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These make planning, cooking, freezing, and reheating a breeze Compartment burger Box
The Spruce Eats / Rebekah Joan
Planning and prepping meals ahead can save time and future stress, whether the prep involves assembling lunches the night before, cooking in bulk and freezing meals for later, or packing up leftovers for another day. Sturdy meal prep containers make the task even easier and come in a variety of shapes and sizes to fit everyone’s needs. You'll want to factor in size, material, and compartment style when deciding on containers for your kitchen, as well as durability and ease of maintenance.
To help you find the best meal prep containers for your kitchen, we tested some top-rated options and evaluated important features like design, performance, capacity, durability, and ease of cleaning. Each one was carefully assessed during hours of home kitchen testing and not only used to store food, but also microwaved and put through the dishwasher. Of course, we also considered how fresh the food was after it was stored for certain periods of time.
Compartments aren't individually sealed
The best containers for families who like to plan meals ahead, the two compartments in these containers make it easy to keep foods separate, whether it’s a salad, sandwich, and snack, or meatloaf, mashed potatoes, and green beans. Each container in this set of five can hold a total of 29 ounces.
These meal prep containers are freezer-safe, so meals can be prepped and saved for much later, and they can be microwaved to heat the food for serving. During testing, we appreciated the sturdiness of the borosilicate glass and thick plastic lids. They were easy to clean in the dishwasher and didn't suffer any damage or lingering odors. The two-compartment design makes it easy to store simple meals—like a sandwich and chips—since it separates about a third of the container. They also performed well in our leak test (where we filled the container with water and shook the container vigorously for a minute straight) despite there being no seal along the divider walls of the compartments.
Price at time of publish: $35
Material: Borosilicate glass, plastic, silicone | Capacity: 29 ounces | Dimensions: 7 x 2.25 x 5 inches | Compartments: 2 | Safe For: Dishwasher, microwave, and freezer
The Spruce Eats / Joseph Manalang
No large containers in the set
If you want a large set of plastic food storage containers that does it all, this one from Fullstar is great for both meal prep and storing leftovers. The 50-piece set includes 24 containers and 24 lids with labels and a chalk pen to help keep everything organized, and the wide variety of sizes range from 1.2-ounce cups for dressings and sauces to 33.8-ounce containers for larger meals and marinating.
We used these containers to store plenty of different types of food, including rice, stir fry, potatoes, meat, sauteed vegetables, avocado, and salad dressing. The containers were perfectly stackable and easy to store in the fridge and the cupboard. We especially loved the sturdy lids, which feature a 4-hinge locking system to create a completely airtight seal, making it easy to transport meals in our bags without worrying.
Price at time of publish: $40
Material: Plastic | Capacity: Varies per container | Compartments: 1 per container | Safe For: Dishwasher, microwave, and freezer
The Spruce Eats / Jason Devaney
The sleek design of these containers from Bentgo makes them a great choice for those who don't like their chicken touching their vegetables or want to include a measured portion of chips alongside their sandwich. Available in a few unique colors, they'll be easy to spot in the communal fridge at work and have the added bonus of looking a little more stylish than your typical food storage containers.
We love their low-profile silhouette during testing, as it made it easy to stack multiple meals in the fridge, even on shelves without a ton of vertical space. While they are made of thinner plastic than some other containers (similar to a reusable bento box), they still came out of the microwave with no signs of warping or wear and stood up well to cleaning in the dishwasher, though the manufacturer notes you should avoid a heated drying cycle.
The 1-cup and 2-cup amounts are embossed on the trays so there’s no need to remember how much they hold. Despite the affordable price, these are freezer-, microwave-, and top-rack dishwasher-safe, so they’re easy to use. They nest neatly when they’re empty, so they won’t eat up a lot of storage space, and they stack nicely when they’re full.
Price at time of publish: $13
Material: Plastic | Capacity: 24 ounces | Dimensions: 8.8 x 6 x 2 inches | Compartments: 2 | Safe For: Dishwasher, microwave, and freezer
The Spruce Eats / Hildara Araya
Lids seal well and are easy to attach
Lock into place when stacked
Cannot be used in the oven
Everything about the way these containers are designed makes them unique from other options on the market. For starters, the BPA-free and phthalate-free set is made by using plant-based materials that replace an equivalent amount of fossil fuel. The containers are ultra lightweight and the lids snap on effortlessly—they are so light that we are worried they might snap off over time.
But what really sets this set of food storage containers apart is the way that they stack. The lids and bases are designed with unique grooves that allow them to lock into place. Simply slide one container on top of the other and it clicks right into place. We knocked a stack over and held it upside down—nothing came apart. It was also surprisingly leak-proof. Not a drop of water leaked out, even when we shook a container full of water.
