Almost everyone in the world has cling wrap in their kitchen these days. It’s a handy tool that helps keep food safe and sanitary while storing and transporting it.

Some recipes even require a cling wrap layer to prevent spillage or leaving a sticky residue on your cooking or storage containers. Yet, this kitchen necessity also comes with a huge problem…

We all know that plastic poses a huge hazard to the environment. Some types of plastic can stick around for up to several thousand years!

Since cling wrap is extremely hard to recycle and can harm local wildlife, we suggest you do everything in your power to reduce your plastic use.

Excessive use of plastic wraps can damage not just your health but also the environment. Credit: Getty Images.

There are alternatives to buying cling wrap every few weeks, even though it’s a popular choice in every kitchen around the country. Here are some to try next time you head to the shops!

1. Glass jars

Glass is fantastic for storing food of any kind – from in-season fresh produce to homemade meals that you can carry around with you. They don't affect the taste or smell of the food and you can reuse them over and over.

Clean glass jars from pasta sauce or preserves make for excellent options, too!

If you don’t have any, just ask around for friends and family members. You may get to use their spare jars for a few weeks but don’t forget to return them!

Glass jars are easy to recycle, and so are the lids. You can leave them in your recycling bin or give them to your local council to reuse or recycle.

2. Coil or Bamboo Wrap and cotton or tea towels

There are plenty of non-plastic kitchen ‘shawls’ available in stores as well as online! Ideally, they are durable and inexpensive. You could purchase any of these and see which one works best for you!

Coil wraps can be quite thick, so you would need to wrap and refold a few times over foods. There are bamboo and cotton variations available too – so you have an entire array of options!

Aside from wrapping food, these fabrics also serve as kitchen towels that can be reused for washing plates, drying dishes, cutting boards, and other kitchen essentials.
It’s better to wash them every few days or after you use them a lot! Use only lukewarm water and mild, detergent-free soap. Bring them out in the sun while they are drying.

Fabric covers can be used to seal your food. Credit: Pinterest.

3. Alfoil

Love it or hate it, alfoil (or alfoil) remains one of the best alternatives to cling wrap when lining baking trays or cooking in pans or casseroles. You can even use it to keep food fresh in the fridge and freezer or to store leftovers that you simply need to wrap in something (any type of food won't stick to the foil) to bring with you on the go.

Even though it is not too environmentally friendly, once the alfoil has been used, you can simply rinse it in warm water and reuse it as many times as you like (keep in mind, though, that certain types of aluminium can react with foods, so it is recommended to choose types that are resistant to acid).

There are reusable alternatives as well, which are made of cloth and can be rinsed after use.

4. Bento boxes

Bento boxes come in many shapes, sizes, and colours. They are often crafted out of wood or plastic and can be used over and over again to store leftovers. For those who want a sustainable alternative for cling wrap in the kitchen, these highly decorative and reusable dishes are the perfect answer!

Bento boxes are not just for taking out meals, they can also be used to store leftovers! Credit: Wikimedia Commons/Dllu.

5. Glass or plastic food storage containers

In the same way, glass jars benefit the environment, glass food containers do too. Even plastic food containers can be less harmful to the environment as they are reusable.

If you’re looking for an even more sustainable option, then you can buy used containers as well.

6. Two plates

You read the title right, folks! Another great alternative to cling wrap that is quite popular with many people out there is the use of a second plate to cover your food. The process is also simple, all you need to do is place another plate on top of the plate containing the food and seal the meal between them.

7. Beeswax Wraps

Perhaps our favourite alternative is beeswax wraps.

Bee's Wraps (a wrap made from beeswax) are sustainable and reusable, making them perfect for those who are looking for eco-friendly alternatives to cling wraps.

The only downside is that Bee's Wrap isn't as pliable as plastic wrap and is not ideal for all foods. It can also be a bit pricey compared to other alternatives. But overall, we think the pros outweigh the cons on this one!

