with the rare exception. As far as discoloration, that seems to largely be an issue caused by using the storage containers in the microwave, 3-4 years ago we stopped doing that to reduce the chemical leaching from plastic into food (which seems to be much higher at higher temps). Agreed that some people will have no issue with breakage, but in our family that was a serious problem. We probably broke half the containers in 2 years, and as I understand it, broken glass isn't recyclable. So, I guess the plus is that it's a more stable chemical compound in the landfill, but it's still going to the landfill. So it becomes a question of: Glass in landfill or plastic that we can reuse longer.
    - jszymborski 2y ago
      > broken glass isn't recyclable Super curious as to why that might be the case. Isn't breaking glass the first part of recycling? Perhaps it's a safety issue?
      - unsnap_biceps 2y ago
        My recycling is picked up by a truck with an arm. It goes high up and is dumped into the truck and you can hear the glass breaking as it falls. Maybe it's different elsewhere but I can't imagine mine gives a hoot if it's pre-broken or not.
      - linsomniac 2y ago
        I've wondered about whether the handling of the recycling container ends up with significant amounts of broken glass. According to this page (echoed on other pages) you are on the right track with the safety issue, but also they aren't equipped to separate the glass fragments from other recycling. https://recyclecoach.com/blog/is-broken-glass-recyclable/ https://recyclecoach.com/blog/is-broken-glass-recyclable/
      - BrandoElFollito 2y ago
- amluto 2y ago
  The downvotes here are silly. Glass containers are conceptually great. Many of the actual designs are quite bad. Little glass chips in the drawer are not at all rare. Maybe someone should try to design a dishwasher safe container that is silicone on the outside and glass on the inside. Silicon compounds can adhere covalently to glass, so this should be possible.
  - linsomniac 2y ago
    Interesting idea. Or maybe it could just be made out of a harder silicone? Or maybe stainless steel? Though I guess both of those would have an additional problem: You can't see what's in them. In our family, something going into an opaque container in the fridge is nearly guaranteed to end up getting thrown away, though in particular that's a problem for ingredients (rather than prepared foods): if I can't see the chopped onions or half can of crushed tomatoes, I'm gonna forget to use them.
  - kelipso 2y ago
    Pretty sure silicone will release compounds into the air when microwaving just like plastic does.
    - amluto 2y ago
      Silicone is noteworthy for being stable at quite high temperatures. If you’re worried about plastics offgassing in a microwave, take a look at what the inside of your microwave is made from.
rhplus 2y ago
Another glass convert here. Being able to go straight from fridge to oven/microwave to dishwasher without worrying about warping or microplastics leeching is the big sell. Easier to clean by hand, no sticking or staining. Plus they look nice enough even serve food in.
mhuffman 2y ago
I have switched to (cup-style) deli containers for 90% of food storage now. They are cheap, stack great, hold up well if you drop them, and easy to wash and store.
bradly 2y ago
Post-covid, take out containers have replaced most my non-glass food storage options. You order a ~$9~ $14 pad thai and they are just giving you tupperware now.

dyauspitr 2y ago

People are hopefully just avoiding plastic containers.

TimTheTinker 2y ago
Yes - They should pivoted into other more environmentally friendly (and less potentially toxic) materials. They could have gotten ahead of this with some foresight. Always at least have some budget for R&D, no matter how successful you are.

linsomniac 2y ago

We tried switching from plastic to glass a few years ago and while I liked the idea, the execution was terrible. The biggest issue was simply storage efficiency. They don't nest nearly as well as the plastic containers, so our drawer was always a disaster and overflowing. The lids of the ones we got all cracked fairly quickly, so I bought some silicone replacements which are great but super expensive. Also, our family isn't careful enough for glass containers, we had a lot of breakage. IMHO you can't beat those cheap plastic clear containers with blue lids: They nest really well, you can see into them, they last a long time... They're sold under a number of brands: ZipLock, Glad...

