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One of the members of our Facebook group recently asked about sustainable alternatives for tin foil so I thought I’d share some ideas with you.
Reusable Food Wraps
Reusable food wraps can include beeswax wraps or vegan soy-based wraps. With good care they normally last about a year and then you need to replace them. They can be composted in your home composter. To wash them use warm soapy water and a soft cloth. Allow them to dry completely before putting them away. We use vegan food wraps everyday in the kids packed lunches to wrap their biscuit.
There are lots of places that you can buy them online but I’d recommend the following places…
Alternatively, you can make them yourself. A while ago my friend and I made some beeswax wraps. They were very easy to make. You can find my tutorial here: How To Make Homemade Beeswax Wraps. I haven’t attempted to make the vegan wraps yet but I imagine it’s a very similar process.
You can use glass jars to store leftover food. I find glass containers are better than plastic ones as you can see exactly what’s in them which can help to reduce your food waste. I’ve often found if we have food in the fridge in a container where you cannot see what’s inside the food often gets forgotten and then goes out of date.
I got our glass containers with bamboo lids from IKEA and I love them.
Silicone Food Covers
*Silicone food covers are reusable, easy to use and easy to clean and make a great sustainable alternative for tin foil. You can buy them in different sizes to suit the containers you use at home.
A Plate
If you would normally use tin foil for covering food in the fridge then just use a plate on top of the dish. It works really well and you don’t have to buy anything new.
Reusable Food Bags
If you normally use tin foil to wrap sandwiches for a packed lunch then you can switch to reusable food bags.
Personally, I use Stasher Bag and have done for years now. We use them every day for the kids packed lunches at school. They’re incredibly versatile. You can use them to store food in your fridge or freezer. You can also cook food in them either in the microwave or in a pan. I love them and would highly recommend them. You can read my full review here: The Best Reusable Food Storage Bags.
Reusable Baking Mats
If you use tin foil to line your baking tins then you can swap to reusable silicone baking mats. I got my Poppy Bee ones quite a few years ago now and use them all the time. They are really easy to clean and can even go in your dishwasher. You simply use them, wash them and reuse them.
If you use tin foil to cover food whilst cooking it in the oven then I have two sustainable alternatives for tin foil for you. The first is to invest in some decent lidded cookware. If you don’t have much money to spend then check out your local charity shop as they often have lidded cookware for sale.
The other option is to use your reusable baking mats as a lid. This obviously only works if the food is flat in the cooking tray, like fish for example. I’ve done this several time to steam fish in our oven.
Stainless Steel Grill Basket
If you’re wanting to cook food on a BBQ then a stainless steel grill basket might be an option for you. You can buy them online or in homeware shops.
Seaweed
If you happen to live near the sea then I’ve been told that seaweed makes a great food covering whilst your roasting food. It’s also packed full of goodness for your body and it’s free! I haven’t tried this myself but we might give it a go this year when we’re cooking a bbq on the beach.
Banana Leaves
If you’re feeling a bit more adventurous then banana leaves can be used for cooking too. You can wrap food in them and then grill it or even cook rice in them. Banana leaves are regularly used for cooking in South East Asia and other tropical regions. You may be able to find banana leaves in your local health food shop or Asian supermarket. Alternatively, you can order them online.
So, what about you? Would you consider switching to any of these sustainable alternatives for tin foil? Let me know in the comments below.
About Gina Caro
Gina is a content creator and award-winning blogger. Her aim is to help you live a more sustainable & simple life. Her blog covers zero waste, minimalism, wellbeing & thrift. She currently lives in Cornwall with her partner, two kids and Charles the dog.
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