Food Scientist’s Hack for Stain-Free Food Storage Containers

Discover why your plastic food storage containers get stained, and how to prevent it, with food scientist Natalie Alibrandi. Learn why acidic foods like tomato sauce are a common culprit and how reheating them in the container can worsen the problem. Keep your containers looking new with this helpful advice.

Publisher: Well + Good

Full Article: ‘I’m a Food Scientist, and This Hack Will Help Keep Your Food Storage Containers Stain-Free Forever’

Date first published: September 21, 2021

Food and Beverage Journalist: Rebecca Norris

Image credits: Photo: Stocksy/Martí Sans

Contributor at Nali Consulting: Natalie Alibrandi, Linkedin

Key contributions from Nali Consulting:

Picture this: You finally find some truly fantastic, BPA-free, microwave-safe, heavy-duty food prep containers at Home Goods (they always draw me in, okay?) and promptly rush home to put them to good use. You rinse them out and fill them with leftover lasagna. Then, when hunger strikes, you grab said container, pop it in the microwave, and enjoy every last cheesy tomato pasta layer. The only problem is, once you rinse the container out, you notice a pesky reddish-orange stain all over the supposedly high-quality plastic. What gives?

According to Natalie Alibrandi, CEO of Nali Consulting and food scientist who specializes in food microbiology and quality assurance, the most common reason plastic containers become stained is when highly acidic foods are stored inside—tomato sauce being a prime example. This situation worsens when that acidic food is transferred into the container while it is still hot, or if the acidic food gets reheated inside the plastic container itself (or both).

How to prevent food storage container stains, according to a food scientist and Reddit

With all of this in mind, Alibrandi says that it is a best practice to avoid heating plastic food containers in the microwave entirely, even if they are labelled microwave-safe. Instead, try to only store cooled foods inside of them, and transfer leftovers to a serving dish instead of heating them in the plastic.

Of course, that is not nearly as convenient as just popping a food prep container into the microwave and immediately enjoying a meal without the hassle of adding another dish to clean to the process. We’re only human, after all. And seeing as that is such a common thought process, a new trick for avoiding permanently stained plastic food storage containers has emerged on Reddit and (unsurprisingly) immediately went viral.

The hack is as brilliant as they come: Spray your food storage container with a layer of nonstick cooking spray before putting any leftovers inside of it. The theory behind it is simple—the spray creates a thin protective layer, which helps prevent the plastic from absorbing the bright orange sheen (and scent) of your spaghetti sauce. And as an added perk, your food will slide right out when you’re ready to reheat it.

The real question is, of course, whether or not it really works. And more importantly, is it safe? Keep reading to find out what the food scientist has to say.

Can a layer of cooking spray really prevent storage container stains?

“You bet,” Alibrandi says. “The oil helps create a barrier between the container and the food—therefore, your leftovers will slide out pretty stain-free.”

She affirms that the most effective method for maintaining stain-free containers, however, is to avoid plastic entirely. “In fact, the best way to prevent all stains while storing and reheating tomato-based products is to use glass containers instead.”

It’s perfectly healthy—but you can use olive oil if you prefer it.

Cooking spray is designed to be cooked with, so is it safe to use it as a protective layer for plastic as well? According to Alibrandi, it is totally fine. “A little bit of oil spray won’t do any damage whatsoever,” she says. “However, it’s important to choose a spray that has minimal or no hydrogenated fats.” Alternatively, she says that a healthier option is to pour some olive oil into the container and spread it around with a paper towel.

The takeaway

This Reddit hack for preventing food storage stains gets the stamp of approval from the food scientist. That said, Alibrandi strongly feels that glass containers are always your best bet for all acidic and/or tomato-based foods, as they won’t stain regardless. Glass containers are also free from BPA and completely safe to go in the microwave—and in addition to stains, they will never absorb odors.

If you feel inspired to swap your plastic containers for glass ones, find a few of our favorite airtight options below. After all, what’s more precious (and worth preserving properly) than leftover lasagna?