If You See This Symbol on Your Tupperware, This Is What It Means (2024)

FAQs

If You See This Symbol on Your Tupperware, This Is What It Means? ›

Most containers have the Tupperware symbol of three arrows forming a triangle with a number in the middle. This means that you can recycle your Tupperware, and it tells you the specific plastic it is! Even if you destroy your Tupperware, you can still be earth friendly and let it die responsibly in the recycling bin.

Most people know the little triangle symbol at the bottom of plastic bottles means 'recycle' but what they don't know is just because it has a triangle on the bottom, doesn't always mean it can be recycled. The numbers indicate the grade of plastic and can also tell you about the safety and uses of that item.

If you find the Tupperware symbol of a glass with water drops or plates with diagonal lines this means your container is dishwasher safe. We recommend still putting your containers on the TOP rack of the dishwasher just to keep them a little safer.

Squiggly lines indicate that your container is microwave safe. This symbol can vary a lot, sometimes showing an image of a microwave, or sometimes a dish set below radiation waves, but the squiggly lines are a constant. Squiggly lines mean you can reheat that sucker with ease.

If your Tupperware container has a snowflake symbol on it, don't worry about freezer damage—that symbol means it's freezer safe. If you don't see the snowflake symbol, avoid putting your new containers in the freezer.

Plastic number 5 or PP plastic (polypropylene) is the second-most widely produced plastic. Being light, heat resistant and sturdy, PP is applied to various packaging. Today plastic 5 is commonly used in: Yogurt containers.

The symbol has a numeric number (from 1 – 7) encased by three chasing arrows shaped like a triangle. If you see 1, 2, 4, 5, or 6, you can comfortably assume the bottle or jar is BPA free. If it is 3, or PVC, it likely contains BPA.

They are all marked with the brand name, so you'll never confuse similar plastic storage containers with genuine Tupperware. Also, be aware that all Tupperware is marked with a mold number. "Every Tupperware product has a two-part number stamped into it. The first part (before the dash) is the mold number.

Check the bottom of the container for a symbol. Microwave safe is usually a microwave with some wavy lines on it. If they container has a #5 on it, it is made from polypropylene, PP, so it is generally considered microwave safe.

What is the symbol for food safe? ›

The international symbol for "food safe" material is a wine glass and a fork symbol. The symbol indicates that the material used in the product is considered safe for food contact. This includes food and water containers, packaging materials, cutlery etc.

Snowflake-looking symbol? That'll mean that the container is freezer safe. Look for this symbol when you're thinking of storing some delicious leftovers in the freezer (stew, soup and more).

Most commonly these "clock" symbols only indicate the mold used to form the part -- quality dept at the factory can then quickly track down which mold may need maintenance if faulty product is noticed.

Moving the dial or control to the Snowflake symbol makes the unit COLDER. When adjusting the temperature control, clockwise is colder and counter-clockwise is warmer.

View Course. The snowflake logo is used on front of pack labelling to indicate suitability for home freezing (a crossed-out snowflake means the product should not be frozen).

A snowflake is probably the most easily recognizable indication of cold, which makes it the perfect symbol to mark freezer safe kitchenware.

The "5" inside a triangle on a plastic container means PP or Polypropylene, which is one of the safer kinds of plastics! It is very much recyclable!

The #6 identifies the resin of the plastic which makes polystyrene, but the arrows around the number do not mean that it is recyclable. This type of plastic is either hard of soft (foam, also known as Styrofoam). Both should go in the landfill.

Symbol 4: LDPE

Symbol 4 with the acronym LDPE indicates that the plastic is made from LDPE plastic, which stands for low-density polyethylene. This plastic comes in the form of shopping bags, highly-resistant sacks, and crushed bottles.

Items with the numbers 1, 2, 4 and 5 are considered the safest plastics for use with foods or around infants and children. It is best to avoid plastics with the recycling numbers 3, 6 or 7. These are also the plastics which are difficult to recycle.

