Made entirely of glass with silicone trim, these multipurpose containers are a terrific non-plastic alternative.
If you want to reduce the amount of plastic coming into contact with your food, the Pyrex Ultimate 10-piece Glass Storage Set is a terrific, albeit pricier, option. The containers are made of glass, and the lids are made of glass with silicone trim.
(You canbuy the lids separately. They also happen to fit the containers of our previous pick, the Pyrex Simply Store set, which we demoted because the plastic lids can crack or warp. So if you’re holding on to any lid-less containers, thePyrex Ultimate lids can make a sturdy, plastic-free replacement.)
They’re extremely comfortable to use. The lids suction well, and they’re easy to peel off, thanks to the protruding tabs.
But they’re not airtight. You won’t have total peace of mind when you’re transporting liquid or saucy food in these containers. For that, we prefer airtight models with locking lids, like on our other picks.
But for everyday home use, these containers will do just fine: The Pyrex Ultimate containers leaked slightly when shaken hard during our water test, but they did not leak at all when stored upside down during our tomato sauce test. The seals were also tight enough that no signs of freezer burn appeared in our freezer test.
Of all the containers we tested, these were the best at defying odors.During our kimchi tests, no smells emanated from the glass containers themselves, and just a slight aroma was evident on the silicone trim.
They’re easy to clean.These containers are entirely dishwasher-safe.
But the lids stained a bit.The white lids stained — turning ever-so-slightly yellow — in our tomato sauce and kimchi tests.
They look nice, and they come in a variety of shapes and sizes.The Pyrex Ultimate containers come in rectangular and circular shapes. They nest for storage and stack neatly in the refrigerator or freezer.
They’re heat-safe.The containers can be used in the oven and microwave up to 400 degrees Fahrenheit, and (unlike any of our other picks) their lids can be too. The large rectangular containers are particularly useful for baking.
They’re durable.Like our top-pick glass Pyrex and Snapware containers, these containers are made from tempered glass. This set stood up to our drop tests and didn’t scratch or chip during use.
They can be heavy.These containers and their lids are mostly glass, so they’re heavier when full and not ideal for transport.
And they’re pricier than our other picks.At $16 per container and lid, these containers will cost you more than double the price of our other picks. And, unlike the Snapware lids, they’re covered by only a two-year warranty, rather than a lifetime warranty. However, we believe that their durability makes them a good investment.
Top pick
Light, sturdy, and portable
Snapware Total Solution 20-Piece Plastic Food Storage Container Set
These leakproof, locking plastic containers have lids that are a snap to open and close. This set also offers the best range of sizes and shapes among the plastic containers we tested.
The Snapware Total Solution 20-piece Plastic Food Storage Set doesn’t have the same longevity as the glass sets we recommend — plastic containers are more prone to scratching, staining, and warping over time. But the locking Snapware plastic set is cheaper, lighter, and more convenient for transporting food than our glass picks.
They’re easy on the hands.The lids are identical to those in our Pyrex and Snapware glass picks, so they’re similarly easy to open and close. The lids also have small tabs at the edges, providing more leverage when you’re pulling off the lids.
They’re airtight. The plastic lids provided a tight seal, so the lids didn’t leak (even after several runs through the dishwasher), and there were no signs of freezer burn.
They’re stain-resistant. Although these containers retained a faint scent after our kimchi and tomato sauce tests, they did not stain.
They’re sturdy. The Snapware Total Solution plastic containers performed admirably in our drop tests: Only a small piece on the corner of the lid broke off, after the third drop. We’ve found that these sets have held up well over time in our home kitchens, too.
They come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes.The set comes with 10 containers and matching lids in a variety of shapes and sizes that will work for storing most foods. We appreciate that the Snapware containers nest nicely for easy storage, and they stack neatly in the fridge and freezer. You can also write on the lids to label what’s inside.
The lids are interchangeable with our top glass picks. The lids work with the glass SnapwareandPyrex Freshlockcontainers. This is convenient if you’re buying both styles, and you don’t want to have to rummage through various lids in your drawer.
They’re versatile and come with a lifetime warranty. These containers are microwave-, freezer-, and dishwasher-safe. Snapware offers a limited lifetime warranty on both the plastic containers and the lids if “damaged during normal household use.” Wirecutter staffers who have owned a set for several years reported no issues with the containers or lids. Snapware also sells replaceable lids for every shape in the set if you need them:round,square, andrectangular.
