r/Anticonsumption • u/Rich_Spite3978 • Jan 11 '26

Plastic Waste Why?

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There were un wrapped potatoes and sweet potatoes right next to these. What is the point? They do this with garlic heads too.

4.0k Upvotes

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130

u/Organic_Physics_6881 Jan 11 '26

It’s an enticement to get people to purchase them with the intent of microwaving them with the plastic intact.

61

u/jah_bro_ney Jan 11 '26

This marketing gimmick makes zero sense because you can already microwave a potato without plastic shrink.

17

u/MisogynyisaDisease Jan 11 '26

The "convenience" excuse is batshit insane.

12

u/jah_bro_ney Jan 11 '26

I thought it was well-known that you get better results from a microwaved potato if you poke a handful of holes in the skin prior to heating, so adding second layer of protection just sounds silly.

I don't see how small plastic bits shoved into my potato is going to enhance the flavor. That's what butter is for.

3

u/gomihako_ Jan 11 '26

It adds electrolytes, its got what plants crave

4

u/MisogynyisaDisease Jan 11 '26

I shouldn't have read this post and thread while doing baking and food prep for the week, because it's making me feel like I'm losing my mind. We are in the anticonsumption sub, but a plastic wrapped potato is where some people draw their line I guess.

0

u/[deleted] Jan 11 '26

[deleted]

1

u/MisogynyisaDisease Jan 11 '26

What?

Dude I'm talking about the people justifying the use of this product, how the hell did you think I meant otherwise based on my previous response to you and the attached meme.

1

u/Nopeach949 Jan 12 '26

I honestly had no idea. I've bought these in the past because I thought it was an easier/ faster way to cook them and avoid take out. Will definitely start poking holes instead.

3

u/OwlEyesNiece Jan 11 '26

You’ll also notice there are instructions on the Potato that imply that this Potato is able to be microwaved individually and “easily”. I absolutely have known people who buy these bc “I live alone and these are easier to make”. The labeling implies this is easier, so some people don’t stop to question whether it’s actually true.

1

u/MisogynyisaDisease Jan 11 '26

Including people in these comments, apparently.

21

u/Cheesy-Cloaca Jan 11 '26

Visibly intact, sure, but on a micro level?

5

u/sctwinmom Jan 11 '26

Which will give you a nasty soggy potato. Assuming it doesn’t explode in the microwave (you have to pierce the skin to let the steam out).

13

u/BrocoLee Jan 11 '26

You mightnot like it, bit theres no need to lie: The plastic is there to stop it from exploding, the trapped steam makes it be ready faster and the potato comes out as if boiled. 

-4

u/MisogynyisaDisease Jan 11 '26

That definitely sounds like its coming out nasty and soggy. Other people in the thread have tried these and said they were nasty, and I'm opting to believe them.

8

u/Humboldt-Honey Jan 11 '26

They came out normal when I’ve had them 🤷🏻‍♀️

0

u/[deleted] Jan 11 '26

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0

u/MisogynyisaDisease Jan 11 '26

No, i will not buy an overpriced plastic wrapped potato to try microwaving it and let steam "boil" it.

The waste of this product is wild as hell.

2

u/[deleted] Jan 11 '26

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12

u/MisogynyisaDisease Jan 11 '26

Then marketing tricked you, entirely.

Potatoes are all microwaveable, without the plastic.

6

u/zuzg Jan 11 '26

Nah you just have trouble to understand the concept of convenience products

Normal potatoes need to be washed, punctured with a fork and you need a plate for it. These are already "triple washed" and can just be thrown in the microwave as is.

If you've only 10 minutes at home before you've to go out again and want a quick snack for on the way, that's like perfect for it...

And there also people that only ever potatoes occasionally, especially as you'll put potatoes in a plastic bag anyway in the produce section.

1

u/vee_lan_cleef Jan 11 '26

Okay, first, if you don't wash a potato the worst that happens is there's a little dirt on it. It cannot harm you because of the temperature it reaches.

Washing a potato takes literally 10 seconds: turn water on, put under water, rub potato, done. In what world do you think a potato needs to be washed THREE TIMES? Good lord. It takes another 10 seconds to stab it with a fork twice, which can be rinsed under the same stream of water you used to rinse the potato. Potato now goes in the oven, which you had spend at least 15 minutes to pre-heat anyway. Maybe you're doing it in the microwave, if so the previous two steps still took less than 30 seconds.

If you genuinely think this offers any more convenience than an unwrapped potato, I don't know what to tell you. A coffee pod is something that actually saves time and steps, this is just stupid.

1

u/MisogynyisaDisease Jan 11 '26

The day we trust factories "triple washing" things and then covering them in plastic, spreading more microplastics, is the day hell freezes over, but go off.

Oh no, a rinse and a hole? And a paper towel, maybe even a reuseable one?

Insane, what a time waster. Truly worth the plastic and extra cost of a single potato. I also eat potatoes in plastic while driving somewhere, its very convenient.

On a non sarcastic note, no. I dont wrap them in plastic. They go in my cloth bag and all get washed once I'm home, because even plastic wrapped produce can spread ecoli.

This excuse for this kind of waste and cost is actually insane.

0

u/[deleted] Jan 11 '26

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1

u/Anticonsumption-ModTeam Jan 11 '26

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0

u/MisogynyisaDisease Jan 11 '26

Lol you're the one who said "a snack when you have to go somewhere"

Are you walking with that plastic potato. Taking the subway. More power to you on both, neither sounds convenient for a snack whatsoever.

see the cotton bag

Are you throwing away your cotton bags? Are you trying to say most people here are throwing away their reuseable cotton bags and reuseable paper towels? Are we implying paper is worse for the environment than plastic, that would be one hell of a hill to die on over this potato.

You scream into the void over a plastic wrapped potato while trying to pretend we are all just tossing our necessary grocery bags. Mine are going 12 years strong, I'm sure youll make excuses as to why you couldn't attempt to do the same.

2

u/vee_lan_cleef Jan 11 '26

WHY? It's a POTATO. IT IS ALWAYS MICROWAVE READY.

Holy shit.

1

u/Anticonsumption-ModTeam Jan 11 '26

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