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Food Grade Plastic Containers For Brining |
Originally
posted: 01/01/2004
Last updated:
04/11/2009 |
In this topic:
When the subject of brining
comes up, people ask what kinds of containers can be used to
hold the brining solution and meat. The usual answer is a
non-reactive container made from plastic, ceramic, glass, stainless steel,
or anodized aluminum (not regular aluminum). Plastic containers are most
popular because they are widely
available in sizes large enough to hold a whole turkey, a commonly brined
meat.
But are all plastic
containers appropriate for contact
with your food during brining?
What
Is Plastic?
Plastic is made from
hydrocarbons derived from petroleum or natural gas. The hydrocarbons are
formed into chains called polymers, or plastic resins. By combining
hydrocarbon molecules in different ways, different types of plastic
can be created.
What
Is Food Grade Plastic?
The U.S. Food & Drug
Administration (FDA) requires that plastics used in food packaging be of
greater purity than plastics used for non-food packaging. This is commonly
referred to as food grade plastic. Plastics used to package
pharmaceuticals are held to an even higher standard than food grade.
Food grade plastic does
not contain dyes or recycled plastic deemed harmful to humans. However,
this does not mean that food grade plastic cannot contain recycled
plastic. The FDA has detailed regulations concerning
recycled plastics in
food packaging.
Another aspect of food
grade plastic is matching the appropriate type of plastic to the food in
question. Foods that are highly acidic or that contain alcohol or fats can
leach plastic additives from the packaging or container into the food. As
a result, you should only use plastic containers that are FDA approved for
the particular type of food the plastic will come into contact with.
Finally, it should be
noted that a plastic container can no longer be considered food grade if
it has been used to store non-food items like chemicals, paint, or
detergent.
Types Of Plastic
In the United States, the
following codes represent the seven categories of plastic used in nearly all
plastic containers and product packaging:
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PET or
PETE
(polyethylene terephthalate) is a clear, tough polymer with
exceptional gas and moisture barrier properties. PET's ability to
contain carbon dioxide (carbonation) makes it ideal for use in soft
drink bottles.
Examples: Soft drink bottles, detergent bottles
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HDPE (high density
polyethylene) is used in milk, juice and water containers in order to
take advantage of its excellent protective barrier properties. Its
chemical resistance properties also make it well suited for items such
as containers for household chemicals and detergents. Most five
gallon food buckets are made from HDPE.
Examples: Milk
bottles, shopping bags
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Vinyl (polyvinyl
chloride, or PVC) provides excellent clarity, puncture resistance and
cling. As a film, vinyl can breathe just the right amount, making it
ideal for packaging fresh meats that require oxygen to ensure a bright
red surface while maintaining an acceptable shelf life.
Examples:
Plastic food wrap, shrink wrap, garden hoses, shoe soles
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LDPE (low density
polyethylene) offers clarity and flexibility. It is used to make
bottles that require flexibility. To take advantage of its strength
and toughness in film form, it is used to produce grocery bags and
garbage bags, shrink and stretch film, and coating for milk cartons.
Examples:
Squeeze bottles, dry cleaning bags
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PP (polypropylene)
has high tensile strength, making it ideal for use in caps and lids
that have to hold tightly on to threaded openings. Because of its high
melting point, polypropylene can be hot-filled with products designed
to cool in bottles, including ketchup and syrup. It is also used for
products that need to be incubated, such as yogurt. Many Cambo, Tupperware
and Rubbermaid food storage containers are made from PP.
Examples:
Bottle caps, take-out food containers, drinking straws
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PS (polystyrene), in
its crystalline form, is a colorless plastic that can be clear and
hard. It can also be foamed to provide exceptional insulation
properties. Foamed or expanded polystyrene (EPS) is used for products
such as meat trays, egg cartons and coffee cups. It is also used for
packaging and protecting appliances, electronics and other sensitive
products.
Examples: Plastic foam, packing peanuts, coat hangers
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Other
denotes plastics made from other types of resin or from several
resins mixed together. These usually cannot be recycled. |
Another important type of
plastic is polycarbonate, a clear shatter-resistant material used
in restaurant food storage containers and recently in the Rubbermaid
Stain Shield line of home food storage containers.
Why do we need different
types of plastics, anyway? This excerpt from the American Plastics Council
Web site explains it well.
"Copper, silver and
aluminum are all metals, yet each has unique properties. You wouldn't
make a car out of silver or a beer can out of copper because the
properties of these metals are not chemically or physically able to
create the most effective final product. Likewise, while plastics are
all related, each resin has attributes that make it best suited to a
particular application. Plastics make this possible because as a
material family they are so versatile."
Not All
HDPE Containers Are Food Grade
There is a common
misconception that all containers made of white plastic or HDPE plastic bearing the
symbol are food grade containers. This is not true.