Key Takeaways

• Almost everyone in the world owns cling wrap in their kitchen these days. It’s a handy tool that helps keep food safe and sanitary while storing and transporting it.
• There are alternatives to buying cling wrap every few weeks, even though it’s a popular choice in every kitchen around the country.
• Glass jars, coil or bamboo wrap and cotton or tea towels, alfoil, bee’s wrap, bento boxes, and glass or plastic food storage containers are all great alternatives to cling wrap.
• You can also use two plates to seal a meal between them.

We would also like to add that staff members at your local health food shops, bulk food stores, and second-hand shops may also be able to suggest several reusable options too, so don’t be afraid to ask!

So, there you have it, folks! Hopefully, these alternatives can help you reduce and go plastic-free any time soon.

Members, do you have more tips for avoiding excessive use of cling wrap in the kitchen? Please share them with us in the comments!

Also, a special shoutout to member @Juliana for bringing this topic to our attention! If you have more topic recommendations, feel free to write to us at [email protected].

 

[JayKay]

I often see glass jars in boxes in the doorway of several Op Shops near me.....
"Free" or "Help yourself".
If they get too many, they give them away.

 

[Joydie]

Almost everyone in the world has cling wrap in their kitchen these days. It’s a handy tool that helps keep food safe and sanitary while storing and transporting it.

Some recipes even require a cling wrap layer to prevent spillage or leaving a sticky residue on your cooking or storage containers. Yet, this kitchen necessity also comes with a huge problem…

We all know that plastic poses a huge hazard to the environment. Some types of plastic can stick around for up to several thousand years!

Since cling wrap is extremely hard to recycle and can harm local wildlife, we suggest you do everything in your power to reduce your plastic use.

Excessive use of plastic wraps can damage not just your health but also the environment. Credit: Getty Images.

There are alternatives to buying cling wrap every few weeks, even though it’s a popular choice in every kitchen around the country. Here are some to try next time you head to the shops!

1. Glass jars

Glass is fantastic for storing food of any kind – from in-season fresh produce to homemade meals that you can carry around with you. They don't affect the taste or smell of the food and you can reuse them over and over.

Clean glass jars from pasta sauce or preserves make for excellent options, too!

If you don’t have any, just ask around for friends and family members. You may get to use their spare jars for a few weeks but don’t forget to return them!

Glass jars are easy to recycle, and so are the lids. You can leave them in your recycling bin or give them to your local council to reuse or recycle.

2. Coil or Bamboo Wrap and cotton or tea towels

There are plenty of non-plastic kitchen ‘shawls’ available in stores as well as online! Ideally, they are durable and inexpensive. You could purchase any of these and see which one works best for you!

Coil wraps can be quite thick, so you would need to wrap and refold a few times over foods. There are bamboo and cotton variations available too – so you have an entire array of options!

Aside from wrapping food, these fabrics also serve as kitchen towels that can be reused for washing plates, drying dishes, cutting boards, and other kitchen essentials.
It’s better to wash them every few days or after you use them a lot! Use only lukewarm water and mild, detergent-free soap. Bring them out in the sun while they are drying.

Fabric covers can be used to seal your food. Credit: Pinterest.

3. Alfoil

Love it or hate it, alfoil (or alfoil) remains one of the best alternatives to cling wrap when lining baking trays or cooking in pans or casseroles. You can even use it to keep food fresh in the fridge and freezer or to store leftovers that you simply need to wrap in something (any type of food won't stick to the foil) to bring with you on the go.

Even though it is not too environmentally friendly, once the alfoil has been used, you can simply rinse it in warm water and reuse it as many times as you like (keep in mind, though, that certain types of aluminium can react with foods, so it is recommended to choose types that are resistant to acid).

There are reusable alternatives as well, which are made of cloth and can be rinsed after use.

4. Bento boxes

Bento boxes come in many shapes, sizes, and colours. They are often crafted out of wood or plastic and can be used over and over again to store leftovers. For those who want a sustainable alternative for cling wrap in the kitchen, these highly decorative and reusable dishes are the perfect answer!

Bento boxes are not just for taking out meals, they can also be used to store leftovers! Credit: Wikimedia Commons/Dllu.

