Can You freeze Food in Glass Containers?

In recent times, our use of plastic has been known to be detrimental to our environment, and its effects are being noticed globally. Therefore, when it comes to storing food in plastic, many people are turning to better ways to save food, without having to rely on plastic all the time.

Using glass is a great way to store food, whether in your pantry, fridge and even the freezer. It is very safe to store food in glass; however, there are a few things you might want to keep in mind.

If you are looking for the answer to the question, ‘Can you freeze food in glass containers?’ you have come to the right place. In this article, we look at the benefits of freezing in glass, along with some examples of food types that you can freeze with ease.

Benefits of Freezing Food in Glass

It turns out that there are a number of advantages when it comes to freezing food in glass compared to plastic. We look at few of them below in more detail.

Healthier for the environment

Of course one of the main benefits of freezing food in glass rather than plastic is that it helps the environment. Glass, unlike plastic, is not made using petrochemicals, and instead, glass is made using efficient raw materials, like sand and previous glass waste.

Certain glass types can also be recycled, including bottles and glass food packaging. This means when you are eventually finished with your glass containers, you can reuse them, rather than add more plastic into the waste, which contributes to the significant plastic problem.

Healthier for you

Many plastic food storage containers on the market are known to be made using harmful chemicals. This includes things like BPA, PVA, and phthalates. If you use a food storage container that incorporates such compounds in its design, there is a chance these chemicals will leach into your food, and eventually, into your body.

Glass, on the other hand, doesn’t include any of these products, and therefore is much safer to consume from, and will give you peace of mind knowing you will always be eating food as it originally was.

Wastes less food

Again any leftover food can easily be frozen, rather than being left in the fridge to slowly decompose. Leftover veg scraps can also be saved for making soups or broths at a later date. Using glass helps to minimize waste of plastics like zip-lock bags and plastic containers going into the environment. Glass is also known to keep food for more extended periods than plastic, meaning you will waste less when using it to freeze your goods.

Easier to maintain

One of the favored benefits of freezing glass over plastic is that glass is nonporous, and this means no bad smells or discoloration. It is also scratch-proof, so after many years it will still look as good as new. Glass is also easier to clean with a little soap and water, and is also dishwasher safe. Some plastics cannot be used in dishwashers, and often crack under too much pressure. Glass also dries a lot quicker than plastic as it is, again, nonporous.

More affordable

One more benefit of using glass to freeze is that it is less expensive and more versatile. How is glass more affordable? Unlike having to search for plastic containers that are quality enough to store foods, you can easily use a glass jar of pickles or other condiments, and turn them into automatic storage containers. Saving pasta jars after each use is also another way to grow your glass container collection, and save you money along the way.

What Can You Freeze in Glass?

There are a variety of foods that you can store in glass. We will mention a few below:

Soups and sauces

Soups and sauces are one of the most popular food items to freeze in glass, and taste just as fresh when reheated.

Fruits and vegetables

Fruits and vegetables can also be frozen. It is recommended first to lay fruits and veg flat on a tray, freeze them and then transfer to glass for more accessible storage. This keeps fruits from freezing together.

Beans

Both dry beans and those in a liquid can be frozen in glass. It is best to allow them to cool before freezing.

Vegetable scraps

If you have made a large meal, and have leftover vegetable scraps, instead of throwing them away, these can also be frozen in glass. This means they can easily be used to make broth at a later date, so they aren’t wasted.

Baby food

If you make homemade baby food, you can also freeze it in glass. A good way is to make a large batch and then freeze it, so it is fresh and available every time you need it.

Glass Freezing Tips

When freezing with glass containers, it is recommended to leave at least 3 centimeters of space between the lid and the continents. This is because liquid expands when freezing, and so to avoid a problematic opening or mess, keep this little tip in mind.

Borosilicate glass is recommended for freezing, as well as ball mason jars. These are suitable as are durable and handle thermal stress well. Always be sure to check the glass you have is able to handle being frozen.

Final Words

Freezing with glass is undoubtedly gaining more popularity in recent times, and rightly so. As it offers so many benefits over freezing in plastic.

If you are interested in looking after the environment, eating healthier, and saving money, we recommend trying to freeze your foods in glass over plastic.