Sharing my picks for the best meal prep containers and jars that will keep your food fresh, help you reheat it evenly, and withstand the test of time. No more wasting your money, these are the absolute best containers out there!
Just like freezer containers and kitchen tools, when it comes to meal prep containers, there are so many options out there and it's easy to get confused. I'm here to remove some of that overwhelm, by sharing the containers I use in my kitchen on a daily and weekly basis!
High-Quality Meal Prepping Containers Will
- be air tight and keep your food fresh in the fridge
- be microwave-safe for easy re-heating
- be free from BPA and other chemicals
- be freezer, oven and dishwasher safe
It can be so overwhelming when searching on Amazon for meal prep containers! I consider it part of my job to test containers out so I can give you my honest opinion on them, and let's just say there are some good and some bad ones out there.
Today I'm sharing what's in my kitchen, and the meal prep containers that we use to give you the best value for your money.
1-Minute Video on The Best Food Storage Containers
Watch the video below, which highlights a few of my favorite meal prep tools and containers! You can find more recipe videos on my YouTube channel.
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Best Overall Variety for Food Storage Containers
For single serving portions of cooked food, look for a good 2-3 cup capacity container. I recommend glass for many reasons (see the 5 Best Glass Meal Prep Containers), including that your food stays fresher, heats through more evenly, and is free from chemicals.
In addition to a supply of 2-3 cup containers, it's great to have some larger and smaller sets as well. You can find sets that come in a variety of sizes, which are great for storing meal prepped chicken, rice, veggies and more.
Snapware 6 Cup Glass Storage Containers- Again, I just love Snapware brand in general. These 6 cup glass containers are great for storing meal prep dinners, energy bites, veggies, you name it.
OXO Good Grips 8 Cup Leakproof Food Storage Container- I bought these to have some freezer-friendly large sized storage containers as an alternative to gallon freezer bags, however they are still too small to fit a standard-sized freezer crockpot meal.
The lids are good quality, though I noticed they became harder to snap on after freeze/thawing the containers a couple of times. After owning them for 3 years, I still feel that they are a good quality product.
Corningware Meal Mugs
I work from home these days, but when I was working away from home, I loved using these to store soup, chili or anything that will be re-heated at work, as I was never able to find a thermos that would keep food heated until lunch. These re-heat your food evenly, and are easy to eat your food out of.
The only caveat is that you need to keep them upright, as they may leak in your lunch bag. I never had this issue, though!
Optimal Meal Prep Tupperware
We do still use some plastic storage containers. The benefits of plastic is that they are light-weight and portable for outings, and they are also safer for kids.
Look for containers that are BPA-free, and not meant for single use. Our Rubbermaid containers have lasted us for years and are still holding up great!
EasyLunchBoxes 3-Compartment Bento- These 3 compartment storage containers are perfect for outings with the kids! They are lightweight and hold a surprisingly large portion of food. We have owned these for four years and use them multiple times a week.
The Best Glass Jars for Meal Prep Containers
I love canning jars, and use them for almost everything you can think of: smoothie packs, jar salads, salad dressings, parfaits, veggies & dip and yes, I actually drink out of them, too!
I purchase most of my jars at the grocery store. I'm also a fan of Weck jars, which have glass lids, but they are pricey and definitely an investment.
Pint-sized jars
These are my most-used jars, and I use them for so many things: smoothie packs and jar salads, most of all. They are cheap, durable, freezable, and are just so versatile. If I were buying my first set of mason jars, I would opt for the wide mouth version (below) as they are safer to freeze in and more convenient to eat out of.
Wide-Mouth Pint Jars- If you've ever tried eating a parfait out of a tapered mason jar, you know: no beuno. For recipes like parfaits or overnight oats that are served out of the jars, I highly recommend some wide-mouth jars.
½ Pint Jars
Now, I've had problems finding these specific jars on Amazon.com, but I've linked to a similar one.
These are awesome for smaller portions...I make my stir fry sauces in them, and use them occasionally for trail mix when I run out of my ½ cup storage containers. I have not had any issues freezing liquids in this size of jar.
Weck 746 â…• Liter Tulip Jar, 12.5 Oz
- cute but also functional! The perfect size for overnight oats, these jars have glass lids and freeze/thaw well.
Weck 742 Mold Jar - .5 Liter
- a great size to 2 cups of liquid. We routinely use these jars to freeze portions of beans or chickpeas.
Those my favorite containers and jars for meal prep. Do you have one that I missed? Let me know in the comments!
FAQs for The Best Food Prep Containers
Glass containers tend to be the safest, most versatile containers for storing food. They do not leech chemicals into the food, tend to be microwave-friendly, and do not cause a change in the flavor of the food.
While plastic is more durable, it can possibly warp, leech chemicals into food, and may not be microwave-safe. Because of these factors, we choose long-lasting glass containers.
You want to avoid containers with BPA or other chemicals that can impact your food. You also want to make sure that they are reusable and microwave-friendly.
These containers are freezer-safe. When you purchase, just make sure that whatever brand you choose labels them as freezer-safe.
Hi, I'm Annie. With a Bachelor of Science degree, a minor in nutrition and nearly 20 year of both classical training, and self-taught experience, I've spent my career proving that home cooking can be practical, delicious and inspiring. What started in 2013 as one food blog has grown into a full-time business. Today, my husband Clayton and I run five food websites that connect with millions of home cooks every month.
When I'm not in the kitchen or behind the camera, I'm using fueling my love of travel, or chasing down new ideas that keep food fun and fresh.
Sylvia Camunez says
What about the Lock and Lock glass containers?
Wesley Bielinski says
I use Souper Cubes and a vacuum sealer. I also use mason jars so I'll be getting some of those inserts. IP Tomato Sauce frozen in 1 cup increments and vacuum sealed is very convenient.
Jasmine @ Sweet Peas & Saffron says
Hi Wesley, great tips! Thank you so much for your feedback and review!
AnnS says
Where do you store the glass containers? They don't seem like you can stack them like plastic containers. Plus the glass are heavier than plastic.
Denise says
Hi Ann! The containers I use have a pyrex base and I stack them without lids in my hutch. They are quite durable! Yes, they are heavier. It's something to consider for sure if you are taking them to work.
Lisa says
Yes interested in Breakfast Prep Challenge!
Denise says
Great to know!
Emma says
I have avoided glass containers as they look heavy and being glass, suspect they could break easily. What's your verdict on that?
Denise says
Hi Emma! They are definitely heavier than plastic, however they are surprisingly durable. Ben takes these to and from work every day, he's not the most careful person, and he's only ever broken one container (by dropping it on the floor).
Mary says
I use my Instant Pot for making soups, steaming vegetables and steaming crab legs! I am not into all the spicy recipes that are now so popular but I do convert many of the recipes to my liking. I get a lot of recipes from Instant Pot Community on FB.
Oh I almost forgot... I make cheesecake and lemon curd in it also!
Denise says
The Instant Pot is SO versatile! I really need to dig in and get to know mine better. Thanks for the inspiration, Mary 🙂