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ID:9950Author:jackrlandryTitle:Storing Your Food in Plastic ContainersArticle:It is very important that you take care of your plastic containers so that you can safely store your food I them. With properly functioning containers your food will last much longer and be much crisper. It is very important to store your food correctly in the right type of containers in order to maintain freshness for as long as possible. Over the years you have probably become quite a fan of Tupperware and similar containers and you probably have a collection of it. This collection can get quite messy at times, but these containers are ideal for storing food. It is also very important that you know how to take proper care of these containers so that they continue to be the ideal things to store your food in. These containers are generally more expensive than other containers, such as plastic bags, and as a result you do not want to have to replace them before their time. When you first purchase these plastic storage containers, you will want to take them home and rinse them in soapy water. Then, rinse them clean, dry them, and put them away until you are ready to use them. However, you will want to make sure that you do not put the lid back on when you put them away. Even though you dried the container some moisture could be caught in there if you put the lid on, which could cause mold and bad smells. By leaving the lid off, the air will be allowed to circulate so that the smells will not get caught in the container. In addition, temperature varies overtime. As a result, the air trapped within the container will expand and contract over the years until the lid loses its integrity and cracks. Another important thing that you should make sure you always do is use a soft sponge to clean them. Even though the food can sometimes get really stuck on it, nothing more than a soft sponge should be used. The abrasive side of a sponge will scratch your containers and make them seem much older than they are. If you are lucky enough to have a housekeeper or maid, you will want to make sure that she knows she should not use anything stronger on these things. Another common problem with plastic containers is that they can pick up a lot of oil from the food. This oil can be tremendously difficult to wash off. The best solution to getting rid of the oil is to use hot water to wash it with. In addition, you can wipe out most of the oil with a paper towel before you start washing as well so that you will not have as much to clean out. If you have a dishwasher, you will want to make sure that your containers are made to safely go in one before you put them in there. Otherwise, they will melt and you will not be able to use them anymore. Even if they are proclaimed to be dishwasher safe, it is best to place them on the top rack so that they are as far away from the heat as possible. Another common problem with plastic containers is that they often obtain stains from food that will not come out. Tomato based sauces are generally the most guilty suspect in this case. The answer to getting rid of stains is to prevent them. Try spraying the container with non-stick cooking oil or spreading vegetable oil around the interior before you place a tomato based sauce in a container. These oils will prevent the sauces from bonding to the plastic. You may also be dealing with bad smells that are associated with your containers. If you discover that some of your containers have a bad smell that has not gone away after several washings, there are many things you can do. The first thing you may way to try is leaving some wet pieces of newspaper in the container overnight with the lid closed. The carbon in the newspaper should absorb the smell. If this does not work you can try washing the container in lemon or lime juice. The citrus smell may overcome the other smell. You can also try leaving some baking soda in the container over night. Baking soda is known to relieve the smell associated with a variety of other things, including shoes. If you discover that you have not used your containers for over three months, be sure to pull them out and let them soak overnight. Then, dry them and put them back. There are oils present in the plastic that need to be in contact with moisture every so often. By properly taking care of your plastic containers, you will be able to safely and properly store your food. About the author of this article: jack r. landry is an accomplished expert in family preparedness and has been giving seminars for over 15 years. he recommends that everyone have on hand an survival food storage in case of any emergency or disaster. contact info: jack r. landry jackrlandry@gmail.com http://www.foodinsurance.comCategory: Air Jordan 13 Fashion white dark black yellow Date:November 05, 2010 12:03:02 AM  Air Jordan 12 Print Edition white black