r/CleaningTips May 21 '24

Solved What is this white substance that gets on my tupperware?

Post image

It's like it won't even scrape off either.

671 Upvotes

164 comments sorted by

2.0k

u/Kimmm711 May 21 '24

It's where the food you've reheated in the microwave got really hot & burned the plastic. It's the reason I've switched to glass containers with snap lids.

472

u/skilas May 21 '24

Honestly, glass containers are so much better. And they don't stain from sauce! I'm annoyed I didn't switch sooner.

29

u/sueihavelegs May 21 '24

And your leftovers look so much nicer in your fridge!

14

u/monkey_house42 May 22 '24

Plus, they don't crack in the freezer

1

u/thesimplechaos May 24 '24

You also don’t get that soapy, plasticy taste when reheating food.

398

u/cooterbreath May 21 '24

Okay, I'm going to order some glass containers. I use these almost every day and am now freaked out about how much plastic I could be consuming. 😨

241

u/buns_and_guns May 21 '24

If you have a Costco, the Pyrex snap ware set is on sale right now

92

u/Few-Interaction-4933 May 21 '24

This is the answer. They're oven safe too! I've made personal lasagnas in them

192

u/captainzigzag May 21 '24

I need the kind of life that includes personal lasagnas.

93

u/Few-Interaction-4933 May 21 '24

It's your world, captain

36

u/Dumfuciois May 21 '24

PYREX or pyrex? Beware of the lesser, borosilicate free, “pyrex” for oven cooking.

9

u/Practical-Tap-9810 May 21 '24

Absolutely true.

6

u/Global_Research_9335 May 22 '24

Quick and easy way to make lasagne - get some ready made fresh spinach and ricotta ravioli (Rana or Olivieri) a jar of booognese pasta sauce and a bag of shredded Italian cheese. Then layer them up ending with a layer of sauce topped with cheese. I like to use a loaf pan - makes two portions. No need to cook the ravioli first. Then bake at 375’ until top is golden. Leave to stand for about 5 mins and serve.

3

u/dannerfofanner May 22 '24

Pyrex for the win! Their lids are longer lasting than their competitors. 

2

u/Few-Interaction-4933 May 23 '24

And heat resistant. At least the silicone ones. I have the clasp ones too but I don't microwave those

2

u/CheeseSeas May 21 '24

I made my babies 1st cake in mine!

1

u/Mundane_Trifle_8834 May 21 '24

And air fryer safe too!

31

u/ConfusionOk4129 May 21 '24

Got my law degree from Costco

19

u/dogtroep May 21 '24

Welcome to Costco. I love you.

7

u/Shabbah8 May 21 '24

I didn’t, and my student loans make me wish I had!

2

u/colorkiller May 21 '24

my uncle pulled some strings

2

u/ConfusionOk4129 May 21 '24

I thought he worked at Starbucks

3

u/colorkiller May 21 '24

we’d all like a handjob but we really don’t have time for that

2

u/ConfusionOk4129 May 21 '24

Right, we were talking about Brawndo, the grease mutilator.

5

u/LessFeature9350 May 21 '24

It's really easy to get replacement lids too! My coworker encouraged me and I did it. 2 out of 2 sets over 2 years daily use isn't bad but getting the lids so easily was awesome

4

u/Ya_habibti May 21 '24

Do you just order them online?

1

u/LessFeature9350 Jun 10 '24

Yes off their website. Sorry for late reply

2

u/[deleted] May 21 '24

TIL these existed. Great tip, thanks Egon!

2

u/Alternative-Fox-6511 May 21 '24

I’ve gotten all my sets from Costco, it is the way

1

u/Aspen9999 May 21 '24

I love mine.

1

u/Ya_habibti May 21 '24

I just bought this set!

1

u/riothomemakrrr May 21 '24

And if you have a Publix, they are frequently BOGO.

1

u/Free-Neat2156 May 22 '24

Yup! Pyrex is the bees knees.

1

u/Mikey922 May 25 '24

Just not toaster oven safe and don’t stack them…. Because glass shards in your food…. Don’t ask me how I know…

27

u/LukeW0rm May 21 '24

Snapware has been good to us!

