18 Best Food Storage Containers Recommended by Professional Chefs

Whether you want to save money, reduce waste, keep food fresh longer, or cook for health or time, every season is the season for leftovers.
If you’ve ever packed a school or work lunch, you know that having good containers can be a game-changer as they prevent leaks, spills, BPA contamination, melting in the microwave or dishwasher, and accumulation in hard-to-reach crevices. Mold and other unnecessary headaches.
It’s also important to have good containers for pantry storage: the right containers will keep dry ingredients in good condition for a long time, but poor quality containers will cause dry ingredients to quickly spoil or lose flavor and nutrients.
So how can you tell a quality product from a mediocre one? Read on to learn how to choose the storage container that best suits your needs, and check out our 18 best options for storing leftovers, prepared foods, pantries, and more. Alternatively, use the links below to jump to a specific category.
How we choose | Best Glass | Best for Spices | Best plastic | Best Plastic Pantry Options | Best Glass Pantry Options | Most versatile | Best option for oven | Best Stackable | Best Breakup | Better insulation | Best bento style | Best All-Purpose Cap | Best for Cooking | Best Stainless Steel | Best Baby Food | Best for Pet Food | Best for Extra Large Sizes | Best for long term use | Honorable Mentions | What to look for | General questions and answers | Meet our experts
To compile the final list, Shop TODAY looked at popular options and trusted brands. We focus on: accessibility, ease of use, design, ease of storage, ease of cleaning and other useful features. I also make sure to take into account verified customer reviews and average star ratings.
Additionally, our team reached out to trained professional chef, cookbook author, and TV personality Carla Hall (of “Top Chef” and “Chew” fame) to get her opinions on the best way to store food at home, and her ideas on what to look for. food storage solutions.
Ultimately, I used my years of experience as a personal chef, caterer and recipe developer, as well as my long career in the restaurant industry, to guide my selection. As someone who cooks and creates recipes in small kitchens and tight spaces around the world, I know how important it is to have quality food storage containers on hand.
Hall says that whenever possible, she prefers to use clear, BPA-free plastic or glass containers: “I like to use glass jars.” editors and consumers.
They are carefully tested: dropped, placed on their side in a bag, heated and frozen, and thanks to the spring-loaded lock on top, they do not leak every time. They’re BPA-free and oven, freezer, and microwave safe, so you can cook, store, and reheat everything in one container, then throw them in the dishwasher.
Runner-up: Shop TODAY sales editor Rebecca Brown praises a similar smart-sealing terrarium kit from OXO: The parts are also sealed thanks to snap-on lids, but best of all: “I like this kit because Lead Safe Mama tests lead-free and it’s actually lead-free,” she said.
Hall also prefers glass when it comes to storing spices—one reason is that she “[values] finding products that creatively help me store and organize food well—that is, ones that allow me to write/meet.” The food place is great,” she explained. .
For an affordable option that offers all the features Hall is looking for, we recommend this 24-piece set, which has an average 4.8 star rating and is the #1 best seller in the spice jar category on Amazon.
Reviewers say the glass is very durable, and the kit includes hundreds of labels (some of which are already printed!), a collapsible funnel, a shaker lid, and a metal lid.
Runner-up: We also liked the rustic look of Target’s Hearth & Hand 12-Piece 3-Ounce Glass Jar Set, which comes with wooden clip-on lids that some reviewers said were tight and durable (though others said they wished so that they are larger). ). Or if you have a little more cash to spend, these gorgeous Williams Sonoma Hold Everything Spice Jars, available individually or in quantities of up to 12, have a unique ash lid, are made of durable glass and stack neatly. Easy to store.

