With all of the talk about “green products” and making our lives more environmentally friendly I did a little research and found some cool information. Most of this is common sense but I thought I would make sure my information was correct. One of the most versatile and green cookware products is glass; this would also include ceramics. Glass is, at its most basic definition, super heated sand or silicates if you want to get technical. Glass has absolutely no chemicals  that can be released as the glass ages or is heated unlike some plastics.

Unlike some materials such as plastic that in recent studies shows certain kinds of plastics release harmful chemicals when heated. Not all plastics have this property so if you use plastic do a little research. I will post some more about plastics later on..back to the glass. Glass allows you to see what is cooking whether it is in the oven or the microwave which is another reason to use glass. Glass can go from oven to refrigerator to microwave and back again. Some glass containers can also be used in the freezer. Look for tempered glass as it has the best properties for cooking and durability. Pyrex is another chef favorite prized for its heat properties and durability.

I enjoy glass because it is affordable and cooks great!! You can use it for almost anything, breads, pastas, sauces on the stove top, casseroles, desserts and the list goes on. Storage, as mentioned above, is a prime example of the versatility of glass. No known bugs can eat through glass and since glass releases no chemicals your food is safe from extraneous and foreign substances. Glass is a bit more prone to breaking then with stainless steel or copper but with the tempered glass or Pyrex shattering is held to a minimum. Glass can be recycled and used in other glass products. This is a general statement for glass as some forms of glass cannot be recycled for new uses.

All in all glass is affordable, reliable, versatile, and environmentally safe and friendly. So why aren’t you using more glass?

The holidays bring us much joy, happiness and food, to say the least. What to do with the left overs? Where can I store them and in what? Most of us probably use plastic containers which would be fine if they were more environmentally friendly, not to mention that not all plastic storage containers can be used in the microwave. What a bout a set of containers that can be taken form the freezer and put into the microwave? A set of glass storage containers from Kinetic are perfect for storing, cooking and freezing.

A 3 piece set of GlassLock containers from Kinetic are made from tempered glass which is resistant to breaking and safe to use in the freezer and in the microwave. The tempering process also protects the glass form having the colors and juices of the food from penetrating the glass and discoloring it unlike plastic containers. Plastic containers, depending upon the materials used in manufacturing, release BPA a synthetic estrogen, into food when heated. The glass containers from Kinetic are completely 100% safe to use at any temperature setting. Keep your family and friends protected against these synthetic by products.

The glass storage containers come in 2, 5 and 11 cup capacities. Use the 2 cup container for small side dishes to be consumed later as a snack or for pot luck night at the house. All of the GlassLock containers have watertight and airtight lids; these lids should not be used in the microwave for as they are made from plastic and the heat will release unwanted toxins and by products into your food. The larger container, the 11 cup capacity, is perfect for meat loafs, fish and other entrees that need a bit more room for storage. You could even use it for a small batch of pudding, cake, or some brownies.

These are also completely dishwasher safe and can be placed on the top rack. This makes clean up a breeze, just toss them into the dishwasher and press start. Of course these are microwave, refrigerator and freezer safe. It is recommended to wrap the item to be frozen if possible to further reduce the possibilities of freezer burn, although it is not required. The storage containers are FDA approved which means you can be sure of the construction and that no unwanted chemicals are used in the production of the containers. Stop using plastic and convert to glass containers to save money and protect your health.