If you are considering
the purchase of a container from some place other than a kitchen or
restaurant supply store, and the container is not clearly labeled as
"food safe" or being made of food grade plastic, then you should assume
that it is not food grade and you should not brine in it—unless you line
it with a food grade plastic bag.
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Plastic Containers For Brining
Any food grade HDPE, PP, or
polycarbonate container is appropriate for brining. These materials can
withstand the salt, acids (e.g. orange juice, Coca-Cola), and alcohol
(e.g. beer, booze) used in flavor brines.
As a general rule:
- Food storage
containers sold at restaurant supply stores are made of food grade HDPE,
PP, or polycarbonate.
- The interior of ice
chests are made of food grade HDPE.
- Any white, opaque
plastic bucket that contains food for human consumption is made of food
grade HDPE.
When in doubt, ask the
seller or manufacturer if the container is made of food grade plastic.
Here are a few examples
of plastic brining containers I've acquired over the years:
- Picture 1 shows a
4-gallon white HDPE bucket that originally contained barbecue sauce. A
local restaurant gives these buckets away free to customers. I removed
any lingering odors and stains using the procedure
described at the end of this article.
- Picture 2 shows a
Rubbermaid 48-quart ice chest. The interior of ice chests are made of
food grade HDPE and are safe for brining.
- Picture 3 shows a
Cambro brand 8-quart PP food storage container. I bought it
for $8 at a restaurant supply store.
- Picture 4 shows a
Cambro brand 18-quart polycarbonate food storage container. I bought it
for $19 at a restaurant supply store.
You can often get food
grade HDPE buckets at restaurants, delis, and bakeries free for the
asking. Think pickles, barbecue sauce, soy sauce, chocolate syrup,
strawberry puree, shortening--all these things come in food grade plastic
buckets. |
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Plastic Bags For Brining
Sometimes brining in a
food grade plastic bag is more convenient and takes less space in the
refrigerator than using a bulky plastic container.
Regular Ziploc bags can
be used safely for brining. The one-gallon size can be used for small
cuts of meat like pork chops, chicken pieces, while the two-gallon size
will accommodate a whole or butterflied chicken. Just put the meat in
the bag, add the brine, zip the top, and place in a mixing bowl in the
fridge for support and to catch any leaks (Picture 1).
For items like a whole
turkey, large food grade plastic bags will do the trick (Picture 2). One
such product is the Reynolds Oven Bag for Turkey. This bag can be used
as a liner inside any non-food grade plastic container. In fact, you can add plain water outside
the bag to displace some of the volume of the container, thus reducing the
amount of brine needed inside the bag.
Another product is Ziploc Big Bags XL.
These thick, sturdy bags are designed to store anything, including food,
and are made of the same food grade plastic as regular Ziploc bags. They
measure 2' x 1.7' and hold up to 10 gallons. They include built-in
handles and a pleated bottom that allows the bag stand up on its own.
Both Reynolds Oven Bag
for Turkey and Ziploc Big Bags XL are available at supermarkets and
discount stores on the aisle where you find regular Ziploc bags.
Some kitchen supply
stores and catalogs sell disposable plastic bags designed for turkey
brining. They are made of food grade plastic, but tend to be very
expensive compared to the bags shown above. |
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Plastics To Avoid
If you know that a plastic container
or bag is not made of food grade material, you should not use it for brining.
If you cannot determine the food grade status of a container or bag, you
should assume it is not food grade and not use it for brining.
Examples include:
- HDPE white plastic
containers of unknown food grade status
- Garbage cans or pails
- Mop buckets
- Laundry detergent or
kitty litter buckets
- Dry pet food buckets
- 5-gallon utility
buckets from the home center
- Household storage
containers
- Garbage bags
- Any
container—even if made of food grade plastic—that has been used to store non-food items like chemicals,
paint, or detergent
Removing Odors And Stains From HDPE Buckets
Since HDPE buckets are
somewhat porous, they can hold odors and stains from foods like pickles or
barbecue sauce. If you score a free bucket from a restaurant, try
this cleaning routine suggested by
USA Emergency Supply. It
has worked pretty well for me.
- Wash the bucket inside
and out with warm, soapy water, then rinse.
- Place the bucket
outside in a sunny location.
- Pour 1 cup of
baking soda into the bucket and fill with warm water all the way to
the top. Stir to dissolve, then put on the lid, or cover with aluminum
foil.
- Let the bucket sit in
the sun for several days, then empty and rinse out.
- Pour 1 cup of
bleach into the bucket and fill with warm water all the way to the
top. Stir to mix, then put on the lid, or cover with aluminum foil.
- Let the bucket
sit in the sun for several days, then empty.
- Wash again inside and
out with warm water and dishwashing liquid, then let dry with the lid
off.
Learn All
About Brining
To learn more about the
brining process and brining recipes, read All
About Brining.
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