But do you really need to buy an appliance to do all this? Our experts say no. And they don’t recommend a single one of the vacuum sealers they tested.

Aldi is selling a vacuum food sealer for $39.99 as part of its Special Buys on Wednesday 11 October. Should you line up to buy it? Based on our test results, we think not – unless you have some quite specific needs in your kitchen. (We’ll explain below.)

Here’s why vacuum sealers aren’t all they’re cracked up to be.Ìý

1. They don’t actually make your food last longer

Stale Cheezels are the worst. So say a small prayer for our experts, who munched through multiple packets to find which storage solution solves this sad snack problem. (For science, of course.)

You’d think that sucking the air out of the pack would stop the staleness, right? Err, no.Ìý

But an elastic band did. Yep. Not a single vacuum sealer could beat this old-school method – the lo-fi elastic band was as good as, or even better than, every single model we tested.

The elastic band method kept the Cheezels crisp and tasting Cheezel-y, while some of the vac-packed samples became soft and chewy, and even had a strange plastic aftertaste.Ìý

So why would you pay for an appliance when you could use something you probably already have at home? Answer: you probably shouldn’t.

Vacuum sealers won’t miraculously extend use-by dates either, so don’t count on them to help you squeeze a few extra days out of that fancy cheese you got at half price because it was approaching the cut-off.

2. You can’t rely on them to stop your meat going off

If you’re expecting to keep your meat fresher by vac-packing it, we have some bad news for you: it won’t make a difference.Ìý

We stored fresh chicken in the fridge using different vacuum sealers, the original pack, and a ziplock bag. And guess what? None of them lasted the distance. Some vac-packed portions were marginally better, but still weren’t okay to eat.Ìý

(They did work well for frozen chicken, though, so there’s that. But do you really need to buy a whole appliance just for one job?)

“Vacuum sealers aren’t the answer to prolonging the life of fresh meat, and it’s just not worth risking it with raw meat – especially poultry,” says ÌÇÐÄVlog kitchen expert Martha Psiroukis.Ìý

“Learning how to store your meat and fresh produce correctly is a much better way to get the most out of it.Ìý

“Meat and fish should be stored in the chiller compartment at 0°C or just below. Keep it tightly wrapped or in a sealed container. If you don’t have a chiller, pop it in the coldest part of your fridge.”

3. Some bugs love the air-free environment that vacuum sealers create

There’s another, nastier side to vacuum-sealed food safety: anaerobic bacteria.Ìý

Even though vac sealers remove oxygen, which some bacteria do need to grow, there are still some really nasty bacteria that love that lack of air. They only grow in oxygen-free environments, so vacuum-sealed food is the perfect playground for them.Ìý

What’s worse, even if anaerobic bacteria does its thing on your meat, you probably won’t know about it. It doesn’t make the meat slimy or smelly like other bacteria, so it’s pretty much undetectable.Ìý

Another reason not to vacuum seal your chicken lovely legs.

4. They don’t last long

Seals and heating strips are the Achilles heels of vacuum sealers – these are the bits that tend to die first. (And they’re obviously the most important part of the machine, which is a bit of a downer.)

If liquid gets inside the vacuum sealer, which happens a lot if you’re vac-packing marinated meats, stews and the like, then it’ll overheat and damage the machine.

Some vacuum sealers even come with an extra sealing gasket or heating strip when you buy them, which is a pretty clear indication that the product might not last the distance.Ìý

If you can’t get hold of spare parts, then that’s it – a perfectly functional machine rendered is useless due to a couple of cheap components.Ìý

When you factor in all the plastic associated with vacuum sealing as well, they’re not very enviro-friendly machines.

So why would you buy a vacuum sealer?

