I recently found a bounty of 1 and 2 quart plastic containers with screw on lids for $1 a piece. I have oxygen aborbers. The lids seem to seal tightly, but how can I know if they're air-tight? The plastic seems somewhat thin, and has no stamp on the bottom (that would indicate they are recyclable). Thanks in advance.

P.S. If you don't think they're air-tight, what would you recommend to store in them? (Besides my daughter's current bumper crop of Happy Meal toys from McDonald's?) Thanks!

-- FM (vidprof@aol.com), March 13, 1999

Answers

Put it in a tub of water and look for bubbles. Give it a little squeeze. If no bubbles appear, you should be golden.

-- dale rehus (dalerehus@aol.com), March 13, 1999.

Thanks! And if bubbles appear--anywhere besides around the lid--acquarium sealer? Suggestions? (My daughter really DOES have a lot of those Happy Meal toys. . .) :)

-- FM (vidprof@aol.com), March 13, 1999.

Use wax to seal it on the outside. Should take care of any leaks.

-- Libby Alexander (libbyalex@aol.com), March 14, 1999.

FM, if they're thin plastic they probably are not air tight over a long period of time. Heck, even the 5 gallon buckets aren't totally air tight, and they're made of a high density plastic.

So, expect some air to get in. But they could be great for storing sugar, honey, and even beans and rice. Buy beans in the 12 pound bag, leave them in the bag, put the bag and oxy absorbers into these jars, and seal. You probably get 5 years out of them. If you need more time, we're in trouble (which I won't rule out) which is a good reason to keep a few buckets of the well sealed stuff on hand.

Another thing you can do is to buy mylar bags. These, when sealed with an iron are totally air tight, and the mylar covering keeps light out. Cut the bag to fit (a little oversized), put it in the jar, toss in the food, add oxy absorber, seal the bag shut with a hot iron, and cap the jar. Besides being airtight, the mylar is food grade -- something you're not sure of with the quart plastic jars unless they've been used for food.

Hope this helps

De

-- De (dealton@concentric.net), March 14, 1999.

Darn fat fingers. That should be 1 pound bags of beans.

Also, check

www.glitchproof.com

for the mylar bags.

-- De (dealton@concentric.net), March 14, 1999.