Non-Hinged vs Hinged Containers for Takeaway Foods
Plastic takeaway containers are commonly used to hold food whilst being transported from a business to their customers, and there are different takeaway boxes that businesses, restaurants and cafes can choose from. With hinged and non-hinged containers available, it can be difficult to figure out which one will work best for your establishment.
It is important to know how to pick a takeaway box for your business, such as considering what materials have been used to make said food packaging.
We prefer using hinged takeaway containers because they have a range of benefits that come with them. However, hinged and non-hinged containers have different uses. Whether you choose to use takeaway boxes with hinged lids or non-hinged containers, take a look and see which one will better suit your business.
What are Hinged Lid Food Containers?
A hinged food container is where the tray and the lid are joined together along one edge, meaning it is a single item to both hold food and seal it in one package. These plastic boxes with hinged lids are available in a variety of shapes and sizes and can be used for a range of takeaway food items, including main meals, side dishes and sauces.
Examples of Hinged Lid Food Containers
There are a variety of small plastic boxes with hinged lids that are available in the UK and can be used by your business. Hinged deli pots are great for holding sauces and relishes to complement your food, and are suitable for both hot and cold condiments. If you need a larger alternative, the round-hinged salad containers are ideal for different cold foods such as side dishes and salads, and they are available in various sizes to suit your business.
If you need a less-rounded container, Albiz have square-hinged plastic takeaway boxes too, which are perfect for holding the likes of salads and desserts. They also have the rectangular-hinged food container, which is available in both 500cc and 1000cc sizes.
All of these boxes with hinged lids are made from clear materials and are 100% recyclable, leaving their contents appealing to your customers at all times whilst being held in eco-friendly packaging.
Benefits of Hinged Lid Food Containers
There are different advantages for using food storage containers with hinged lids, and they can benefit both you and your customers.
- They make it easy to store food - Lids are less likely to come off than with non-hinged containers, which makes food easy to store. This is especially true if it is prone to leaking.
- They are convenient - Separate lids are easily lost, whereas hinged takeaway boxes are all in one piece. It means less time is spent looking for lids, and more time can be used preparing food for your customers.
- They are easy to order - Albiz allows you to place one order to purchase hinged containers. Non-hinged alternatives may require two separate orders and can arrive at different times, which will increase the carbon footprint of your business.
Cons of Hinged Lid Food Containers
Despite the advantages, there are cons to using hinged-lid food containers. They come as one piece of plastic and can’t be separated. This means that if it breaks, you will more than likely have to throw away the entire container. Takeaway containers with separate lids, however, don’t have this problem, as only the broken piece of plastic (tray or lid) needs to be disposed of.
The plastic containers are part of Albiz’s sustainable product range, meaning that if a hinged takeaway box breaks, it can be recycled.
What are Non-Hinged Lid Food Containers?
A non-hinged food container has a completely removable lid as it is not attached to the tray of the takeaway box. The lids are simple to reattach, and it can usually be done by pressing the lid onto the container or clipping it back into place.
Benefits of Non-Hinged Lid Food Containers
Non-hinged containers also have their benefits that allow them to be used by takeaway businesses.
- They are versatile - If the lid is broken, things like cling film and tin foil are great for covering food so the tray is still usable. This can also work if the food is too big to fit in the container as tin foil and cling film are flexible, so they can wrap around the shape of your food without needing to find larger food packaging.
- They are easier to wash - When the tray and lid come apart, there is a smaller chance of leftover food sticking to hard-to-reach areas, such as in the hinge itself. This means they can be reused by the customer.
Cons of Non-Hinged Lid Food Containers
Despite this, there are still cons that come with non-hinged containers. The lid, for example, isn’t attached to the tray. Whilst this can be beneficial for washing purposes, it can also reduce the reusability of the packaging for your customers. This is because people are more likely to throw the takeaway boxes away if they can’t find the lid instead of finding another use for it. Hinged containers, in contrast, don't have detachable lids, which avoids this issue and makes containers more likely to be reused.
With food packaging being such a crucial part of takeaway businesses, ensuring you use the right containers for your business is important. Albiz have a range of recyclable takeaway containers available. Whether you want your food packaging to be biodegradable, compostable or recyclable, Albiz have various items to choose from to suit your needs and make your business more eco-friendly.