“My very basic refrigerator storage rack now has a top that slides out in some places to release steam when heating food in the microwave,” Hall says. Like her set, we love these microwave-safe containers from Rubbermaid because they have a microwave-safe opening built into the bottom of the latch.
They also have the advantage of being lighter and more resistant to breakage than regular glass containers. Low-quality plastic containers often have drawbacks such as staining easily, melting in the microwave or dishwasher, and containing BPA, but this particular set is BPA-free, leak-proof, and extremely leak-proof. Available in a variety of sizes, it holds everything from condiments, sauces, entrees and sides in a separate container.
Employee Review: “I have several Rubbermaid Brilliance containers. I like to use these for work lunches because they are lighter than my glass storage containers. They also don’t leak,” Francesca Cocchi Zabludil, Brand Sales Editor, Shop TODAY.
One of Hall’s main criteria when choosing storage containers is their transparency: “[They] make sure I always know right away what’s inside and when to restock,” she explains.
OXO sets are of high quality and meet all requirements. Before you laugh at the price, think about how many times you’ve found bugs in sugar, flour, or brown sugar that has hardened when exposed to oxygen. This BPA-free plastic set includes 10 containers and lids in assorted sizes; the largest can hold a 5-pound bag of flour or sugar. All of them have an airtight seal, so they are ideal for long-term storage of dry products.
What we like: Takes up very little space when folded, closes very tightly (which makes them a little difficult to open).
A word of caution: Dressing inserts may seem unnecessary since they likely won’t be used regularly during lunches.
These Beyond Jars with colorful Pyrex lids are not ordinary jars, although they look ordinary. The container (and its lid) is made of durable tempered glass and is microwave, refrigerator and dishwasher safe. Once the lids are screwed on, the containers are so sealed and sealed that Shop Today assistant editor Fran Sales has a hard time opening them almost every time. (This is either a disadvantage or an advantage, depending on how you look at it.)
The cans are also said to be odor, taste and stain resistant, and while the seller didn’t specifically test them, after months of regular use, he did test all three boxes.
But the best thing about these jars is that when folded, they take up quite a bit of space in the pantry, refrigerator shelf, or cupboard, so whether you’re storing bulk foods like rice, flour, or servings of soup in the refrigerator, you’ll You’ll have more organized storage and your belongings will be protected and out of the way.

The brand says the jars are for salad lunches. Each lid features removable half-cup and quarter-cup interior containers for storing dressings, toppings, sauces and more. Based on sales experience, these jars work as advertised, but she doesn’t use them for lunch nearly as much as she does for food storage (not only are the openings a little narrow, although smaller than usual). Masons have wider ) pans – but they are also heavy).
What you should pay attention to: a little expensive (but worth it); may be difficult to open and close completely if you have mobility issues.
In addition to glass and nontoxic plastic containers, “I also like reusable silicone bags for food storage,” Hall says. Stasher bags come in a variety of sizes and shapes and are popular among professionals and home cooks for good reason.
One of them is their versatility. These BPA-free silicone bags are not only a colorful way to store food in the refrigerator or pack lunches and snacks for work, but they’re also safe to cook at up to 425 degrees Fahrenheit, which means they’re safe to use in the microwave . , oven or even sous vide!
They’re also freezer and dishwasher safe (though a bottle brush is recommended for tougher stains) and come in both a stand-up and bowl-safe version.
The classic thing about this set is that it is extremely durable and high quality. Tempered glass is not only microwave and dishwasher safe, but also oven safe, so you can bake in the same container you use to transport and store food. The lid fits tightly and is easy to put on and take off. I remember taking these containers to lunch as a kid and still enjoy using them.
If you need a very large container for batch cooking, a Pyrex container recommended by Ian will also work: the Freshlook 8-Cup Food Storage Container. “I like it because it’s glass (easy to clean) and has a sealed lid, which I think keeps food fresher longer,” she said.
Staff Comment: “With limited storage space in my New York City kitchen, I needed food storage containers that were more durable than regular Tupperware containers. Not only have I used mine to store leftovers, but I’ve also baked small cakes in the oven, desserts, and Overall, these are totally worth the money and I’ll have them for years to come!” — Camryn Privett, Production Coordinator, Shop TODAY.
One of the most annoying things about food storage containers is storing them when not in use (not to mention finding the right lids). This lightweight, airtight, dishwasher-safe, BPA-free plastic set is compact and easy to store.
Staff Review: “They are so durable. I usually put leftovers in Tupperware to heat and reheat them, but now I eat out of it because it’s as durable as a plate!” — Fran Sales, Associate Editor Buy TODAY
What we like: Includes storage organizers and inserts for small items like bandages; Can be used in the oven; Easy to clean.
This ceramic coated glass set is another great non-toxic, premium quality option that is BPA, PFTE and PFA free.

