Glass vs. plastic . . . food storage

[Minmom3]

I'm harvesting our horseradish today (well, DD#1 is doing most of the work ) and since our big party has been postponed, I'm looking for the best way to keep this stuff as fresh as possible for about a month or more.

I do have two standard sized glass mayo jars that I will use today for storage, but for gifting which would be better? Glass or plastic?

Seeing that I was "yelled" at last year for buying baby food just for the jars, I'm looking at alternatives. I thought about the smallest Glad-type plastic containers or something like this:

http://www.onestepahead.com/catalog/product.jsp?productId=535632&cm_ven=none&cm_cat=none&cm_pla=none&orderType=none&utm_source=none&utm_medium=none&utm_campaign=none

Then DD#1 asked "Wouldn't glass be better? Doesn't it keep the food fresher longer?





So, now I'm stumped. Is there a benefit with glass containers? Or will plastic work just as well?

My vote goes to glass, due to the smell factor.  Have you looked in to the dinky Mason jars?  I got a flat of them for not very much money - less than that number of baby food would have been! 

[Style_and_Grace]

I'd go with glass.  I prefer it for food storage.

The container store has a few varieties of small glass storage bottles.
  http://www.containerstore.com/shop/kitchen/spiceStorage?productId=10013118&N=70879&Nao=20

[LilacRosey]

I use glass because it wieghs less than plastic generally and I really have to care when I aspend time making somthing for storage. But I know people who use plastic to so I guess it works as well!, lilacrosey

[GratefulMaria]

Ooohh, many thanks Luci!

[bonyk]

I would go with glass as well.  IMO, wasting the plastic container (it would have to be thrown out afterwards), isn't all that different from wasting the baby food.

[jpcher]

Thanks, all. Decision made . . . I'll go with glass.

I prefer glass, but also use plastic.  The 4 ounce jelly jars from Ball that Flydell mentioned would be great, below is link to Walmart, and Amazon has them also:
http://www.walmart.com/ip/Ball-12-Count-4-Ounce-Jelly-Jars-with-Lids-and-Bands/21290190

I really appreciate that link! I was looking at the same thing on another site and they were pricier . . . so If I go with these, you saved me some money Plus I like the look of these, they're a bit dressier than plain babyfood jars.

I went to e-bay and am bidding on 50 babyfood jars, we'll see how that goes.

I'm thinking I might have to go with 2oz jars, my crop this year didn't yield as much as in the past. But it sure is tasty!

I found these: http://www.containerandpackaging.com/item/G064 but it looks like the lids are separate . . . still under $1.00/jar.



Thanks for your help! 





Oh, and Luci -- that sounds like killer sauce. Thanks for posting the recipe!

[Bijou]

I prefer glass but hate that it breaks, so do use plastic storage containers with lids. 

[squeakers]

Freshly dug horseradish keeps for a very long time in the fridge. http://www.ehow.com/how_7347123_store-horseradish.html

Or you could grate it and dehydrate it.  Use vinegar and water or sour cream to rehydrate it. http://www.ehow.com/how_8291371_dry-horseradish-powder.html

Going the dehydrating route opens up many more options for storage: freezer bags, reusing plastic coffee cans, storage containers etc.