Patricia Ruggiero on wed 25 may 05

What do all of you use to store leftovers, and do you have different
containers for hot and cold foods? For example, if you make soup stock, =
how
do you store it?

Pat

Deborah Turton on wed 25 may 05

Pat,

I use the same containers for hot and cold food. I use plastic reusable
containers to freeze food in. With hot foods like stock, I usually use
an ice bath to cool it quickly and then freeze it.

Deborah

Patricia Ruggiero wrote:

Patricia Ruggiero on wed 25 may 05

Deborah wrote:

> I use the same containers for hot and cold food. I use
> plastic reusable containers to freeze food in. With hot foods
> like stock, I usually use an ice bath to cool it quickly and
> then freeze it.

Thanks, Deborah. The reason I asked is because some of my plastic
containers say they're not for hot food. When I investigated further, I
learned that's because heat can cause elements of the plastic to migrate
into the food. Which then got me to thinking about my all my *other*
plastic containers, and what I might not know about them.

Pat

Sue Jennings on wed 25 may 05

--0-1792181258-1117087752=:48971

I use glass storage bowls for left overs or tupperware. When I reheat I don't use any plastic anymore, but glass, ceramics or corning/pyrex types. I store rice, beans, etc. in glass canning jars with the glass lids and wire brackets ( don't remember what they are called. Sue

Patricia Ruggiero wrote:
What do all of you use to store leftovers, and do you have different
containers for hot and cold foods? For example, if you make soup stock, how
do you store it? Pat

--0-1792181258-1117087752=:48971

Mary Ann Mikulski on wed 25 may 05

In a message dated 5/25/05 7:01:45 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
ruggierop@EARTHLINK.NET writes:

<< What do all of you use to store leftovers, and do you have different
containers for hot and cold foods? For example, if you make soup stock, how
do you store it? >>

Depends how soon I'm going to serve the leftover. If it's going to be served
within the next couple of days, plastic wrap over a glass or china dish works
fine. If I'm going to freeze it, I use a plastic freezer container.

Mary Ann

Mary Ann Mikulski on wed 25 may 05

In a message dated 5/25/05 10:22:52 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
ruggierop@EARTHLINK.NET writes:

<< Thanks, Deborah. The reason I asked is because some of my plastic
containers say they're not for hot food. When I investigated further, I
learned that's because heat can cause elements of the plastic to migrate
into the food. Which then got me to thinking about my all my *other*
plastic containers, and what I might not know about them. >>

I think if you cool the food before you put it into the plastic containers it
should be alright.

Mary Ann

Susan Setzler on thu 26 may 05

Exactly the same as I. I Have had the containers for 25 to 30 years,
too I do not microwave in them, even the ones supposedly ok for nuking,
though. They are rigid plastic square containers. but I also use gallon
plastic freezer bags for fruit and loose vegetables. I dry them in a
spinner, after cooling them in a cold water bath, and freezer them in a
roasting pan and then put them in the bags, so as to keep them
separate, and I can take out as much as I want. I use the rigid
containers for tomatoes, spinach and other greens, sweet and sour
cabbage, soups and broths, and other wet stuff.

susan

Susan Setzler on thu 26 may 05

I put the soup kettle in the sink on a rack and run cold well water
around it, changing the water often until the soup is cool, then put it
in containers. You wouldn't want to put the hot stuff in the freezer
too soon anyhow, to warm the freezer.

Also side comment, My grandmother once made chicken broth or some such
at her church with all the other church ladies and they put the big
pots in the fridges and came back the next day and it was all spoiled.
because it didn't chill first. the containers were too big, Another
reason for chilling it in the sink first.
susan

Susan Setzler on thu 26 may 05

Pat, what containers do you have that say "not for hot foods?"

susan

JT Thompson on thu 26 may 05

Kilner jars?

Sue Jennings on thu 26 may 05

--0-336226318-1117124102=:25814

yes, I think that is what they are called in the UK. I don't even know if we have a name for them here in the US. I have really big ones and love them. The have the red rubber gaskets. Sue

JT Thompson wrote:
Kilner jars?

--0-336226318-1117124102=:25814

kathryn marsh on thu 26 may 05

What we call Kilner jars are Mason jars in the US JT. I've never known what
to call the ones Sue is talking about - I tend to refer to them as French
style preserving jars.

kathryn

Sue Jennings on thu 26 may 05

--0-303609320-1117142563=:30124

I have mason jars and use those too. They have the metal lid and a metal ring that screws onto the top of the jar. The kind that I am talking about with the glass lids and a wire bracket thing are very very old too. I have some over 100 years old - antiques. Some of the new ones I have a quite large, probably 3-4 quarts ( which is nice for dry beans and rice, barley etc. ) Sue

Kathryn Marsh wrote:
What we call Kilner jars are Mason jars in the US JT. I've never known what
to call the ones Sue is talking about - I tend to refer to them as French
style preserving jars.

--0-303609320-1117142563=:30124

Sue Jennings on thu 26 may 05

--0-686014277-1117145944=:6052

Yes, they are tall enough for pasta! I use them too for that. Sounds like we all have the same two types of glass storage jars. Sue
-- heading back out to the garden - the veggie garden this time.