I was concerned that the lid would stay closed while traveling, but the kit includes two straps to store items and the lid itself provides a strong airtight seal. They still can’t be used to carry liquids like soup, which is their biggest drawback, but they’re still a great option that’s safe to use in the refrigerator, microwave, dishwasher, and oven.
Worried about standing in line for the office microwave? Worried about your lunch being stolen from the public refrigerator? This thermal bowl will save you from all these worries: it will keep hot food warm for up to seven hours and cold food for up to nine hours. It is sealed, but at the same time convenient for children and easy to open. Because the stainless steel interior is BPA free.
Runner-up: It’s not insulated, but we think it’s an equally worthy lunchtime contender—Anna Young, business intelligence specialist at Shop Today, recommends the Ello 3-cup glass container: “The lid is airtight and feels very durable (don’t worry ). this will be a problem); haven’t seen any noticeable wear). I also like the silicone case so I’m not too worried about it slipping off or breaking easily. Plus you get an extra 10 ounces of capacity.
This will help you pack everything you need for lunch into one stylish and lightweight unit. The Bentgo Lunch Box comes with two stackable containers, one of which has two compartments, as well as a fork, spoon and knife. It’s a very compact way to pack food for kids and adults to take on the go, and the individual components are secured with straps to prevent spills. Plastic containers are also microwave safe, dishwasher safe and BPA free.
Staff Comment: “I love my stackable bengo! The bottom compartment is large and holds the bulk of my food, and the top compartment is positioned so I can separate my meals. I really like it too, it’s microwaveable and comes with cutlery. Great! My office lunch,” Emma Stessman, deputy editor, Shop Today.
Transform regular bowls or even full-size pots and pans into storage containers without wasting foil or plastic wrap. These seven silicone lids seal food debris tightly without creating more mess. They are dishwasher and microwave safe, so they can continue to be used when reheating food.
Silicone is more food safe and environmentally friendly than plastic and does not contain BPA or potentially harmful BPA substitutes. If you have containers without lids, this is a better solution than throwing them away.
They’re great for meal prep because they’re smooth and lightweight, making it easy to prep a week’s worth of meals in advance and then store and reheat them in these two-compartment plastic containers. While these stackable containers won’t last forever, they are microwave and dishwasher safe, so they make a big difference. They are also BPA free and come in a set of 20 containers with lids.

Runner-up: For something a little more stylish and with a little less of a “delivery” vibe, opt for the shopper-favorite Bentgo 10-pack – you’ll get half as much, but they have three compartments.
Stainless steel has been very popular in South Asia for food storage and serving for many years; It is durable, BPA-free, environmentally friendly, frost-resistant, stain- and odor-resistant and easy to clean by hand or in the dishwasher. The container has two compartments for packing bento-style lunches, and the leak-proof lid snaps securely to prevent leaks and spills.
Whether you make your own baby food or frequently buy leftover baby food at the store, these glass containers are perfect for freezing, microwaving, and packing portions for babies and toddlers.
Full-size containers can be inconvenient for baby food because they don’t allow you to defrost the small portions needed in one go, so these containers are not only useful, but also have a strong seal. This set of six containers with lids is also ideal for portioning condiments, sauces, snacks and desserts for people of all ages.
Pet food storage is unique in that it often requires more space than standard containers provide and must be extremely secure to prevent pets from entering. Affordable and efficient compared to other popular options, this durable plastic container comes in three sizes depending on how much pet food you need to store at once. It is BPA-free and sealed to maintain freshness and control odor.