The Glasslock containers come in a variety of shapes that store nicely in the fridge, and they are safe to use in an oven, microwave, freezer, or dishwasher. And we still saw complaints of chipping in the reviews. The white lids stained in our tomato sauce tests (of course), and because the lids are glass, the containers are heavy and not ideal for transport. William LaCourse, a professor in the Glass Engineering Science department at Alfred University, told us, There will be stresses as a result of the cap and putting the cap on with fairly high pressure it essentially squeezes the cap onto the glass. He explained that if there are any minor flaws already present in the glass, the added pressure from the lids could cause the containers to chip or break. You can purchase replacement tops on Pyrexs website. Youre unlikely to find non-heat-treated soda-lime glass containers because they are neither oven- nor freezer-safe. Also, according to the company, Pyrex will replace any glass product that breaks due to oven heat. Youll need to weigh the trade-off between convenience and longevity when caring for your containers and lids. *At the time of publishing, the price was $16. If you want containers with as little plastic as possible, the Pyrex Ultimate 10-Piece Glass Storage Set is likely your best bet. (Both the 40- and 52-piece sets are not consistently available, but the 32-piece set we link to has a similar combination of many of the pieces weve tested.) The tabs on the locking Glasslock lids require a little more force to close than on the Pyrex press-on lids. Only a small number of the containers weve tested have chipped. Per piece, the set also costs less than other glass options we considered. These containers also shattered in our drop test. We also appreciated the lids on these containers: They have a thicker gasket thats far easier to remove and wedge back in than the gasket on the Glasslock containers. But if you plan on using your containers frequently in the oven or freezer, or the Glasslock containers are sold out, we think this is a good option. If you dont own a dishwasher, or you want to prolong the life of your lids, handwashing works just fine for our picks. The Pyrex set includes nine glass containers (with matching lids), and they range in size from 1 to 7 cups. The Lock & Lock Easy Essentials 21 Container Food Storage Container Set is affordable, and it offers many shapes and sizes. 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. But the Glasslock set is the best choice if you want a leakproof glass container set. Weve found that the lids can crack even when washed on the top rack after many years (about five). First, you cant see through yogurt containers, so once the lid is on, you can easily forget what you have in there (and let it rot). ), The Glad MatchWare color-coded lids and containers made matching pairs easy. *At the time of publishing, the price was $35. The smooth, clean lines of the Pyrex pieces also look nice on a table, if youre serving straight from the containers after reheating. Cook said that you can also put stress on glass by rubbing it against a material as hard or harder than itself (which happens when you stack glass containers on top of each other). Several Amazon reviewers have complained that the lids can crack or warp even after just a few uses, but Wirecutter staffers reported that their Pyrex lids stayed intact even after two to three years. These containers also exploded in our drop tests. You may also find containers made from heat-strengthened glass, which is twice as strong as untreated glass yet not as strong as tempered glass. Choose one of our glass picks if any of the following apply: Choose one of our plastic picks if any of the following apply: Ultimately, the choice between plastic and glass is a personal one thats based on lifestyle. These are a little floppier and dont create as strong a seal as the Lku lids, but theyre easy to peel off and rinse clean. Finally, we looked for best-selling sets from Amazon, Bed Bath and Beyond, Wayfair, Target, IKEA, Williams-Sonoma, Food52, and The Container Store. Snapware is owned by the same company as Pyrex, and similarly, it offers replaceable lids and a long warranty. Like those of our current runner-up pick, this sets lids clip closed and may subject the lip of the containers to stress, which can increase the chances of breakage. The plastic lids have a firm silicone gasket that fills the lid groove from edge to edge and provides a tight seal that doesnt leak. In our tomato-sauce tests, we could detect a slight aroma on the Pyrex lids after running them through the dishwasher, but the smell wasnt as strong as the one left behind on some of the other containers we tested, like the silicone-rimmed Pyrex Ultimate containers. There are a few reasons to upgrade your containers, especially if you use plastic yogurt or takeout