Plastic containers and wraps are convenient and inexpensive, but they’re not always the best choice for storing food. In fact, some foods spoil faster, lose flavor, or change texture when kept in plastic.

Here are ten foods you should avoid storing in plastic—and what to use instead—to keep them fresher for longer.

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1. Cheese: Encourages Mold

Cheese needs to breathe. When wrapped in plastic, moisture gets trapped, creating the perfect environment for mold. Soft cheeses suffer the most, but even hard cheeses can become rubbery and lose flavor.
Better option: Wrap cheese in wax paper, parchment, or cheese paper, then place it in the refrigerator.

2. Bread: Turns Sticky and Gummy

Plastic bags trap moisture, causing bread to become gummy and stale more quickly.
Better option: Store bread in a paper bag or wrap it in a clean kitchen towel. For long-term storage, freeze it in foil or freezer paper.

3. Garlic: Sprouts and Loses Flavor

Plastic traps moisture around garlic, making it sprout early and taste bitter.
Better option: Keep garlic in a cool, dry, well-ventilated place like a mesh bag or basket.

4. Coffee: Absorbs Odors

Coffee beans and grounds easily absorb odors and chemicals from plastic, altering their flavor.
Better option: Use an airtight glass or ceramic container stored in a cool, dark place.

5. Fresh Herbs: Wilt Quickly

Plastic suffocates fresh herbs, causing them to wilt and lose flavor.
Better option: Stand herbs upright in a glass of water (like flowers) with a loose cover, or wrap them in a damp paper towel inside a breathable container.

6. Tomatoes: Ripen Too Fast

Plastic traps ethylene gas, which makes tomatoes over-ripen and turn mushy.
Better option: Store tomatoes at room temperature in a single layer, away from sunlight.

7. Potatoes: Trap Moisture and Spoil

In plastic, potatoes collect moisture, making them sprout or rot.
Better option: Store in a cool, dark, ventilated spot—like a paper or burlap bag.

8. Onions: Become Slimy

Plastic suffocates onions and traps humidity, causing them to turn slimy and rot.
Better option: Keep onions in a mesh bag or open basket. Store them away from potatoes.

9. Apples: Lose Their Crunch

When kept in plastic, apples soften and over-ripen because of trapped ethylene gas.
Better option: Store in a cool pantry or in a fridge drawer inside a perforated bag.

10. Nuts: Absorb Odors and Taste Off

Nuts contain natural oils that react with plastic, causing them to absorb odors and lose flavor.
Better option: Store nuts in airtight glass or metal containers. For long-term storage, freeze them.

11. Berries: Get Mushy and Mold Quickly

Plastic traps moisture around berries, making them spoil fast.
Better option: Keep berries unwashed in a shallow container lined with paper towels, with a breathable cover. Wash only before eating.