apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

It took my husband and I 4 years to go through out first roll when we got our apartment together. So sparingly is my answer. It wasn't so much a conservation issue, but frustration with it and we always put our leftovers in our matching Chinese take out containers.

Haven't bought plastic wrap in years. If I run out of tupperware containers, I put leftovers in a bowl and cover it with a plate or a cloth napkin. (I can see how it's useful for baked goods, but so is tinfoil.)

I grew up with plastic wrap (not having being born before the 1950s) so I don't know life without it. I would like to eliminate it (along with plastic containers) from our household too, but what are some good alternatives? Like if I slice up half a tomato, what do I do to preserve the rest? We wrap our cheese in plastic wrap as well so they don't harden around the edges. What about that? It would have been nice if you offered some alternatives to plastic wrap usage in the article so I am not left wondering!

that ad reminds me that i'm no good at plastic wrap, particularly when i've got nail polish on. it sticks to everything but what i want to cover. like maffei, i've found that hanging on to takeout containers works better for me, but there are probably a few situations where i'd use it if i had it around.

Tupperware makes semi-globe-shaped keepers that hang off of your fridge shelves, perfect for halves of citrus, tomato, onion. I love mine. They're called "forget-me-nots". I also bought some of those "smart lidz" reusable plastic lids, and I don't think I've used plastic wrap since. They're not QUITE as awesome as they seem on TV - sometimes they lose their suction - but they still work at least as well as the wrap.

I know this sounds like an ad or something, but they were the last two puzzle pieces for me, to get out of the plastic wrap habit.

I can't remember the last time we bought plastic wrap (maybe 5 or 6 years ago?)...we use, wash and re-use plastic freezer and sandwich bags. We also keep plastic containers from things we buy and reuse those as tupperware.

Recycled brown craft paper works well for wrapping breads and such, too!

I grew up without plastic wrap in the late 70's early 80's - and have never bought it. We reuse recycled plastic containers and glass jars of varying sizes so we don't have to buy plastic containers, and like adventurejournalist, wash and reuse plastic bags.

I'm pretty good about reusing plastic containers (growing up, "tupperware" meant a cool whip container) and am trying to switch to glass refrigerator boxes. While I agree with re-using bread and freezer bags, I can't seem to get away from little plastic sandwich baggies, especially when bringing lunch to work. Any suggestions? Is foil better than plastic?

I am going to start buying or collecting (thrift stores maybe?) glass containers for leftovers, it's just the things I've mentioned before (cheese, tomatoes, onions, etc.) that kind of baffle me on what to do sans plastic (wrap or container)

m_j_s72- I've seen waterproof fabric sandwich wrappers that you can wrap your sandwich in and then when you open it up use it as a place mat. I can't remember where I saw them though! I'm sure they would be easy enough to make if you find appropriate fabric.

We put leftovers including cut tomatoes, onions, cheese, in glass containers and use parchment paper or wax paper for lunches. The paper works for sandwiches or pieces of cake or even cheese crackers. I wish there was a reusable alternative, though. Maybe we will try fabric next. We don't use plastic wrap. Don't have space for that and wax paper and foil.

No plastic wrap or bags for me! It was really pretty easy - just get enough tupper wear/pyrex in a variety of sizes to store everything I need. Done and done!

I find that there are a small number of tasks for which there is no good substitute to plastic wrap. Like chilling cookie dough or pie dough. Certain foods with a pudding texture need a layer of plastic wrap to sit on the surface to prevent a skin from forming. Occasionally I put plastic wrap over a large bowl of something that needs to be chilled. Normally, I just put a plate over the bowl, but sometimes you need the tighter seal, and it isn't always worth it to dirty up an extra tupper ware dish.

I pretty much only use plastic wrap when cooking for a holiday or some such event. I haven't bought a new roll in at least a few years, so eliminating plastic wrap seems far from my top priority.

I am much more concerned about ziploc bags, which I use tons of. There are some really great cloth alternatives for sale on etsy, but they are a little pricey. I am working up to building a collection.

Paper towels, on the other hand, I did away with no problem.

I avoid buying plastic wrap and plastic sandwich bags. However, though I try not to, I still end up with a ton of plastic grocery bags. I reuse them by cutting them into sheets and using those the way I would use plastic wrap. The only problem is that it's not see-through, so you have to remember what you have in your fridge.

