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I like meal planning. Each week I give you a latest 7-day meal plan so I don’t must stress about what to make for my family. You’ll need a few of one of the best meal prep containers to organize foods upfront and save leftovers for lunch, so that you’re not cooking on a regular basis. I actually have a few of my favorites that I actually have found that helps me save money and time and stay on the right track of leading a healthy lifestyle.
To assist you to find one of the best ones, I compiled my top picks that I actually have used for years. I’ve also found another top-recommended meal prep containers that deserve a spot in your kitchen. Whether you like the flexibility of glass containers or the convenience of lightweight silicone ones, there’s an option for you. Listed below are my top picks for one of the best meal prep containers you may buy.
Our Top Picks:
- What’s in My Kitchen: Ello Duraglass Meal Prep Containers – $31.28 at Walmart
- Best Glass Set: Pyrex Simply Store 24-Piece Glass Food Storage Container Set – $47.29 at Amazon
- Best for Freezing: Souper Cubes Silicone Freezer Trays – $19.95 at Amazon
- Best for Microwaving: Anyday Meal Prep Set – $170 at Williams-Sonoma
Reviews of The Best Meal Prep Containers
1. What’s in My Kitchen: Ello Duraglass Meal Prep Containers
Credit: Goal
My go-to containers are the Ello Meal Prep Containers because they check all of my boxes, they usually’re so cute and colourful! The duraglas material won’t stain or smell, while the BPA-free protective silicone sleeve offers a no-slip grip, which implies I can easily pick them up even when I actually have oven mitts on. The silicone leads are airtight and leak-proof together with helpful sealing snaps for on-the-go use.
All the parts might be stored safely within the freezer and washed within the dishwasher. Also they are microwave- and oven-safe (as much as 450 degrees Fahrenheit!) without the lids.
The Specs:
- Material: Glass and BPA-free silicone
- Capability: 3.4 cups
- Secure for: Microwave, dishwasher, freezer, oven
The Pros:
- Doesn’t retain odors
- Secure for food storage
- Oven protected as much as 450 degrees F
- Leak-proof lids
The Cons:
- Heavy
- Lids might be tedious to wash
What Others are Saying:
The Ello Duraglass Meal Prep Containers have greater than 800 reviews and a 4.8 rating on Amazon. Moreover, Women’s Health named them one of the best microwave-safe meal prep containers.
Buy the Ello Duraglass Meal Prep Containers:
2. Best Glass Set: Pyrex Simply Store 24-Piece Glass Container Set
Credit: Amazon
With 24 pieces in a wide range of sizes, including 1-, 2-, 3-, and 4-cup options, you should utilize this glass set for all the pieces from sauces to leftover meatloaf. I also love that the glass material is protected to make use of within the microwave — as long as you’re taking the stretchy silicone lids off. They may also be utilized in the oven, freezer, and dishwasher too! Pyrex is understood for its strong design, so thankfully this set won’t shatter into pieces if by chance dropped.
The Specs:
- Material: Glass and BPA-free plastic
- Capability: (3) 4 cup, (3) 2 cup, (3) 1 cup round containers with lids, and (3) 3 cup rectangle containers with lids
- Secure for: Dishwasher, microwave, freezer, oven
The Pros:
- Durable
- Number of sizes
- Lids are airtight and leak-proof
The Cons:
- Heavy
- Lids should not microwave protected
- They don’t nestle well
What Others are Saying:
The Pyrex Simply Store 24-Piece Glass Container Set has greater than 24,000 reviews and a 4.8 rating on Amazon. Food & Wine named it one of the best stackable set, Shop Today calls it one of the best oven-safe containers, and Forbes Vetted calls it one of the best meal prep containers.
Buy the Pyrex Simply Store 24-Piece Glass Container Set:
3. Best for Freezing: Souper Cubes Silicone Freezer Trays
Credit: Amazon
Souper Cubes are food-grade, BPA-free silicone molds which might be specifically designed to freeze liquid-based foods like soups, lasagnas, and stews. All the compartments have measuring lines so you may portion them out to 1/2, 1, or 2-cup increments, which implies you may make an enormous batch of chicken broth or pasta sauce and freeze some for later.
