Kitchen

[namaste000]

I am a fan of L&L - in fact just received the tsv today (fast right?)

Here's where I need help:

I kept leftover turkey meatloaf in the refrigerator for 2 days and then reheated it in the microwave.  There must have been a spattering of sauce in one corner and now it is impossble to remove.  Tried soaking, scraping with a plastic scraper...still there - raised and rough.  Stupidly I then tried a tiny piece of steel wool - didn't work and now the plastic is scratched and dull.

1) How should this be cleaned iin case it happens again?

2) Would you use the damaged container?  Think I will be eating plastic molecules? (yes I am paranoid about foods)

Thanks for any help  

[brandiwine]

What you are describing is exactly one of the problems I had with lock & lock.  They stain very easily.  The roughness appeared after putting on the top shelf of the dishwasher the 1st time.  I will never purchase this brand again.  I'm using glass containers with tight fighting lids I get from Costco.  Rubbermaid plastic holds up much better the L & L

[spent2much]

I have a couple pieces of Lock & Lock that have a small "raised and rough" area.  I'll keep using them.  I just don't worry about plastic particles.  Hey, maybe I should, but I don't.  

[WSfan]

I've had the same thing happen to plastic containers, including Lock & Lock, when you reheat some foods in it. I'm pretty sure that it's due to foods containing some grease. Lock & Lock will stain if you reheat any foods that contain tomato products ( tomato and pasta sauces, etc.) You cannot remove the pitted marks. They are there to stay, although the tomato stains will fade over time. I still used mine even with the marks, but eventually replaced them when they got too unslighly. Now I usually transfer the food into a micorwavable container either Pyrex, Corningware or a plate before reheating in the microwave.

[ChynnaBlue]

Yes, the plastic is still safe to use. I've had that happen to all different type of plastic containers, from Ziploc to Rubbermaid and it's still safe to use.

Every brand I've tried sometimes stains, usually with a tomato-based sauce. Sometimes they surprise me and something I'm sure will stain ends up being fine. Once they get stained, I've never been able to get the stains out. If you never want stains, you can switch to glass containers or keep a few Ziploc/store brand containers around for red sauces. When those get stained, you can recycle them without feeling as bad as recycling something more expensive.

[January121]

In my experience ... if you use L&L in the microwave to reheat anything that has grease in it it will " buckle" the plastic & there is no way to fix it ..... if you get tomato stains on the L & L just soak it in Dawn dishwashing liquid & the stains will disappear!!! .... this always works for me.

[chickenbutt]

Yeah, I agree with everybody else.  This is plastic and it's the type of plastic that WILL peel, pit, and stain with microwave use.

That said, I think they do a disservice to everybody by telling people to use it in the microwave.  One might assume that that means if you DO use it in the microwave there will not be any breakdown, when that is just not true.

I don't use mine in the microwave so none of these things happen, as I already had learned that lesson years ago with Tupperware.

However, L&L does make many sizes of glass (borosilicate!) containers.  I have several sizes of these and if I plan to store and then nuke something as a small leftover type item I put it in the glass ones.  

Furthermore, to preclude having the plastic seals hold food odors for some things I will go ahead and put a little piece of cellophane wrap over the vessel (before putting the seal on) and that is not only helpful but useful for when you put it in the microwave.  

[Lyttlewyng]

I'm slowly phasing out my Lock & Lock pieces and switching to glass containers with the locking style lids.   I just find that after a while the plastic will stain no matter how careful I am and once it gets pitted or has a rough texture, I no longer use it for food.   Hubby takes them to store hardware and such. 

I do like Lock & Lock but maintaining its newness is tricky so I only use the pieces for food storage and no longer put them in the microwave.

[namaste000]

Thanks to you all.  It is great that I can wonder about a specific item and within a few hours get feedback from people experiencing the same thing-Love these boards!!!! 

Think I will not be using L&L for microwaving.  I do have a set of pyrex round bowls with lids that I use in microwave.

[Pook]

The only time mine have stained is when I put something in the microwave and timed it too long.  Now I know to time it less and if it needs a bit more heating to just heat for a little bit more.