We Tested Storage Container Sets—These 10 Keep Your Food Fresh and Organized

How We Tested

We sent top-rated plastic, glass, and ceramic food storage container sets to our dedicated Testing Lab, where we evaluated their performance, capacity, ease of cleaning, and design through several side-by-side tests. We tested how well each set kept one cup of brown sugar from drying out over a set period, how well each set resisted picking up stains from tomato sauce and odors from chopped raw onion over time (before and after cleaning), how well each set protected against potential leaks and spills, and in the case of plastic container sets, how durable they were when dropped.

We also sent 19 glass food storage containers and 19 plastic food storage containers to our editors and experts to use in their own kitchens. To test the leakproof capabilities, we filled each container to its maximum capacity with water, sealed it with the lid, and vigorously shook the container for one minute to see how much water leaked out. We also conducted freshness tests with perishable foods in both the refrigerator and the freezer, as well as a stain test with foods like tomato sauce, turmeric, and red beets.

Other Options We Tested

• Chef's Path Airtight Food Storage Container Set: We thought this set was not bad at all, but not uniquely impressive either. The containers did well in our performance tests but were tricky to close, and the design was simple but nothing to write home about. Overall, this is a budget-conscious set that we wouldn't dissuade anyone from buying, despite it not making our list.
• Freyian Canister Sets for Kitchen Counter: This set performed very well in terms of being smell-proof, stain-proof, stackable, and easy to clean. However, it had considerable leakage issues and offered much less storage capacity than other sets. We loved the silicone lids, but we would have loved the ability to add on more jars or purchase larger sizes for more storage.

What to Look for When Buying Food Storage Containers

Material

Food storage containers tend to be made from three types of materials: glass, hard plastic, or flexible plastic—each has its pros and cons. Glass containers are durable but heavy. Hard plastic containers are great for canister-type storage for flour, sugar, and other pantry ingredients. Flexible plastic containers are the least expensive. Lids also come in a variety of materials that might be different from the container material. While plastic lids are common, certain sets have silicone gaskets for a tighter seal.

“For items like sponge cake, madeleines, muffins, and cupcakes, I usually wrap them with plastic wrap or put them in a jar to store them in a moist environment. This category of sweet needs to stay soft and humid,” says Chef Martin Diez, director of Americas chef services at Barry Callebaut. “I want to stay conscious about disposable plastic wrap usage, so a sealable box container or a jar can work perfectly,” he adds.

Lid Type

While all food storage containers have lids that seal, some are more secure than others. A lid that seals simply with pressure is perfectly safe for holding your food, but it’s more likely to pop open if it’s bumped or dropped. Other lids have flaps that snap onto the side of the containers, which are more secure but take longer to open and close, and the hinged section could break with excessive use. Other lids have buttons or levers on top that seal with a press or pull. Some round food storage containers have screw-on lids, much like the ones you’d find on glass jars.

Safety

Freezer-Safe: Freezer-safe containers are a must if you make food ahead of time to store in the freezer. While many plastic containers and most glass containers are freezer-safe, some plastics can become brittle at cold temperatures and can crack or break if they’re bumped or dropped. While most glass containers are freezer-safe, they can break if they slide out of the freezer and drop to the floor. If you plan on preparing and storing food in the freezer on a regular basis, it might be a good idea to buy containers that are specifically made for freezer use.

Microwave-Safe: While you may never have a reason to put a canister in the microwave, smaller containers holding leftovers are even handier if you can heat them in the microwave. While most food storage containers are microwave-safe, you should always check with the manufacturer, lest you come back to a melted container and spilled soup. Some flexible plastic containers are prone to staining if you heat tomato-based or other dark-colored food products in them. While that won’t harm the containers, it can make them look less attractive.

Oven-Safe: Some glass storage containers may be oven-safe, which is great for preparing food ahead of time and baking it before serving, or for reheating leftovers in the oven. Smaller containers are also good for heating individual portions. Not all glass is oven-safe, so if that is an important feature to you, check the manufacturer’s information before you buy. Even when glass is oven-safe, it’s best to make sure you don’t subject it to thermal shock by moving it rapidly from one extreme temperature to another.

Dishwasher-Safe: While most food containers are dishwasher-safe, some canister-style containers have lids that require hand-washing, and some very inexpensive containers are designed for single-use purposes and might warp in the dishwasher. While hand-washing a container once in a while isn’t a terrible chore, if you often use storage containers for lunch, leftovers, and food-prep storage, then you might find that the time saved from using the dishwasher is worth the higher price for a sturdier container that's dishwasher-safe.

Types of Food Storage Containers

Flexible Plastic

The least-expensive flexible plastic containers are sold in bulk and are meant as single-use containers, although they can be used multiple times if you're careful. They’re also great for sending food home with guests. Higher-end flexible plastic containers are meant for long-term use and are likely to be microwave- and dishwasher-safe. These are usually sold in small sets, and they’re inexpensive enough that if one doesn’t return home, you won’t miss it terribly. You’ll get a lot of use out of them, but they're more prone to cracking or discoloration. While some are freezer-safe, others can get very brittle at cold temperatures and may crack or break.