If you’re a freezer fiend, a vacuum sealer can be a good tool. They minimise freezer burn and they’re handy for portioning meals to freeze. And if you’re keen on sous vide – a cooking technique where vacuum-sealed meals are immersed in hot water – you can use a vacuum sealer to parcel up the raw ingredients.Ìý

But they’re far from being a kitchen must-have, and our experts were so unimpressed with the models they tested that they don’t recommend a single one.Ìý

Even the expensive ones didn’t do well, with two commercial models costing $400 and $1600 among the lowest-scoring in our test.Ìý

Our experts’ verdict? “What you usually use at home is more than good enough,” Martha says.

Alternatives to using a vacuum sealer

Turns out you don’t actually need a vacuum sealer to vacuum-seal your foods. Just grab a ziplock bag and a bowl of water and you’re sorted!

As you’ll see in our video above, it won’t take quite as much air out of the bag as a vacuum sealer would, but it’s a whole lot cheaper than buying a new appliance.

“There are plenty of other alternatives to using a vacuum sealer in the kitchen,” says Martha.Ìý

“Store fruit and veg in a glass container lined with a paper towel, freeze foods in reusable containers, use sealing clips on open packets, and portion meat using freezer bags.Ìý

“But the most important thing is to store food in the right part of your fridge or freezer at the right temperature – vacuum-sealed or not, any food will spoil if it’s not stored correctly. Temperature is the key, not air or lack thereof.”

The post Aldi is selling vacuum sealers, but should you buy one? appeared first on ÌÇÐÄVlog.

On this page:

• Our expert testers
• How we choose what we test
• How we test vacuum sealers
• Test criteria explained
• Our test lab

In the ÌÇÐÄVlog kitchen lab, we put budget vacuum sealers up against high-end models to find out which ones work the best. Here’s how we do it.

Our expert testers

There’s no doubt our home economist/test coordinator Fiona Mair and kitchen test officer Martha Psiroukis know their way around a kitchen.Ìý

With over 30 years of combined experience they’ve seen lots of new technology enter the kitchen space, including the increasingly popular air fryer. Fiona and Martha know how to give appliances a thorough workout in the ÌÇÐÄVlog kitchen lab and vacuum sealers are no exception.

How we choose what we test

With a range of products on the market, what makes us choose one vacuum sealer over another to test? As with most of our product testing, our aim is to test the most popular models on the market and what you’re most likely to see in stores.

We survey manufacturers to find out about their range of models, check market sales information and also check for any member requests to test specific models. From this information we put together a final list that goes to our buyers.

They then head out to the retailers and purchase each product, just as a regular consumer would. We do this so we can be sure products are the same as any consumer would find them and not ‘tweaked’ in any way for better performance.

How we test vacuum sealers

Performance

Our kitchen lab puts vacuum sealers through their paces to determine if freshness and food quality is retained for longer when vacuum sealing compared to using conventional storage methods. We conduct three main tests to assess performance: 

• Pantry storage: We judge the appliance’s ability to vacuum seal a delicate, dry food (Cheezels) to retain crispness, flavour and texture in ambient (pantry) conditions.Ìý
• Fridge storage: We look at whether the vacuum sealers will prolong the quality of fresh meat (chicken breast) in the fridge.Ìý
• Freezer storage: We assess whether the vacuum sealers will prolong the quality of fresh meat (chicken breast) in the freezer.Ìý

We also conduct extra tests that are not scored and don’t form part of the ÌÇÐÄVlog Expert Rating:

• Canisters/Delicate foods: We use fresh baby spinach to assess any handheld attachments for vacuum canisters to determine their ability to retain the quality of a delicate moist food stored in the fridge.
• °ä°ù³Ü²õ³ó¾±²Ô²µ:ÌýWe vacuum seal Cheezels using the gentle mode (where available) to assess how well the vacuum sealers handle delicate foods without crushing them.

Ease of use

When determining how easy vacuum sealers are to use, we assess:

• the thoroughness of the instruction manuals (ideally they should include diagrams, detailed operation guidelines and food safety information)
• the clarity of the control labelling, intuitiveness of the controls and ease of operation
• how easy they are to operate, including locking/unlocking the lid, cutter use, creating bags and using vacuum tube accessories
• versatility of the unit and optional accessories
• how easy they are to clean and store.

