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Re:Plastic-based fuels may present an “unreasonable risk” to... by rockostrich on Monday February 27, 2023 @10:48AM (#34957782)
Sorry for the very kitchen focused comment but the kitchen is where I used the most plastic.

Polycarbonate is a very useful plastic for food containers ("cambros") because it's lightweight, durable, and can be transparent. Sure, glass could work but it's a lot more fragile, especially if you were to try to constantly stack/unstack them in a commercial kitchen.

To a lesser extent the same argument could be made for polypropylene deli containers (for food storage and kitchen prep, not as disposable food containers).

I use plastic wrap probably more than I should in the kitchen (when baking) which could obviously be replaced by lids that fit whatever containers I'm putting the plastic wrap on but in some applications I can't imagine plastic wrap being replaced without some special lid (proofing a bread loaf that you want to proof out of the top of the container).

I think that's it though. In general, I agree that single-use plastics (or "re-use for a while and eventually throw out") are unnecessary but if something can be used indefinitely (I've had my cambros for something like 5 years at this point and they still look new) then I don't see it as an unnecessary plastic.

Re:Plastic-based fuels may present an “unreasonable risk” to... by hammock on Monday February 27, 2023 @10:59AM (#34957909)
>Polycarbonate is a very useful plastic for food containers ("cambros")

Heavily impregnated with BPA. I would avoid putting anything warmer than room temp in there (yes I know they're in widespread use in restaurants)

>I can't imagine plastic wrap being replaced without some special lid (proofing a bread loaf that you want to proof out of the top of the container).

Cheese cloth tied around the lid with plenty of slack in the cloth in the middle

Re:Plastic-based fuels may present an “unreasonable risk” to... by coeneedell on Monday February 27, 2023 @02:47PM (#34960989)
Unfortunately the cheese cloth solution doesn’t work if you’re cold-fermenting an enriched/fatty dough in the fridge, as it can pick up “fridge flavor” without a lid or plastic wrap.

For very long ferments (cold proofing sourdough for example) it’s also liable to dry out.

All other situations it works fine for in my experience.

Re:Plastic-based fuels may present an “unreasonable risk” to... by gadflyinyoureye on Monday February 27, 2023 @03:47PM (#34961647)
How about this? https://www.beeswrap.com/ My wife uses as an alternative to clingwrap.
Re:Plastic-based fuels may present an “unreasonable risk” to... by shiftpgdn on Monday February 27, 2023 @11:19AM (#34958203)
Proof bread with a cloth. Glass containers for food are very durable, I've yet to break one.
Re:Plastic-based fuels may present an “unreasonable risk” to... by mrtranscendence on Monday February 27, 2023 @11:29AM (#34958359)
How long have you been cooking? I've broken pie dishes, 9x13 baking dishes, measuring cups ... probably other things. Maybe I'm a butterfingers but that doesn't change matters.
Re:Plastic-based fuels may present an “unreasonable risk” to... by shiftpgdn on Monday February 27, 2023 @12:38PM (#34959407)
30ish years.
Re:Plastic-based fuels may present an “unreasonable risk” to... by klyrs on Monday February 27, 2023 @12:47PM (#34959522)
Question for both of you: what are your floors made of? Wood and linoleum often won't break dishes. Tile eats dishes like the cookie monster eats... ummm... carrots I guess.
Re:Plastic-based fuels may present an “unreasonable risk” to... by amluto on Monday February 27, 2023 @11:02AM (#34957935)
> Polycarbonate is a very useful plastic for food containers ("cambros") because it's lightweight, durable, and can be transparent. Sure, glass could work but it's a lot more fragile, especially if you were to try to constantly stack/unstack them in a commercial kitchen.

Cambro will happily sell you polypropylene bins, too. They even stack with the polycarbonate ones.

Re:Plastic-based fuels may present an “unreasonable risk” to... by BeFlatXIII on Monday February 27, 2023 @11:16AM (#34958146)
Plastic wrap is also far easier than finding the correct matching lid, in my experience.
Re:Plastic-based fuels may present an “unreasonable risk” to... by clcaev on Monday February 27, 2023 @11:40AM (#34958531)
There are now silicone lids you can purchase for pyrex storage containers. As a bonus, they stay supple and don't crack. Even so, lids do not touch food as much as the container itself.

Sadly, silicon freezer bags have yet to work as well as plastic ones. Give them time.

Re:Plastic-based fuels may present an “unreasonable risk” to... by opan on Tuesday February 28, 2023 @07:52AM (#34968708)
Where do you find them? I have many cracked pyrex lids.
Re:Plastic-based fuels may present an “unreasonable risk” to... by jessekv on Monday February 27, 2023 @11:43AM (#34958587)
In South East Asia, you can buy a lot of different prepared foods in banana, lotus, or bamboo leaf wrappings. Additionally, corn husks are used for wrapping tamales in Mexico. I wish I knew what the equivalent would have been in Europe. I would love to see traditional packaging getting popular in supermarkets around the world.
Re:Plastic-based fuels may present an “unreasonable risk” to... by pixl97 on Monday February 27, 2023 @12:58PM (#34959692)
Risk adversity in the US will pretty much never allow this to happen. The moment one of those leaves has listeria or something like that on it, they'll be back in sterile plastic wrap.
Re:Plastic-based fuels may present an “unreasonable risk” to... by jessekv on Monday February 27, 2023 @02:28PM (#34960771)
You're probably right. Its related to the question of whether to wash eggs or not.
Re:Plastic-based fuels may present an “unreasonable risk” to... by Retric on Monday February 27, 2023 @01:01PM (#34959726)
Lack of an air barrier is a huge limitation on shelf life. It’s not an issue for prepared foods you are about to eat but it is most things you’re buying at a grocery store.
Re:Plastic-based fuels may present an “unreasonable risk” to... by jessekv on Monday February 27, 2023 @03:05PM (#34961182)
It's not an issue for the fruits, vegetables, eggs, grains, "cured" meats, or many cheeses that I buy at the grocery store.

Relying on natural barriers to keep things from breaking down does limit shelf life, but its not a foreign concept to shoppers or grocery stores.

Re:Plastic-based fuels may present an “unreasonable risk” to... by Retric on Monday February 27, 2023 @03:30PM (#34961484)
I’ve gotten all of those without them being wrapped in plastic. It’s not an environmental issue just a cost cutting one.
Re:Plastic-based fuels may present an “unreasonable risk” to... by simongr3dal on Monday February 27, 2023 @11:51AM (#34958701)
A lot of commercial kitchens use stainless steel for their containers.