Hard Plastic

More durable plastic containers can be just as sturdy as the bowl of your food processor. For example, the Caraway storage set is dishwasher-, freezer-, fridge-, oven, and microwave-safe. These models are slightly more expensive than flexible plastic containers and are almost always dishwasher-safe (though the harsh detergents used in dishwashers can dull their finish). While that doesn’t harm the effectiveness of the containers, if they're left on display, you might want to wash them by hand to maintain their appearance.

Glass

Sturdy but heavy, glass containers are stain-proof and won’t retain odors. You’ll find these in a variety of shapes and sizes, including shallow casserole-shaped containers that are great for marinating, storing flat foods, and using in your oven. While glass food storage containers are likely to be safe in the dishwasher, microwave, refrigerator, and freezer, it’s always best to check with the manufacturer to make sure. Even if the containers themselves are safe for those uses, the lids might need special care. Because glass storage containers are heavy, you might not want to nest as many of them as you would if they were lightweight plastic.

Canister Storage

Canister-style food storage containers are meant for holding flour, sugar, pasta, and other pantry staples for long-term storage, with large openings that make it easy to measure ingredients for recipes. Their lids are designed to be secure to keep pests out, and they should also be easy to open and close, since you may be using them during cooking. Since they're meant for long-term storage of single ingredients that you would simply refill as needed, they likely wouldn't need to be washed as often as other containers, but you'd wipe down the outside as needed.

Vacuum Storage

These containers are much like canister storage sets, but with a twist. Many have their own vacuum system or may require a separate vacuum device to remove the air from the container to create a secure vacuum closure. These are particularly great for storing foods that might go stale, like nuts or whole grains. Smaller vacuum-storage containers can be used for cheese kept in the refrigerator, rapidly marinating meats, or making quick-pickled vegetables. While these can be used to store almost anything, they’re more expensive than standard containers and are best used for foods that benefit from a vacuum seal.

Freshness-Preserving Containers

You’ll find two basic types of freshness-preserving containers. The first type is made entirely from a plastic that's designed to help preserve perishable foods. While these might not offer any benefits for your dinner leftovers, you could certainly use them for that purpose, if you prefer to have just one type of storage container. The others have a strainer at the bottom to allow moisture to drain away from foods. That keeps fruits, vegetables, and herbs from sitting in moisture. They can also be used as standard storage containers by removing the bottom strainers.

FAQs

How do you organize food storage containers?

Some food storage container sets are designed to be stackable, nesting together so you can organize and store them more easily—and save space for other items. Otherwise, there are plenty of tricks you can use to store your containers more efficiently. These include basic organization, such as storing lids and containers together by size, color, and/or type, using print labels, and using tension rods to create compartments, as well as more creative hacks, such as repurposing book bins, plastic trays, wall-mounted file holders, and even small decorative wall shelving into storage compartments for your drawers and cabinets.

How many food storage containers do I need?

How many food storage containers you need depends on how many people are in your household, whether you meal-prep, how much you save leftovers or let them go to waste, how often you cook meals at home versus ordering out, and many other factors. What you may want to look for is an assortment of food containers that come in different sizes, ideally as part of a set. Small containers can hold things like leftovers, small meals, or your work lunch. Larger containers could prove more useful for soups, grains, prepped meals, storing food to take to a potluck, and more. You want enough containers that you can rotate through them without constantly having to wash them, but not too many that they pile up in the sink.

How do you clean food storage containers?

The least-expensive plastic containers might require hand-washing, since dishwashing temperatures could warp them or cause the lids to fit improperly after washing. Most other plastic food storage containers are dishwasher-safe, although the manufacturers often suggest top-rack washing to avoid the excessive heat at the bottom of the dishwasher. While some flexible plastic containers can stain when used to store tomato-based products or similar foods, their usefulness is not affected. Glass storage containers should be dishwasher-safe on either the top or bottom rack, and they won’t stain or retain odors after washing. While most food storage containers are likely to be dishwasher-safe, some lids should be washed by hand, so check the manufacturer’s instructions.

Why Trust The Spruce Eats?

Though multiple editors contributed to this piece, it was most recently updated by associate editor Taylor Rock. Not only are we experts in our field, but we're also consumers, so we left no stone unturned when we scoured the food storage market to bring you our list of the best container sets for your needs.

Freelance food writer Carrie Honaker contributed reporting and text. In addition to her work with various food media brands, Carrie has cooked in restaurant kitchens and even owned a cafe, so her experience with food storage spans her professional and personal life.

This article was updated by Katya Weiss-Andersson, a writer and editor who has nearly a decade of experience as a professional chef. Katya is a leftover queen, a maker of big batches, and a hater of food waste, so learning how to best store leftovers and pantry items has been a priority in her kitchen.