Test criteria explained

The ÌÇÐÄVlog Expert Rating, our overall score, is made up of:

• performance (50%)
• ease of use (50%).

Our test lab

We maintain a kitchen lab that is up to date with the latest reference machines and calibrated measurement tools for our testers to bring you accurate results.

The post How we test vacuum sealers appeared first on ÌÇÐÄVlog.

On this page:

• Tupperware vs Kmart
• What to look for when buying plastic food containers
• How we test plastic food containers
• The Tupperware lifetime warranty

If you’ve had enough and decided to clean up your plastics cupboard once and for all, you’re probably going to want to buy matching sets from one particular brand or retailer.Ìý

In our plastic food containers test, Tupperware products topped the class, coming well ahead of all other products.ÌýBut is it worth going all out and buying an expensive brand like Tupperware, or will a Kmart cheapie do the job just as well? 

Tupperware vs Kmart

To help you decide whether or not to splurge on Tupperware, we’ve pitted it against a budget brand, Kmart, to show you how they both performed in our test.Ìý

Both containers are microwave-, freezer- and dishwasher-safe, but the Tupperware container is nearly nine times more expensive. Here’s how they stack up.

Tupperware Heat’n Eat Rectangle

• ÌÇÐÄVlog Expert Rating: 94%
• Price: $31

Pros

• Excellent performance
• Very good ease of use
• 100% leakproof and airtight
• Perfect score on odour and stain test
• Comes with a “lifetime warranty” (see below for more information)
• Has a steam vent for use when microwaving

Cons

• Expensive
• Generally only available through a Tupperware “consultant” (but now available online as well)
• Lifetime warranty may not be as good as it used to be

Read the full Tupperware Heat’n Eat review.Ìý

Kmart Anko Rectangle Clip Food Container

• ÌÇÐÄVlog Expert Rating: 82%
• Price: $3.50

Pros

• Cheap
• Very good performance
• Easy to replace
• Has four clips on the lid
• Has a removable silicone gasket

Cons

• Not as durable as Tupperware
• Doesn’t have a steam release vent
• Only scored 40% on odours and stains test
• Scored 68% for ease of use
• No warranty or guarantee

Read the full Kmart Anko rectangle clip review.Ìý

The verdict

Whether the pros outweigh the cons really depends on what’s important to you.Ìý

Sure, the Kmart containers are cheap so if they break they don’t cost much to replace – but what about the cost to the environment? (Check with your local council before you throw them in the recycling bin – not all rigid plastics can be recycled.) Perhaps you can make a difference by buying eco-friendly products with all the money you’ll save from not buying Tupperware.Ìý

It might be hard to justify spending the money on Tupperware products, and the prices could be well out of reach for many Australians. But since the products are so durable, you may only have to buy one set of plastic food containers over your lifetime. (Just make sure you’re across changes to Tupperware’s warranty process – see below.)

So, if you’re on a budget but still want good performance, the Kmart products are a winner. If you’ve got the cash to splash, you’re committed to reducing your environmental footprint and don’t mind buying through a consultant, then Tupperware is a good investment.Ìý

What to look for when buying plastic food containers

Potential use

“I think the most important thing to remember when buying plastic containers is to think about how you’ll use them – are they for the fridge, cupboard, microwave or freezer?” says ÌÇÐÄVlog kitchen expert Fiona Mair.Ìý

“I look for microwave and freezer safe as that’s where they end up most of the time. The lids should be a softer plastic so they are easy to remove and seal. Buy a few different sizes of your favourite brand so they accommodate different size portions of food.”

Here are Fiona’s tips for using plastic food containers:

• Any stains can be removed by rubbing a little lemon juice on the surface.
• Get yourself a marker suitable for plastic to label and date each container when storing foods in the freezer, so you always know what it is.
• Dry the containers well before storing.Ìý
• I like to store mine with the lids on as I hate searching for the matching lid. (But bear in mind that this takes up more room than nesting them.)

