Why you should throw away takeaway containers from restaurants
And should not (anymore) be reused
Say wine, snacks or haute cuisine and the food lovers of online food magazine FavorFlav know where to drink, how to eat and what to cook. This time serving: why you really should not (anymore) reuse takeaway containers from restaurants.
Are your kitchen cabinets also filled to the brim with plastic storage containers, especially those takeaway containers? I have a whole bunch that I keep after my home-delivered Thai curry. Handy for storing leftovers. But that turns out to be a very bad idea.
Because reusing takeaway containers is not so safe. Although the takeaway containers (just like Tupperware containers) are made of plastic and therefore seem harmless, there are a few important things you need to know.
Do not reuse takeaway containers
The well-known white and black containers are made of polypropylene (PP). This material is one of the most versatile plastics available. It is resistant to high temperatures and lightweight, making it ideal for those delivery meals. However, to ensure that this type of plastic works optimally, a number of chemical substances are needed. These are added to improve the properties.
Research
Multiple American studies have shown that those chemical substances are not really good for health. At high temperatures, there is almost always a chance that these substances will start to ‘leak’ and end up in the food. This also happens when you put the containers in the microwave to heat food. The more often you do that, the more fragile the material becomes and the greater the chance that the substances will leak. Something you definitely should not do is put the containers in the dishwasher in between. The high temperatures and the dish soap are also not good for the containers.
Conclusion
So if you have a leftover from your delivery meal and you want to eat it the next day, make sure to heat it up in a different container, preferably one made of glass. Those are the safest and also much easier to clean than those orange discolored plastic containers.
