These colorful silicone covers made by Farberware are great for storing fresh-cut fruits and veggies, reducing the need for plastic wrap or bags and cutting waste in landfills. The 100 percent BPA- and phthalate-free discs are dishwasher-, freezer- and microwave-safe and, when used with the right-size item, create an airtight seal.
Does it work? Yes. I cut several vegetables and fruits in half and covered one set of halves with plastic wrap and placed the others in Food Huggers. After several days there wasn’t much difference between the two, except for the tomato and squash in the plastic wrap — the sliced side of the tomato looked mushier and the squash looked dehydrated around the cut edges. The tomato in the Food Hugger still looked pretty fresh on the ninth day.
BONUS
Huggers can also be used to cover bottles, open soda cans, etc.
Pros: Items last several days in the reusable covers and take up less space than they would in containers. The fruits and veggies also look appetizing sitting pretty in their colorful caps as compared with being suffocated in plastic bags. None of the items were bruised when I pushed them into the huggers.
Cons: The items I bought were pretty fresh and sturdy. I don’t know if pushing a soft, mushy tomato into a hugger would work, but who buys soft, mushy tomatoes? Also, the banana and onion left a faint smell in their huggers after I washed them; several days later the smell was gone.
Cost: A set of five different sizes costs $12.95 from food huggers.com. Various sizes, styles and sets are available. Amazon.com offers a variety of silicone storage covers, including Spice ‘n Spoon’s six-pack clear lid set ($11.30) and Seally Cap’s three-pack multicolor set, which adapts to different shapes ($14.99).
Worth it? I loved them so much I bought another five-piece set in fall hues.
Who needs it? People who make different dishes using the same veggies over several days or those who can’t finish a whole fruit at one sitting. Also good for sandwich eaters, as slices of tomato or cucumber can be cut off as needed. It’s a good alternative for people who use a lot of plastic wrap or bags.
