With the ban of plastic straws, people are trying to find an alternative, especially when paper straws leave little to be desired.
The collapsible paper straws are too hard to drink from and become soggy in water quickly. And let’s face it paper straws aren’t much better for the environment than their plastic straw counterpart.
We are already seeing several different styles of reusable straws selling on the market:
- Metal Straws – Are taking the market by storm. They are usually made with medical/food-grade stainless steel. It offers a more environmentally friendly option to plastic, and they look pretty cool.
- Bamboo Straws – If you want the most environmentally friendly option, then bamboo is for you. It’s an all-natural option, which isn’t just compostable, but it’s reusable too. A neat thing about using bamboo is how much it lowers our carbon footprint.
- Glass Straw – It’s surprising glass straws are a thing, but they are becoming petty trendy now. The problem is glass breaks far too easily. The main benefit of glass is how resistant glass is to erosion, which let’s face it is essential if you drink a lot of sugary drinks.
- Silicone Straws – Usually made from medical-grade silicone, they are a viable option for cutting out plastic straws. Reusable silicone straws clean very quickly, but getting rid of the taste of silicone isn’t so easy.
Contents
What To Look For When Buying Metal Straws
Price
No one likes overpaying for a product, that’s why we always check the prices and compare it to the features the straw offers. By doing this, you can avoid disappointment when your friend turns up with a cheaper and better version of your straw.
Length
Each straw is a different size, which should be taken into consideration. There is no point having an 8.5 Inch straw if you only drink water from small glasses. With tumblers varying in length, it’s a good idea to measure your cup.
Diameter
In the same way that each straw is different lengths, the same can be said with the width. If you’re a smoothie drinker, you’ll want a thicker diameter (trust me). But, wide straws aren’t always better, some people feel uncomfortable drinking from them.
How many in the pack
It’s not very often you’ll find a single metal straw on sale, most of them come in multiples of two. If you can get ten for the same price six, you’re on to a winner. And on the plus side, you can share them with your friends and family.
Different colors
A great way not to get confused at parties is to use different colors. Steel straws have a wide variety of colors available. Not only that, but it makes these accessories look stylish in any situation. Get ready to make all of your friends very jealous.
Cleaning brush
Metal straws usually come with a cleaning brush, but you always get more than one straw. If you’re sharing the pack, it’s best to find a straw with multiple brushes. Cleaning brushes are necessary accessories for your straws.
Straight/ with a bend
This all comes down to personal preference. Ask yourself the question, “Which do I prefer.” If you can’t decide then don’t worry, A lot of packs come with both. Before adding a box of straws to your cart, make sure you have a good think about what you’re looking for.
Food grade metal
The quality of the metal does matter. If it’s a bad grade, you’ll notice that the drink will start to pick up a metallic taste. No one wants a funny tasting drink. Which is why food-grade material is so important.
Cheap stainless steel drinking straws won’t survive going through a dishwasher. If you’re planning to clean your straw in the dishwasher, it’s a good thing to check.
This is especially important when choosing a colored straw; you don’t want it to chip off.
Which Are The Best Metal Straws?
With so many choices of metal straws on the market, it’s hard to know which one you should go for. After a lot of research and comparing prices and features of different products,
I’ve come up with my top 5 stainless steel straws:
Yihong Reusable Straws
Yihong reusable stainless steel straws stand at 8.5 inches in length.
Which is taller than you may expect, I’d recommend watching your teeth.
Due to there considerable length, you can easily drink from a 30 Oz tumbler.
Not only is it free from BPA products.
But, it comes with two cleaning brushes to scrape away any bacteria that might be hiding in there.
It features medical grade material so that it won’t leave a nasty taste in your mouth.
Key Features
- Comes with two brushes
- 8.5 Inches in length
- Comes in a pack of eight
- Dishwasher safe
Overall it’s a nice straw that has no trouble reaching the bottom of tall glasses. One thing that does disappoint me is the flat edges, you’d expect them to rounded at the very least.
Pros
- Eco-friendly
- Easy to handle
- Fits in large drinks
Cons
- Doesn’t have rounded edges
- Some consider it too long
- Hard to clean the curved ones
Joyeco Boba straws
The set comes in a pack of 4 wide straws, which are made specifically for drinking Boba Tea.
With a diameter of 0.5 inches, they are perfect for slurping up the tapioca pearls found in your Boba tea.
Each metal straw is 9.5 inches in length, so it has no problems reaching the bottom of any tumbler.
The stainless steel straws come with five different colors, which are electroplated with titanium. You’ll have no fear of the paint chipping in the dishwasher.
Their metal straw is made with an FDA approved 304 stainless steel, which means you won’t be left with a metallic taste.
Key Features
- Five colors
- FDA approved steel
- BPA free
- One cleaning brush
Joyeco is the perfect eco-friendly alternative to using plastic straws. The wide diameter means you’ll have no problem drinking your smoothies. Overall I give this a big thumbs up, but if I were going to pick one problem, it would be that it only comes with one brush.
Pros
- Great for smoothies
- Electroplated with titanium
- FDA approved
Cons
- Very long
- Only comes with one brush
- Doesn’t have an angled version
StrawExpert reusable
A small brand that has focused on quality for over eight years.