Is BPA free plastic still safe? ›

Are BPA-free products fully safe? According to Care.com, just because a product is labeled as BPA-free doesn't mean it's fully safe to use. In fact, 70 percent of all BPA-free products still leach harmful chemicals into food and beverages.

This stamp is meant to help quickly identify products labeled as BPA free. There are different types of plastic containers that are labeled with a 1, 2, or 5, these are considered BPA-Free. Plastic products stamped with a 7 indicate a possibility that BPA was used to make the product.

BPA, as well as arsenic, lead, cadmium, and mercury, are dangerous substances for humans, so if you've been using vintage Tupperware, the best thing you can do is not use them anymore. Plastic not only harms the environment but has also directly harmed humans for years.

With vintage Tupperware products, dangerous elements (read: potentially toxic chemicals) come into play. If your Tupperware is old enough, it might even leach harmful chemicals and heavy metals like cadmium, lead, and arsenic into stored food.

Is old Tupperware safe? What is not said in this statement but is implied is that at least some of Tupperware products sold prior to 2010 did in fact contain BPA. For consumers who want to be absolutely certain they have removed all known BPA sources, old Tupperware products manufactured prior to 2010 would be suspect.

Classic Tupperware of the 1970s

One of the most coveted sets from this era is the nesting Servalier canisters, which sell for around $75 for a set of three in mint condition.

Plastic food storage containers and lids-such as Tupperware containers-that have the 1 or 2 recycling symbol on the bottom are accepted in almost all local recycling programs, provided they are empty, clean and dry. Recycle with the lid attached. Most recycling programs also accept #5 plastics.

Originally, many Tupperware pieces sold for about $2. However, according to the popular antiquing site Dusty Old Thing, select single items in great condition may sell for up to $60.

Plastic #6

Styrofoam has a very low melting point, this means that even without heating this plastic in the microwave, it can easily melt. It's also good to note that styrofoam is banned in some states because of its non-microwaveable nature.

If you aren't sure whether something can go in the microwave, check the back or bottom to look for a microwave-safe label or symbol.

Is Tupperware BPA-free? ›

Since March 2010, items Tupperware sells in the US and Canada are BPA-free, according to its website.

Symbols on food labels can tell customers different things like how the product was grown or processed, if it's been certified by a third party regulatory agency, ingredients, allergens, and more.

The Food Code is a model for safeguarding public health and ensuring food is unadulterated and honestly presented when offered to the consumer. It represents FDA's best advice for a uniform system of provisions that address the safety and protection of food offered at retail and in food service.

Food safe plastic bottles include code numbers 2,4, and 5 for storage as they are food grade. Code number 1 is safe for single-use. If re-used, they become dangerous.

Most Tupperware products are made of LDPE or PP, and as such are considered safe for repeated use storing food items and cycling through the dishwasher.

Almost all plastic products bear the general recycling symbol: a triangle formed by three circling arrows. The number in the triangle indicates the type of plastic. There are six common types of plastic and one miscellaneous category with the number 7.

When the Mobius loop symbol appears on a plastic item, it will have a number from 1-7 in the middle of the looping arrows. This number indicates the type of plastic and how it should be recycled.

Relates to product shelf life. This hourglass means our product has an expiration date of 3 years from its production date and that it must not be used after said date. Date of manufacture.

Officially, the symbol embedded on most plastics is called a “resin identification code” and it's numbers, 1 to 7, help us to identify the type of plastic it is made from. It does not indicate the recyclability of a product.

*One star (-6 degrees centigrade) is perfect for making ice cubes and is sufficiently cold to keep food for three or four days. ** Two stars (-12 degrees centigrade) stores food for fifteen to twenty days. *** Three stars (-18 degrees centigrade) will keep food safe for up to three months.

What does the snowflake symbol mean on food? ›

A snowflake is used to label food suitable for deep freezing. This food can be stored in a deep freeze. Without a temperature indication, however, the minimum temperature below zero is unknown.

Yellow Triangle with Snowflake - Frost warning indicator. Red Car Symbol - This indicates a potential collision indicator warning.