Flaws but not dealbreakers
The gaskets on the lids aren’t removable. We find containers with removable gaskets easier to clean, but unfortunately the silicone gaskets on this set are firmly attached to the lid. Luckily, we haven’t noticed any food becoming stuck in the gaskets during our testing.
Choosing between glass and plastic containers
Whether your priority is sustainability, longevity, accessibility, or portability, we’re sorry to say the perfect storage container is a bit of a unicorn.
All-glass containers can be heavy, and while our picks are impressively durable, with glass there’s always some risk of chipping or shattering. (Also, although the risk of injury is certainly lower, plastic cracks too.) And if you want containers to be airtight, plastic lids are largely unavoidable.
Of course, recent studies about harmful micro- and nanoplastics shedding into food have also raised more widespread concern about plastic containers. In our most recent tests, we searched in earnest for alternative materials, such as containers made entirely out of silicone, stainless steel, or bamboo. While the Pyrex Ultimate set is made entirely of glass and silicone, and we think it’s a great plastic-free option, it is unfortunately not airtight.
Our plastic pick is FDA-approved and BPA-free. But according to sustainability editor Katie Okamoto, it’s best not to expose even these types of plastics to high heat. We recommend against microwaving plastic containers or lids. And we recommend hand-washing instead of dishwashing to minimize exposure to heat, which can facilitate shedding. These containers should pose a much smaller microplastics exposure risk when used mainly for transport or intermittent storage.
Silicone is often touted as a plastic alternative (even though, as a synthetic polymer, it could still be considered a type of plastic). This is because it’s typically consideredmore stable and less reactive. However, so far not a lot of research has been done on silicone’s health or environmental effects, and it’snot always as sustainable as you might think.
Ultimately, the choice between plastic and glass is a personal one based on lifestyle, mobility, cost, and budgeting your own exposure risks.
You might prefer glass containers if:
You don’t mind heavier containers that can shatter.
You’re using the containers mostly for storage at home.
You store foods that tend to stain or smell.
You prefer oven-safe containers (though you should still double-check whether a container can go in a preheated or cold oven).
You might benefit from plastic containers if:
You want something that is less likely to shatter.
You want a cheaper option that you can stock up on for meal prep.
Your family members tend to lose containers.
You want something lighter to carry around or travel with.
Care and maintenance
Your containers will likely outlast your lids, but you can try to take extra care of them to prolong their lifespan. It’s tempting to just leave the lids on when microwaving. Don’t. No sealed lid benefits from the vacuum effect that happens when you heat food in the microwave. Abusing the lid in this way can cause it to warp and lose its seal.
When you microwave, we suggest using a vented microwave cover or placing a paper towel over your container.
We recommend hand-washing lids; they’ll last a lot longer. And if the lid has a removable gasket, we recommend removing the gasket from time to time and cleaning it separately. If you’re loading these into the dishwasher, plastic pieces should always go on the top rack, while glass pieces can go anywhere in the dishwasher.
The experts we spoke with all said that after glass containers are removed from a hot dishwasher, they should be allowed to cool before they’re stacked in a cupboard; otherwise, they may scratch, and they are more prone to sticking. Stacking glass, even when it isn’t hot, can also add stress to containers and lead to chipping over time.
To store the lids, dry them completely before putting them away. We recommend leaving the lids resting on top of the containers, but not snapped shut; this helps to protect the longevity of the seal.
We’ve read customer reviews on Amazon and feedback from our readers who have occasionally reported that their tempered glassware “spontaneously shattered.” Even though tempered glass is more durable than non-heat-treated soda-lime glass, it’s still glass, and it can break. Never subject your glass storage containers to extreme thermal stresses (such as taking containers from the freezer and placing them directly into a hot oven and vice versa). Always stay within the recommended temperature threshold indicated in the manufacturer’s instructions.
Other food-storage containers worth considering
If you want a budget-friendly plastic container for transporting food:We recommend Rubbermaid TakeAlongs Food Storage Containers for bringing a dish to a potluck or picnic, or for dropping off a meal for a friend. They come in an impressive range of sizes and a number of pieces (from two to 100). They’re less prone to leaking than other, similar containers we tested. And best of all, they are inexpensive, at less than $1 a piece (so there’s no stress if you leave them behind). The plastic becomes soft when microwaved, so we recommend against heating food directly in these containers.