The three containers in the set—two small 9-ounce containers and one larger 22-ounce container—are microwave-, freezer-, and dishwasher-safe (even the lids!), but unfortunately, they can’t handle the heat of the oven. They come in three muted colors that are more stylish than your everyday container, too.
Price at time of publish: $23
Material: Food-grade and ISCC-certified plant-based PP silicone | Capacity: 12 ounces (two small containers), 22 ounces (large) | Dimensions: Not indicated | Compartments: 1 per container | Safe For: Dishwasher, microwave, and freezer
The Spruce Eats / Brigitt Earley
The Spruce Eats / Brigitt Earley
The Spruce Eats / Brigitt Earley
The Spruce Eats / Brigitt Earley
The Spruce Eats / Brigitt Earley
Lids seal well and are easy to attach
Glass is oven-, microwave-, freezer-, and dishwasher-safe
This set by Anchor Hocking is made from tempered glass, making them slightly heavy, but super resistant to odors and staining. Many food storage containers boast an airtight lid, but this set's design is unique— pressing down on the middle of the lid creates a vacuum that releases the air from the glass container and forms a 100 percent airtight seal. Plus, the lids are see-through, so you can clearly see what meals you have available in the fridge.
This 10-piece set comes with five bowls and corresponding lids: one 1-cup bowl, two 2-cup bowls, one 4-cup bowl, and one 7-cup bowl. Each of the containers is safe to use in the microwave, freezer, dishwasher, and even the oven (up to 425 degrees) without the lid. During testing, we noted that though this set is pretty "no-frills," it's well-made, and the airtight, leakproof design can help keep foods fresh for longer.
Price at time of publish: $30
Material: Tempered glass | Capacity: Varies per container | Compartments: 1 per container | Safe For: Dishwasher, microwave, freezer, and oven (up to 425 degrees without lid)
Great for larger food items
More delicate than some others
Higher profile makes them bulky
When you need a larger quantity of food prep containers to freeze meals or to feed a large group, this pack of 40 will come in handy. The two compartments will let you keep your mashed potatoes separate from turkey or a serving of soup separate from crackers—the lids are designed to be snug and leakproof. They hold a total of 28 ounces and feature a smaller and larger section to keep foods separate.
We took advantage of the higher profile of these containers to store bulkier foods, like a veggie burger on a bun with a side of raw carrot sticks, or a piece of roast chicken on the bone accompanied by sauteed spinach. The drawback of having such tall containers is that they need more vertical space to stack and store, but as a trade-off, their overall footprint in the fridge is minimal. They're also freezer-safe as well as microwave-safe (without the lid).
While these handy containers are top-rack dishwasher-safe, they are definitely meant for short-term use and may show signs of wear sooner than some other models—we noticed a small crack forming on a lid after being put through a complete wash cycle. That being said, they're what you want to use for taking food on the go, field trips, or road trips—since they’re so inexpensive, it’s not a huge loss if one gets tossed, damaged, or left behind.
Price at time of publish: $28
Material: Plastic | Capacity: 28 ounces | Dimensions: 8 x 6 x 2.5 inches | Compartments: 2 | Safe For: Dishwasher, microwave, and freezer
Snack planning is just as important as meal planning when it comes to meal prep, and these small containers are a perfect tool to get the job done. Featuring two half-cup compartments, they’re a convenient way to carry a variety of healthy snacks to tame your appetite between larger meals.
We used these to recreate our favorite coffee shop snack boxes, filling one side with chicken and the other with cubes of cheese and grapes. The slim design of these containers made them very convenient for slipping into a work tote or gym bag, though since they aren't leakproof, it's best to stick to dry or very well-drained foods. They're also microwave-, freezer-, and dishwasher-safe—we saw no signs of warping or cracking after putting the containers in all three environments.
For those concerned with the versatility of such small containers, fret not: they can be used to store herbs, to create a mise en place, or for kid-sized meals when an adult-sized container is too roomy. They stack well in the fridge and also nest for easy storage.
Price at time of publish: $9
Material: Plastic | Capacity: 8 ounces | Dimensions: 7.13 x 4.84 x 1 inches | Compartments: 2 | Safe For: Dishwasher, microwave, and freezer
Easy to pop food out
Safe for oven, microwave, and dishwasher
Our days of stacks of Tupperware taking up valuable space in the freezer are over—all thanks to an Instagram ad for Souper Cubes. These big and deep silicone molds hold pre-proportioned amounts of food, making it easy to pop them out and reheat. They come in 2 tablespoons, 0.5 cups, 1 cup, and 2 cup molds with lids so you can prep and freeze lots of different things (from little cubes of olive oil and fresh herbs to 2 cups worth of stews and soups). We plan, cook, and freeze food in these, then pop them out and put the frozen shapes in large freezer bags to save space.
