Are Takeout Containers Safe to Reuse? Here's What Experts Say

We're getting better at reducing our kitchen waste. We store food properly to keep it fresh longer, compost, and try to buy food in recyclable containers at the supermarket whenever possible. But what are we to do with all those restaurant takeout containers we've collected? Reusing them for food storage at home seems like a simple way to save money and reduce waste—but whether we should is complicated.

"Most food-safe containers from restaurants can be used as storage for a short period of time, as these plastics are usually meant for food-grade applications," says food scientist Bryan Quoc Le, Ph.D. Here's how to help you determine which takeout containers you can use, and how long it's safe to keep using them.

General Food Safety

When you bring home a doggy bag from a restaurant or have takeout you don't finish, use the containers the food came in to store the leftovers in the fridge until you're ready to eat them, following general food safety guidelines, such as not letting the food sit out for more than two hours. Best practice is to refrigerate it as soon as you get home, or once the leftovers have cooled.

Reheating

When you're ready to eat your leftovers, transfer the food to another container if it needs to be reheated. "One of the issues is that when these containers are reheated, either through microwaving or washing in the dishwasher, they will leach out plasticizers over time," says Le.

Washing

Le says that plastic takeout containers should not be washed in the dishwasher if you intend to reuse them. To hand-wash them, you can make a sanitizer solution with 200 ppm chlorine bleach, says Shawn Matijevich, lead chef of online culinary arts and food operations at the Institute of Culinary Education. "Put that in a spray bottle and mist them after you wash and let them air dry," he says.

Should You Reuse That Takeout Container?

Restaurants and other food businesses use a variety of takeout containers. You must determine what a container is made of before you can decide whether to reuse it. It's easy to see and feel if something is made from glass, cardboard, or styrofoam, but plastic types are tricker.

Glass

If the container is glass, clean and reuse it as long as it is in good condition, with no visible cracks or other damage.

Cardboard

Cardboard containers are impossible to clean and should be avoided for reuse as they disintegrate quickly. It's best to recycle these.

Polystyrene and Foam

Polystyrene is generally a clear, rigid plastic, while expanded polystyrene is foam (often mistakenly called Styrofoam). Polystyrene should be avoided as a storage container because it fragments easily and can leach styrene, the monomer used to produce polystyrene. It is also not resistant to continuous use and heating," Le says.

Other Plastic

Plastic containers (beyond polystyrene) are more complicated. You need to know what type of plastic a container is made of. To figure that out, use the recycling symbol at the bottom of the container to identify the type of plastic. Refer to this chart from National Geographic to decide whether to reuse them.

And remember that if you do decide to reuse them, they should not be used to reheat food or washed in the dishwasher.

How Long It's Safe to Reuse Containers

Glass containers can be reused as long as they are in good condition. While there is no standard for when to stop using a plastic takeout container, Le and Matijevich recommend tossing it once it starts to look worn or scratched. Generally speaking, you'll want to throw them away after a few months to reduce the risk of bacterial build-up or leaching plastic.

"The end result (of reusing them) is an increased intake of compounds that disrupt the endocrine system over time," says Le. "Additionally, these containers will become more and more brittle over time, leading to a higher risk of microplastics flaking off and becoming ingested in your food."

And always get rid of them if they are stained or otherwise not in good condition. "Sometimes, it is difficult to remove all traces of the food when you have something with a lot of fat. You'll feel a greasy film all over the inside of the container. If you can't remove this, then it is time to toss them," Matijevich says.

Bring Your Own Safe Containers

If you tend to eat out often and have leftovers to take home, consider bringing your own reusable glass container with you. That way, you reduce the use of disposable containers and ensure your food is stored safely. Restaurants are generally happy to let you pack up your own leftovers to take home.