5. Glass or plastic food storage containers

In the same way, glass jars benefit the environment, glass food containers do too. Even plastic food containers can be less harmful to the environment as they are reusable.

If you’re looking for an even more sustainable option, then you can buy used containers as well.

6. Two plates

You read the title right, folks! Another great alternative to cling wrap that is quite popular with many people out there is the use of a second plate to cover your food. The process is also simple, all you need to do is place another plate on top of the plate containing the food and seal the meal between them.

7. Beeswax Wraps

Perhaps our favourite alternative is beeswax wraps.

Bee's Wraps (a wrap made from beeswax) are sustainable and reusable, making them perfect for those who are looking for eco-friendly alternatives to cling wraps.

The only downside is that Bee's Wrap isn't as pliable as plastic wrap and is not ideal for all foods. It can also be a bit pricey compared to other alternatives. But overall, we think the pros outweigh the cons on this one!

Key Takeaways

• Almost everyone in the world owns cling wrap in their kitchen these days. It’s a handy tool that helps keep food safe and sanitary while storing and transporting it.
• There are alternatives to buying cling wrap every few weeks, even though it’s a popular choice in every kitchen around the country.
• Glass jars, coil or bamboo wrap and cotton or tea towels, alfoil, bee’s wrap, bento boxes, and glass or plastic food storage containers are all great alternatives to cling wrap.
• You can also use two plates to seal a meal between them.

We would also like to add that staff members at your local health food shops, bulk food stores, and second-hand shops may also be able to suggest several reusable options too, so don’t be afraid to ask!

So, there you have it, folks! Hopefully, these alternatives can help you reduce and go plastic-free any time soon.

Members, do you have more tips for avoiding excessive use of cling wrap in the kitchen? Please share them with us in the comments!

Also, a special shoutout to member @Juliana for bringing this topic to our attention! If you have more topic recommendations, feel free to write to us at [email protected].

For quite some time now, I’ve used plastic produce bags to cover food in the fridge. Aldi or Woolies bags are best, because they’re gathered in at the bottom. I simply place the plate of food in the bag, pull the top of the bag as tightly as I can, and twist the top up to a dozen times. I then fold the top of the bag under the plate.

I can use each bag many times if it doesn’t touch the food, so that’s why this method is best used with bowls.

 

[Penny4]

Have always disliked cling wrap. Silly stuff that bunches. However, it's very popular & people like it.
I use containers for keeping food in the fridge, or a plate as a cover. For vegetables eg. carrots & potatoes I keep them in their plastic packet with a couple of paper towels in the bag to stop moisture & use a peg for a clip.

 

[Ricci]

I do have a box of cling wrap in my kitchen drawer, I'm not a big user of it though and I reckon it must be close to 10 years old. I use a lot of recycled Chinese takeaway containers and just ditch them when they either crack or get too discoloured to use.

 

[Ashmenou]

I dislike any plastic. I normal use glass and use cloth to cover if the glass doesn’t have a lid

 

[ElleJay]

I rarely use cling wrap, but today I'm making trifle to take to our friends' place for New Year's Eve dinner. There's not really any practical alternative for covering a glass bowl for transporting that will ensure the contents doesn't spill.

 

[Wandiwa]

I have tried compostable kitchen plastic wrap and have received magazines wrapped in compostable plastic packaging. Well they have been in my worm farm for 6 months without a hint of breaking down. When they say compostable they must mean only in the industrial high temperature composters that the councils use.

 

[KarenS]

I rarely use cling wrap, but today I'm making trifle to take to our friends' place for New Year's Eve dinner. There's not really any practical alternative for covering a glass bowl for transporting that will ensure the contents doesn't spill.

Tupperware containers are good for this - if you don't have any suitable, you can often pick them up at Op Shops, or on 2nd-hand sales sites. They used to have cake plates which had handles for carrying - meant to be used with the "plate"bit on the bottom, but if you turn them upside down, they work well for things like quantities of fruit salad, or trifles etc. The 'lid' becomes the container, and the plate bit becomes the lid. I have both a square and a round one, from probably 30 years ago, rarely use them, but they still work when they're needed!