Their straws come in a pack of 16 straws, all made from medical-grade steel.
The metal straw features silicone tips to stop your lips from getting too cold, or from cutting your lips on the flat edges.
They also offer a money-back guarantee if you’re not happy after the first month.
A nice touch if you’re not sure you’re ready for the commitment.
Key Features
- Comes with four brushes
- sixteen in the pack
- Has a variety of sizes/shapes
- Eight different color tips
They’re a great set of stainless steel straws, and the affordable price makes them more attractive. It’s a shame about the silicone tips, but with 16 straws, the price is still excellent.
Pros
- Comes with silicone tips
- Money-back Guarantee
- Easy to clean
Cons
- Silicone tips fall of to easily
- Comes wrapped in plastic
- Silicone tips have been missing in some cases
Hiware Reusable Straws Stainless steel
A great value pack of twelve stainless steel straws; 6 straight and 6 with a bend.
The straws are all made with food-grade steel.
The straws come with a cleaning brush that helps remove the bacteria from the inside.
You can also machine wash them without fear of damaging them.
Key features
- Food-grade steel
- Pack of 12
- Two brush set
The rounded edges make it a huge hit, and with a lifetime guarantee, they certainly fill you with some confidence. Even though you have a vast range of sizes, it’s a shame they didn’t have the thickness for a smoothie.
Pros
- Lifetime guarantee
- Doesn’t have a metallic taste
- Great selection of sizes
Cons
- The metal gets very cold
- Not good for smoothies
Reusable Collapsible Straw
It comes in a pack of two with multiple colors to choose from.
The collapsible straws can extend from 3.5 inches to 9 inches in length.
Each pack comes with two key chains, which you can connect to the straws to keep it safe.
The stainless steel straws come with two cleaning brushes; making it a great gift to share.
Key Features
- Reusable, collapsible straw
- Wide variety of color options
- Key chain accessories
- 9 inches when extended
This cute stainless steel straw isn’t just reusable; it’s very easy to transportable because of its small size. It did have a problem; some people experienced difficulty getting suction. But, it was still better than a plastic straw.
Pros
- Small and lightweight
- One year warranty
- Good color options
Cons
- A case malfunction
- A lack of suction for a few people
Why Are Metal Straws Better?
One reason is it stops concerns over the increasing climatic changes happening all over the world due to the use of plastic. With so much plastic ending up in our oceans, it’s never been more critical to find an alternative.
So, turning to stainless steel straws is more environmentally friendly. But, when comparing them to plastic straws, there’re also a lot better for your health.
The problem with plastic straws is they contain BisphenolA (BPA), which is known for mimicking the activity of active hormones. This can lead to:
- Reproductive disorders
- Diabetes
- Heart disease
Stainless steel drinking straws don’t just last the test of time, but they also don’t leach toxins into your drinks. The same can’t be said for plastic straws.
When we start talking about the greenhouse gases which are being emitted, which would you expect to be worse metal or plastic?
That’s right, plastic.
Plastic doesn’t just emit more carbon, but their products also release:
- Carcinogenic Chemicals
- Home-disruptive Chemicals
- Neurotoxic Chemicals
Our greenhouse emissions are no joke, and it’s only getting worse. If we don’t start taking action, we could set off a chain of irreversible effects.
So, metal straws don’t pollute the environment as much, and they don’t cause any health problems. But, Why else should you use them?
Well, metal straws are reusable, so they stop thousands of straws ending up in landfill sites. And hopefully will stop companies selling plastic straws even if you can recycle them.
Finally, they’re great accessories to use with your beverage; it’s an excellent way to show people you care about the environment.
They also make a lovely stocking filler for your more environmentally friendly family member.
Are Metal Straws Safe?
most stainless steel straws come with a cleaning brush, which makes your metal straw very easy to clean.And if you want to, you can put most of them in the dishwasher. Notice how I said MOST. Some reusable straws won’t survive the dishwasher due to the low-quality steel.
I think the small inconvenience of cleaning your stainless steel straw makes up for itself; it does stop 1000’s of pieces of plastic ending up in the ocean.
OK, a metal straw isn’t 100% safe, but what in this life is? Here are a few warning tips:
- Don’t bite your metal straw (sounds obvious, but it does happen)
- Supervise kids when they use them
- Don’t drink hot drinks
- Don’t run or walk while drinking you might choke (or chip a tooth)
- Please make sure you keep your eye on kids. You don’t want them to damage their teeth.
Summary
Let’s remember using stainless steel is a lot more environmentally friend then using plastic straws. They have fewer chemicals and release less carbon. And because they’re reusable, it also lowers the amount of plastic waste getting sent to landfills.
But there are a few things you need to think about before adding your metal straw to your shopping cart. Think about what you’re going to be drinking; it will give an idea of what thickness you’ll need.
Make sure you check it comes with a cleaning brush; you need to able to clean it regularly. Think if you any other accessories, for example, silicone tips.
They make great gifts and set an excellent example for kids; it’s their future we are trying to protect.
If you think we’ve missed any reusable metal straws comment below, I want to know your suggestions. Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook for more updates.
Metal straws aren’t the only reusable items for your beverage. You can also take advantage of some of the best biodegradable straws or go that extra mile with the best reusable ice cubes.