The 6 Best Food Storage Containers, According to Our Tests

Our Favorite Food Storage Containers

There's no one best set of food storage containers; the right one for you depends on your preferences. If we were to choose one best overall option, though, it would be the Glasslock 18-Piece Assorted Glass Storage Container Set for its strong, oven-safe glass; tight, locking lids; versatile shapes and sizes; and the fact that it can stand up to the oven and freezer alike. If you prefer plastic, the Rubbermaid Premier 20-Piece Set is a generous collection of durable containers in a range of sizes.

How We Tested Food Storage Containers

Our list of top picks combines results from multiple rounds of testing involving a total of 76 food storage container sets, including 35 plastic sets, 24 glass sets, 15 reusable bag sets, and two ceramic canister sets. We tested the items in our actual home kitchens, using them to keep brown sugar from drying out, freeze berries, store sauces, hold fresh produce, and all sorts of other everyday uses. We looked at the design of each set, considering how many pieces are included, their assortment of shapes, and their capacity. In addition to our more general observations, we made sure to put the containers through a few identical tests.

• Leak test: We filled a container from each set with water, sealed it shut, and then shook it vigorously for a minute. We noted whether and how much water leaked out, as well as whether we were able to get a good seal easily.
• Avocado test: We placed a freshly halved, pitted, and peeled avocado in a container from each set, sealed it, and left it in the refrigerator for 3 days. We then looked at each avocado's color and texture to compare levels of freshness.

• Temperature tests: We used the containers in all the high- and low-temperature situations they're equipped to handle — typically the refrigerator, freezer, and microwave, as well as the oven for some glass containers. We looked for any warping, melting, cracking, or other damage, both in an initial round of testing and after long-term use.
• Stain test: For the plastic and silicone containers, we stored a staining food (like tomato sauce, turmeric-based vinaigrette, or beets) for 3 days, then noted how badly the plastic was stained. We checked for stains again after hand-washing, and again after a trip through the dishwasher if necessary.
• Cleaning: We washed the storage containers per the user manuals, hand-washing them all and running all the dishwasher-safe items through at least one cycle. We noted any crevices or hinges that were especially difficult to clean and any wear or damage sustained from washing.
  

After completing our usage tests, we revealed the retail prices of the sets to consider value for money. At the time of testing, prices ranged from $8 to $245, which represents a wide variety of items. On average, the glass sets cost a little short of twice as much as the plastic ones, but it's difficult to compare different assortments of containers one-to-one on price.

Factors to Consider

Container Material

Food storage containers typically come in sturdy plastic, glass, or stoneware, while reusable bags tend to be made of silicone or fabric. Each material has its merits, so choosing one will depend on what is most important to you. Plastic containers tend to be less expensive and lighter, and they won't shatter if you drop them on the ground. Glass and stoneware tend to be more aesthetically pleasing, heavier, and better at resisting stains and odors than plastic. They're also a bit more expensive in general, and of course more fragile.

Lids and Seals

To keep contents fresh, you want a container or bag that seals well. Look for features like silicone or rubber gaskets that provide an airtight seal, and snap closures that help to keep items in place even if the container turns over or bumps around inside a bag. If you're storing food in a deep refrigerator or freezer drawer, you may prefer clear or windowed lids that let you see what's inside. For a pantry, lids that make the containers stackable help to maximize space securely. Reusable silicone bags generally have a zip top just like single-use plastic bags; it's important to make sure the top is sealed closed all the way from end to end to avoid air getting in.

Capacity

When picking a storage set, you want to be sure that the sizes included are useful for your household. For pantry storage and leftovers, it's better to have containers that are slightly larger than you think you need. If you're packing lunch containers for office or school, on the other hand, you may want smaller containers to hold individual sandwiches and snack servings.

Cleaning and Care

Food storage containers and reusable bags can be easily washed by hand, but for a more thorough cleaning, most are also dishwasher-safe. Always check with the manufacturer's instructions, however, to ensure your set can be run through the dishwasher without warping or damage.

Storage

When you aren't storing your leftovers, you'll need to store the containers themselves until it's time to use them again. Some sets can be bulky and take up a lot of space, so it's best to look for options that can easily nest or stack on top of each other. This is harder to find with glass storage containers than it is with plastic sets. Then, there's also lid organization to think about — because there's nothing worse than a cabinet full of useless food storage containers with missing lids. If you're struggling to organize your container collection, consider investing in a kitchen cabinet organizer to keep things neat, tidy, and accessible.