tubs. ), Sterilite Ultra-Seal containers, which you can find at many retailers, received poor marks from both Cooks Illustrated and Good Housekeeping for a seal that wasnt airtight. Snapware Total Solution 20-Piece Food Storage Set, Rubbermaid TakeAlongs Food Storage Containers, Choosing between glass and plastic containers, Our glass pick: Pyrex Simply Store 18-Piece Set, Our pick: Snapware Total Solution 20-Piece Food Storage Set, Runner-up: Glasslock 18-Piece Container Set, Budget pick: Rubbermaid TakeAlongs Food Storage Containers, The Best Reusable Produce Bags, Beeswax Wraps, and Other Ways to Reduce Plastic Waste, Why Were Not Worried About Pyrex Bakeware Exploding, OXO Good Grips 16-piece Smart Seal Plastic Container Set, OXO 16 Piece Smart Seal Glass Container Set, Pyrex Ultimate 10-Piece Glass Storage Set, OXO Good Grips Smart Seal Plastic Container Set, Zyliss Fresh Glass Food Storage Containers, Rubbermaid Brilliance Leak-Proof Food Storage Containers, Lock & Lock Easy Essentials 21 Container Food Storage Container Set, Popit Little Big Box Food Plastic Container Set, Snapware Airtight Plastic Food Container Set, The Best Food-Storage Containers on Amazon, According to Hyperenthusiastic Reviewers, then executive editor at the International Culinary Center, then chief scientist at the Corning Museum of Glass in Corning, New York, a professor in the Glass Engineering Science department at Alfred University in Alfred, New York, Tools and Tips for Freezing Food So Nothing Goes to Waste, When a Friend Is in Need, Show You Care With Food, How to Choose the Right Storage Containers. The containers nest well, or you can stack the sealed containers on top of each other. However, the Glasslock containers kept food fresher longer than much of the competition in our initial tests, indicating that theyre airtight. If this happens, just be sure to keep the damaged item, since you may be asked to return it. Weve tested a 40-piece set as well as a 52-piece set, and we found they came with a wider range of shapes and sizes than any of the other flimsier sets we tested. 
Weve tested a 40-piece set as well as a 52-piece set, and we found they came with a wider range of shapes and sizes than any of the other flimsier sets we tested. But we wouldnt recommend going out of your way to buy this set, since its difficult to order online (our containers took three weeks to arrive, and the $5 shipping fee is almost as much as the $6 set), and it doesnt include as many shapes as the TakeAlongs set. Hand-washing them with water no hotter than what comes from your tap, or at least avoiding the heated dry cycle (if your dishwasher has one) when you do use the dishwasher, may help extend their lifespan. But these dont hold up well in the microwave or freezer and dont come in as many different sizes. Your family members tend to lose containers. Both are affordable options that will provide you with years of use. 
The Pyrex Simply Store containers stack neatly and are made from durable tempered glass. In 2018, we also subjected the glass sets to extreme thermal stresses (which is something we strongly do not recommend trying at home): We pulled the containers from the freezer and filled them with boiling water; we took containers that had been in a 350 F oven for 10 minutes and filled them with ice water; we used the containers to reheat cold beef stew and tomato sauce in the microwave for three minutes; and, finally, we froze beef stew in the containers and put them directly into a 350 F oven for 10 minutes. These inexpensive plastic containers come in multiple sizes, for packing and transporting food. In our drop tests, the lids on the Rubbermaid TakeAlongs stayed sealed; the lids also didnt leak after we ran the containers through the dishwasher, unlike containers from Ziploc and Glad (these lids are from the 52-piece set). the seal became noticeably looser after going through the dishwasher 50 times and leaked profusely. We also polled our staff for long-term-testing feedback and read the comments on this guide. That said, if youre looking for leakproof glass containers for meal prep, these are the best weve tested. 
In theory, that extra cushion could help prevent the OXOs rimswhich (like the Glasslocks) are slightly raisedfrom chipping. So compared with tempered glass, heat-strengthened glass is not as resistant to sudden changes of temperature or as durable if you drop it. But these lids also put stress on the lips of the containers, so the glass may be prone to chipping over time. Like the other glass containers we tested, the Pyrex set we looked at had a number of visible flaws in the glass. We dont think you need to be fearful of using tempered-glass items, but you should still treat them with care. They wont seal properly, and a chip or crack will act like a snag in a pair of stockingsthe crack can run and cause more damage down the line. 