Although each mold is slightly pricey, we get a ton of use out of them. And it's not just about freezing in these...you can also pop them in the microwave or oven to reheat, cook, or bake. Then throw them in the dishwasher for a souper easy cleanup.
Price at time of publish: $20
Material: Silicone | Capacity: 3 cups total | Dimensions: 11.75 x 5.75 x 2.25 inches | Compartments: 6 | Safe For: Dishwasher, oven, microwave, and freezer
Tray included for easy storage
Prepping food ahead of time for the baby or toddler can make homemade baby food just a little bit more manageable. These 2-ounce containers help busy parents make serving sizes that won’t waste food. The included tray keeps all the containers neatly together whether they’re grouped by ingredients or arranged by meals, and makes it easy to pour your mixtures directly from the blender. The snap-on lids seal securely, so you can keep them in your diaper bag when you head outside.
During testing, we noted the thick plastic makes these containers extra durable so you can use them again and again, as they are suitable for the fridge, freezer, or microwave—just be sure to pop the lids open to vent them before heating. The lids make the containers airtight and leakproof, letting food stay fresh for as long as possible. Run them through the dishwasher using the top rack for no-fuss cleanup—we saw zero damage or warping even through a heated drying cycle. One drawback is that because of the way the lids are made, they're a little tough to clean by hand, but that wasn't a dealbreaker.
When baby outgrows these small containers, they’re handy for freezing leftover egg yolks or whites, or for freezing herbs, tomato paste, and other foods in small portions. This set comes with six 2-ounce containers with lids, plus a tray to hold them. You can choose between pink and teal containers, and a similar set with 4-ounce containers is available for kids who are eating more food at each meal.
Price at time of publish: $12
Material: Plastic | Capacity: 6 x 2-ounce | Dimensions: 2 x 2 x 2-inches, 2.5 x 5.5 x 9.5 inches total | Compartments: 1 | Safe For: Dishwasher, microwave, and freezer
If you're looking to start meal prepping, you can't go wrong with Prep Naturals Glass Meal Prep Containers. They're convenient, durable, and leakproof. Want to step up your meal-prep game and really stock your freezer? The SimpleHouseware 2 Compartment Food Grade Meal Prep Containers are a great bulk option.
To compile this list, our team of editors and contributors spent hours researching the best meal prep containers on the market. We rated these containers based on design, performance, capacity, durability, and ease of cleaning. Testing was conducted by storing the food for periods of time, putting water inside and shaking to test for leaking, as well as microwaving and dishwashing them. We then used this research and testing to assign a star rating from one to five (five being the best; one being the worst) to certain products on the list.
The material that storage containers are made of is a big factor to consider when buying them. Some containers are easy to clean, are dishwasher-safe, and some are even freezer-safe so you can prep meals ahead of time and keep them frozen till you're ready to use. Most meal containers are made of glass or plastic materials. Make sure that the containers you choose are microwave-safe so your meals can be warmed up while away from home if needed.
Meal prep containers are available in all different kinds of sizes and shapes: rectangular, round, and square. Small round or square ones are perfect to hold salad dressing or a snack. Round ones work well for soup or chili. The shape also makes for easier stirring and mixing of your food. For easier storage, there are containers that nest inside each other. In particular, square containers make for a more streamlined organization. And rectangular containers may work best for precise portion control. Select which shapes or sizes will work best for your needs.
Dividers in a meal prep container are just a beautiful thing. They keep things separate, so the potatoes don't slide over onto the meat, or the chopped-up fruit doesn't join the sandwich. Some containers even have a compartment to store your utensils. You can get containers with two or three dividers, making them perfect to pack a school lunch, especially for picky eaters.
Meals prepped ahead will keep in the fridge for three to five days, max.
Yes, but only if the meal prep container is deemed to be freezer-safe. Slice up that leftover lasagna or baked chicken and prep them for a later date to be eaten.
Get out that pen and paper, or grab a meal prep app and put it on your phone. Start small and figure out meals for the week. Then make a shopping list. Don't stress and try to do too much meal planning in the beginning. Take it a step at a time.
Donna Currie is a cookbook author and product tester for The Spruce Eats. In addition to reviewing more than 90 products for the brand, Donna has compiled roundups on other small kitchen appliances, such as the best toaster ovens, rice cookers, and air fryers.
Bernadette Machard de Gramont is an LA-based writer who specializes in global food and wine content. 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. She personally tested five of the products mentioned in this article.
Amanda McDonald is an editor at The Spruce Eats and has over eight years of experience researching, writing, and editing about all things food — from what new products are at the grocery store to chef-approved hacks that keep tricky leftovers fresh for days. She updated this article to include the most up-to-date information.
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