Mental Floss

Sick of Searching for Lids for Your Plastic Containers? These Containers Zip Shut

Courtesy of Finell Marketing
Courtesy of Finell Marketing | Courtesy of Finell Marketing
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Half the battle of cleaning up after dinner is trying to find a plastic container and the right lid to hold your leftovers. Like a modern-day Goldilocks dilemma, it seems that the lid is always too big—or too small—for the container you want to use. Houseware and handbag brand Finell may have found a solution, though. The company's Zip Top containers combine the best features of a plastic container and zippable plastic baggie while eliminating the hassles associated with both.

Zip Top containers stand upright like a typical plastic container, but they're a lot more malleable, letting you squeeze them into tight spots in your fridge. And unlike other storage containers, they have a zippable top, so you'll never have to tear apart your kitchen looking for another lid. (Another helpful feature: The container's pointed "pour corners," so you won't make a mess trying to transfer soup or sauce to a bowl.)

A crowdfunding campaign for Zip Top raised over $1.2 million back in November 2018, and the reusable containers will soon start shipping. They come in three dish sizes: small (16 oz), medium (24 oz), and large (32 oz). There are also two bag sizes to choose from (snack and sandwich) and three cup sizes for soups, sauces, and other liquids. A pledge of $28 will get you a set of three Zip Top cups, while $78 will get you a complete set of three dishes, three cups, and two bags.

Another selling point is their versatility. Made of 100 percent platinum silicone (with no added fillers), they're safe for the dishwasher, microwave, oven, and freezer. You can even use them as a sous vide, with some modifications. "Zip Top containers are thicker than most commercial sous vide bags, so you may need to increase the temperature slightly to compensate," the company notes.

They're also said to be "virtually indestructible," so you can use them as many times as you'd like—all while helping the environment. By some estimates, traditional plastic bags may take 500 years to break down in a landfill. According to Finell, one Zip Top can save 5000 plastic bags.

Buy a set on Indiegogo. The first containers are scheduled to ship in May 2019.

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