Silicone stretch lid

A silicone stretch lid is a flexible, reusable cover made of food-grade silicone that stretches over the rim of a bowl, jar, or cut piece of produce to create a seal, replacing single-use plastic wrap. Because it relies on tension rather than a snap-fit lid, one size can often cover several different container shapes.

In meal prep, stretch lids are handy for covering odd-shaped items like half an onion or a bowl of leftovers that does not have its own lid on hand, and they are usually microwave and dishwasher safe, unlike plastic wrap. They also cut down on single-use plastic waste across a week of prepping and storing food.

A common mistake is stretching a lid over a container that is too large for it, which weakens the seal and lets air in, defeating the purpose. It also helps to check the size range printed on the packaging, since most stretch lids come in a set of two or three sizes meant to cover a specific range of bowl or jar diameters rather than fitting everything.