Design

A plastic food container’s design is more important than its pricetag, says Adrian Lini, one of ÌÇÐÄVlog’s expert testers.Ìý

“Other than Tupperware, the best scoring containers in our test had a rubber seal around the lid and the locking handles on top of the lid,” he says.

“The poorer scoring models have one or more of the following: no rubber seal, no locking handles, or locking handles on the body of the container instead of the lid.

“These designs struggled the most in our leakproof tests and airtight tests, so they’ll be much more likely to spill in your bag, or allow food to degrade faster in the fridge or cupboard.”

Durability

If you’re concerned about the longevity of your plastic containers, Tupperware certainly has a reputation for durability.Ìý

“An ordinary plastic container can last for a very long time; a Tupperware container can last for probably three lifetimes,” says Matthew Tung, another ÌÇÐÄVlog expert tester.Ìý

“My mother is still using Tupperware she bought over 30 years ago and from the looks of it she’ll be able to pass it down to my daughter and she’ll be able to use it for years.

“I can’t say I fully recommend it given how expensive and difficult it is to buy one, but if you have extra to spend then it’s certainly worth considering.”

Still confused? Check our plastic food containers buying guide for in-depth tips on which features you should look for, storage tips and plastic container safety. And you can join our .Ìý

How we test plastic food containers

Our experts put plastic containers through their paces to see which ones are worth buying and which ones you should leave on the shelf. We test to see how airtight and leakproof they are, whether they stain or warp, and how strong the lid is.Ìý

Of these, the most fun is the durability test. (Watch the video above.) 

Freezing 500mL of water in each plastic container, we then drop them from bench height onto a hard floor to see which ones are up to the task of keeping your food contained day in, day out. It’s quite revealing: we see some spectacular explosions and some impressive feats of strength.

Only three containers of the 15 we tested survived this challenge. Two were from Tupperware and the third was from Sistema. There’s a considerable price difference between them, though: the Sistema costs $10 for a one-litre container; the two Tupperware containers cost at least twice that. (One is $31 and the other $53 for a set of two.)

So what exactly does the extra money buy you? Well, the Sistema container scored 82% overall, while the Tupperware containers scored 94 and 95%. The Sistema was marked down for its lid, which our testers found difficult to open and close. They’re all equally leak proof but the Tupperware containers had the edge in terms of airtightness. And then there’s the Tupperware lifetime warranty. (See below to find out whether it’s as good as it sounds.)

Once again, your finances and commitment to the environment will probably dictate which product is best for you. Tupperware products consistently outperformed other brands in our tests, but the cost may be prohibitive for some. If you can’t justify the expense, choose one of the other top performers from our plastic food containers review.Ìý

The Tupperware lifetime warranty

In the past, people justified paying the higher price for Tupperware because of its durability and lifetime warranty. Tupperware’s durability has remained unchanged – we’ve all heard stories about Tupperware that’s 30+ years old – but unfortunately it seems the lifetime warranty isn’t quite what it used to be.Ìý

The Tupperware website says that the company has “changed [its] warranty process to provide [its] customers with a faster, more efficient and a better overall experience when making a warranty claim”, but assures customers that the Lifetime Warranty itself has not changed.Ìý

The company now charges a $3.95 processing fee per item.Ìý

While this might not seem unreasonable, long-time ÌÇÐÄVlog subscriber Samantha told us that when she went to claim on Tupperware’s Lifetime Warranty she found that these fees are charged per item, and that rather than directly replacing the item, Tupperware provided a voucher to spend on the website – one voucher per product to be replaced.Ìý

“However, you can only use one voucher per purchase. So if you return four items you must make four individual purchases and pay for 4x the delivery cost. If you are lucky, the vouchers will cover delivery. Hardly a replacement warranty!” she says.Ìý

“The replacement warranty was the main reason I’ve bought Tupperware over the past 30 years. I won’t be buying any more.”

