Leftovers can be a beautiful thing.
From pizza to meatloaf and everything in between, leftovers make the best lunches for work, school, and quick dinners.
Combining and containing last night’s dinner into neat and tidy containers makes leftover lunches easy and convenient. While many brands have popped up over the last 60 years, Tupperware remains the tried and true.
While we don’t think twice about our kitchen containers, there are a few fun facts about Tupperware that might just surprise you.
1.The first Tupperware models were actually called Wonder Bowls.
Earl Tupper was a passionate inventor that didn’t make his big break until the 1940’s. After the Depression, he found himself working at a plastic factory that inspired him to set out to use the plastic for different things. With some trial and error, the Wonder Bowl made its debut in the 1940’s.
2. The Tupperware bowls made it to the Museum of Modern Art in 1956
As the Tupperware containers of the 1950’s married form and function, their design elements really set them apart from other kitchen gadgets of its time. By 1956, the Museum of Modern Art had Tupperware displays and there was a bustling retail location on New York City’s cosmopolitan 5th Avenue.
3. A housewife saved the Tupperware company.
The Tupperware container as we know it almost didn’t take off. Earl Tupper was a master inventor but was a horrible salesman. A divorced, single mom with an 8th-grade education decided to sell Tupperware instead of brooms and sales soared. Her secret to success were parties in the suburbs where she introduced other housewives to the product and all its modern conveniences.
4. In the 90’s, some containers featured Braille.
In the early 90’s, Tupperware sought to make the brand more inclusive. They released a line of containers that featured Braille volume indications on the bottom. They were the first storage container to ever feature Braille.
5. Vintage Tupperware is worth some big bucks.
Before you throw out all your inherited Tupperware containers with retro patterns and colors, think again. The Smithsonian Museum has protected over 100 pieces of original Tupperware history from the 40’s through the 70’s. Some collections even retail for 50-75$ for each individual piece!
So before you dig in to last night’s spaghetti, take the opportunity to marvel at the invention in your hands!
Although Tupperware containers don’t have the fame they once had, they’re still an important piece of kitchen history. Without the innovation of a plastic factory employee and a housewife with a vision, the leftovers game might have changed as we know it!