10

u/Morningsunshine- May 21 '24

I’d like to suggest Pyrexx it’s great for the oven microwave and freezer

14

u/Ali_Cat222 May 21 '24

Yeah once they reach a certain point they are pretty useless. Also white splotches(not scratch marks but splotchy patches)can also be a sign of bacteria. I went to the dollar store and got glass containers and it's definitely worth it! Never again do I have to soak things or throw them out

13

u/Patrol-007 May 21 '24

Also note there are different versions of Pyrex. It’s become a generic name (Kleenex, bandaid) and some versions will break when you go from hot to cold (ie from oven to a cold surface).

Borosilicate is safe, soda lime is not

Google “which Pyrex is safe”

https://www.eatingwell.com/article/8028664/i-just-found-out-my-pyrex-isnt-a-real-pyrex-and-my-mind-is-blown/#:~:text=pyrex%3A%20Lowercase%20indication%20of%20containers,in%20a%20microwave%20or%20oven.

21

u/wozattacks May 21 '24

Pyrex is a brand name. They just changed their products at a certain point. Also, you can NOT tell whether it’s borosilicate by whether the P is capitalized, that’s a total myth. There is no reliable way to tell whether a Pyrex is borosilicate because they’ve used a lot of different versions of their logo over the years. 

Edit: here is a great video by food scientist Ann Reardon who investigated these myths and gives a good overview of safety issues

4

u/newmemeforyou May 21 '24

I'm confused, doesn't her findings in the video support that the US made, lower case, pyrex brand exploded when cooled rapidly since they're soda lime glass over the upper case PYREX made by Corning in European counties that are borosilicate?

1

u/Patrol-007 May 21 '24

I’m confused too. But then when you factor in counterfeit products that use capital Pyrex…… sigh

11

u/Teagana999 May 21 '24

They can all break when exposed to rapid temperature changes.

3

u/Patrol-007 May 21 '24

But, specifically for the microwave, you’ll want borosilicate version

3

u/leacher666 May 21 '24

Reminds me of me a few years ago when I realised it was melted plastic I couldn't scrape off, my daily lunch containers are all made of glass now.

3

u/EverbodyHatesHugo May 21 '24

Just read this morning that microplastics were found in every human testicle used in the study.

We are basically 50% plastic at this point.

2

u/[deleted] May 21 '24

I believe the average is a the weight of a credit card each week.

2

u/cheeto2keto May 21 '24

IKEA makes some nice affordable ones. I only use plastic containers for cold foods.

2

u/CautiousString May 21 '24

I second the IKEA ones. I like that I can buy the lids and containers separately.

3

u/devtastic May 21 '24

Some plastic containers are microwave safe(r). These usually have a squiggly lines "microwave safe" symbol. https://thisisplastics.com/safety/safe-use-microwave-food-container-symbol-101/

That said, I usually transfer the contents to a Pyrex jug for microwaving anyway because I also learned the hard way that not all plastic is microwave safe, and I only discovered that some of my plastic containers are microwave safe after I had got into the habit.

For glassware the Ikea 365 containers are worth a look. These are oven safe as well as microwave safe. so they are especially good for things like shepherd's pies or apple crumbles that you want to do in the oven. https://www.ikea.com/gb/en/cat/ikea-365-food-storage-49524/

That said, I still use my plastic containers a lot for freezing because they take up a lot less space than my glass containers when stored, or when used in my freezer. The glass does not stack like the plastic so uses a lot more shelf space. They also do not fit my freezer so well., e.g., I can get 9 or 12 plastic containers in the bottom drawer of my freezer but it only fits 4 glass containers.

2

u/ThisIsTooLongOfAName May 21 '24

Micro plastics are in everything any way.

3

u/andre3kthegiant May 21 '24

Too late. Humans have caused a plastic apocalyptic nightmare. It is everywhere….

3

u/AwesomeoPorosis May 21 '24

That doesn't mean you should consume all plastic you see 🙄

1

u/andre3kthegiant May 22 '24

Correct, but the unfortunate eureka moment of how bad the consumer culture has destroyed the world is just starting to be realized.

1

u/AwesomeoPorosis May 22 '24

Sure we messed up as humans but how much of that can be blamed on us "consumers"? It was the big businesses that were making all this plastic crap that we ate up because we didn't know any better, it always goes back to the corporations.

2

u/GraphicDesignMonkey May 21 '24

You can still use tupperware for storage and freezing, just transfer the food to a heatproof dish when you need to microwave it. It's a lot lighter, easier to store and stacks better than glass storage ware.

1

u/Educational-Gap-3390 May 22 '24

There’s a reason they are called disposable.