If you want a glass set that is extremely easy on the hands:Of the lids for all the sets we tested, the lids for our previous glass pick, the Pyrex Simply Store 18-Piece Set, were among the easiest to press on and lift off. And since the lids lacked snap-in mechanisms, they were also much less likely to chip the glass rims of the containers.
We also like how the multicolored lids provided a visual cue to easily identify each piece. They are microwave-, oven-, freezer-, and dishwasher-safe. They are not airtight, however; the rectangular containers, especially, leaked from the corners. We have also received mixed feedback on how long the lids can last, and we’ve found that they can crack and warp. (To prolong the life of these lids, we recommend that you hand-wash them).
For glass containers that can withstand high temperatures: We liked the shape and size variation of the OXO 16 Piece Smart Seal Glass Container Set. Because these containers are made from borosilicate glass (which withstands temperature changes even better than tempered glass), they’re far more expensive than our picks. But while borosilicate is more temperature-hardy, it’s also more brittle and less durable when dropped, and we still found reviews complaining that these containers chipped. If you’ll frequently be using your containers in the oven or freezer, though, we think these could be worth springing for.
The competition
Glass
The Glasslock 18-Piece Container Set is a previous pick, and it’s similar to our glass top picks. It’s leakproof, oven-, microwave-, freezer-, and dishwasher-safe. But during our most recent testing, we found the hinges on the lids to be stiffer than those on our picks, so using this set was a bit harder on the hands.
The Anyday 4-piece Starter Set is primarily designed for microwave cooking and heating. The containers do a decent job of that, but they’re very heavy and very pricey (the 2-container set is $80). And compared with our picks, this set’s relatively large sizes aren’t as great for a range of food-storage situations.
We admired the design of the Ello Duraglass Mealprep Containers, especially for their attractive silicone netting, which prevents slippage and protects the glass. The lids were easy to snap on and off, and the containers are airtight and come with a lifetime warranty. But despite the protective netting, the glass easily shattered during our drop test and the containers retained odors. We also found the netting somewhat cumbersome to remove for cleaning and to put back on afterward.
The Frigoverre 3-piece Square Food Storage Containers (actually six pieces — three containers and three lids) are extremely heavy, even when empty. They also leaked easily.
There is a lot to like about the Frego containers, with their colorful silicone sleeves and silicone lids. They easily withstand the freezer, microwave, oven, and dishwasher. They’re airtight. And they come with a bold lifetime warranty. You do have to remove the silicone sleeve to see what’s inside, however, and they come in just one small (2-cup) size. Also, they absorbed odors, and the lids stained during our tests.
We liked the super-affordable price of the IKEA 365+ containers, which come in glass, plastic, and (microwave-safe!) stainless steel, all with interchangeable plastic lock lids. They stack and nest neatly, and all of them passed the airtight test. But we found the locks to be stiff and hard to latch open and closed.
There are just two shape and size options in the Rubbermaid Brilliance glass set, and the lids are more difficult to shut and pry off than those of our picks.
The Anchor Hocking Glass Food Storage Set survived our drop tests, but the containers leaked more than the similarly designed glass Pyrex containers we tested. The flimsy lids in this set also held onto odors more than our picks did.
We were intrigued by the attractive, ceramic-coated glass Caraway containers, which come with lots of bells and whistles, such as magnetic organizer racks, a stain eraser, and bento-style inserts. They are heavy and leaky, however, and they seem to be more of a fashion statement than viable storage containers.
Plastic
The INKA Food Containers were so hard to open that the manufacturer recommends using a butter knife to assist.
While Tupperware is the grandaddy of plastic containers, their Freezer Mate Containers are shockingly expensive (over $12 per container and lid), considering the materials. And despite a lifetime guarantee covering chipping, cracking, breaking, and peeling, we found them to be flimsy — one of the lids chipped during its first use.
We liked that the Zoku 11 Pack Neat Stack containers were dishwasher- and freezer-safe, and we also liked the color-coded bands on the lids, the clear markings of volume on each container, and the convenient freezer pack that clips on to the underside of the lids. The freezer pack often fell off into the food, though, and while the company claims the containers are airtight, they leaked during our tomato sauce test.
