The Best Freezer Containers

Sharing my picks for the best freezer containers to help your food stay fresh and free from freezer burn. From bags to soup storage to meal prep containers and more.

Just like picking the right meal prep container, picking the right container to freeze your food in is important as well! With years of freezer cooking under my belt, I've made my share of mistakes, and am sharing my top picks for freezer containers so you don't waste your time or money.

A good freezer container will

• be air tight and protect your food from freezer burn
• be microwave-safe for easy re-heating
• be free from BPA and other chemicals
• be freezer, oven and dishwasher safe

Stocking up the freezer can be a huge time and financial investment, and it's important to protect that investment by choosing the right containers for your food.

Quality first

When choosing freezer containers, it's important to put quality first. Pick containers that are not going to crack or leak during temperature shifts. This might mean investing some extra money upfront, but will save you money and wasted food in the long run.

For example, repurposing pasta jars or other containers is great for the pantry, but it's unwise to use them to freeze food, as they are not designed to withstand dramatic temperature changes. Instead, opt for a canning jar, which is more durable and less likely to crack. You can also find containers which are specifically designed for freezing.

Yes, you can freeze glass!

Glass is a great choice for the freezer, but you do need to proceed with caution:

• pick meal prep containers and jars that are labelled 'freezer friendly'
• do not repurpose old food jars to freeze
• ensure food is completely cooled before freezing
• leave room for expansion (a good rule is to fill no more than ¾ full)
• leave lids ajar or temporarily off from jars until food is fully frozen
• do not place glass directly from the freezer into the oven or microwave

Looking for eco-friendly options? Check out Plastic-Free Freezer Storage Ideas

Don't forget to pin this post to save it for later!

Watch the video below for a sneak peek into my freezer. I'm sharing my plastic-free storage methods, staples I pick up each week and more! You can find more of my recipe videos on my YouTube channel.

 

Here are my recommendations for freezer safe containers:

Snapware 2 Cup Glass Storage Containers- Perfect for portioning out fully cooked meals and freezing. These containers have a durable Pyrex base, which is freezer, dishwasher, microwave and oven-safe. I have owned these for almost 4 years and the lids are still snapping great. I do not recommend placing frozen food directly into the microwave, however I have done it in a pinch.

Also- I am a huge fan of IKEA's glass meal prep containers as well. You can find a variety of sizes with plastic + glass options, snap on lids, wooden lids, and more. They are holding up great for me and the lids are good quality.

Snapware 6 Cup Glass Storage Containers- These 6 cup glass containers are great for storing smaller sized meal prep dinners, energy bites, veggies, you name it.

Jokari Baggy Holder- This little baggy holder makes prepping meals SO EASY. The arms are extendable and you can use it on smaller quart bags for things like freezer chicken marinades (no more raw chicken touching the outside of the bag!), and when they are extended, they hold a gallon-sized freezer bag perfect for freezer slow cooker meals.

They also work great to hold reusable silicone bags.

Gallon Freezer Bags- Freezer bags are great when you are bulk prepping freezer meals and don't have the space for multiple large containers. They are cheap, light, and maximize space in your freezer.

When purchasing freezer bags, always ensure the box says 'freezer' and is double zippered, otherwise you run the risk of leaky bags dripping all over your freezer.

Quart freezer bags- For freezing chicken in a marinade, I recommend a bag, because you are going to reduce freezer burn and maximize coverage of the chicken with the marinade. These are also great for energy bites and more.

When purchasing freezer bags, always ensure the box says 'freezer' and is double zippered, otherwise you run the risk of leaky bags dripping all over your fridge or freezer.

Sandwich Sized Stasher Bag-  these days, I use the sandwich-sized silicone Stasher bags for small volume storage (ie: to marinate up to 2 chicken breasts). They are freezer-friendly, can go through the top rack of the dishwasher, and have drastically reduced the number of plastic bags we use.

Half Gallon Stasher Bag- for larger volumes, I use the ½ gallon sized silicone Stasher bags. They are great for smaller freezer crockpot meals (like these 7 Slow Cooker Chicken Recipes), but they are still too small to fit most freezer meals, so I rely on the 3 quart IKEA glass containers for those larger meals.

Erasable Food Labels- The number one rule for freezing meals? LABEL YOUR FOOD!

I've been loving these erasable food lablels from Jokari: stick them on your meal prep container one time. Label with any pen. The writing stays on until you scrub it off. The labels stay on through the freeze/thaw process, going through the dishwasher, heating in the microwave etc. So handy!

Bernardin Plastic Freezer Jars- I've been using these jars for years! They are so durable, have screw-cap lids, and a fill line so you can leave enough room for expansion. These ones also hold a good portion.

1 quart mason jars- I freeze homemade soups + bone broth in 1 quart mason jars for years now and have never had an issue with the jar cracking. Make sure you use a canning jar (not an old pasta sauce jar), as they are more durable and can withstand temperature changes.  I have linked to wide mouth jars and not the tapered ones pictured, because they are safer to freeze in. With that being said, I have never had an issue with the tapered jars either.

To freeze in jars- fill the jar ¾ full (max). Cool the liquid completely before freezing. Leave lids ajar until fully frozen. 

Parchment paper- perfect to loosely wrap muffins, energy bites and other baked goods that are stored in a larger meal prep container. This can help protect food from freezer burn.

Plastic Wrap- use to wrap breakfast burritos, freezer breakfast sandwiches, and other items that must be individually wrapped. This is still the best way to prevent freezer burn.

 

Those are my picks for the best freezer storage containers! Let me know if you have a favorite that I missed!

XO