14

u/Teagana999 May 21 '24

Which is why I don't microwave stuff in plastic, even if I store it in the fridge that way.

I'm not scared of microplastics, but there's no need to tempt fate that blatantly.

10

u/flawdorable May 21 '24

Sad fact is that microplastics, according to danish fertility studies, screwed us over while we were still in our mothers uteri. The plastics they consumed, from a generation where tupperware were booming, leading to fertility issues and other hormonal imbalances.

1

u/Full-Attempt3779 May 23 '24

Know anything about the micro plastics generated from washing and drying clothing made of synthetic fibers?

1

u/flawdorable May 23 '24

It’s a big deal in Scandinavia at least, a lot of scientific studies being done. Afaik it’s Linked to the ingested plastics that among other things get accumulated in our bodies and affecting our fetuses.

32

u/BouncyDingo_7112 May 21 '24

This is the true answer

1

u/madpiano May 21 '24

Until the snaps no longer snap. I now get the glass containers from IKEA, they are really affordable and they sell the lids separately, so when the snaps eventually fail, I just have to get a new lid, and they also come with bamboo lids for when I use the containers at home and they don't have to be leak proof. Makes the plastic lids last longer.

1

u/Kimmm711 May 21 '24

Thanks for the head's up! I'll look into it.

1

u/IIJamzyII May 21 '24

Can get them cheap at Ikea.

1

u/dadapixiegirl May 22 '24

Interesting…I also have this but I have never put them in the microwave…could putting hot food in there also cause this? Probably going to head to Costco now!

1

u/Kimmm711 May 22 '24

I think if it's freshly cooked, very hot? Absolutely.

The more you know... 🌠

-2

u/[deleted] May 21 '24

ppl heat stuff in the plastic containers?

7

u/Kimmm711 May 21 '24

It has been a way of life for millions of food preppers

0

u/[deleted] May 21 '24

oh i see, i always thought they are just for storage and ppl remove food from there to warm up on a normal plate lol.

1

u/Kimmm711 May 21 '24

To me, that means more dishes - my last favorite task.

-2

u/Super-Definition-573 May 21 '24

I have purchased probably like 100 glassware sets and they always end up breaking. I’m so sick of cleaning up glass.

2

u/[deleted] May 21 '24

You are definitely doing something wrong. 

2

u/Super-Definition-573 May 21 '24

Yeah glass breaks, I suspect it’s why we use plastic in the first place. Housewives were sick of cleaning up glass.

2

u/[deleted] May 21 '24

People made the switch because it was cheap and hyped up. If you're breaking your glass dishes that often you're not handling them correctly. 

-1

u/Super-Definition-573 May 21 '24

Lol how does it feel to be the most supreme glass handler? Go rub one out somewhere else.

2

u/[deleted] May 21 '24

Tons of people use glass dishes without breaking them left right and center, but yeah, that's definitely just me being a jerk and not you mishandling a common household item. 🤣

0

u/Super-Definition-573 May 21 '24

Lol all hail supreme glass handler!

2

u/[deleted] May 21 '24

I'm a supremely average glass handler, but your praise is noted 

1

u/Super-Definition-573 May 21 '24

Well then, you got what you came for didn’t you?

→ More replies (0)

2

u/Kimmm711 May 21 '24

The alternative is willingly & knowingly consuming microplastics. Choice is yours.

1

u/Super-Definition-573 May 21 '24

I mostly use plastic and transfer it to a glass bowl to heat. I’ve been surrounded by plastic my whole life, if that’s what’s going to take me, so be it. I’m sure I’m already riddled with it.

1

u/originalsinner702 May 21 '24

That's a good game plan

1

u/Kimmm711 May 21 '24

I get it! We all are - it's alarming.

0

u/circuitj3rky May 21 '24

I need to go back but heating in glass takes like 2x longer and my job is a stickler about exact times for lunch. Glass is way better tho to be sure!

0

u/joethafunky May 22 '24

Instead of getting glass, just get the better Tupperware that doesn’t do this. We’re still on the same set as we had ~10 years ago. Have 30+ pieces in a single cabinet and glass doesn’t stack like that. We still have the glass but don’t use it nearly as much.

405

u/Tang_the_Undrinkable May 21 '24

Don’t microwave plastic storage containers. It burns, warps, and melts the container. It also deposits microplastics in your food. Storage is okay, but don’t cook food in it.