Although we recommend the Rubbermaid Brilliance Leak-Proof Food Storage Containers line in our guide to the best dry-food-storage containers, we don’t recommend them for daily use for storing leftovers. We’ve read reports that they crack in the dishwasher or microwave. We prefer them for longer-term dry storage, since you don’t need to wash the containers as often. They also have fewer shape options, and the locking lids require more force to shut than our plastic containers pick.
For a cheap set of containers with press-on lids, we like the IKEA Pruta set. However, they’re difficult to get online due to prolonged shipping times or extra costs (ours took three weeks to arrive). They also don’t come in as many shapes as our budget pick. And, as is true of most flimsy plastic sets, they warp over time.
The Reditainer Deli Food Storage Containers are typically used in professional restaurant kitchens because they’re cheap to buy in bulk, they’re uniform, and they store very neatly. They’re also cheap enough to leave at someone’s house. Although these containers didn’t leak and did keep freezer burn at bay, they stained easily and hung onto food odors. These containers also shattered in our drop test.
Though it’s convenient that the lids in the Rubbermaid Easy Find Lid 42-Piece Set stack, these containers leaked both before and after going through the dishwasher.
The Popit Little Big Box Food Plastic Container Set didn’t leak when filled with water, and the removable gaskets made cleaning easy. However, this set didn’t pass our drop test: The flaps popped open, and one completely broke off.
The Rubbermaid Premier set did very well in nearly all of our tests, but it was difficult to tell when the lid was sealed properly. We also thought the container sizes were a little too small for holding leftovers.
Sterilite Ultra-Seal containers, which you can find at many retailers, received poor marks from both Cook’s Illustrated and Good Housekeeping for a seal that wasn’t airtight. (These containers also no longer come in a set with varying shapes and sizes, so every piece must be purchased individually.)
The Glad MatchWare color-coded lids and containers made matching pairs easy. But they leaked, stained, and left ground meat covered with freezer burn. These containers also exploded in our drop tests.
Ziploc’s containers nest well, but they leaked, and they became extremely soft when microwaved.
Silicone
Sadly, the silicone options we tested didn’t come close to the versatility of the glass and plastic containers we tested. None of them were airtight, and some were even too leaky to carry across the kitchen. We will continue to search for viable silicone options for future testing.
The Lékué Reusable Silicone Boxes were flimsy and not particularly transparent, and the lids that would not stay closed.
We liked that the Norwex Silicone Food Containers are collapsible with locking lids. We did not like that they easily leaked.
We had high hopes for the Stojo Nestable Food Storage Set, which initially seemed like the sturdiest silicone option. The containers were fairly airtight, and we liked that they are collapsible with lock-tight lids. But despite dishwasher-safe claims, they easily warped after a run through the dishwasher.
The lock lids on the Vremi Silicone Food Storage containers were nearly impossible to close without collapsing the container. When they’re full, that can result in a disastrous mess.
Bamboo
The lids on the “eco-friendly” Forest & Twelfth containers were flimsily constructed and would not stay on.
This article was edited by Marilyn Ong and Marguerite Preston. Michael Sullivan, Anna Perling and Ganda Suthivarakom contributed reporting.
Sources
Nancy Hopkins, then senior deputy food and entertaining editor for Better Homes & Gardens, phone interview
Faith Durand, executive editor for The Kitchn, email interview
Michele Thomas, then executive editor at the International Culinary Center, email interview, January 28, 2016
Jane Cook, PhD, then chief scientist at the Corning Museum of Glass in Corning, New York, phone interview, September 15, 2017 and March 16, 2021
William C. LaCourse, PhD, then professor in the Glass Engineering Science department at Alfred University in Alfred, New York, phone interview, September 12, 2017
Meet your guide
Kathleen Squires
What I Cover
I test and review kitchen gear, small appliances, and packaged foods.
Further reading
Our Favorite Pantry Containers
by Abigail Bailey and Arianna Flores
After testing 28 food storage container sets over the years, we recommend the Rubbermaid Brilliance containers and the Rubbermaid Commercial containers.
25 Simple Tools and Practical Tips for Cutting Down Food Waste
by Katie Okamoto and Anna Perling
These tools and strategies for reducing food waste skip the guilt trip and focus instead on a holistic approach to cooking.
The Best Reusable Produce Bags
by Anna Perling
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