Solo To Go - Not OK To Go
Written: Mar 20 '07 (Updated Mar 20 '07)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Large capacity, somewhat microwaveable, handles, easy to use...
Cons: Wasteful, get flimsy when hot, not dishwasher safe, not for freezing...
The Bottom Line: It's not a bad product, but it's just too wasteful for me to honestly recommend.
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| xiphoid's Full Review: Solo To Go Microwaveable Deep Dish Plates and Lids |
I work long hours over the weekend with no break time, so being able to transport meals is important for me. Not to mention, I always come home with leftovers when I visit my parents for dinner. So, I have a lot of use for containers that allow me to store and heat. That's where the Solo To Go Microwaveable Deep Dish Plates & Lids come in. I thought I'd try them out as an easy solution to my aforementioned need.
The containers...
The Solo To Go Microwaveable Plates & Lids come in packs of 5 sets, running about $2.50 per package. I found them to be a generous size at 8.94 in X 10.18 in, and deep enough for a meal and even small containers of sauce or dressing (the lid is convex and roomy). I also noticed that the containers felt pretty sturdy for disposable plastic. That can be good or bad. It's good when you want to pack a heft portion of leftovers, but it's bad when you think about tossing the containers. They are supposed to be disposable, but as an environmentalist, I'd feel awfully guilty and wasteful throwing these out. They're not dishwasher-safe, but I'd most likely end up washing them until they were worn out enough to trash.
The plates have grip handles on each side that make it very easy to carry, and would probably prove helpful when taking it out of a hot microwave. They are also more attractive than a lot of alternatives. I could see bringing these to the table, whereas I probably wouldn't plop down a Tupperware on a place mat. Overall, my initial impression was that I had a take-out container with a slightly more durable plastic lid.
The leftovers...
Anyway, using the containers was easier for me than it was for a lot of reviewers. I read that a lot of people had trouble sealing the lids and getting them to "lock," but I really didn't run into any issue. I put a double portion of lasagna on the plate, with a side of brussels sprouts and a small container of sauce and simply pressed down on the rim of the lid and it closed with ease. I later realized that there were rather intricate instructions on the package for sealing the lid, but I didn't really find them necessary. So, with the lid sealed and ready to go, I put the container right in the fridge (not the freezer, because these containers aren't recommended for freezer use) for the next evening.
The next evening...aka tonight...
I put the container in the microwave, with loosened lid, for about three minutes. The package recommends venting the lid, and not microwaving for more than four minutes at 1000 watts. After the three minutes, the container started to feel very flimsy, as is typical with many take-out containers or frozen meals. It was extremely hot, but I grabbed it by the handles and didn't have too much trouble. The package does say that the container should stand for at least a minute in the microwave before removing it, but I was way too hungry and impatient. However, I put the container on a paper plate so I wouldn't have to worry about it flopping around while I carried it over to the table.
The verdict...
All in all, I find the containers to be decent, but I can't really see that they necessarily fill a need. These days, there are a lot of "disposable" containers and more durable long-lasting Tupperware containers that are dishwasher safe and don't get floppy and can be used in the freezer. They do serve their purpose, but I'd definitely prefer to see more people doing the reusable thing than tossing out so much plastic.
If I had to offer suggestions, I'd say that having some partitions in the container would be nice - or even just one small one for sides and/or sauce/dressing. I'd also say to just go ahead and make them reusable by upping the material quality so we can put them in the dishwasher, and microwave them without worrying about the four-minute rule. Not to mention, I thought companies were trying to be more environment-friendly these days.
I received this product free from SCC Grossman in exchange for my honest Epinions review.
Recommended:
No
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