Consider containers ranging from 24 oz to 38 oz for effective portion control. Choose stackable designs to maximize your refrigerator or pantry space, keeping everything neatly organized. Multi-pack options, like 15 or 50 packs, offer a range of sizes to suit different meals and portion needs.
Of course, we also considered how fresh the food was after it was stored. Glass meal prep containers are ideal for small kitchens due to their stackable designs and multi-purpose functionality. The best glass meal prep containers combine compact storage with exceptional performance, helping you maximize space without compromising quality. Glass containers are dishwasher-safe, but manual cleaning with mild detergent preserves their clarity.
The oil helps carry the flavors, soy sauce adds umami, honey provides a subtle sweetness, and garlic with ginger brings a fresh, pungent kick. For a tangy variation, incorporate lemon juice and yogurt, which also helps tenderize the meat. Marinate the chicken for at least 2 hours, but preferably 4-6 hours or overnight for maximum flavor infusion. The best Tupperware organization system is the one you’ll actually maintain.
These labels give me confidence that they meet safety standards for various cooking and storage methods. Last on our list is a food storage container that isn’t glass, which is these Stasher Bags. Stasher Bags may look similar to a plastic ziploc bag, but there’s no plastic involved.
Match Shapes to Your Storage Space
Plus, they’re microwave and freezer-safe, so heating up or batch cooking meals is a breeze. With positive customer feedback on sturdiness and leak-proof capabilities, these containers have quickly become a staple in my kitchen. LEEPENK’s non-toxic food storage containers for leftovers, meal prep, and pantry are a great value-for-money option. It’s a 4pcs set made from high-quality 304 stainless steel, so it’s durable, rust-proof, and stain-resistant.
OXO Good Grips 8-Piece POP Container Baking Set
They won a Kitchen Gear Award in 2021 and a Kitchen Gear Award in 2022, and are ranked our best overall food storage containers. This plastic, lightweight set is a good entry point into the brand for people who want to meal prep and have the versatility to use dividers or not. If you want to pack your meals and won’t have https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/most-weight-loss-friendly-foods regular access to a refrigerator, this insulated lunch box is a game changer.
Nutritional Insights and Health Tracking
Some containers are also freezer-, microwave-, and/or oven-safe for optimal convenience. On the downside, if you’re looking to buy lots of containers, the price could add up. However, if you’re looking for a sturdy, leakproof and airtight design that ticks all the convenience boxes, these could be a sound investment. By planning ahead, you can take full control of your week’s menu, allowing you to make healthy choices in advance. ‘Meal prep’ has become an increasingly popular term in recent years, with social media feeds packed with pictures of beautifully portioned, identical pre-prepared meals. In essence, it’s nothing new – it’s simply batch cooking, but with a view to getting ahead as much as possible in order to minimise extra effort later on in the week.
Snapware Total Solution 20-Piece Plastic Food Storage Container Set
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 available in an assortment of colors and sizes. Rubbermaid’s Brilliance line makes our list again with its glass container set. These locking-lid containers from Snapware are stackable to help keep your refrigerator organized and are hard to beat at 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.
Other top food storage containers we recommend for 2025
Well, just dump it into one of these bowls, lock the top on, and all you have to do from there is portion it out. Three divided sections help separate meal components, so the sauce from your teriyaki chicken doesn’t turn your cooked quinoa into a soggy mess (for example). And the rainbow lids negate the need to label each container with masking tape and a Sharpie—if you can remember which means you put under which color. By choosing reusable containers, I’m actively encouraging sustainable practices and lowering my environmental impact.
- Some include removable inserts and trays that make meal-prepping and lunch-packing easy.
- A standout feature is their leak‑proof lids, which seal tightly to prevent spills and contain odors—perfect for transporting soups, sauces, or dressings without worry.
- This set has just the right amount of pieces for making lunches every day of the work or school week, but you can also supplement it with additional pieces from the Brilliance series.
- Stasher’s Starter Kit 4-Pack comes with one 15-ounce sandwich bag, one 9.9-ounce snack bag, one 56-ounce stand-up mid bag and one 64-ounce half gallon bag.
- Our top performers did not show any marks of deformation after moving from the freezer to the microwave and running through the dishwasher five times.
- Reusable storage options like Stasher Bags, Etee Wraps, and mason jars (or rinsed-out glass condiment jars!) are great options for storing or saving leftover foods.
How to Transition to Non-Toxic Food Storage
Silicone is also an excellent alternative to plastic wraps, and it’s perfect for storing foods like granola or nuts. For a more flexible, reusable option, consider non-toxic food storage bags made from silicone. Most high-quality plastic food storage containers have snap-on, locking lids, but these Rubbermaid containers have flexible silicone lids that press onto the container. After regular use, we found them truly leak free—and we were pleasantly surprised when the lids mostly remained in place in our drop test too. The hard Tritan plastic containers are crystal clear and don’t hold onto any stains or odors, though the underside of the lids did a bit. The lid system for this set is also kind of universal since there are only four lid sizes that fit a variety of container volumes.
If you can’t see what’s in your fridge, you’re more likely to forget about it. But my favorite feature is the silicone coating that makes it possible for me to grab the bowl straight from the microwave without scorching my hand. I didn’t realize how much having to deal with a scalding-hot glass container every day while heating up my oats annoyed me until I simply…didn’t have to anymore.
Monka Bento Lunch Box Food Container Storage Set
Available in multiple colors, these containers will not only keep your food fresh but also add a touch of personality to your kitchen. The VERONES 10 Pack Glass Meal Prep Containers are an ideal choice for most households, striking a perfect balance between functionality and affordability. Crafted from durable borosilicate glass, these containers resist cracking and withstand high temperatures. Whether you’re baking, microwaving, or freezing, these containers handle it all. While you may be enticed by storage container sets with many shapes and sizes, they aren’t unimeal review the best for everyone. We tested the glass container version and found it effortless to grab a lid when we needed one, since over half of the containers in the set use the same size of lid.
For dry rubs, apply them just before cooking to keep the spices from drawing out moisture. Finally, don’t be afraid to experiment—combine different herbs, spices, and marinades to create unique flavor profiles that suit your palate. With a little creativity and these techniques, your meal prep chicken thighs will never be boring. Some containers serve specific functions—like those with compartments for bento-style lunches or containers designed for freezing. The demand for DIY food kits has been developing for years, and in today’s day and age, they have cemented grounds in the culinary space.
Souper Cubes 1/2-Cup Freezing Tray with Lid
The easy-to-twist lid performed excellently during the leak test, with no water loss. Some BPA-free plastics are microwave-safe, but they may degrade over time. Non-toxic food storage containers should always come with labels indicating BPA-free, phthalate-free, and food-grade materials. Check for certifications from reputable organizations like the FDA or LFGB. Non-toxic containers often include glass, stainless steel, and certified silicone.
Best Meal Prep Containers in 2022
We then used this research and testing to assign a star rating from one to five (five being the best; one being the worst) to certain products on the list. We plan, cook, and freeze food in these, then pop them out and put the frozen shapes in large freezer bags to save space. The two-compartment design makes it easy to store simple meals—like a sandwich and chips—since it separates about a third of the container. Note that most mason jars are not made of tempered glass so aren’t safe to heat in the oven.