If you need to make a claim, contact the companys customer-care center; be sure to keep the container or lid because you may be asked to return it. But if the lid has a removable gasket, remove the gasket from time to time and clean it separately from the lid to make sure no mold can grow. Like most plastic lids, the Snapware ones retained a faint tomato-sauce scent after we marinated them separately in a large bowl of sauce for 48 hours, but they didnt retain any stains. The glass Snapware set we tested didnt fare as well in our drop tests: Some of the flaps opened, and the corner of the lid cracked. Our favorite alternatives to plastic or disposable food storage include silicone food-storage bags, beeswax wraps, and cloth produce bags. During her time at Wirecutter, she reported on various topics including sports bras, board games, and light bulbs. We also consulted reviews from Good Housekeeping, The Strategist, Reviewed, and The Spruce Eats. She ordered new lids for free from the Glasslock website, paid a few dollars for shipping, and received them less than a week later. The Pyrex containers are fairly heavy, but thats true of all the glass models we tested (for lighter containers, we recommend plastic options). Snapware also sells replaceable lids for every shape in the set if you need them: round, square, and rectangular. The lids also work with glass Snapware containers, which is convenient if youre buying both styles and dont want to have to rummage through various lids in your drawer. Although we recommend the Rubbermaid Brilliance Leak-Proof Food Storage Containers line in our guide to the best dry food storage containers, we dont recommend them for daily use for storing leftovers. 
due to high, uneven heat, humidity, and chemicals from detergent. Though the containers are clear, you can choose to get them with clear lids with a sea-green gasket or with translucent cornflower-blue lids. We were told by Jane Cook, then chief scientist at the Corning Museum of Glass, that stacking glass can cause stress over time because the two hard surfaces rub together, and this may eventually lead to chipping. These containers were also impressive in our initial drop tests. You can also write on the lids to label whats inside (which is a nice touch, even though we prefer to label with removable tape). This set stacks neatly and is safe to use in a microwave, freezer, preheated oven, and dishwasher. No sealed lid benefits from the vacuum effect that happens when you heat your food in the microwave. 
After years of research and testing, we know that whether youre choosing glass or plastic, a good container should meet the following criteria: Our 2021 tests built on our testing from previous years. And, most fun of all, we conducted a drop test from waist height for all of the containers (including glass ones) to see whether they would break or if the lids would pop off. Since most of our picks have remained consistent over the years, we didnt repeat any drop or thermal shock tests in 2021. Theyre easier to seal than the similar Anchor Hocking lids we tested and than Glasslocks locking ones. If you want to give someone a food gift to show you care, consider cooking for them, ordering a gift basket or delivery, or organizing a meal train. Cook explained that, When theyre warm, theyve expanded slightly. 
And the Snapware Total Solution set performed admirably in our drop tests: Only a small piece on the corner of the lid broke off, after the third drop. 
Weve updated this guide after years of using these container sets in our test kitchen and in our own homes, storing leftovers in the fridge or packing lunches for our commutes. 
That being said, tempered glass is often referred to as safety glass because when it does break, it crumbles into cube-shaped pieces that are easy to sweep up, as opposed to long, thin shards that can more easily cut you. The lids come in different colors that correlate to differently sized containers, providing a visual cue to help match them together more easily. But they also put pressure on the edge of the glass, which, according to the glass experts we spoke with, may be causing stress that results in breakage. We recommend the Glasslock 18-Piece Container Set only if you want a glass set thats leakproof. Anchor Hocking TrueSeal Glass Storage got a B+ from Good Housekeeping. Your containers will likely outlast your lids, but you can try and take a little extra care of them to prolong their lifespan. So if a set is sold as 14 pieces or 16 pieces, youre really getting only seven or eight containers. Our plastic recommendations are especially great for meal prep because theyre less expensive and light enough to carry to work. The containers nest well, too, so in a cupboard they take up less space than much of the competition. You want something lighter to carry around. And while other budget plastic containers we tested, like those from Reditainer and Glad, shattered immediately when filled with water and dropped from waist height, the Rubbermaid container we dropped remained fully sealed for two drops. One person told us, Theyve held up remarkably well over the last two to three years of regular use. Another said: I use them all the time, theyve held up extremely well for years now. (This seems to happen only to sets that people hand-wash.) Carefully dig the gasket out with a butter knife so you dont knick it, wash it with hot water, and let it dry completely before you reassemble the lid. The flimsy lids in this set also held onto odors more than our picks. 