> The ones available in NZ use the thin throw-away metal lid/seal, but we
also have one of the French style, which we bought some product in, and
kept afterwards as a storage jar for pasta! Tony
--
Tony & Moira Ryan,

--0-686014277-1117145944=:6052

John D'hondt on thu 26 may 05

What do all of you use to store leftovers, and do you have different
containers for hot and cold foods? For example, if you make soup stock, how
do you store it?
Pat

We store most things in vivo Pat:) A big pot of soup may survive two days
and is kept in the same pot it was made in. Other than that there is not
much cooked food that does need to be stored. Hungry children, pigs,
chickens and dogs make shure there is no left over that needs storing.
john

Tony and Moira Ryan on fri 27 may 05

JT Thompson wrote:

We know this kind of jar (with the reusable wire clip holding the lid
down onto a rubber seal) as "French Bottling Jars".

Probably - although I don't know this - a traditional French style. The
corresponding English jars with which I was familiar in my young days -
and we still use now - use disposable use-once metal lids with integral
seal, and a screw-down ring to fasten these. In England these were
mostly called Mason jars.

A variant uses a reusable /glass/ lid and replaceable rubber seals - I'm
not sure, but maybe this kind is the Kilner jar?

The ones available in NZ use the thin throw-away metal lid/seal, but we
also have one of the French style, which we bought some product in, and
kept afterwards as a storage jar for pasta!

Tony
--
Tony & Moira Ryan,
Wainuiomata, North Island, NZ. Pictures of our garden at:-
http://mywebpages.comcast.net/cherie1/Garden/TonyandMoira/index.htm
NEW PICTURES AND DIAGRAMS ADDED 20/Feb/2005

Tony and Moira Ryan on sat 28 may 05

Sue Jennings wrote:

The French type seems to be sold here largely _as_ storage jars. We have
has a few given to us with different goodies as presents and found them
excellent for the job.

Moira
--
Tony & Moira Ryan,
Wainuiomata, North Island, NZ. Pictures of our garden at:-
http://mywebpages.comcast.net/cherie1/Garden/TonyandMoira/index.htm
NEW PICTURES AND DIAGRAMS ADDED 20/Feb/2005

Tony and Moira Ryan on sat 28 may 05

Susan Setzler wrote:

> I Have had the containers for 25 to 30 years too, I do not microwave
> in them, even the ones supposedly ok for nuking, > though. They are
rigid plastic square containers.

I have a very fine set of various-sized glass containers which are
sufficient for almost all my fridge storage and occasionally land up in
the freezer too for short periods, but I am also quite happy to use any
sort of plastic storage container in the fridge or freezer. I do though
avoid reheating any food in plastic in the microwave as I understand
this may in some cases cause leakage of plasticisers into the food and I
prefer not to risk it.

Consequently almost all may microwave cookery is done ether in glass
containers or in crockery dishes.

Moira
--
Tony & Moira Ryan,
Wainuiomata, North Island, NZ. Pictures of our garden at:-
http://mywebpages.comcast.net/cherie1/Garden/TonyandMoira/index.htm
NEW PICTURES AND DIAGRAMS ADDED 20/Feb/2005

Sue Jennings on sun 29 may 05

--0-357108089-1117421845=:29814

Pat, Are those very thin plastic? The new fangled kinds they sell in the grocery store next to the plastic wrap? sue

Patricia Ruggiero wrote:
> Pat, what containers do you have that say "not for hot foods?"
> susan

The 1-qt. rectangular ones from Hefty say that, and similar ones without the
brand name on them. Pat

--0-357108089-1117421845=:29814

Patricia Ruggiero on sun 29 may 05

> Pat, what containers do you have that say "not for hot foods?"

> susan

The 1-qt. rectangular ones from Hefty say that, and similar ones without =
the
brand name on them.

Pat

Susan Setzler on mon 30 may 05

I'll have to look at mine more closely, but then, I don't usually put
hot foods in them anyhow.

susan

Susan Setzler on mon 30 may 05

And not only storage room, but they take up a lot more room in the
freezer, too. what a shame

susan

Sue Jennings on mon 30 may 05

--0-394734168-1117505094=:47855

I got a set of 8 corning ware clear glass bowls ( large cereal bowl size ) with green plastic lids. I use them for storing stuff in the refrig and also warming ( sans lid ), as well as just eating out of them. I love them! Would love to get more. They stack and are glass so can put hot soup in them, etc. Cheers, Sue

Susan Setzler wrote:
And not only storage room, but they take up a lot more room in the
freezer, too. what a shame

susan

--0-394734168-1117505094=:47855

John D'hondt on mon 30 may 05

So, I was wondering what you all did; if you avoided putting hot foods in
plastic containers; if I was missing out on some better methods and
materials. Guess not. I seem to be doing the same as you.
Pat

I should have answered this much earlier. At the time this first came up my
first idea was that many plastics melt or deteriorate with heat. This would
be reason enough to give a warning of not using these containers for hot
food.
Appart from that many plastics do give off unwanted chemicals to anything
they touch but so do most other household products and artefacts like
clothes and stuff.
john

Patricia Ruggiero on mon 30 may 05

Sue wrote:

> Pat, Are those very thin plastic? The new fangled kinds they sell in =
the
grocery store next to the plastic wrap?

I know the ones you mean. I have a few of those for taking food to =
friends'
houses or potluck dinners or for giving leftovers to friends to take =
home --
they're substantial enough for that but not so strong and versatile (or
expensive) that I care if I don't see them again. A couple of friends =
have
them, too, so we often wind up with each other's.

No, the ones I'm talking about are a "medium" weight; meaning, =
definitely
heavier than those described above, but not as heavy as Tupperware. I =
was
surprised (and annoyed) that I couldn't pour hot stock or sauces =
directly
into them. No reason is given as to why they're not suitable for hot =
foods.

Pat