I normally save every plastic bowl that comes my way - empty margarine tubs, takeout soup containers, sour cream bowls, you name it. Lids, too. But invariably, the lids last longer around here, so I end up with, say, six butter lids and only two butter bowls.
When lid storage starts to overflow, I pull out the surplus - but I don't toss 'em. They go in a box on top of the microwave. That way, when I'm nuking something that might spatter, I can grab a lid, poke a few venting holes in it very carefully, and then use them as free 'splash screens'. If the lid gets cruddy, I can toss it or wash it, it's up to me. I'm just happy I don't have to clean tomato sauce spots from the microwave walls and ceiling every other day now!
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I also like to use lids underneath stuff. Like my honey container! It keeps my cabinets nice and clean!
It is my understanding that if plastic isn't labelled for the microwave that it sheds plastic particles. Altho invisible, we would still be ingesting it.
I save lids and caps for various purposes. I think tho it would be safer to use a piece of plain white paper towels or some waxed paper in the microwave. I'm trying to get away from using plastics in the microwave. Those lids were never meant to be microwaved and you just don't know if any harmful chemicals are going into the food. You definitely want to be sure the lid isn't touching the food. Maybe you could just use a paper plate for this purpose instead and you could get quite a few uses out of it before you'd have to pitch. Also you don't have to worry about whether it can be recycled. Paper in the landfill is better than plastic.
I also keep empty containers to reuse. I use the top of a container that a cake comes in from the grocery store. It is domed and can easily be poked for vent holes, and it doesn't touch the food. I save all these type of containers to store food in. You can see through them to tell what's in there. Also good for taking food places in, and if you don't get it back. Oh well!
I only use paper plates or regular dish plate to cover microwave food as plastic in microwaves is dangerous!
I freeze in margarine containers, then thaw on defrost, approx. 1/2 defrosted then put in micro. container, of course who knows what is safe any more, but I have done this for 20 yrs. Also the unsafe plastic has a no. on the bottom, will look that up for you.
Only number 5 and 7 plastic is safe.
I recycle most of the empty containers because it just too much clutter to keep. I do keep a few and I use some of my small lids to put under my plant pots on my window sill. They are the perfect size for the small pots. If I make a dip I use a large margine container and the lids always fit perfect so thats no spill when taking to a house party. I put it in their bowl and throw the container away. No muss no fuss for me.
Absolutely, don't put any plastic in the microwave that isn't labeled microwave-safe. I don't even microwave Gladware-type containers anymore; I turn the food out into glass or Corelle to microwave it. I cover plates with a microwavable plate cover, and I cover bowls with a plate or a paper towel.
I've tried using plastic lids for small plant saucers, but when I water them it always seems to overflow. I do use the lids, though, as saucers under oil bottles or anything that might drip in my cupboards. I'm always careful to wipe the lip before I put bottles away...but I'm not always the one who puts them away!
Anyone using these lids in the microwave is not a safe idea to use, as they are not microwave safe and will leach chemicals into the food or melt and cause a fire in the microwave, refrain from using such an idea and use them for under plants or under containers that drip or leak fluids in the cupboards or in refridgerators, not the microwave.
Plastic Lids are good for using as a scraper for scraping snow off your windshield, or as a scraper for scraping off food scraps off your plates when you are done eating, they are also handy for scraping dry ingredients such as flour or sugar from the counter that has been spilt into a pile for easier cleaning up
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I keep butter/margarine lids from the large tubs of margarine we buy and poke about five holes in the top to use as a splash guard for my tomato soup when I heat it in the microwave. I never put it in there for over one and a half minutes. It keeps the splashes from the tomato soup from getting on the inside of the microwave oven.
By Robyn Fed from Tri-Cities, TN
This is a great idea however, I shy away from using plastic in the microwave. When I heat food in the microwave, I use my dishes such as a cereal bowl and a saucer to cover the food. I really don't mind washing dishes but I do hate cleaning a splattered microwave, especially when it could have been avoided. Covering the food really makes a difference.