You want a cheaper option that you can leave behind at potlucks or stock up on for meal prep. Before reheating, we also checked the frozen tomato sauce for freezer-burn patterns, which indicate how tightly a container seals. However, they arent airtight and wont prevent leaks or spills (they suction to the container only when you lift up on them from a knob in the center; otherwise nothing secures them in place). But after four years of long-term testing, some of our containers have chipped around their edgesa common complaint with most glass containers we researched. Made from tempered glass, these sturdy containers survived multiple counter-height drops onto wood without breaking. After another round of testing, our picks remain the same, though we now recommend different size variations for some sets. 
Previously she wrote food and lifestyle pieces for Saveur and Kinfolk magazines. But we dont think this is a dealbreaker because its just a split second of noise; other containers, like the Rubbermaid Brilliance, were louder. To test how the containers would hold onto smells and stains, we filled them with tomato sauce, placed them in the refrigerator for five days and the freezer for two weeks, and reheated the sauce in the microwave for two minutes. Never had the glass part break.. Tomato sauce didnt show signs of freezer burn, and it didnt impart stains or smells to the glass or to the plastic lid. They chose what worked best for themselves and their families, and you can too. After removing glass food-storage containers from a hot dishwasher, the experts we spoke to recommend letting them cool before stacking them in a cupboard. If you want a lid thats easy to remove, you might like suction lids. And we suspect that the repeated stress of snapping the Glasslock containers lids shut is what caused some of them to chip (stacking the containers for storage can also cause stress on glass containers and lead to chipping). Also, stains and smells didnt linger in these containers, and they looked great stacked in the fridge, filled with leftovers. We appreciate that the Snapware containers nest, for easy storage, or stack neatly in the fridge and freezer. An even better option is to put a vented microwave cover or a paper towel over your container when you zap it. You may also want additional containers if youre getting into meal prep (that is, portioning individual meals into separate containers to eat throughout the week). Previously, we froze quarter-pound portions of ground beef for two weeks to look at freezer-burn patterns. Impressively, the Glasslock set bounced in our drop tests, with no damage to the glass containers. Ganda Suthivarakom, who wrote our original guide, spent dozens of hours researching and testing (and filling, shaking, storing, freezing, microwaving, washing, and dropping) food containers. by Michael Sullivan and Marguerite Preston. If you prefer borosilicate glass containerswhich are even better than tempered glass ones at withstanding temperature changeswe liked the shape and size variation of the OXO 16 Piece Smart Seal Glass Container Set. If youre loading these into the dishwasher, plastic pieces should always go on the top rack, while glass pieces can go anywhere in the dishwasher. We appreciate that the lids on the Snapware Total Solution Pyrex Glass Set are interchangeable with those of the plastic Snapware set.