Tupperware told us that the $9.95 delivery fee has since been waived. And regarding the vouchers, the company says that under its warranty program, customers who have proof of purchase will receive a replacement if that product or a similar product exists.Ìý

If the product is no longer manufactured and there’s no similar product available, then Tupperware will provide a voucher for the retail price of the original purchase. If you don’t have a receipt, you’ll still receive a voucher for the amount that a replacement product can be purchased for.

These changes have angered Tupperware fans to the point that one disgruntled customer has started .Ìý

And customers are venting their frustrations on Tupperware Australia’s Facebook page. “Their new policy is quite rubbish, isn’t it?” says one person. “So disappointed with its new returns policy,” says another. “Knocked back on a replacement because I didn’t keep a receipt from years ago! I am very disappointed with Tupperware at the moment.”

One member said of Tupperware, “Having to pay to return a piece invalidates a ‘lifetime warranty’ … For the true lifetime warranty and service, the premium price seemed worth it, but not without it.”

Note: This article was updated in November 2021 to include clarification of the processes for claims on Tupperware’s Lifetime Warranty.Ìý

The post Cheap vs expensive plastic food containers appeared first on ÌÇÐÄVlog.

The most environmentally friendly approach is to do away with cling wrap altogether and go with reusable options such as beeswax wraps and silicone food covers – but you may just find there are some things that you still want to cover with single-use products.Ìý

Some ‘eco’ cling wrap products cost a small fortune and don’t work especially well. Others have vague (and even dubious) claims about their enviro credentials. So what’s an eco-conscious consumer to do?

We tested a range of ‘eco’ cling wraps to see which ones perform and which ones are best avoided. Here’s what we found.Ìý

Can you avoid the greenwashing?

As with many products, there’s plenty of greenwashing in the cling wrap category. Companies that only use 50% (or even less) sustainable content in their products are happy to slap a ‘green’ label on them, even though they’re not always that much better for the environment than their petroleum-based counterparts.Ìý

The two top-performing ‘eco’ cling wraps in our test weren’t actually all that eco: both Glad to be Green 50% Plant-Based and Multix Plant Based Cling Wrap are made of about half plant-based plastic. The other half is made of good old-fashioned fossil fuel-based plastic.Ìý

And unfortunately eco claims are difficult to substantiate, and there’s no mandatory standard for these labelling schemes anyway, so it can be difficult to tell what you’re buying.Ìý

The best approach is to take all ‘eco’ claims with a grain of salt, make sure you read all the fine print before you buy, and dispose of it properly.Ìý

It’s what you do with it that matters

You can buy all the eco-friendly products in the world, but you’re not going to save the planet if you use them incorrectly.Ìý

“It’s important to mention that a home compostable cling wrap is only really worth it if you are actually going to dispose of it in your home compost,” says ÌÇÐÄVlog household expert Rebecca Ciaramidaro.Ìý

“Chucking it away with the rest of your general rubbish has little to no environmental benefit.”

What does ‘compostable’ actually mean?

For products labelled ‘compostable’, you’ll need to check what that means – some need to go through an industrial composting system, whereas others are home compostable.

That’s because biodegradable cling wrap labelled ‘compostable’ will break down faster in a home compost or industrial composting facility, according to ÌÇÐÄVlog home economist Fiona Mair. If either of these go into landfill, they can take just as long as other cling wraps to break down.Ìý

Read the label carefully

So make sure you read the label carefully before you buy. That way, you can make sure you can dispose of the cling film properly.Ìý

Most of the plastic-based cling wraps can be disposed of through the REDcycle program, including the Glad to be Green wrap and the Multix Greener wrap.Ìý

Ease of use: how to handle this sticky situation

There’s a fine line between cling film that’s just sticky enough and cling film that’s so sticky it perpetually sticks to itself so you can’t use it.