hmmm-i-wonder 2y ago
We switched to glass and never looked back. We had the space to store them without issues. Previously we had started hand-washing the plastic Tupperware/Ziplock containers because of warping in the dishwasher. They also stained and discoloured and no matter how much cleaning hand or machine wouldn't go back to looking clean. We still hand-wash the plastic lids but the glass goes into the dishwasher. Now we have no more warped lids or containers. The containers are microwave safe. We also don't have breakage issues we haven't broken one in 5+ years. To each their own I guess. My glass/steel dishes are vastly outlasting any plastic ones I've ever owned and are more enjoyable to use.
- linsomniac 2y ago
  Interesting, we haven't had any issues with the plastic containers warping in the dishwasher, and I'm firmly of the opinion that we only have things that can go in the dishwasher. However, we only put them on the top (glasses) rack, with the rare exception. As far as discoloration, that seems to largely be an issue caused by using the storage containers in the microwave, 3-4 years ago we stopped doing that to reduce the chemical leaching from plastic into food (which seems to be much higher at higher temps). Agreed that some people will have no issue with breakage, but in our family that was a serious problem. We probably broke half the containers in 2 years, and as I understand it, broken glass isn't recyclable. So, I guess the plus is that it's a more stable chemical compound in the landfill, but it's still going to the landfill. So it becomes a question of: Glass in landfill or plastic that we can reuse longer.
  - jszymborski 2y ago
    > broken glass isn't recyclable Super curious as to why that might be the case. Isn't breaking glass the first part of recycling? Perhaps it's a safety issue?
    - unsnap_biceps 2y ago
      My recycling is picked up by a truck with an arm. It goes high up and is dumped into the truck and you can hear the glass breaking as it falls. Maybe it's different elsewhere but I can't imagine mine gives a hoot if it's pre-broken or not.
    - linsomniac 2y ago
      I've wondered about whether the handling of the recycling container ends up with significant amounts of broken glass. According to this page (echoed on other pages) you are on the right track with the safety issue, but also they aren't equipped to separate the glass fragments from other recycling. https://recyclecoach.com/blog/is-broken-glass-recyclable/ https://recyclecoach.com/blog/is-broken-glass-recyclable/
    - BrandoElFollito 2y ago
amluto 2y ago
The downvotes here are silly. Glass containers are conceptually great. Many of the actual designs are quite bad. Little glass chips in the drawer are not at all rare. Maybe someone should try to design a dishwasher safe container that is silicone on the outside and glass on the inside. Silicon compounds can adhere covalently to glass, so this should be possible.
- linsomniac 2y ago
  Interesting idea. Or maybe it could just be made out of a harder silicone? Or maybe stainless steel? Though I guess both of those would have an additional problem: You can't see what's in them. In our family, something going into an opaque container in the fridge is nearly guaranteed to end up getting thrown away, though in particular that's a problem for ingredients (rather than prepared foods): if I can't see the chopped onions or half can of crushed tomatoes, I'm gonna forget to use them.
- kelipso 2y ago
  Pretty sure silicone will release compounds into the air when microwaving just like plastic does.
  - amluto 2y ago
    Silicone is noteworthy for being stable at quite high temperatures. If you’re worried about plastics offgassing in a microwave, take a look at what the inside of your microwave is made from.

rhplus 2y ago

Another glass convert here. Being able to go straight from fridge to oven/microwave to dishwasher without worrying about warping or microplastics leeching is the big sell. Easier to clean by hand, no sticking or staining. Plus they look nice enough even serve food in.

mhuffman 2y ago

I have switched to (cup-style) deli containers for 90% of food storage now. They are cheap, stack great, hold up well if you drop them, and easy to wash and store.

bradly 2y ago

Post-covid, take out containers have replaced most my non-glass food storage options. You order a ~$9~ $14 pad thai and they are just giving you tupperware now.