Credit:
Reviewed / Betsey Goldwasser
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Credit:
Reviewed / Betsey Goldwasser
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We love how classy these glass containers look and feel. With this set, users have the flexibility to reheat food in the microwave or the oven. Read More
This set solves one of the biggest container qualms - finding the right lid. The toppers are interchangeable, easy to store, and great at sealing. Read More
No worries if these plastic containers stain or pit. They're readily available online or in store, they come in many sizes, and they're affordable. Read More
These Oxo containers can handle a trip from the freezer directly to the oven, and look good while doing it. Read More
No need to worry about staining with this set. You will want to make sure the containers remain flat, though, because the lids can leak. Read More
Sometimes it’s about the little things. While food storage containers are a relatively small item, if you buy the wrong one you can wind up with a big problem with keeping your food supply stay fresh. Stash one that isn't leak-proof in your tote bag and salad dressing leaks into all the wrong places. Or use it to store leftover salmon and your whole fridge smells fishy.
Ideally, good food storage containers will extend shelf life by keeping food fresh without leaks, odors, or stains—and they'll last. But if you invest in a big matching set, you may spend as much as you would on an electric appliance, making it somewhat of an investment.
After months of testing, we found that glass container set Pyrex Ultimate (available at Williams Sonoma) , will keep your food fresh and even look good in the process. If you prefer the lightweight and break the resistance of plastic, Rubbermaid Easy Find Lids (available on Amazon) is our top choice. And if you’re looking for a very affordable container to pick up at the supermarket and use for lunches and potlucks, we recommend Glad Food Containers (available on Amazon).
To help you spend wisely, we chose 10 highly-rated sets of containers in a variety of sizes and used each one to freeze, defrost, and microwave, plus store potato chips and fish oil.
The best food storage containers we tested were the Pyrex Ultimate.
Rubbermaid Easy Find Lids Food Storage Containers helps solve the problem of missing lids in your cabinets.
Glad Food Containers earns our best value not just because of its low price, but for its high ratings in our tests.
Durable glass
Looks and feels classy
Wide temperature range
Lids can stain
Doesn't stain
Nice seal
Lids can leak
Can't go from freezer to oven
No rim or handles
Shatterproof
Oven safe
Looks and feels professional
Can't go from freezer to oven
Tricky to clean
Shatterproof
Oven safe
Good sealing function
Lids can stain easily
Easy to store
Inexpensive
Not made for long-term storage
Cracked when dropped
Easy to stack and store
Readily available and inexpensive
Not made for long-term storage
Lids don't offer an airtight seal
Airtight seal
Flat lids are easy to stack and store
Lids can be tough to remove
Plastic containers can stain easily
Clasps pop off easily when dropped
We tested 10 sets of containers. In all (but the one that’s designed only for dry food and handwashing) we tested the storage containers’ insulation properties by timing how long they took to defrost ice water and keep tomato sauce warm.
We checked to see if tomato sauce leaked out and if fish oil odors seeped through. After washing the containers in which we stored fish oil, first by hand and then in the dishwasher, we sniffed to see if they retained a fishy smell. By sealing a piece of paper in them and submerging them in water, we determined if they had a tight seal.
After filling them with potato chips, we stored them in a warm steamy room then tasted them to find out if they kept the chips crisp and fresh tasting. To check for staining and pitting, we microwaved tomato sauce in them, then washed each one by hand.
Then, we cleaned them in the dishwasher for a week to see if stains came out and if the dishwasher affected the ability of the lid to be closed tightly. We dropped water-filled containers from countertop height to see if they leaked, opened, or broke.
In the container designed only for dry food storage and that’s not dishwasher safe, we tested for the retention of fish oil odors, the tightness of the seal, the ability to keep chips fresh, and the breakability.
As we worked, we considered how easy it was to open and close the lids, how easy it is to clean and store the containers, and the overall quality and experience of using them.
You can choose plastic or glass and both have their charms.
Glass is more effective at keeping food fresh, as long as it has a tight-fitting lid, as nothing can pass through it. While there will always be a concern for it breaking, in our tests none broke from a simple drop from countertop height onto a vinyl floor. Another big plus about glass is that it won’t stain.
However, most glass containers come with plastic lids that will discolor and if you want to keep them looking spiffy your best bet is to avoid using them for microwave heating. While the majority of glass containers can safely go in the conventional oven, you need to read the manufacturers’ instructions to find out whether or not the oven should be preheated and they can go directly from the freezer into the oven.
Whether you prefer glass or plastic, none of the food storage containers broke during testing.
Nothing beats the portability of plastic containers. We know many of you are concerned about using plastic for storing food, and even more so about heating food in plastic, because of concerns that chemicals can migrate from the plastic into your food.
The jury is still out on plastic safety. You need to decide on your own comfort level when it comes to using plastic. Most plastics will stain and degrade in some way when used to cook items like tomato sauce and are not always microwave safe.
One note of caution, while almost every container that we tested was leakproof when left on its side when filled with tomato sauce, none kept water out when submerged. If you’re traveling with a container, we suggest you always wrap it tightly in a bag before tossing it in a handbag or on a car seat.
Sharon Franke
Contributor
Sharon has tested and reviewed kitchen equipment for over 30 years. Before becoming a cooking tools maven, she worked as a professional chef in New York City restaurants.
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