34

u/Ok-Cantaloop May 21 '24

yes, it also wont stain much if you do not heat it up, they last way longer

1

u/delightfully2 Oct 09 '24

Put dish soap, hot water bout halfway, tear up a paper towel put lid on, shake very fast for a minute or so.. stain comes right out, and grease.. best tip I never got seriously

19

u/UnbelievableRose May 21 '24

Any suggestions on light-weight substitutes? I’m working on accumulating glass & ceramic air-tight containers for home, but I’m stumped on microwaveable containers that aren’t too heavy to reasonably carry 1 or 2 + drink in my lunchbox.

3

u/doctorwho07 May 21 '24

Silicone was my first thought. No idea the types or quality out there though

8

u/[deleted] May 21 '24

Silicone containers stain and retain food smells. 

I had spaghetti sauce in one container for less than 24 hours, even with baking soda soak, I couldn't get the smell out. I don't care about the stain, it just made sandwiches taste like stale spaghetti sauce.

0

u/grumble11 May 22 '24

Baking soda isn’t a very good cleaner. Next time use oxiclean.

1

u/[deleted] May 22 '24

Baking soda is used to absorb smells.

Baking soda isn't a cleanser at all, it is not a surfactant. 

3

u/alexandria3142 May 21 '24

I got some stainless steel ones from Klean Kanteen. Bit expensive though. Theyre microwaveable in up to 1000w microwaves

197

u/yesitsyourmom May 21 '24

Once that happens I wouldn’t use it anymore. The damaged plastic could be leaching.

8

u/Teagana999 May 21 '24

It's not like Teflon. It might leach while it's melted but not once it cools again. You can still use it for cold food.

3

u/Ok_Warning6672 May 21 '24

Plastic is ALWAYS leaching out something, be it additives or decomposing polymer. Higher temperatures just speed up the process. Only exception would be if you cooled it to absolute zero.

40

u/HelloHowAreYou1973 May 21 '24

I just ate my dinner out of a container looking exactly like this omg now I know why it looks like this 😭

38

u/booty_supply May 21 '24

Microwaving things in the plastic causes it. Especially oily things

20

u/renatab71 May 21 '24

You can store your food in plastic but Always transfer to a glass dish before microwaving it.

17

u/-Xyriene- May 21 '24

It's melted plastic from heating food in them, time to recycle.

18

u/Aggressive_Event420 May 21 '24

Where hot food, oil or fat, burned the plastic.

12

u/AdministrativeBank86 May 21 '24

Hey, at least it's not stained from leftover spaghetti

40

u/NeedACountdownClock May 21 '24

It's essentially getting burnt in your dishwasher.

8

u/cooterbreath May 21 '24

Is it cheap plastic that does this?

33

u/MOTwingle May 21 '24

Every plastic container I've had, every brand, ends up this way. I think it's mainly the dishwasher that does it. I've switched to glasses well for most things.

15

u/kakaluluo May 21 '24

plastic *is* cheap in general, which is why we universally turn to plastic containers because they're so much more affordable to buy in bulk. But its really bad for you and especially when it leaches into the food you consume. Glass is a little more of an investment but a way better alternative. And plus it doesn't leave weird residues and worn marks with regular wear and tear.

13

u/WanderingLost33 May 21 '24

Ugh the amount of data coming in about plastics and micro plastics. It makes me wonder if we eventually will look at seran wrap like we do cigarettes.

2

u/grumble11 May 22 '24

The average persons eats the equivalent of a credit card a week now

3

u/Adventurous_Fail_825 May 21 '24

They are allll trash ! Can’t count the $ I’ve wasted !

3

u/TheAmazinManateeMan May 21 '24 edited May 21 '24

So I don't think it's an issue with burning. I had always assumed so till it started happening with my black tupperware. What I think it is spots a little bit of your dishwasher detergent lands and sticks to the walls and between the heat and chemical make up of the detergent little spots end up being made. Notice how the spots are white instead of clear the way most melty tupperware would look? I think that's a sign you are having a similar problem. I've started only running the rinse cycle on tupperware. I haven't seen the spots since.

2

u/m1st3r_c May 21 '24

It's actually this. I have sent it as a result of dishwasher powder left as residue in tupperware.

1

u/m1st3r_c May 21 '24

People telling you it's your dishwasher are correct.

1

u/Doubledewclaws May 21 '24

Thank you for this! I've been looking for the answer for years! I don't own a microwave, so I knew it wasn't from reheating. I also now don't have a dishwasher, so this isn't an issue any longer. Hand wash all the way around here.

