Recipe creator and blogger Grace Vallo warned against storingtomato sauce in plastic containers, and urged people to use other storage methods. She said that’s because “the acidity in tomato sauces can cause the plastic to degrade and absorb odours over time”.
Another food storage expert, Dr De Vizcaya Ruiz, added that acidic foods like tomato sauce are more prone to microplastic contamination than others, and “chemically react with plastics over time”. She explained that people should never microwave food in plastic, even if the container is labelled microwave-safe, as it “accelerates plastic degradation”.
When storing tomato sauce, she recommended always using a glass, stainless steel, or ceramic container.
Similarly, households should never store hot tomato sauce or any hot liquid in a plastic container, as the high temperatures can cause the plastic to release harmful chemicals. Blogger and founder of The Cookie Rookie, Becky Hardin, said: “Always make sure to let food cool before storing in plastic containers.”
Other foods that should never be kept in plastic containers include fruit, avocados, herbs, onions and garlic. This is because the lack of ventilation causes these food to get mouldy and mushy due to the moisture buildup. Foods with a strong odour such as onions or garlic can penetrate the plastic, which will “leave it stained with the smell and potentially ruin foods stored in the container in the future”.