Other Food Storage Containers We Tested

Strong Contenders

Pyrex Freshlock 10-Piece Airtight Glass Food Storage Container Set ($40 at Amazon)

This set includes a nice assortment for singles or a couple. Made of thick glass with locking airtight lids, these containers can be used in the fridge, freezer, and microwave and can be placed in the dishwasher for easy cleaning. They seem like they’d hold up well in the long run, but this is a small set for a moderate price.

Rubbermaid Brilliance Glass Set of 9 Food Containers with Lids ($80 at Amazon)

This is a version of the Rubbermaid Brilliance set above, but with glass containers instead of plastic. The glass bases are suitable for use in the oven up to 450°F, allowing them to double as cookware and serveware, while the snap-on plastic lids are just the same as the rest of the Brilliance collection. It’s a sturdy, easy-to-clean option with a great selection of sizes for a small family, but it's pricier than the average glass set.

OXO Good Grips Smart Seal 12-Piece Glass Container Set ($33 at Amazon)

Made of borosilicate glass, these containers can go from the freezer to the oven. We love that this set stacks and nests really well, saving space wherever you decide to use them, and it performed well in our leak tests. It's a good value in glass, albeit for a fairly small set.

Rubbermaid TakeAlongs Food Storage Containers, 52-Piece Set ($25 at Amazon)

For larger families that take meals to work and school, this set is perfect, as there’s a size for every need and multiple pieces in every size. The low price also means that it's not a big deal to misplace a piece or two. These containers performed well in our leak test, but they are definitely thinner and less durable than the Rubbermaid options on our list of winners.

Tupperware Heritage Collection 36 Piece Food Storage Container Set ($100 at Amazon)

A throwback to the 1960s and '70s, this vintage-styled set includes 18 containers in pastel colors, with Tupperware's iconic old-school starburst-patterned lids. But they've been updated with modern BPA-free, microwave- and dishwasher-safe plastic. They're sturdy and seem like they'd last a long time, but we don't love the tall bowl shapes, which are less space-efficient than rectangular containers. This is a large set, but it's also rather expensive for plastic.

Joseph Joseph Nest Lock Plastic Food Storage Container Set ($30 at Amazon)

These stylish containers (and their lids) nest really nicely, making them easy to store when they’re not in use. The set is great for a one- or two-person home to preserve cut produce, do meal prep, and hold leftovers. It's a good assortment of sizes, but you only get five containers per set — you might need to buy two (or three) to fulfill even a small household's needs.

Rezip 5-Piece Stand-Up Leakproof Reusable Storage Bag Pack ($25 at Amazon)

We really liked the easy, secure seal of these storage bags. The flat bottoms make them extra convenient, letting you set them up on the counter securely to fill without spilling. Our issue is that they're not usable in the microwave or for sous vide, and not recommended in the dishwasher; the Stasher bags we recommend are more durable and versatile, albeit at a higher price.

OXO Good Grips 8-Piece POP Container Set ($68 at Amazon)

A fantastic option for dry storage, these essential containers make (and release) an airtight seal with a press of a large button on the lids. This set is designed specifically for baking ingredients like flour and sugar, with built-in scoops for the two largest containers, and a special Brown Sugar Saver lid that keeps moisture from turning brown sugar into hard clumps. If you’re big on baking, you’ll find this to be a smart option for keeping your ingredients organized.

What Didn't Make the List

We tested a large group of containers for this story, and there are dozens that didn't make the cut for various reasons. Leaking was a major issue for brands that stumbled; sets that couldn't make an airtight seal reliably lost a lot of points in our ratings. Reusable bags generally fell behind lidded containers as well, with the fabric storage bags we tested ranking lowest of all. Brands we tested that don't appear in this story include Caraway, Ziploc, Lunchskins, and more.

Our Expertise

Bernadette Machard de Gramont is a Los Angeles–based writer specializing in food, wine, cookware, and other kitchen and home products. After a two-year stint at Williams Sonoma headquarters in San Francisco, she now researches and tests a variety of cookware, bakeware, and wine tools, and interviews field experts for their insight. For this piece, she used Food & Wine's tested insights to determine the best food storage containers available today.