I stopped buying plastic wrap at least a year ago and I don't miss it. Tupperware and glass containers work fine for me.

I think I've had the same roll of plastic wrap for 3 years, since I moved here. I sometimes use it for wrapping up dough that needs to chill (and try to reuse it a few times), but for everything else I use glass (or sometimes plastic) containers. If you get ones with a good seal, you don't need to wrap tomatoes, citrus, or onions in plastic wrap. I sometimes reuse the plastic bags that frozen vegetables come in with a clip for sandwiches and things like that.

If you're trying to cut down on your oil footprint, be careful with wax paper. Most popular brands on the market are made with our good old friend paraffin wax - that's right, a petroleum product.

Just look for soy-derived wax papers instead. They may not be at your regular grocery store, but you should be able to find them easily at stores like Whole Foods.

I happily use saran wrap, but come from a frugal family background so I only get about one roll a year. You don't need it often, but for some things it makes all the difference.

I do without... soy-based wax paper and parchment do a fine job of keeping things wrapped and preventing skin formation on puddings (and, if there's a skin formed, who cares... scrape it off! many people even like it as a snack). Many plate/bowl combinations from my ceramics collection actually make very tight fitting combinations for food storage. The other consideration, in doing away with plastic wrap, is food safety... I don't want soft plastics or petroleum-based products touching my food... and why would I want to keep leftovers in my fridge for days? I don't care to, I'd rather be cooking less, storing less, and eating the stored portion more quickly (so what use is plastic?). I honestly believe I purchased it for so many years because I bought the B.S. commercials were selling that it was a necessary product... it's not needed and I'm a professional baker so if I can work without it professionally I can certainly work without it at home!

I've found these wonderful shower caps ....

Reusable 1950s Vinyl Bowl Covers Are Still Better than Wasteful Plastic Wrap

http://www.vermontcountrystore.com/browse/Home/For-The-Home/Kitchen/Food-Storage/Vinyl-Bowl-Covers/D/30100/P/1:100:1030:10350:101180/I/f00449?evar3=SEARCH

There is a small but growing movement to bring back cellophane. *real* cellophane is derived from cellulose. It is 100% biodegradable and is great for storing food. While it is still something you would throw away, and thus should be used sparingly, at least it won't stick around in the land fill for very long. It's especially great for gifting food (like Christmas cookies).

Remember, people lived a long time without plastic. "I can't imagine life without it" is a pretty lame excuse. Just get creative-- it's good for your brain, too.

Ooh, love the cello idea, foodefafa.

I last bought plastic wrap in 2001, for a big party I threw. Had to work at using it up, which took seven years. I won't buy it again.

I do have some plastic sandwich bags that get used from time to time, but when they're gone that's it.

Storing leftovers in glass containers can't be bad, right? Remember butter in a glass covered butter dish ... don't eat it anymore but feel oddly nostalgic about that.

Here's a cellophane company based out of Portland, OR that I found out about when I lived there:
http://www.pak-sel.com/sub1.htm
The website is also very informative.

Look around and you'll be able to find it pretty easily, and you can always request that stores you frequent stock it. I think it would be great if farmer's markets had these available, or if these replaced plastic bags for bulk foods in grocery stores...

I do have a roll of plastic wrap, but I'm not sure when I last used it! I mostly use containers to store leftovers, and reuse bags for sandwiches, etc. I do occasionally buy zipper-type bags, but I only buy the heavier freezer ones. They are easy to wash and reuse over and over and over. I only throw them out when they've had raw meat in them (very rare, we aren't meatless, but definitely leaning that way), something that got really disgusting in the frig (OK, I could wash these, but...) or have so many holes that the sandwich crumbs fall out.

I'm also working my way through a box of "snack" sized bags, which are a pain in the neck! I thought I'd wean myself off buying small bags of snacks by buying big bags of whatever and making my own, but the bags are too small to really be useful and the zips don't zip well.

I love the cellophane idea, too! I had no idea that companies were still making the stuff. I'll have to ask around to see if anyone carries/would order some....

I use glass jars that things like jam and honey come in. There's a really good brand of French jam, Bonne Maman, which comes in a nice widemouth jar with a screw top, and the labels soak right off, they use water-soluble adhesive. Makes a great Tupperwear alternative. After many times thru the dishwasher the tops will begin to show rust freckles, when they do you just recycle the jar and lid and eat more jam to get a new one! Not too tough, it's really good jam.