Weve tested a 40-piece set as well as a 52-piece set, and we found they came with a wider range of shapes and sizes than any of the other flimsier sets we tested. But we wouldnt recommend going out of your way to buy this set, since its difficult to order online (our containers took three weeks to arrive, and the $5 shipping fee is almost as much as the $6 set), and it doesnt include as many shapes as the TakeAlongs set. Hand-washing them with water no hotter than what comes from your tap, or at least avoiding the heated dry cycle (if your dishwasher has one) when you do use the dishwasher, may help extend their lifespan. But these dont hold up well in the microwave or freezer and dont come in as many different sizes. Your family members tend to lose containers. Both are affordable options that will provide you with years of use. The Pyrex Simply Store containers stack neatly and are made from durable tempered glass. In 2018, we also subjected the glass sets to extreme thermal stresses (which is something we strongly do not recommend trying at home): We pulled the containers from the freezer and filled them with boiling water; we took containers that had been in a 350 F oven for 10 minutes and filled them with ice water; we used the containers to reheat cold beef stew and tomato sauce in the microwave for three minutes; and, finally, we froze beef stew in the containers and put them directly into a 350 F oven for 10 minutes. These inexpensive plastic containers come in multiple sizes, for packing and transporting food. In our drop tests, the lids on the Rubbermaid TakeAlongs stayed sealed; the lids also didnt leak after we ran the containers through the dishwasher, unlike containers from Ziploc and Glad (these lids are from the 52-piece set). the seal became noticeably looser after going through the dishwasher 50 times and leaked profusely. We also polled our staff for long-term-testing feedback and read the comments on this guide. That said, if youre looking for leakproof glass containers for meal prep, these are the best weve tested. In theory, that extra cushion could help prevent the OXOs rimswhich (like the Glasslocks) are slightly raisedfrom chipping. So compared with tempered glass, heat-strengthened glass is not as resistant to sudden changes of temperature or as durable if you drop it. But these lids also put stress on the lips of the containers, so the glass may be prone to chipping over time. Like the other glass containers we tested, the Pyrex set we looked at had a number of visible flaws in the glass. We dont think you need to be fearful of using tempered-glass items, but you should still treat them with care. They wont seal properly, and a chip or crack will act like a snag in a pair of stockingsthe crack can run and cause more damage down the line. If you need to make a claim, contact the companys customer-care center; be sure to keep the container or lid because you may be asked to return it. But if the lid has a removable gasket, remove the gasket from time to time and clean it separately from the lid to make sure no mold can grow. Like most plastic lids, the Snapware ones retained a faint tomato-sauce scent after we marinated them separately in a large bowl of sauce for 48 hours, but they didnt retain any stains. The glass Snapware set we tested didnt fare as well in our drop tests: Some of the flaps opened, and the corner of the lid cracked. Our favorite alternatives to plastic or disposable food storage include silicone food-storage bags, beeswax wraps, and cloth produce bags. During her time at Wirecutter, she reported on various topics including sports bras, board games, and light bulbs. We also consulted reviews from Good Housekeeping, The Strategist, Reviewed, and The Spruce Eats. She ordered new lids for free from the Glasslock website, paid a few dollars for shipping, and received them less than a week later. The Pyrex containers are fairly heavy, but thats true of all the glass models we tested (for lighter containers, we recommend plastic options). Snapware also sells replaceable lids for every shape in the set if you need them: round, square, and rectangular. The lids also work with glass Snapware containers, which is convenient if youre buying both styles and dont want to have to rummage through various lids in your drawer. Although we recommend the Rubbermaid Brilliance Leak-Proof Food Storage Containers line in our guide to the best dry food storage containers, we dont recommend them for daily use for storing leftovers. due to high, uneven heat, humidity, and chemicals from detergent. Though the containers are clear, you can choose to get them with clear lids with a sea-green gasket or with translucent cornflower-blue lids. We were told by Jane Cook, then chief scientist at the Corning Museum of Glass, that stacking glass can cause stress over time because the two hard surfaces rub together, and this may eventually lead to chipping. These containers were also impressive in our initial drop tests. You can also write on the lids to label whats inside (which is a nice touch, even though we prefer to label with removable tape). This set stacks neatly and is safe to use in a microwave, freezer, preheated oven, and dishwasher. No sealed lid benefits from the vacuum effect that happens when you heat your food in the microwave. After years of research and testing, we know that whether youre choosing glass or plastic, a good container should meet the following criteria: Our 2021 tests built on our testing from previous years. And, most fun of all, we conducted a drop test from waist height for all of the containers (including glass ones) to see whether they would break or if the lids would pop off. Since most of our picks have remained consistent over the years, we didnt repeat any drop or thermal shock tests in 2021. Theyre easier to seal than the similar Anchor