Wait, what’s the theory of why cling film is bad for the environment?
I had a box of plastic wrap that had a sliding cutter that worked great. I think maybe it was Reynolds. I haven’t been able to find it again. Everything is Saran wrap now. :mad:
You’re not trying to use it in black-and-white, are you? NOTHING works right when you’re in B&W. You have to be in color. And make sure your hair is combed and for the love of GOD, don’t have a smudge of flour on your face.
No, I DON’T know why it works that way. It just does.
P.S. I go to Costco and get their cling wrap with the sliding cutter. Works a treat, and the package of two rolls lasts me about a year.
Apparently, they’re not made any more but Saran used to put out food covers that looked like shower caps. Just great for transporting large bowls of stuff. Otherwise, cling wrap sux; prefer Tupperware containers (that’s Tupperware as in all tissues are Kleenex).
I have a nice scar on the base of my middle finger from where my brother hit me with the Saran Wrap box - those metal teeth did a number on me. The scar hasn’t faded in over 40 years.
I believe that was tried, but it stuck to itself and they couldn’t get a good seal.
Kuhn Rikon Set of 2 Plastic Wrap & Foil Dispenser --K44763. Anyone who is having trouble with plastic wrap, tinfoil, or other wraps, go to QVC and check out the product above. You take the roll of whatever you want to wrap with and put it into the dispenser. Then you can pull out just the amount you need and neatly cut it without hurting yourself or wasting wrap. It costs about $29.95 for two dispensers, but it might be just what you’re looking for. HTH.
Rule 34: they say if you can imagine something, no matter how bizarre, someone on the internet has a web site based on it. This is a perfect example…
That’s one where zipped baggies work fine.
Though I second the question about them being bad for the environment. Is it just because they are plastic? If so, then I wouldn’t worry about it.
Personally, I prefer to use foil for temporary coverings. Sure, it dries out quicker, but I use plastic containers or baggies if I need to keep them that long.
Though I do wonder if you could combine plastic wrap and foil to get a better seal. As in, a product that has a foil side and a plastic side.
What I don’t know is exactly why plastic wrap seems to seal better. Is it the plastic, or just that crumpling foil isn’t as air tight?
Fair enough, but: I have no problem with, and so use, foil. Comparing foil to this is apples and oranges-that-got-set-on-fire-which-really-took-some-work-lemme-tellya.
I don’t know anything about this product, but the problem with cling wrap is the dispenser/cutter. I work in a bakery with a professional dispenser. MUCH easier to deal with.
I prefer to avoid Saran Wrap, but wrap up a crab leg with some herbs in a wet paper towel, and wrap tightly in Saran Wrap, and pop it in a microwave for a couple of minutes. Voilà! Yummy steamed crab legs! Learned it from Alton Brown.
I see the cling wrap better at keeping air away from the food than foil. I use it rarely, like when I buy more ground beef than I can eat, make it into patties, season, then wrap the extra patties in cling wrap to freeze.
As it’s significantly cheaper than foil, I also use it to cover bowls of “refrigerate for three hours to allow flavors to meld” foods, like cucumber/tomato raita and spiced onions on Indian Night.
Otherwise yeah, I hate it because it sticks to itself. I’m going to try Athena’s method in future, because she is wise in the ways of the world.
I might still have a few of those somewhere, my MIL gave them to me, at least I could get them on.
I used to work in a commercial kitchen and the commercial stuff with the slide slicer is indeed superior! (The stuff everyone is saying you should get at Costco) Only problem is you kind of have to store it on the counter, it doesn’t really come in in-drawer sizes.
Someone else mentioned those “food hats” which are great. I got a box at the dollar store a few years ago and still have them because for the most part they are resuseable!
Doesn’t anyone use Press and Seal??
Food hats: http://www.target.com/p/covermate-stretch-to-fit-food-covers-variety-pack-10-ct/-/A-13699574
Press and Seal: Robot or human?
Nuh-uh. No way. You DON’T bowdlerize Rule 34. Call that one Rule hE, if you must, but Rule 34 (like the internet) is for Porn.
Maybe you’re thinking of the 3000-foot version.
Cool, I am. I’ve never bought it at Costco myself I’ve only worked with the ones I’ve used in commercial kitchens. So, good to know that Costco sells a smaller version.
I’ve been using commercial plastic wrap for a great many years because it’s cheap in the big 2500-foot lengths* it comes in and it works very well. I just keep it on top of the microwave. I get it from a discount kitchenware place which stocks the same kind that restaurants use, and the slide slicer thing seems to be a fad that comes and goes. I much prefer the edge cutter because you can pull the stuff out and pull it down one-handed to cut. I had to buy it in the slide slicer type box one time because there was nothing else and ended up throwing the box out and putting the giant roll into the old box with the edge cutter. The last box I got was the good old edge cutter type again, so they’re still made.
Anyway, I love the stuff. It sticks to any kind of glass or ceramic or other smooth surface as long as it’s reasonably dry. It doesn’t stick well to some plastics so I just wrap it all the way around where it sticks to itself very well. Seems to work better than Saran Wrap or some other major consumer brands. I use it for absolutely everything. Open a package of cheese, cut a few slices, then it gets wrapped in plastic in a second, done. Don’t know what I’d do without it.
As for not being good for onions, well, it’s as good for onions as anything else, but pungent white or yellow onions need extra sealing or the whole fridge will eventually have at least a hint of onion smell. I wrap partial onions in plastic wrap, then put the wrap into a plastic bag that I twirl around to seal, then put the whole lot into an airtight plastic container. May be overkill, but not a hint of onion gets out through the triple barrier!
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- ETA: Definitely 2500 ft here – 3000 ft might be a regional thing.
I buy the Stretch-Tite brand, as it’s reasonably wide-spread in supermarkets down here. Just the right balance between sturdy and clingy without trying to wrap itself around you every time you try to use it. Only brand I’ll buy from here on out.