What have you found to be the best storage and microwavable units for dysphagia food menus?
What have you found to be the best storage and microwavable units for dysphagia food menus?
I've got a good mini food processor, am still looking for a small potato masher for small containers of fruit from MOW, but have had problems with storage units.
I've used a particular well known brand, pureed the MOWs, refrigerated them and Dad microwaves them to heat them up when he's ready for a meal.
Now I've noticed that there's a type of "fraying" of the plastic in the containers. In the past I haven't microwaved that often, so I was unfamiliar with this deterioration and didn't realize until I contacted the manufacturer that the containers were only mean for 30 second maximum heating in a microwave. Recommendation was to throw them away, so that's over a dozen containers that will be deposited in the recycling bin.
As a result, I'm searching for containers than handle up to a few minutes of reheating w/o deteriorating.
My sister had some very good ones which I also use, more like the quality of Melamine. But the manufacturer said they "probably" are not being produced any more. Searching in the kitchen section of a Target a few days ago, I saw only the lighter weight containers like the ones that haven't worked out for us.
A friend suggested Corelle, but again I only saw the cheaper thinner containers. I really want something substantive that will last.
Any suggestions? What do you use to reheat meals, and are they BPA free? That was one of the advantages of the containers I bought. No BPA is mandatory.
Thanks for any suggestions.
Look on the Walmart site for glass food storage containers. I'd do it but will loose my post. Actually look on any site that sells this stuff. I am limited to Walmart where I live because there isn't anywhere else. They are out there. certainly stop using the plastic to heat anything it can leach into the food. They are fine for storing dry goods so why not donate to thrift store someone can use them.
My favorite is one I found at SurLaTable. They had a promotion, BOGO and I bought the egg poacher for the microwave and the microwave dish. The egg poacher was horrible or maybe I didn't use it right but the microwave dish I really like for my aunt as it heats the food to a hot temp but the bottom and sides of the dish doesn't get hot so she can eat right out of the dish. Joseph Joseph M-Cuisine Microwave Dish. At $10 its a little pricey to buy several but what I do is take the food out of the container it's stored in and put it in this dish to heat. I know you are thinking well if I wanted to do that I could put it in any number of things to reheat. True, but this one is safer for elders to hold and eat out of as the sides and bottom are not hot. No BPA. I googled the name just now and see that several places carry them at various price points and styles.
I like my mini food processor very much but it is a little too small, I think a 3 or 4 cup size would be ideal.
I never wanted a stick blender but when I was given one I loved using it to blend soups, smoothies etc.
I used a very cheap mixing jug (the kind sold to blend protein powder drinks) every day for thickening water and juices.
Anyone use these ? Not sure they would even get used or mostly likely get lost at her facility
(edit) They should be providing this kind of thing, and yeah, they would probably lose them.
One of the issue which I forgot to mention is that I need to have covers for the containers as I puree the food, cover and refrigerate them, then Dad takes them out to eat when he's ready. If they're left open in the frig, well, you what happens to food that's not covered.
This seems to be one of the problems. Not all of the good quality containers have covers.
I never would have thought that at my age I'd be spending so much time trying to find microwavable containers with covers!
I really wish I could find the Anchor Hocking ones that my sister bought years ago. They were perfect.
Off to the store and more pureeing.