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Nov 20, 2023 · Plastic food storage containers. We wanted to find and test products made from alternative materials due to the growing research on the environmental and health risks of plastic.
- Molly Bradley
Jan 4, 2024 · The Plastic Chemicals Hiding in Your Food - Consumer Reports. CR tested popular fast foods and supermarket staples for bisphenols and phthalates, which can be harmful to your health. Here's...
Jul 10, 2024 · We tested the best food storage containers, from ones that are airtight and leakproof to those that are collapsible, made of glass or plastic and more.
Oct 16, 2024 · Overview. Ratings. Recommended. Food Storage Ratings. Using the right food storage containers can go a long way in reducing food waste and saving money. We put popular glass and silicone...
- The Winners, at A Glance
- The Tests
- What We Learned
- The Criteria: What to Look For in A Food Storage Container
- Our Favorite Food Storage Containers
- The Competition
- FAQs
- Why We're The Experts
This good-looking model aced all of our tests. It never leaked or held onto lingering smells, it resisted staining, and it was a breeze to use, store, and clean. It's available both as a single and larger set. Part of the same line as our winner above, this model conveniently shares the exact same plastic lid design. With just a few drawbacks due t...
Leakage Test: We filled each container with one cup of blue-dyed water and lined half-sheet trayswith paper towels. Then, we shook each container with the long side pointing down at the paper towel...Stain and Smell Test: We smeared the insides of each container and lid with a mixture of vegetable oil and turmeric. After four hours, we washed them thoroughly with hot, soapy water and a sponge,...Durability Test: We dropped each container on a marble stone surface five times, noting any damage.Design Test: With each of our favorite containers, we removed the lid and opened and closed the latches (if applicable) 25 times. We saw how well the containers stacked on the countertop, and then...Leakproof Containers Were a Boon
Let’s start with what made containers leak wildly. Models with flexible slip-on lids like Anchor, Frego, and Pyrex all failed majorly at keeping the dyed water inside in our shake tests. That being said, one model with latches on all four sides, Snapware, leaked even more than Pyrex because the latches weren’t really all that tight. So, it’s not enough to just have latches; they have to be actively pulling down onto the lip of the base, applying pressure. Otherwise, they won’t function. If cl...
Choosing Between Glass and Plastic Containers
Our top winners, Rubbermaid’s plastic and glass offerings, were pretty well matched throughout testing, so it’s hard to say that one material is always going to be better than the other. Plastic is lighter, glass is heavier. Plastic is cheaper, and glass is more expensive. Glass can shatter, and plastic is (for the most part) more shockproof. Most glass models can go into a hot oven without their lids, but of course, plastic containers can't. Some plastic lids (even the ones with glass bases)...
The most important feature of a food storage container is, of course, containing, which is why our leakage test was first. This began to separate the winners from the losers right away, with some models absolutely gushing water and others leaving their paper towel-lined trays without even a drop. As noted above, our winners all had two or four tigh...
What we liked: This model from storage stalwart Rubbermaid didn’t leak one drop when shaken 40 times or laid on its side for 15 minutes. But it also stood out from the three others that didn’t leak. After being smeared with a mixture of turmeric and vegetable oil, left for four hours, and then washed, we couldn’t detect any lingering odors. And unl...
Ello DuraGlass BPA-Free Glass Food Storage Container: Despite its silicone cage, this model wasn’t very durable either before or during testing: one of its four flimsy, plastic latches broke in hal...Should you put hot food into a glass storage container?
It’s best to avoid putting hot food into glass containers, as they can shatter if they are suddenly shocked with a very hot substance. Wait for food to cool down slightly, then transfer it to a storage container and refrigerate if necessary.
Are glass or plastic food storage containers better?
We found that glass containers have the edge here, but in some ways, it comes down to personal preference. Glass can go into a hot oven, sometimes up to 450°F depending on the brand, whereas plastic can only be used to heat or reheat contents in the microwave. (Glass tends to be more versatile, too, if you need space-saving kitchen tools). In our tests, we found that glass didn’t stain or hold onto stubborn odors, whereas plastic and silicone were more susceptible to those. All that being sai...
Is it better to store food in glass or plastic?
While different materials have their merits in terms of practical use (see above), when it comes to keeping food safe, neither is really better than the other. However, it should be noted that glass takes much longer to degrade than plastic, so if you're looking to store food for a longer period of time, glass might be a better option.
Eric King is a recipe developer, writer, and social media creator who has run the baking blog easygayovenfor four years.Eric has written many equipment reviews for Serious Eats, including rolling pins, wine tumblers, and meat pounders.For this review, we tested 11 food storage containers (including glass and plastic models).We evaluated how leakproof, durable, and stain-resistant the containers were.Apr 20, 2021 · We tested plastic and glass containers from Oxo, Rubbermaid, Pyrex, Joseph Joseph, and more to find the best food storage containers of the year.
Mar 1, 2024 · Our Top Storage Container Picks: Best Overall: Pyrex FreshLock Food Storage Set. Best for Small Spaces (and Snacks): Snapware Plastic Mini Kit with Lids. Best for Keeping Produce Fresh:...