When you ought to defrost your food, just pop considered one of the superbly portioned squares or rectangles out of the plastic like an ice cube. It could get pricey to purchase a ton of them, so you may all the time transfer the frozen cubes to a gallon freezer bag to maximise freezer space or use the Souper Cubes for something else.
The Specs:
- Material: Glass and BPA-free plastic
- Capability: 2 tablespoons/1 ounce tray, 1/2-cup tray, 1-cup tray, and 2-cup tray
- Secure for: Freezer, dishwasher, oven (trays only)
The Pros:
- Comprised of food-grade silicone
- Portion controlled
- Maximize freezer space
- Lids are interchangeable
The Cons:
What Others are Saying:
The Souper Cubes Silicone Freezer Trays have greater than 1,000 reviews and a 4.9 rating on Amazon. Moreover, Food & Wine named it one of the best freezer container for soup.
Buy the Souper Cubes Silicone Freezer Trays:
4. Best for Microwave: Anyday The Meal Prep Bundle
Credit: Anyday
These bowls should not similar to the opposite bowls in your kitchen. Anyday’s line of meal prep containers have airtight and leakproof lids with borosilicate glass and platinum-grade silicone. They were designed so you may actually cook your food within the microwave, and while they’re a little bit of an investment up-front, they will prevent hours on meal prep over time.
Before the beginning of a busy week, you may microwave huge batches of food to store within the refrigerator or portion out meals within the freezer trays. If you’re able to eat, simply pop one out and thaw it in one other Anyday dish. Meal prep cannot get any easier!
The Specs:
- Material: Borosilicate glass, platinum-grade silicone, microwave-safe stainless-steel
- Includes: Large deep dish, large shallow dish, medium deep dish, medium shallow dish, 2-Tbsp tray, ½-Cup tray
- Secure for: Freezer, microwave, dishwasher, oven
The Pros:
- All-in-one solution
- Cooks food within the microwave
- Versatile
The Cons:
- Could leak during transport
- Expensive
What Others are Saying:
The Spruce Eats recommends the Anyday Meal Prep Bundle of their testing.
Buy the Anyday Meal Prep Bundle:
Other Meal Prep Containers to Consider
Prep Naturals Glass Meal Prep Containers
This set has compartments for a Bento-style lunch and is manufactured from high-quality borosilicate glass so that they won’t stain, retain odors, or leach chemicals into your food. In addition they stack nicely, which saves space in your kitchen or fridge. Plus, they might be utilized in the oven, microwave, freezer, and dishwasher. The Prep Naturals Glass Meal Prep Containers can be found at Amazon for $31.99.
OXO Good Grips Smart Seal Food Storage Container Set
The general quality of those containers is with a durable borosilicate glass design that’s built to go from freezer to oven (or microwave!) without the necessity to completely thaw. Also they are dishwasher-safe and stainproof with lids that fit tight and are leakproof. But, since the lids could eventually wear out, this set didn’t make my list. OXO Good Grips Smart Seal Food Storage Container Set is out there at Amazon for $54.
Bentgo Prep 3-Compartment Meal-Prep Containers
The Bentgo Prep 3-Compartment Meal-Prep Containers are great for lunches because you may separate foods into little pockets. They’re easy to store with trays and lids that nest together and stack neatly. I like that they’re protected for the microwave, but they didn’t make the cut because they wear out pretty quickly. The Bento Prep 3-Compartment Meal-Prep Containers can be found at Amazon for $13.99.
Ziploc Endurables Silicone Containers
The Ziploc Endurables Silicone Containers can go straight from the freezer to the oven (as much as 425 degrees Fahrenheit) and are microwave protected. In addition they have an easy-grab handle, which might make them easier to pluck out of a hot oven or microwave. The Secure Seal Technology is actually leak-free but they’re cumbersome to wash and reuse. The Ziploc Endurables Silicone Containers can be found at Amazon for $13.99.
Why You Can Trust Me
Back in 2008, I launched health foods diets to feature delicious, healthy, family-friendly recipes made with seasonal, clean, whole foods. At health foods diets.com, you’ll find healthy dishes that don’t sacrifice any of the flavour that might be present in their full-fat origins. My creations must be “tasty” since this is similar food I cook on a each day basis for family and friends, they usually are a few of my hardest critics!