Does Frozen Meat “Go Bad?” According to the USDA, frozen meat kept at 0°F or lower will always technically be safe to eat. This low temperature prevents the growth of microorganisms and microbes like bacteria and mold.

yy There are ice crystals or frozen liquids on the food or the packaging. This may be evidence of thawing and refreezing, which shows the food has been time-temperature abused.

Food can remain frozen indefinitely and technically be safe to eat, as bacteria will not grow. However, over time all frozen food will deteriorate in quality and become unappetising to eat when defrosted. The time it takes for this deterioration to happen varies between foods.

Bell Tumbler; introduced in 1946

Tupperware products actually had their inception not in the kitchen but on the battlefield; Earl Tupper had worked for DuPont developing the country's first plastics for use in World War II radars.

Rigid containers and flexible bags or wrapping are two general types of packaging materials that are safe for freezing. Rigid containers made of plastic or glass are suitable for all packs and are especially good for liquid packs. Straight sides on rigid containers make the frozen food much easier to remove.

Fortunately, most Tupperware can be frozen. Cheaper plastic containers may crack over time but they will still be safe to freeze. To be safe, look for the snowflake symbol on the base of the Tupperware which denotes it is safe for the freezer. Can You Put Tupperware in the Microwave?

The easiest way to check is to look for the Resin Identification Code—i.e., recycling number—which identifies the type of plastic material. The code consists of a triangle of arrows surrounding a number between 1 and 7. Generally, numbers 1 through 7 indicate food grade plastic.

The international symbol for "food safe" material is a wine glass and a fork symbol. The symbol indicates that the material used in the product is considered safe for food contact. This includes food and water containers, packaging materials, cutlery etc.

Is #7 plastic BPA free? ›

Plastic recycling codes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and many items with #7 are BPA-free. Only one type of #7 plastic contains BPA, and that's polycarbonate plastic. The #7 plastic recycling code is a catchall for the many different types of plastics not commonly collected in recycling programs.

Steer clear of polycarbonate (PC #7) to avoid bisphenol-A (BPA). Polycarbonate is a clear hard plastic used in some reusable water bottles, baby bottles, commercial water jugs, and kitchen appliances like automatic coffee makers and food processors. Instead, choose glass or unlined stainless steel for drink containers.

#7 – Other (BPA, Polycarbonate and LEXAN)

Number 7 plastics are used to make baby bottles, sippy cups, water cooler bottles and car parts. BPA is found in polycarbonate plastic food containers often marked on the bottom with the letters “PC” by the recycling label #7.

The most reliable way to check whether an item is BPA-free is to consult the plastic identification code number — usually stamped on the bottom of the container. There are seven categories, where numbers 1 to 6 are free of BPA. This means that only those printed with the number 7 will contain the chemical.

Check the bottom of the container for a symbol. Microwave safe is usually a microwave with some wavy lines on it. If they container has a #5 on it, it is made from polypropylene, PP, so it is generally considered microwave safe.

Food products can have symbols related to ingredients, nutritional information, dietary restrictions, and allergens. Similarly, cosmetic products can have symbols for certain ingredients and allergens, but also for things like ethical production and testing.

The international symbol for food safe material is a wine glass and a fork symbol. The symbol identifies that the material used in the product is safe for food contact. This includes food and water containers, packaging materials, cutlery etc.

A snowflake is probably the most easily recognizable indication of cold, which makes it the perfect symbol to mark freezer safe kitchenware. Some variations might indicate minimum temperature limitations to prevent mechanical damage to the product.

The Society of the Plastics Industry (SPI) introduced a code system in 1988 that helps with recycling plastic by numbers. Almost all plastic products bear the general recycling symbol: a triangle formed by three circling arrows. The number in the triangle indicates the type of plastic.

Is a 5 symbol recyclable? ›

Recycling: Number 5 plastics can be recycled though some curbside programs. Recycled Into: Signal lights, battery cables, brooms, brushes, auto battery cases, ice scrapers, landscape borders, bicycle racks, rakes, bins, pallets, trays, and more.