Fiona found that the main thing separating the plastic-based wraps from the plant-based wraps is how easy they are to use.Ìý

“The eco-friendly cling wraps performed as well as some of the regular cling wraps when it came to sealing and heating, and the Great Wrap actually outperformed all cling wraps for this,” Fiona says.Ìý

“However, when it came to ease of use such as opening, dispensing, cutting and condition of packaging, it was a big disappointment.”

Is a separate dispenser the answer?

If you’re keen to commit to plant-based cling wrap but don’t want to deal with the frustration of cling wrap that sticks to itself, you could try buying a separate cling wrap dispenser.Ìý

“Plant-based cling wrap can be quite sticky, so a dispenser that will keep the plastic from clinging back on itself is something to look for,” says Fiona.Ìý

“Being able to pull the cling wrap out using two hands will prevent the cling wrap from tearing in the wrong places.”

Top-scoring eco-friendly cling wraps from our test

These ‘eco’ cling wraps received the highest overall scores in our expert testing. Bear in mind, though, that not all eco products are equally eco-friendly: the top two performers in this category are only about 50% plant-based, with the remainder coming from petroleum-derived plastics.Ìý

Glad to be Green 50% Plant Based Cling Wrap

• ÌÇÐÄVlog Expert Rating: 79%
• Performance score: 80%
• Eco claims: 50% bio-based plastic, 50% fossil fuel plastic.

Multix Plant Based Cling Wrap

• ÌÇÐÄVlog Expert Rating: 78%
• Performance score: 83%
• Eco claims: contains no PVC or plasticisers, 45% renewable sugar cane based, BPA free.

Great Wrap Home Compostable Cling Wrap

• ÌÇÐÄVlog Expert Rating: 76%
• Performance score: 90%
• Eco claims: potato waste and a mix of other compostable biopolymers, certified compostable.

Worst eco-friendly cling wraps

These ‘eco’ cling wraps were the lowest scoring in our expert testing. Although some of them performed well in terms of sealing, adherence and re-sealing, our expert tester found many of them difficult to use.Ìý

It’s worth noting, too, that the Ecoduz and Bio Tuff cling wraps were the two most expensive in our test, showing that price is no indicator of performance.Ìý

SugarWrap Eco Cling Wrap 100% Compostable

• ÌÇÐÄVlog Expert Rating: 65%
• Performance score: 75%
• Eco claims: corn-based PLA, 100% home compostable.

Bio Tuff Compostable Cling Wrap

• ÌÇÐÄVlog Expert Rating: 65%
• Performance score: 75%
• Eco claims: biodegradable and compostable, manufactured using renewable sources, plant-based thermoplastic corn-starch resins.

Ecoduz Compostable Cling Wrap

• ÌÇÐÄVlog Expert Rating: 67%
• Performance score: 78%
• Eco claims: made from PLA and PBAT, BPA free, certified commercially compostable (EN13432).

The post The best and worst eco-friendly cling wraps appeared first on ÌÇÐÄVlog.

On this page:

• Our expert testers
• How we choose what we test
• How we test
• Testing criteria explained
• Our test lab

We’ve tested more than 20 cling wraps you’re likely to find in major supermarkets as well as some ‘green’ products available online. Here’s how we put them to the test.

Our expert testers

There’s no doubt our home economist Fiona Mair knows her way around a kitchen. With over 30 years’ experience she’s seen lots of new technology enter the kitchen space, testing ovens, microwaves, cooktops, air fryers and all the rest. She knows what to look for and importantly, what makes products easy to use. Fiona knows how to put appliances through their paces in the test kitchen and is now applying that knowledge to this test of cling wrap.

How we choose what we test

With a range of cling wrap products on the market, we aim to test what you’re likely to see on store shelves. We buy what’s available in the major supermarkets, covering leading brands like Glad and Multix as well as supermarket generic brands like Coles, Woolworths and Aldi. We also include some products available online with ‘environmentally friendly’ claims.

