What Do the Symbols on Tupperware Mean? (SOLVED With Examples)

Tupperware has this very clever metric where they label its containers with symbols that indicate the many methods to take care of them. Understanding these symbols is integral to ensure that you are able to utilize your Tupperware and take care of it to its fullest extent.

Each symbol on your Tupperware represents a different meaning. The main purpose of these symbols is to represent whether your Tupperware is food safe, dishwasher safe, microwave safe, freezer safe, and the recycling information.

Fortunately, most plastic jars or containers include safety instructions on the bottom, which is fantastic. However, only if you can decipher the mysterious symbols scattered around the bottom of your container, whether it’s Tupperware or another brand.

Symbols on Tupperware, What Do They Mean?

Symbols on Tupperware serve as indicators of a few different qualities that your Tupperware has. In essence, they are meant to be used as guidelines for what you can and can’t do with your Tupperware.

Before you start using your newly acquired piece of Tupperware, I recommend taking a look at the symbols and then matching them with the table I’ve defined below to understand exactly what they mean.

SYMBOLS MEANING

Now that you’ve gotten a quick overview of what each symbol in Tupperware means, here’s a more detailed look at their properties:

Food Safe

Although Tupperware is generally considered food-safe, it is not always true. If your storage containers are safe to use for meals, a fork and wine glass will be etched on the plastic; if it’s not, then you probably have to spend a few bucks on buying new ones.

Hey, it was just a head’s up, don’t panic. Most of your Tupperware ought to be OK to be used with food; however, the first step is always to double-check by looking at the symbols on the container.

Dishwasher Safe

Secondly, check to determine if the storage containers, cutlery, and other household goods are dishwasher safe. If you do not develop this habit the easy way, then after melting a brand-new Tupperware water bottle, you’ll probably learn to always check the symbols. How to determine if your container is dishwasher safe? Look for a picture of plates sprayed with water.

You can tell whether a Tupperware product is dishwasher safe and which rack to put it on by looking for the dishwashing symbol on the bottom of each one. This is just a formality, though. Most items created after 1979 are dishwasher safe!

Microwave Safe

Have you ever wondered about the wavy lines symbol on your Tupperware? These squiggly lines mean your container is microwave-safe. If it occasionally depicts a microwave or a dish placed beneath radiation waves. So, if this symbol exists, you can safely reheat your meals in the container using your microwave.

However, if you were wondering about old Tupperware containers, read this useful article!

Freezer Safe

If your Tupperware container bears the snowflake sign, it is freezer safe, so don’t worry about freezer damage. When you’ve cooked a delicious pot of stew and want to freeze some for later use, this signifies it’s okay to keep your container in the freezer.

Recyclable Symbol

Triangular recycling sign is well-known to most people, but did you know that the number in the triangle’s center tells you what kind of plastic your container is composed of?

This number is an excellent place to start if you’re concerned about particular types of plastic. Generally, the number inside recycling symbols ranges from 1-7 with each indicating a different level of whether a product can be recycled or not. Still, other aspects go into making a container suitable for different usage.

BPA Free

BPA free containers ensure that you can store and heat up food in your Tupperware without any issue. BPA stands for Bisphenol A, a compound that is usually present in plastic or metal. It can affect your fetus’ or child’s brain and hormonal balance needed for growth.

Temperature Min/Max

This symbol helps you learn whether you can put your Tupperware in the freezer to store food, or heat it up in the microwave under certain temperatures. Ensure to follow these guidelines, as you risk your containers becoming brittle in colder temperatures than they can withstand and harmful chemicals melting into your food with hotter temperatures than is marked as acceptable.

What Exactly Does the Recycling Symbol Mean?

Users are now aware of the numerous concerns associated with disposing of plastic waste in the ecosystem as the awareness about pollution grows. Instead of throwing out your old or unused Tupperware, you can recycle it in various ways.

These consist of:

• Tupperware is recyclable, which is a piece of wonderful news for many of us. You may have your containers recycled if they are damaged by returning them to the local manufacturer.
• Utilize Tupperware containers again. Screws, bolts, needles, nuts, and many more tools can be kept in plastic storage containers. Use them to store or hold certain bathroom accessories as well.
• Utilize previous plastic containers. You may donate your Tupperware to a business or charity thrift store when it is still usable and old.
• Hold your compost outside in the garden using Tupperware.

By doing this, you are disposing of it in an ethically and environmentally friendly manner.

What Do the Numbers in The Recycling Symbol Represent?

First things first, The product is only recyclable if there is a little triangle on your Tupperware. This triangle contains a number that ranges from 1 to 7. Numbers 1 and 2 indicate that all of the plastic may be recycled at your nearest recycling center.

On the other hand, some manufacturers may take items 3 and 4 identical to Tupperware-branded items. However, everything is based on your location (e.g., State of Arizona). Recycling these goods will be difficult and expensive for certain facilities. Also, remember that not everyone has the resources, tools, and facilities necessary to do the task.

Many U.S programs accept plastics with numbers 4 and 5 without any issues. Lastly, Tupperware with number 7 is mostly not recyclable, despite the symbol claiming the opposite – which in my opinion is quite contradictory. You may have to utilize containers marked 7 as your hardware storage containers.

Conclusion

You are now aware of what symbols on your Tupperware represent. Reheat, freeze, wash or recycle. Sometimes the logo you are looking for won’t always be present on plastic containers in the end. Always check the manufacturer’s website for further information if you don’t recognize a symbol on your containers. This way you’ll make the best of Tupperware products!

Sources

• Curver: Everything you need to know about the symbols on our plastic containers
• National Library of Medicine: Bisphenol A and Children’s Health