I Found Microwavable Stainless-Steel Containers, and I’m Never Looking Back
Save this article to read it later.
Find this story in your account’s‘Saved for Later’section.
Comment
When it came time to find a new set offood-storage containersfor my kitchen, I did not have much hope inmy hunt. I knew the plastic deli containers I had used irresponsibly for years — often popping them into the microwave and dishwasher without a care in the world and indiscriminately pouring hot liquids into them — were shedding microplastics into my food. But they checked all the boxes for me: lightweight, stackable, and, unlike every other item in my kitchen, free. The glass containers I had first sourced as a replacement fixed the microplastics issue, but they were heavy, bulky, and breakable. The glass containers weighed down my cooler when I packed up lunch for the beach, and they added so much weight to my tote bag when I tried to bring food over to a friend’s apartment. I came to the conclusion that I’d happily eat microplastic soup for the rest of my days than lug these containers from the dishwasher to the cabinet one more time.
New! You can now save this product for later.
I eventually realized I would need to pivot to stainless steel, which would be much lighter than glass. I stumbled upon a set of attractive-looking boxes from London-based company Black+Blum, which has apparently been making products designed to minimize plastics for well over a decade. As a reformed plastic user, I had obviously never heard of it. But I decided to give it a go and order two sets of its meal-prep boxes: one small, which can hold 20 ounces, and one medium, which can hold 30.
As expected, they were quite light. They also nested together nicely, taking up roughly the same amount of space that my plastic deli containers once did. I didn’t entirely trust the vacuum-sealed lid-locking mechanism, but when I tried to break the seal with it locked, I found it wasn’t possible. I put the brand’s leakproof claims even further to the test when my roommate made soup in the middle of a heat wave (brave) and took the leftovers to work the next morning (even braver). Not a single drop spilled on their commute. The wide, flat shape, it turns out, is excellent for storing all types of leftovers from pasta salad to overnight chia-seed pudding. The boxes are also freezer-, dishwasher-, and even oven-safe (sans the lids). The stainless steel doesn’t discolor and is easy to clean, and while I haven’t noticed them getting particularly dirty, I also appreciate that the lid seals can be popped off for a thorough wash if needed.
They were nearly perfect, but most stainless-steel containers have one basic flaw: They can’t be used to reheat food. This is arguably the most basic tenet of kitchen safety: nothing metal in the microwave. So I didn’t quite believe it when the Black+Blum website said its boxes are absolutely microwave-safe.
And I will admit that when I first popped the Black+Blum boxes into my microwave, I instinctively ducked away, bracing for some kind of explosion. But after the timer went off, the containers (and my microwave) were all in one piece. Not even a single spark. I’m no scientist, but the miracle of this basically boils down to the stainless steel used and, most importantly, the smooth, rounded shape of the boxes. Dan Black, the company’s co-founder and lead designer of the product, explains this minor miracle with a lesson in electromagnetism. He says that sparks fly when microwaves jump from one metal point to another — say, from tine to tine on a fork or from one ripple of foil to the next. The Black+Blum is low, wide, shallow, and has rounded edges (rather than sharp points) that prevent this kind of dance. The design was so sound from the get-go, Black says, that he thinks his team managed not to “kill any microwaves during the testing process.”
Now, there are a few disclaimers, some of which are fairly obvious: Don’t let the containers come into contact with any metal inside the microwave, and don’t try to microwave an empty or damaged container. “Reheat things with the silicone lid on top,” advises Black. “It stops the food from splattering the inside of your microwave, especially if you’ve got a tomato lasagna or something like that. You also can only microwave for two minutes at a time with the lid lock open in microwaves that go up to and include 1,000 watts. While heating food up does take a bit longer in the stainless steel than it would in a plastic container, I found that microwaving for two minutes at a time, then stirring before popping it back in for another round of heating, ensured my food was warmed evenly all the way through. This also ensures that the lids don’t warp.
Each time I pull a Black+Blum box out of the microwave, it’s a tiny marvel. And the best part is I can do so with impunity, knowing that my leftovers from the night before were not baked in microplastics before I dig in.
More From The Strategist
- The Back-to-School Hall of Fame
- The Best Things Strategist Editors Have Bought This Year (So Far)
- Everything You Need to Outfit Your College Dorm
- The Strategist Summer 100
The Strategistis designed to surface useful, expert recommendations for things to buy across the vast e-commerce landscape. Every product is independently selected by our team of editors, whom you can read abouthere. We update links when possible, but note that deals can expire and all prices are subject to change.
