What do people use to cover food from flies, which isn't clingfilm and doesnt take up much storage space?

[loveyouradvice]

We are eating more and more of our food at room temperature so I like to put it out on the side in the kitchen a couple of hours before we eat.

What do you use to cover it? Hopefully something that looks nice and doesnt take up much storage space - or is easy and simple.

At the moment I seem to be balancing some of the plastic covers from supermarket fruit/veg over things, not very effective though - and why are there SO many!!!

We're trying to avoid using clingfilm and other disposable things whenever we can from a eco-lite point of view.

Clean tea towel here as well - unless it is something sticky or creamy, then I stick in in one of those cake transporter boxes, which is a bit like a cloche really!

Shower caps for plates and bowls, and I've got some offcuts of a fine net curtain fabric in different sizes which I use for covering platters or even the entire table when necessary.

@loveyouradvice I double cover most of the time. Generally a net dome over the dishes and a clean t towel over the dome, so even if something lands on it, the t towel is removed & they haven't fouled or had their dirty little feet in or through the net.

the net domes hang on hooks on the inside of a cupboard, so they really don't take up any useable space.

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I also have the collapsible, circular covers. They were in aldi or lidl last year and fold up flat. You can get similar on amazon though.
https://www.aldi.co.uk/medium-food-umbrellas/p/016636290837101

I like to eat cheese, prawns, smoked salmon, poached salmon, cooked chicken, ham or butter at room temperature but have found clusters of fly eggs (boak) on food in the past even after covering with plates, lids, or cloths etc as flies can crawl into the tiniest gaps.

So I now simply put things in the microwave, or the oven (if not turned on for something else obviously) with a piece of foil over if I don't want it to dry out which also has the added advantage of being cat proof!

What a brilliant idea! 👏👏👏

Did you use the net umbrellas @catsmother and if so did flies manage to get in to the good ?

I put the bowl in the microwave. I did used to use the oven until an unfortunate pre-heating incident.

I use these, although it makes me feel like I'm turning into my Nan

I use all of the items mentioned but I also have a large nylon net tablecloth type thing. It’s big, about 150 x 150. It’s like a net curtain but the edges are bound and there’s some embroidery on it. Takes up hardly any space and washes easily.

I eat anything that's not hot at room temperature. I don't eat chilled food if I can help it, it's horrible.

To cover things, I put them in the microwave, or in a reusable tub.

tea Towel; beeswax wrap, plate or bowl. I’ve never bought cling film in my life!

I was going to recommend these because they keep food fresh too so you can also use them for the leftovers.

Clean t-towel or kitchen roll

I cant stand cold food so like to leave stuff out, I put those clear silicon stretchy things over them or put the plate in the microwave to sit there

Yea towel or put in the microwave

If it's in a bowl you can just put a plate on top.

I use old baby burp cloths. Are the shower cap material food safe?

Them microwave plate covers.

If just one item, I use a plate or clean tea towel. If for a buffet, I have a small collection of old (clean!) fine net curtains and old-fashioned white embroidered table cloths for side tables that I use.
I love the shower cap idea!

Pan lids, plates upturned or pop a chopping board on top.
I can't stand salad or tomatoes or fruit fridge cold so I leave things out to come to room temperature.

Pan lids, chopping board, teatowel, in the microwave (had a disaster once when I forgot something was in there, for a week, eek) plate over bowl, bowl over plate, plastic tubs, butter dish, oven, another pre heating disaster, bread bin, etc. Depends which is to hand at the time.

Shower caps is inspired.

I use those. Got them from Lakeland IIRC.

I also use stretchy silicone covers (Ikea) which are very useful for smaller things, but somewhat faffy for large things like salad bowls. I do prefer them to shower caps s they last for years.

I also use clean teatowels, fold out nets and umbrella-style nets. The folding ones last for years, whereas the umbrella-style ones have larger holes and wear out faster.

I eat loads of things at room temperature. Usually use the microwave but also I have a Pyrex small casserole dish that had its own lid and other Pyrex dishes that have plastic lids that I use. Also sometimes the oven.

Same...I bought 2 at a 'posh country kitchen' shop a couple of years ago. They ended up really manky, covered in dust and hair 🤣😬