The 6 Best Food Storage Containers, According to Our Tests

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We tried hundreds of options to find the best for keeping our leftovers fresh.

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Food & Wine / Meredith Food Studios

If you cook often or in large quantities, your kitchen is likely well-stocked. But all those cans, jars, bags, and boxes of all shapes and sizes can become a sea of disorganization, even when you have adequate space for them. The best food storage containers can create order in an overflowing pantry and keep food fresh in the fridge or freezer.

We tested 76 silicone, plastic, and glass food storage containers, considering everything from lid design to whether containers retained smells and stains. These top picks all passed our tests, and they give you many options for material, storage capacity, and cost.

These versatile BPA-free containers can go in the microwave, dishwasher, and oven.

If you tend to cook in bulk, you may want to supplement the set with extra large-capacity pieces.

Glasslock’s 18-piece storage set is perfect for those who want sturdy, reliable food storage without the risk of staining or retaining smells. Nine pieces with matching lids are included, ranging in size from a 0.7-cup round container to a generous 6.3-cup rectangle. The thick glass walls and airtight lids keep food protected from oxygen and freezer burn, keeping contents fresher for longer. They’re easy to clean and safe to use in the freezer, microwave, dishwasher, and even then oven (only the glass containers are oven-safe — one of our lids actually warped when left close to heat).

Testing this set, we were impressed with the overall construction and performance of these containers. It took a few days for a halved avocado to start browning, and even longer for cut lettuce to show signs of wilting. The tight-fitting seal makes the lids leakproof, so you don't need to worry about them dripping in a lunch box. Food & Wine editor Mary Claire Lagroue has used the same set for more than 6 years, so we can confirm that it’s worth the investment.

Materials: Glass, polypropylene | Includes: 6.3-cup rectangle, 2 (3.5-cup) rectangles, 1.6-cup rectangle, 3.3-cup square, 1.6-cup square, 3.3-cup round, 1.5-cup round, 0.7-cup round, 9 lids

These lightweight containers are sturdier than many other plastic storage options.

The plastic held on to some odors after hand-washing, and the largest container holds just 5 cups.

With so many plastic food storage container options, this 20-piece set from Rubbermaid rises above the competition with its shatterproof, stackable design. Made from Tritan plastic, these containers offer a crystal-clear view of contents so you can always find what you’re looking for. They’re safe to use in the fridge, freezer, and microwave, though you’ll want to avoid heating them with sauces that might stain (think marinara or yellow curry). Also, strong odors were difficult to remove from the lids with hand-washing alone, but running them through the dishwasher helped.

When we tested this set, its tight seals stood out to us — we kept a halved avocado fairly green after 3 days, and the blueberries stayed fresher than if we had stored them in their original plastic tub from the supermarket. There were no leaks or spills to report, even when we vigorously shook a container of liquid. Overall, it’s a great quality plastic set that will hold up for a long time. If we have a complaint, it's that the largest container can hold just 5 cups, and there's only one of them. You get a lot of containers, but they're comparatively small.

"I've been using this set for a few months now, and I'm impressed," says senior commerce editor Dana Fouchia. "I make pasta almost weekly, and these have yet to retain any staining or odor. I can also feel confident when I put leftovers in these, the food will stay fresh. I've never been one to invest in quality storage containers (think: used takeout containers and mismatched sets), but these feel completely worth it to me."

Material: Tritan plastic | Includes: 4 (0.5-cup) containers, 3 (1.3-cup) containers, 2-cup container, 3-cup container, 5-cup container, 10 lids

Food & Wine / Dana Fouchia

We love the assortment of large and small sizes in this versatile set.

The pieces don’t fully nest inside each other, making them a little bulky to store.

Pyrex really delivers when it comes to affordable glass kitchenware, and this food storage set is no exception. Its nine containers include a generous 7-cup round and 6-cup rectangle, as well as 1- and 2-cup pieces for the full range of versatility. Made of tempered glass, these containers are safe to use in the dishwasher, freezer, microwave, and oven, and their snug-fitting lids are made of BPA-free plastic.

The food we stored in them held up very well – spaghetti leftovers and breakfast burritos didn’t turn soggy, cut produce stayed fresh, and frozen fruit avoided freezer burn. While some containers have ridges where the lids snap on, these have a smooth design that makes them especially easy to clean, whether by hand or in the dishwasher.

Materials: Tempered glass, plastic | Includes: 7-cup round, 2 (4-cup) rounds, 2 (2-cup) rounds, 1-cup round, 6-cup rectangle, 2 (3-cup) rectangles, 9 lids

These crystal-clear containers have secure snap-on lids and an inexpensive price.

It includes one extra-large container, but the rest are fairly small.

Another outstanding collection from Rubbermaid, the Brilliance line is made of stain- and odor-resistant Tritan plastic that's ultra-clear — and stays that way, even after holding tomato sauce and curry for days in testing. The snap-on lids have gaskets to ensure a good seal. An egg white didn't leak when we tipped the container over, and our test spinach, berries, and halved avocado stayed in pretty good shape.