Hocking lids we tested and than Glasslocks locking ones. If you want to give someone a food gift to show you care, consider cooking for them, ordering a gift basket or delivery, or organizing a meal train. Cook explained that, When theyre warm, theyve expanded slightly. And the Snapware Total Solution set performed admirably in our drop tests: Only a small piece on the corner of the lid broke off, after the third drop. Weve updated this guide after years of using these container sets in our test kitchen and in our own homes, storing leftovers in the fridge or packing lunches for our commutes. That being said, tempered glass is often referred to as safety glass because when it does break, it crumbles into cube-shaped pieces that are easy to sweep up, as opposed to long, thin shards that can more easily cut you. The lids come in different colors that correlate to differently sized containers, providing a visual cue to help match them together more easily. But they also put pressure on the edge of the glass, which, according to the glass experts we spoke with, may be causing stress that results in breakage. We recommend the Glasslock 18-Piece Container Set only if you want a glass set thats leakproof. Anchor Hocking TrueSeal Glass Storage got a B+ from Good Housekeeping. Your containers will likely outlast your lids, but you can try and take a little extra care of them to prolong their lifespan. So if a set is sold as 14 pieces or 16 pieces, youre really getting only seven or eight containers. Our plastic recommendations are especially great for meal prep because theyre less expensive and light enough to carry to work. The containers nest well, too, so in a cupboard they take up less space than much of the competition. You want something lighter to carry around. And while other budget plastic containers we tested, like those from Reditainer and Glad, shattered immediately when filled with water and dropped from waist height, the Rubbermaid container we dropped remained fully sealed for two drops. One person told us, Theyve held up remarkably well over the last two to three years of regular use. Another said: I use them all the time, theyve held up extremely well for years now. (This seems to happen only to sets that people hand-wash.) Carefully dig the gasket out with a butter knife so you dont knick it, wash it with hot water, and let it dry completely before you reassemble the lid. The flimsy lids in this set also held onto odors more than our picks. You want a cheaper option that you can leave behind at potlucks or stock up on for meal prep. Before reheating, we also checked the frozen tomato sauce for freezer-burn patterns, which indicate how tightly a container seals. However, they arent airtight and wont prevent leaks or spills (they suction to the container only when you lift up on them from a knob in the center; otherwise nothing secures them in place). But after four years of long-term testing, some of our containers have chipped around their edgesa common complaint with most glass containers we researched. Made from tempered glass, these sturdy containers survived multiple counter-height drops onto wood without breaking. After another round of testing, our picks remain the same, though we now recommend different size variations for some sets. Previously she wrote food and lifestyle pieces for Saveur and Kinfolk magazines. But we dont think this is a dealbreaker because its just a split second of noise; other containers, like the Rubbermaid Brilliance, were louder. To test how the containers would hold onto smells and stains, we filled them with tomato sauce, placed them in the refrigerator for five days and the freezer for two weeks, and reheated the sauce in the microwave for two minutes. Never had the glass part break.. Tomato sauce didnt show signs of freezer burn, and it didnt impart stains or smells to the glass or to the plastic lid. They chose what worked best for themselves and their families, and you can too. After removing glass food-storage containers from a hot dishwasher, the experts we spoke to recommend letting them cool before stacking them in a cupboard. If you want a lid thats easy to remove, you might like suction lids. And we suspect that the repeated stress of snapping the Glasslock containers lids shut is what caused some of them to chip (stacking the containers for storage can also cause stress on glass containers and lead to chipping). Also, stains and smells didnt linger in these containers, and they looked great stacked in the fridge, filled with leftovers. We appreciate that the Snapware containers nest, for easy storage, or stack neatly in the fridge and freezer. An even better option is to put a vented microwave cover or a paper towel over your container when you zap it. You may also want additional containers if youre getting into meal prep (that is, portioning individual meals into separate containers to eat throughout the week). Previously, we froze quarter-pound portions of ground beef for two weeks to look at freezer-burn patterns. Impressively, the Glasslock set bounced in our drop tests, with no damage to the glass containers. Ganda Suthivarakom, who wrote our original guide, spent dozens of hours researching and testing (and filling, shaking, storing, freezing, microwaving, washing, and dropping) food containers. by Michael Sullivan and Marguerite Preston. If you prefer borosilicate glass containerswhich are even better than tempered glass ones at withstanding temperature changeswe liked the shape and size variation of the OXO 16 Piece Smart Seal Glass Container Set. If youre loading these into the dishwasher, plastic pieces should always go on the top rack, while glass pieces can go anywhere in the dishwasher. We appreciate that the lids on the Snapware Total Solution Pyrex Glass Set are interchangeable with those of the plastic Snapware set.