Credit: health foods diets
After trying out dozens of meal prep containers over time that I’ve used for meal prep myself, I focused on my personal favorites to create this list. For those I didn’t own, I read through tons of online reviews from top culinary sites to determine which of them deserve a spot in your kitchen. I checked out materials, size, performance, durability, and ease of use to make my final decisions.
All the pieces to Know Before Buying a Meal Prep Container
Credit: health foods diets
What to Consider Before Buying a Meal Prep Container
There are several things to be mindful to make sure that you’re buying one of the best meal prep containers in your needs and preferences. Listed below are some things that I feel are crucial:
Size: Meal prep containers are available in a wide range of sizes and shapes, so make sure that they’re large enough to suit the portions and forms of meals you ought to prepare.
Material: Most meal prep containers are constituted of plastic or glass. There are pros and cons to every one: Plastic containers are lightweight, portable, and straightforward on the budget, but they will stain and aren’t essentially the most durable. You furthermore mght must double check what type of plastic is used to make sure they won’t leach into your foods when heated. I prefer glass containers which might be sturdy, easy to wash, and versatile because they will go within the oven, but they’re heavy.
Ease of Use: Should you plan to make use of your containers for long run meal prep and storage, check to see if the containers are protected to store within the freezer and might be heated up within the microwave or oven. Dishwasher-safe containers make for straightforward cleansing.
Stackability: There’s nothing worse than grabbing for a container amongst a mountain of lids and bottoms that don’t nestle. Should you’re prioritizing space-saving containers, you’ll desire a stackable set.
Are Plastic Meal Prep Containers Secure?
Most moldable meal prep containers in the marketplace are protected, but all the time search for containers labeled as BPA-free and food-safe to make sure that you aren’t allowing harmful chemicals to leach into your food. Since some plastic containers might not be suitable for heating within the microwave or oven, all the time check the manufacturer’s instructions on easy methods to use them. Otherwise, you’ll must transfer them to a separate microwave-safe plate or bowl to heat them, making more cleanup for you.
Can You Freeze Meal Prep Containers?
So long as the manufacturer’s instructions say the materials can withstand the intense temps of the freezer, you’re good to go. I even have just a few tricks to assist you to ensure one of the best results with frozen food:
- Leave some room for the food to expand because it freezes. This is particularly vital for liquids.
- Allow your food to chill right down to room temperature before placing it within the freezer. Not only does it prevent your freezer from working time beyond regulation, rapidly cooling hot food has an increased risk of growing bacteria.
- Label and date each container with its contents and the date it was frozen. This can assist you to keep track and make sure that you eat the food inside a certain time!
Are Meal Prep Containers Microwave- and Dishwasher-Secure?
Most meal prep containers constituted of glass and microwave-safe (BPA-free) plastic are fantastic in each the microwave and dishwasher, but sometimes you’ll discover a container set where the dishes are dishwasher-safe but not the lids. Double check the packaging to read the manufacturer’s advisable instructions to make sure that.
How Long Can You Store Leftovers?
Most leftovers might be left within the refrigerator for 3 to 4 days and within the freezer for two to three months. Listed below are just a few general guidelines for various foods:
- Cooked meat, poultry, fish: 3 to 4 days within the refrigerator, 2 to six months within the freezer
- Cooked rice and pasta: 3 to 4 days within the refrigerator, 2 to three months within the freezer
- Soups, stews, sauces: 3 to 4 days within the refrigerator, 2 to three months within the freezer
- Cooked veggies: 3 to 4 days within the refrigerator, 10 to 12 months within the freezer
All the time use your best judgment and toss out leftovers that feel slimy or don’t pass a sniff test!
The Best Recipes to Meal Prep
Credit: health foods diets
When you’ve chosen your favorite meal prep containers from my top picks, try your hand at a few of my favorite recipes which might be quick to whip up and store well for leftovers. Also you’ll want to take a look at my weekly 7-day meal plans for much more inspiration:
Prices were accurate at time of publication.