How we test

Performance

Adherence test

Fiona tests how well each cling wrap adheres and then reseals to different cookware materials – a pyrex bowl, a porcelain ceramic dish, a plastic bowl and an aluminium bowl.

Microwave reheat

She also conducts a microwave reheating test to see if the cling film can withstand heat and any contact with fatty, hot food without shrinking or breaking.

Ease of use

Fiona assesses ease of use by checking how easy it is to open the packaging and dispense the cling wrap. She also checks how neat the cut is and the positioning of the serrated edge.

Environmental claims

We don’t score any environmental claims as we’re not able to test these claims in the lab. But we do note any biodegradable or compostable claims made by manufacturers to help you make your own decision.

Testing criteria explained

The overall score is made up of:

• Performance (70%)
• Ease of use (30%)

Our test lab

We maintain a lab that is up to date with the latest reference machines and calibrated measurement tools for our testers to bring you the right results.

The post How we test cling wrap appeared first on ÌÇÐÄVlog.

Love it or loathe it, it’s a staple in many Australian households, used in many different ways, from poaching eggs to stopping your shampoo leaking in your suitcase while travelling. Oh, and some people apparently use it to cover food.Ìý

ÌÇÐÄVlog’s kitchen queen Fiona Mair put 23 cling wraps to the test to see which ones give the best cling. These are the best and worst performers from our test.Ìý

How we test

Working from home during the Sydney lockdown, Fiona valiantly tested a variety of cling wraps in her own kitchen. She took on the one task that most of us hate: checking how easy it is to open the packaging and dispense the cling wrap. She also checked the position of the serrated edge and how neat the cut is.Ìý

Next up, she checked each wrap’s stickiness by assessing how well they adhered and then resealed to different cookware materials: a Pyrex bowl, a porcelain ceramic dish, a plastic bowl and a stainless steel bowl.Ìý

She also turned up the heat, using them while reheating food in the microwave to see whether the products could withstand heat and contact with fatty hot food without shrinking or breaking.Ìý

That’s a serious undertaking when there were more than 20 products to test!

Cling wrap’s environmental impact

As consumer awareness of environmental issues grows, manufacturers are creating more ‘eco-friendly’ options to meet the demand, such as plant-based, compostable and biodegradable options.Ìý

Unfortunately though, these eco claims are difficult to substantiate and there’s no mandatory standard for these labelling schemes, so it can be difficult to tell what you’re buying.Ìý

If buying sustainably is important to you, try to dig a bit deeper rather than just relying on the marketing spin.Ìý

“While testing so many cling wraps over a couple of weeks, I really felt the guilt of using such a product and where it will end up,” says Fiona.Ìý

“Buying eco-friendly, biodegradable cling wrap is worth looking into, but you should do your research as it is important to know how they should be disposed of. If you have a compost bin, definitely look for a home compostable cling wrap. However, throwing compostable cling wrap into a bin that ends up in landfill may have very little benefit to the environment.”

For reusable products that are a good alternative to single-use plastics, read our reusable food covers article, which looks at products like beeswax wraps, silicone food savers, and reusable sandwich bags.Ìý

The best performing cling wraps from our test

Glad brand dominated our cling wrap test, taking out three of the top spots (equal first, and second). And while ‘green’ cling wrap products typically don’t perform as well as regular cling wrap, two of the top five products include plant-based materials, which is great news for the environment.Ìý

Unfortunately these two ‘eco’ products aren’t the most eco-friendly ones on the market. The Glad to be Green cling wrap is only 50% plant-based, with the rest comprising traditional petroleum-based plastic. And the Multix Plant Based Cling Wrap isn’t 100% plant-based – it uses only 45% renewable sugar cane-based product.Ìý

The good news is that you can expect great performance from all of the top-scoring products, with all of them scoring well across the board for adherence, microwave heating and ease of use – so you can buy with confidence.Ìý

These are the top performers:

• Glad Wrap (81%)
• Glad Wrap with Ezy-Cutter Bar (81%)
• Glad to be Green 50% Plant Based Cling Wrap (79%)
• Goliath Cling Wrap (78%)
• Multix Plant Based Cling Wrap (78%)

The worst performing cling wraps from our test

“I had high hopes for the eco-friendly cling wraps,” Fiona says.Ìý

“They all performed as well as some of the regular cling wraps when it came to sealing and heating, and the Great Wrap actually outperformed all cling wraps for this.Ìý

“However, when it came to ease of use such as opening, dispensing, cutting and condition of packaging, it was a big disappointment.”

