4 Ways To Use Food Storage Containers Without Lids

Most households have a mysterious black hole where items such as socks, hair ties, and food storage container parts disappear․ Disappearing lids are particularly frustrating when you use the containers frequently. Instead of throwing out bowls that are missing their tops, you can repurpose them․ Alternative uses include holding chopped vegetables and serving salads․

Plastic food containers can last for up to a year, depending upon how heavily they're used, and glass has an even longer shelf life as long as it isn't cracked or broken. Damage, such as chips and scratches, makes containers unsafe for food storage because some materials release microplastics, which can get into your meals. Wash containers you want to reuse and sort them by size․ 

Chopped onions, cucumbers, and other vegetables likely take up too much space on your cutting board․ Keeping chopped vegetables in a container gives you more room․ Other small containers can help with measuring spices and various ingredients ahead of time․ Leave ingredients uncovered during active prep, but cover and refrigerate anything that needs chilling if you're saving it for later. Plastic wrap can create a tight seal to keep out airborne contaminants. 

Whisking eggs doesn't need to be done in a large bowl․ Small, lidless food storage containers can be used to whisk eggs to pour into a larger bowl of ingredients․ Select a whisk or spoon appropriate for the size of the bowl you're using․ Set the food storage container on a flat surface․ Have other essential kitchen tools available nearby to whisk and cook eggs quickly․

There's no rule that you need to eat lunch from a salad plate․ You can make green salads and fresh tomato and cucumber salads at home and eat them from a food storage container․ To share food with others, you can bring a container of salad and serving utensils to the table. Leave some empty space at the top of the container to prevent your salad leaves from falling onto the table․

Losing the lid won't prevent you from cooking with an oven-safe glass food storage container․ For safety information about cooking with food storage containers, consult the manufacturer's instructions․ Before baking with your container, be sure you're familiar with the vital tip you need to know before using glassware in the oven․ Place hot glass bakeware on a dry, heat-safe surface to cool. Don't put plastic containers in the oven.