Paper or Plastic? I am so confused! From Chef Marian!

Plastic or Paper? Is that a real choice?
Plastic or Paper? Is that a real choice?

Dude! I’m tired of being asked do I want …. paper or plastic? The answer of course is: Paper. But is that right? Do we have enough trees left to not pay attention to this issue? 

It’s starting to piss me off when I see someone is handing out paper to promote their company when we can just get it on the web and not have to print it. Or when some of the bigger companies fill my mailbox with offers I don’t want or need. And how about ‘them’ supermarkets? (Yes. That is my best David Letterman).

Isn’t it time to stop those ads from filling my box?

Then I get this email in my inbox today, bragging: “we have replaced almost 1 million plastic ice cream plastic tasters to date”! 

Their product is made from ‘silky-smooth’ paperboard. Really? Really?

Why are these ice cream shops buying disposable tasters? Safer? Won’t get sued by someone claiming they got sick? lol We need to go back to the “use clean and re-use” concept.  Our throw away society is throwing away our future.

Now I rarely get on the pulpit and rant like this…. But really! What are our options? Create a less wasteful world and pay with slowing down just a little bit today? Or pay later…. BIG TIME?

I have been in too many situations, where I want to re-use plasticware – whether it’s knives, forks, spoons or plastic plates. I’m willing to wash by hand in hot soapy water….But I am always looked at as cheap, or not sanitary in some way. I can’t fight the big machine, ya know?

Here’s a tip:

Plastic doesn’t belong in your dishwasher, yes?

NO CHEF!

No is right. You can’t put plastic in your dishwasher. If you must? It’s top rack only, but still when that level of heat hits the plastic those molecules are depositing on your dishwasher and everything else you are trying to get clean and what’s especially bad for you is the steam that comes from the dishwasher, permeating your kitchen. 

Ever cook something, wrap it quick in plastic and throw it in the fridge?

YES CHEF!

And next day it has the subtle taste of plastic? That’s why! 

Now we can’t protect ourselves from everything. I get that. But shouldn’t someone be working on something we can use that doesn’t kill our trees? Do you have any ideas about this?

I would love to hear from you. See the ‘we’re all playin’ in the same band… give me your notes’ below this? Tell me what you think. Am I over reacting? Or is there trouble in River City?

Happy Eating,

Chef Marian