Brilliance containers can be hand-washed or go in the dishwasher, and they're safe for fridge, freezer, and microwave. They're a good deal even compared to the Rubbermaid Premier set above, and this assortment includes a giant 9.6-cup container that's great for meal prep. There are only seven containers total, however, and the remaining six are on the small side. (But you can buy extras of the various sizes, or even a set of 24.

Material: Tritan plastic | Includes: 9.6-cup container, 2 (3.2-cup) containers, 2 (1.3-cup) containers, 2 (0.5-cup) containers, 7 lids

These silicone bags are extremely versatile and durable.

They're rather difficult to clean, and fairly expensive per-piece.

If you want to avoid single-use plastics, consider our favorite food storage bags a worthy investment. Made of food-safe silicone, Stasher’s durable bags can store food in the fridge, freezer, or pantry, and can also be used in the microwave or as a pouch for sous-vide cooking. This set includes four sizes: a 64-ounce flat bag, a 56-ounce standing bag, an 18-ounce sandwich bag, and a 12-ounce snack bag.

One bag kept a halved avocado from going mushy in the fridge, while another kept ice crystals from covering berries in the freezer. We also tested them for storing dry goods and appreciated that they work just as well as any airtight container, as long as you seal them properly. (One editor even uses these bags to pack liquid toiletries and makeup when traveling.) While the bags are dishwasher safe, the inside edges are harder to get clean; we used a straw-cleaning brush to get into the corners and the grooves of the seal. The bags also tend to trap water, so you may have to wipe them down by hand or air dry them on a rack after they come out of the dishwasher.Material: Silicone | Includes: 8-cup flat bag, 7-cup standing bag, 2.25-cup sandwich bag, 1.5-cup snack bag

These easy-clean containers are just the thing for flour, sugar, and other pantry staples.

You might need more than one set to store all your stuff.

Airtight storage containers can do more than extend the shelf life of fruits, vegetables, and leftovers; they can also keep pantry items organized and tasting fresh. You can make a mismatched assortment of open bags and boxes a thing of the past with the Rubbermaid Brilliance pantry set. Its large containers are ideal for flour, sugar, dried beans, dried pasta, cereal, pet food — anything you need to store lots of without spilling.

The BPA-free plastic containers have the same snap-on lids as the other Brilliance set above, and they're similarly refrigerator- and freezer-safe. The smallest 3.2-cup container is ideal for chilling cut vegetables or fruit, for example.

If you keep a full pantry, with many types of flour and textures of sugar, you just may need more than one of these sets; it has just four containers.

Material: BPA-free plastic | Includes: 16-cup container, 12-cup container, 7.8-cup container, 3.2-cup container, 4 lids

There's no one best set of 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.

Food & Wine / Dana Fouchia

This story 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.

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-on-one on price.

Food & Wine / Mary Claire Lagroue

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.

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 helps 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.

Food & Wine / Michael Navarro

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.

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.

Food & Wine / Meredith Food Studios

A set that stacks will take advantage of any vertical space you have. Place heavier, larger containers on the bottom, and stack lighter, smaller containers on top, and make sure you have a step stool to access those stored on high shelves. (Many containers also nest together when empty to take up even less space; make sure you keep the lids nearby so they don't get lost.) If you're storing food in a deep drawer, you may want to opt for uniformly sized containers with see-through lids for easy identification. To make organization easier, you can also use a label maker or marker to note each container's contents.

This depends on the quantities and varieties of food you need to store. We recommend starting with a small set that you can add onto once you know your storage needs. For example, keeping some containers in the freezer will mean having fewer on hand for workday lunches. And if you like to freeze meals, you'll likely want to supplement a set with more large containers. Most brands sell individual containers of different sizes to augment your set.

If you stock your pantry with bulk ingredients like all-purpose flour, rice, dry beans, pasta, or nuts, you'll likely want larger, dedicated containers for each that you can refill when they get low or empty. But an array of smaller containers is also great for all those random dry goods you want to keep organized and airtight — think chocolate chips, coconut flakes, nutritional yeast, dried chiles, herbs, and spices.

Take a look and they'll tell you. Over time, containers — especially plastic ones — can warp, crack, stain, or get scratched up. These are more than just aesthetic issues, as they can also harbor germs and make the container harder to clean in general. When your containers start to look damaged or their lids no longer seal correctly, it's time for new ones. The lifespan could be anywhere from months to years depending on how often (and how harshly) you use them.

Food & Wine / Meredith Food Studios

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 ($78 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.

Food & Wine / Cara Milhaven

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 above 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. sizes and a specially designed lid to keep brown sugar from hardening. If you’re big on baking, you’ll find this to be a smart option for keeping your ingredients organized.

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.

Bernadette Machard de Gramont is a Los Angeles–based freelance 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.