I Replaced My Discolored Plastic Food Containers with This Elegant and Versatile Non-Toxic Glass Set from Caraway
This stylish set is free from harmful chemicals, won't leach microplastics into your food, and can go from your freezer to your oven and onto the table with ease
No matter how hard you clean, sometimes plastic food containers will bear the marks of the contents you stored in them. That frustrating surface porosity that sees tomato sauces and oily food discoloration stubbornly remain despite your efforts can be a telltale sign of poor quality and potentially, microplastic leaching.
To keep my family safe from the carcinogenic and hormone-disrupting chemicals found in some plastic food containers, I switched over to an elegant, non-toxic ceramic-covered glass Caraway set, with peekaboo lids and silicone seals for air-tight meal, food prep, and leftovers storage. They go from freezer to oven or microwave safely, too, meaning I need fewer items to do all of these daily tasks.
I haven’t touched another food container since, making this one of the best kitchen swaps I’ve made this year, alongside my non-toxic cookware upgrades.
Why I Love the Versatile Glass and Ceramic Caraway Food Container Set
Available to purchase in multiple colors, this dishwasher, microwave, freezer, and oven-safe food container set has brought ease and functionality to my batch cooking, meal prep, and leftovers. Made of durable glass, coated with colorful ceramic, and with handy viewing windows, these are the ultimate food storage upgrade for the health-conscious home cook.
I’ve been using these daily in my home for three months now, and the air-tight seals keep things fresh for longer, whilst the versatility of being able to go from counter to freezer to oven means I use up fewer dishes during meals.
Plus, they’re pretty enough to be straight to the dining table, saving me decanting into serveware. I have the 'Perracotta' set, available from Caraway directly, though you can also pick up individual ones there and from Amazon. Their Dot & Dash inserts are handy too, if you'd like to keep your sauce separate.
It’s worth noting, however, that the lids are not oven or microwave-safe, so I use my IKEA BPA-free plastic microwave lid to keep things clean on quick reheats, or use an oven-safe cover such as aluminum foil.
I've Been Testing the Caraway Set at Home for Months
I've used the Caraway set in 'Perracotta' at home for months, and have found them to be exceptionally non-stick and easy to clean, and even after baking food in the oven, there was no need to put the food containers in the dishwasher. Even baked-on food slid off with warm water and a soapy sponge.
I have used these to store fresh products such as chopped cabbage, leafy greens, as well as marinating proteins overnight and cooking in the oven. I have stored leftovers in them in the fridge and my freezer, and they've gone from freezer to microwave or oven (safe up to 450° Fahrenheit) without issue.
The lids cannot be used in the oven or microwave, but this isn't even a minor inconvenience. I just use aluminum to cover oven-baked meals, or an anti-splatter microwave lid, which is BPA-free, available at Amazon.
I use only silicone utensils, as otherwise, the ceramic coating is at risk of being scratched. I replaced all my toxic plastic utensils with a 33-piece set from Amazon, which comes with a holder to protect this set and my non-toxic Our Place 11-Piece Essentials Pan Set, which I recently reviewed and loved.
The Materials That Make This Non Toxic and Durable
The Caraway set comes in multiple trendy colors, pictured is 'Mist', with Dip & Dash inserts available for holding sauces separately from the food you're storing, making them perfect for non-toxic lunch prep
Caraway is known for its non-stick, non-toxic cookware, and these food storage containers are no exception. The body is made of borosilicate glass, which is highly temperature-resistant, and covered with their PTFE-free, PFAS-free, BPA- and BPS-free non-toxic ceramic coating. Simply put, when I’m using these to store or heat my food, there is no harmful chemical secretly leaching into my meals.
Chiana Dickson, our resident non-toxic expert and Kitchen Appliances Editor at Homes & Gardens, says, ‘BPA plastic might seem innocuous, but several studies have traced an association between BPA exposure and cancer and hormonal disruption through both respiratory and gastrointestinal exposure.
'Although more long-term studies are needed to confirm the specifics of their effects on our bodies, it is far safer to avoid them, opting for non-toxic alternatives such as glass. Plus, they are more beneficial for the environment, making it a safe win-win.'
In 2021, the European Food Safety Authority slashed the tolerable daily intake of BPA (a microplastic) by 20,000-fold to 0.04 nanograms per kilogram of body weight. In 2023, the final draft settled on a tolerance level of 0.2ng. This still means that the EU safety limit has been slashed, whilst US exposure, and the average daily intake of US consumers of 200 nanograms per kg of body weight a day, means exposure is startlingly higher.
As a person who is chronically ill, this remains a very important goal in my home. I have been meticulously swapping out toxic items from my kitchen, including upgrading to one of the best non-toxic air fryers and switching to safe or natural materials such as bamboo, to limit the risk of ingesting harmful substances. Investing in quality pieces you'll reuse for years to come is one of many ways to make your home sustainable and healthier.
What to Shop
That’s why I’m on a mission to limit the exposure in my home. Premium materials often come at a premium price, but having a mix of excellent cookware and versatile, safe food storage and accessories will reduce the risk of microplastics and toxic chemicals ending up in your food.
The versatility of the Caraway Food storage set, which comes with a sleek organizer for easy storage, will also leave your cabinets decluttered and streamlined. But if your budget or needs vary, I have selected some safe alternatives to help you clear out plastics from your kitchen and enjoy the same versatility.
All prices were correct at the time of publication.
This 17-container set with lids is made from high-quality, BPA-free borosilicate glass for durability and safety for food storage. The lids are air-tight and have removable silicone seals for easy cleaning and to avoid mold building up underneath. Safe for use in the oven, microwave, dishwasher (lids off), and freezer.
Silicone means no toxic elements. These space-saving food containers have attached lids that collapse down when not in use. Store lunches, leftovers, batch-cooked meals, or prepped vegetables and fruit for your midday meals with ease.
I use this dishwasher-safe silicone set on constant rotation for freezing food portions in the brick-stacking method to save space and time when defrosting and reheating. This set includes 2-cup, 1-cup, half-cup, and 2 tbps portions, with steel rims for durability and easy loading.
Dishwasher safe and reusable hundreds of times, you can say goodbye to plastic baggies for your lunch or snacks. The stand-up design makes it easier to load or keep in the fridge. They're easy to wash and reduce the need for one-use products at lunch.
Organize your cooking and baking essentials effortlessly with this 105-ounce glass storage canister that is non-toxic. I like to keep my salad toppers in my glass canisters for retaining that crunch, as they are air-tight and I can easily keep track of low stock.
Made from bamboo, a fast-growing resource that is kinder to the planet, this minimalist fruit and vegetable storage tower will help you say goodbye to any plastic stands currently doing the task in your kitchen. The bottom layer has a roll-on lid for storing root vegetables in the dark to prolong their shelf life.
Our expert kitchens team spoke to expert toxicologists to understand the terminology often used by manufacturers and devised a thorough and easy-to-understand guide the cookware labels to question.