The Sugar Wrap product scored well in our tests for adherence and microwave heating (with scores of 80% and 70% respectively), but was badly let down by its ease of use score – it scored just 43%, which was the second-lowest score for ease of use in this test.Ìý

“The manufacturers of these eco-friendly products need to take a good look at the way their products are packaged so consumers will continue to purchase them,” Fiona says.Ìý

These were the worst-performing cling wraps in our test:

• Sugar Wrap Eco Clingwrap 100% Compostable (65%)
• Bio Tuff Compostable Cling Wrap (65%)
• Black & Gold Cling Wrap (66%)
• Ecoduz Compostable Cling Wrap (67%)
• Compostic 100% Home Compostable Cling Wrap (68%)

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On this page:

• Our expert testers
• How we choose what we test
• How we test
• Test criteria explained

Our expert testers

Our household lab testers have years of experience subjecting numerous items such as prams and suitcases to unforgiving durability tests. Drawing upon the expertise of our kitchen lab experts and working in a temperature-controlled, hygienic lab environment, they deliver rigorous results that show you which plastic containers are the best.

How we choose what we test

Plastic food containers from brands like Décor and Sistema are sold in every supermarket and department store, so we scour these places to find the most common ones. We also look at popular brand names (such as Tupperware) and survey manufacturers about availability. We then buy the plastic containers just as a consumer would, to ensure we’re getting a product that everyone else is, that hasn’t been “tweaked” in any way. As there are so many plastic containers on the market, we concentrate on popular 1L varieties.

How we test

Plastic containers need to be as air-tight and leakproof as possible. Ideally, they won’t smell or stain after cleaning, and be durable enough to last many dishwasher cycles. They must also be easy to use.

Performance tests

Our plastic containers are subjected to a range of tests.

Airtight test

To see if air gets into the plastic container, we place moisture-absorbent silica beads that change colour when wet into the containers, and plunge it into a large bucket of water for two minutes. We then observe if any moisture has entered through the lid. If water can get into the container, it’s likely air will, too. The more water in the container, the lower the score.

Leakproof test

You don’t want soups or juices to leak out of your container while travelling. We place 500mL of water into the container, along with some food dye. We then shake and tip it over absorbent paper for 30 seconds to see if any droplets appear. The more it drips, the lower the score.

Odour and stain test

Some foods can leave orange stains on plastic containers, and the smell can linger even after multiple washes.

We put spaghetti bolognese into the plastic containers, leave them in the fridge overnight and reheat them in a microwave for several minutes.

We then remove the sauce, and put the container in the dishwasher. After washing we score the containers for any staining, and comment on whether there are any strong odours.

Durability test

This test is to see how strong the plastic containers are. We freeze 500mL of water in the containers, and drop them onto a hard surface from a height of 900mm. We note any cracks or damage. We don’t score this but we comment on any damage.

Lid strength test

We remove and replace the lid 100 times and see if it’s still airtight and leakproof.

Steam test

We heat and reheat 500mL of water in the plastic containers multiple times and observe any damage.

Ease of use

We rate ease of storage, removing and replacing the lid, and ease of cleaning (the fewer pieces, the better; models with removable gaskets which could trap mould or become lost score lower).

Test criteria explained

Performance makes up 70% of the ÌÇÐÄVlog Expert Rating, and ease of use 30%. We recommend products with a ÌÇÐÄVlog Expert Rating of 80% or more.

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