7 Food Storage Containers You Should Avoid Buying at Thrift Stores

When you come across a great thrift store find, buying secondhand can be a thrill. However, there is a certain risk involved in buying used containers for your kitchen from a thrift store. In fact, according to experts we talked to, some specific types of food storage containers are a hard pass: They could lead to health risk over health benefit, especially due to safety, contamination, or material degradation concerns.

Read on to learn which thrift-store-found food storage items you should simply leave on the shelf.

Plastic Containers With Scratches or Staining

Once scratched or stained, the tiny dents on plastic food containers can trap bacteria, making it extremely difficult to clean properly. Additionally, plastic can absorb oils and residues from previous use over time. "Plastic is a complicated one to buy secondhand," says food safety analyst Vanessa Balagot. "Even if it looks clean, it may not be fully clean."

Another factor to consider is how production and manufacturing standards may have changed over the years. "If containers are scratched, cloudy, stained, do not have recycling numbers, or seem very old, they may contain bisphenol A (BPA) or other chemicals that can leach into food, especially when heated," warns Cooperman. Visibly aged plastic containers are also prone to shedding microplastics that transfer to your food and pose health risks.

Zero Toxins founder Jason Iuculano recommends avoiding flexible used plastic containers and looking instead for harder plastics, which are less prone to leaching.

Lidless Containers

If you have lucked upon a pristine food storage container at the thrift store, make sure that the lid matches and is not damaged or warped. Oftentimes, thrifted containers have ill-fitting or missing lids, which can lead to leaks and food spoilage. "If a lid doesn’t close all the way, it’s harder to keep food fresh because air and moisture can get in," says Balagot.

Copper Containers (Without Interior Linings)

As pretty as those copper canisters, bowls, or storage jars may be, you'll still want to give them a good overall inspection before purchasing. Safe copper containers will have a stainless steel or tin lining, whereas bare copper can react with acidic foods. “This reaction causes copper ions or particles to leach into the food, which can lead to copper toxicity,” warns Cooperman. “Acidic ingredients—such as tomatoes, vinegar, citrus juice, and wine—catalyze an oxidation reaction that causes the copper to dissolve, creating a potential health hazard.”

Vintage Ceramic and Crystal Containers

Though charming, "some older pottery or imported ceramics may contain lead or cadmium in the glaze," says Cooperman. "These toxic heavy metals can leach into acidic foods, especially if the piece was decorative, rather than food-grade." Any ceramic containers made before 1971, when the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) began enforcing a limit on the amount of lead that could be used in ceramics, should be especially avoided.

The same risk runs true for most vintage crystal pieces, too. "Any container that is crystal has a very good chance of containing heavy metals, mainly lead,” says Iuculano. When wine in particular is stored in crystal decanters—or beverages of any kind are served in crystal glasses—the risk of lead contamination is particularly high, and any degree of lead consumption could pose serious health risks.

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Wooden Containers or Bowls With Deep Cracks

If the wooden canister or salad bowl that caught your eye has deep cracks or a distinct odor, it should be put back on the shelf. "Wood is porous," says Cooperman. "If it has deep cracks, strong odors, or visible mold, it may harbor bacteria that can’t be fully sanitized."

She recommends steering entirely away from the wood storage items in favor of safer thrift store options. These may include "intact glass containers, stainless steel bowls, high-quality stoneware marked food-safe, as well as newer BPA-free plastic containers in excellent condition," Cooperman says.

Old Metal Containers (Especially When Painted)

"Many old containers carry high levels of heavy metals, lead being the most common," cautions Iuculano, and those with painted designs can be even more dangerous. "Any container that seems to be old and painted is a very likely hazard due to higher heavy metal content in the paint," he says.

It is very common to see high lead levels in such containers made before the 1980s. Consuming food out of these containers "can contribute to an increase in body metal toxicity either through touching the container or contact with the food and then ingesting," Iuculano warns.

Containers With Rubber Seals or Gaskets

It’s best to reject any used containers with rubber gaskets, rather than risk bringing home a dirty item that'll come in contact with your family's food. "Rubber seals can hold onto moisture and pieces of food, especially over time," explains Balagot. "With secondhand items, you really don’t know how well they were cleaned, and those seals can be tough to fully get clean again."