We Tested 24 Food Storage Containers to Find the Best

Brilliant for many reasons, these plastic food storage containers are completely see-through (aside from the seal) and perfect for taking on the go since they're light and sturdy. A two-time Kitchen Gear and Coffee Awards winner, the set features a tight seal with lids that snap closed for extra protection. Unsnapping the lid provides ventilation, which made reheating a breeze in our tests.

Our pros microwaved spaghetti sauce to test stain resistance and only faint marks were left behind compared to other plastic containers we tested. Not only is this set a great deal, but we love that each container comes in an assortment of sets and sizes. Some include removable inserts and trays that make meal-prepping and lunch-packing easy. And the straight sides mean the stackable containers take up less room in your fridge or cabinet.

We did find that the lids are a bit cumbersome to store, but most are universally sized to fit all the containers, which we appreciated. We also like the 14-piece pantry set with scoops, which features the same transparent, stackable design with lids that are mostly interchangeable.

Long-term use: One of our GH analysts has been using this set as well as the below glass version for years and reaches for them on a daily basis. “The plastic containers have held up well; I haven’t experienced any staining. I love them because they are easy to use and throw into my lunch bag."

These locking-lid containers from Snapware are stackable to help keep your refrigerator organized and are hard to beat with a price under $20. We were impressed by how well they performed during our shake test, only losing a small amount of water. They also held up during our microwave test, but we noticed stains after reheating pasta sauce, which is common with plastic containers.

In our previous testing, we also tried Snapware's Total Solution Glass line. If you're looking for containers to freeze food for a longer period, you may want to opt for those as they're less prone to staining. Just keep in mind that the locking lids are still plastic, so they may stain over time.

Long-term use: After using in the lab and at home, our analysts have noticed staining and scratching that developed over time when using highly pigmented foods and found storing the lids tricky. “The Snapware lids are slightly difficult for storage because the flaps stick out, so they take up more room and don't stack as neatly,” says Contributing Analyst Jamie Ueda.

OXO's well-known POP containers can be closed with one hand — simply press the button down to form a seal, then press again to open. Some come with accessories like half-cup scoops that attach to the underside of the lid so you always have a dedicated tool on hand for measuring dry goods.

This baking set includes containers designed to hold 5-pound bags of flour and sugar as well as a 1-pound box of brown sugar. The brown sugar container comes with a terracotta Brown Sugar Saver that will help prevent the sugar from hardening. The clear containers stack neatly and securely, allowing you to save space and easily keep track of necessary refills.

In our Lab, we tested the 1-quart size and loved how well it held up in the dishwasher. We also tested the 1-quart version with a stainless steel lid, and while these lids are not dishwasher safe, hand washing was a breeze and the bases can be thrown in the dishwasher.

Long-term use: While we still love these in the Lab, and some of us use them in our homes, the seal isn’t as secure as you would imagine: You can lift the lid without pressing the seal release button. Though they aren’t sealed as well, we do like how easy they are to clean, and the lid can be broken down into multiple parts that go right into the dishwasher.

Rubbermaid's Brilliance line makes our list again with its glass container set. This set has also earned a Kitchen Gear Award, and several of our editors have both the plastic set that's our Best Overall pick (for packing lunches since it's lighter) and this one, because it resists staining and is oven-safe up to 450˚F.

Like the plastic version, this set is transparent and stackable, and the straight sides minimize the space required in your cabinet, fridge and freezer. This set also features universal lids, meaning they all fit every size, no matter how deep it is.

One caveat is that the glass itself is somewhat heavy on its own, so we did notice the heft when the container was full.

Long-term use: Like the plastic version, the glass Rubbermaid containers are another favorite of analysts in the Kitchen Appliances and Innovation Lab. “They held up great, but recently one of the latches broke off, but I just pop it on every time I use it since I love the containers," says Kitchen Appliance Reviews Analyst Eva Bleyer.

If you like your plastic baggies and Ziplocs, you'll love Stasher reusable bags, which will save you money in the long run. Store fruits, veggies and other snacks in the bags' thick but flexible silicone that's transparent and comes in an assortment of colors and sizes. We found that they seal and open easily.

When we tested them at home, they kept herbs wrapped in a damp paper towel fresh for weeks, and we didn't have to shuffle everything around in our fridge to make room for them since they take up minimal space. The stand-up design is easy to fill, but the soft sides do mean that soft foods can be squished if taking on the go.

Stasher bags are dishwasher-, freezer-, microwave- and oven-safe (up to 400˚F) and can even be used in boiling water for cooking sous vide. We did notice staining during our in-Lab tomato sauce testing so keep that in mind when storing pigmented foods.

Long-term use: Another member of the Kitchen Appliances Lab uses this set frequently in her work and home life. “I love the stand-up Stasher bags because they are so versatile. My go-to Stasher bag is the snack size; I’ve found that they are perfect for snacking on the go or storing leftover avocado halves in the refrigerator.”

Pyrex's set stands out for the versatility of its shapes and sizes. The containers nest, and the lids are slim for easy storage. The freezer- and microwave-safe tempered-glass containers can be used in the oven, which makes them great for reheating leftovers — just be sure the oven is fully preheated and let the container come to room temperature first to avoid thermal shock, per the brand.

In our dishwasher test, we ran each 4-cup round container and 3-cup rectangular container through the dishwasher five times. While the glass was unscathed, we found that the lids can become slightly deformed after multiple cycles which may lead to leaking if storing liquids.

Long-term use: "I still really like the Pyrex containers mostly because of their slim lids and how the containers stack or nest without the lids. I also love the different sizes. The only downside would be that the lids crack easily," says a GH staffer.

We love that the Neat Stack lunch containers are not only some of the more affordable storage containers out there but that they can be stored in your cabinets without taking up too much space. The nesting set includes five containers in various sizes to hold anything from ½ cups of fruit to whole meals and comes with a freezer pack that can sit atop or snap under the large lids to help keep your lunch cold when traveling.

Each size container is color-coded and has engraved cup markings, including 5-cup, 3-cup and ½-cup versions, great for portioning during meal prep. Several containers share the same lid size, so there's less fumbling for the right match. We did notice staining during our freezer to microwave test so keep that in mind when heating pigment-rich foods.

Long-term use: "The Zoku containers are my favorite for storing weekly meals and leftovers," says a GH staffer. "I have experienced some staining which is expected when using plastic food storage containers, but I love that the containers and lids are easy to find, even in a sea of other containers. The bright rims and unique lids stick out and I also like that they have the capacity labeled right on the side."

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These stackable 14 and 16-ounce silicone and glass bowls are ideal for transporting soups and liquid-based foods. During testing, the twist seal containers lost less than 1 gram of water in our leak tests. The silicone cover helps keep the bowls in place when stacked and helps protect your hands when the bowl is heated.

During our testing, we did notice staining on the silicone cover, though the glass bowl itself didn’t have any staining. The easily portable bowls are available in 14-once and 16-ounce sizes and come in more than nine colors and prints. They can be purchased individually or in sets of two, four and eight.

Long-term use: When it comes to storing leftover soup or stew, our analysts in the Kitchen Appliances Lab often reach for these glass bowls for convenient sizes and shapes. "The bowl style is perfect for soup lunches on my commute," says Deputy Editor Sarah Gregory. We have noticed that food can easily get stuck in the crevices of the silicone mold.