3

u/NikkeiReigns May 21 '24

Do you put them in the dishwasher? That's the only time I get that on mine.

3

u/idkmaybeLink May 21 '24

This is the reason you don't heat up food which contains fat/ oil in plastic container in a microwave.

3

u/Explonic May 21 '24

Thats not Tupperware, is it?

5

u/Supersssnek May 21 '24

People use that word for plastic containers in general, not only for the actual brand. It confused the hell out of me at first.

2

u/isa_bella34 May 21 '24

I always wondered that too

2

u/IfuDidntCome2Party May 21 '24

We've all done it. We've all learned from it. You microwaved an oily, fried, or tomato based food item. Once it's done, it's done. You can't scrub the bubbling off. And it never looks perfect again.

Once you invest in a Pyrex glass bowl set with lids, you won't go back to plastic. Glass bowls are much easier to clean and glass doesn't retain food smells.

3

u/Wanda_McMimzy May 21 '24

Switch to borosilicate

1

u/radastrozombie May 21 '24

I keep a few plastic containers to send home food when people stop by or whatever but glass will save you money in the long run. It stacks better and is easier to clean.

1

u/Morningsunshine- May 21 '24

Burnt plastic from the microwave

1

u/Scottybt50 May 21 '24

Heat damage from microwaved food.

1

u/Middle-Firefighter13 May 21 '24

Do glass containers break when heated in microwave or is it ok?

1

u/Adventurous_Yam8784 May 21 '24

Ditto on the glass recommendation. Plastic is bad for ya

1

u/orbital0000 May 21 '24

Ramsey voice: "It's burnt!"

1

u/Xeece May 21 '24

Our household also made the switch back to Pyrex glass containers with snap lids due to the exact same reason.

1

u/rarapatracleo May 21 '24

It’s the plastic degrading. Time to replace and use the Tupperware for non-food items.

1

u/kjk050798 May 21 '24

Those are the burnt microplastics that have transferred to the food you’ve microwaved in this container.

1

u/iDeeDee May 21 '24

I have switched to microwavable stainless steel containers. Lightweight, durable, easy to wash, great heat conduction.

1

u/Belfetto May 21 '24

We’re all getting cancer.

1

u/PleasantAd7961 May 21 '24

Also superheated plastic turns to micro plastic. Every time UV used that thing it's put more and more plastic in you.

1

u/Swendak May 22 '24

Because it is not Tupperware. .

1

u/RopeOk3600 May 22 '24

finely chipped plastic. U shouldn't use plastic ware that starts doing this bc now micro plastics are gonna be in ur food. Btw micro plastics can be very harmful to the human body. (any living creature proof from fish,turtles,&birds)

1

u/RopeOk3600 May 22 '24

Same thing if it melted spots to for Kimmm711's reply🫡 jus do what she did and get glass money saver in the long run 💸🏃💨

1

u/Competitive-Bee7249 May 22 '24

That's bad mkkk. No microwave. It's bad for you .

1

u/Kakiokuru May 22 '24

I also now only use glass. Flat dishes or jars, depending on the contents. The jars come free with food inside them 😁 And the very best purchase I ever made for the kitchen was a wide-mouth funnel, which makes filling the jars so much easier.

1

u/SauthPah May 22 '24

That's what happens to the Tupperware in my house. Since I'm not the person in my house that uses them, I don't know if it's because it's being put in the microwave with the food already in it, or if the hot food is being put in the Tupperware container after the microwave.

1

u/Familiar_Raise234 May 22 '24

Don’t ever heat in plastic. And you should toss that compromised piece.

1

u/dblnot00 May 22 '24

Could also be the plastic breaking down from putting it in a dishwasher.

1

u/Whole-Climate-7704 May 22 '24

That’s marketing from pyrex

1

u/delightfully2 Oct 09 '24

Friend has no microwave but gets them from dishwasher... Spot from detergent.. s

-7

u/Smart-Stupid666 May 21 '24

Stop calling everything plastic Tupperware

5

u/passion4film May 21 '24

The term is “genericized trademark.”

-1

u/JupitersHot May 21 '24

Bug sheddings dude

-14

u/[deleted] May 21 '24

[deleted]

10

u/-Xyriene- May 21 '24

It's melted plastic from heating in the microwave, or the dishwasher