I love meal planning. Each and every week I come up with a new 7-day meal plan so I don’t have to stress about what to make for my family. You’ll need some of the best meal prep containers to prepare foods in advance and save leftovers for lunch, so you’re not cooking all the time. I have some of my favorites that I have found that helps me save time and money and stay on track of leading a healthy lifestyle.
To help you find the best ones, I compiled my top picks that I have used for years. I’ve also found some other top-recommended meal prep containers that deserve a spot in your kitchen. Whether you prefer the versatility of glass containers or the convenience of lightweight silicone ones, there’s an option for you. Here are my top picks for the best meal prep containers you can 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
My go-to containers are the Ello Meal Prep Containers because they check all of my boxes, and they’re so cute and colorful! The duraglas material won’t stain or smell, while the BPA-free protective silicone sleeve offers a no-slip grip, which means I can easily pick them up even if I have oven mitts on. The silicone leads are airtight and leak-proof along with helpful sealing snaps for on-the-go use.
All of the parts can be stored safely in the freezer and washed in the dishwasher. They are also microwave- and oven-safe (up to 450 degrees Fahrenheit!) without the lids.
The Specs:
- Material: Glass and BPA-free silicone
- Capacity: 3.4 cups
- Safe for: Microwave, dishwasher, freezer, oven
The Pros:
- Does not retain odors
- Safe for food storage
- Oven safe up to 450 degrees F
- Leak-proof lids
The Cons:
- Heavy
- Lids can be tedious to clean
What Others are Saying:
The Ello Duraglass Meal Prep Containers have more than 800 reviews and a 4.8 rating on Amazon. Additionally, Women’s Health named them 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
With 24 pieces in a variety of sizes, including 1-, 2-, 3-, and 4-cup options, you can use this glass set for everything from sauces to leftover meatloaf. I also love that the glass material is safe to use in the microwave — so long as you take the stretchy silicone lids off. They can also be used in the oven, freezer, and dishwasher too! Pyrex is known for its strong design, so thankfully this set won’t shatter into pieces if accidentally dropped.
The Specs:
- Material: Glass and BPA-free plastic
- Capacity: (3) 4 cup, (3) 2 cup, (3) 1 cup round containers with lids, and (3) 3 cup rectangle containers with lids
- Safe for: Dishwasher, microwave, freezer, oven
The Pros:
- Durable
- Variety of sizes
- Lids are airtight and leak-proof
The Cons:
- Heavy
- Lids are not microwave safe
- They don’t nestle well
What Others are Saying:
The Pyrex Simply Store 24-Piece Glass Container Set has more than 24,000 reviews and a 4.8 rating on Amazon. Food & Wine named it the best stackable set, Shop Today calls it the best oven-safe containers, and Forbes Vetted calls it the best meal prep containers.
Buy the Pyrex Simply Store 24-Piece Glass Container Set:
3. Best for Freezing: Souper Cubes Silicone Freezer Trays
Souper Cubes are food-grade, BPA-free silicone molds that are specifically designed to freeze liquid-based foods like soups, lasagnas, and stews. All of the compartments have measuring lines so you can portion them out to 1/2, 1, or 2-cup increments, which means you can make a huge batch of chicken broth or pasta sauce and freeze some for later.
When you want to defrost your food, just pop one of the perfectly portioned squares or rectangles out of the plastic like an ice cube. It can get pricey to buy a ton of them, so you can always transfer the frozen cubes to a gallon freezer bag to maximize freezer space or use the Souper Cubes for something else.
The Specs:
- Material: Glass and BPA-free plastic
- Capacity: 2 tablespoons/1 ounce tray, 1/2-cup tray, 1-cup tray, and 2-cup tray
- Safe for: Freezer, dishwasher, oven (trays only)
The Pros:
- Made from food-grade silicone
- Portion controlled
- Maximize freezer space
- Lids are interchangeable
The Cons:
What Others are Saying:
The Souper Cubes Silicone Freezer Trays have more than 1,000 reviews and a 4.9 rating on Amazon. Additionally, Food & Wine named it the best freezer container for soup.
Buy the Souper Cubes Silicone Freezer Trays:
4. Best for Microwave: Anyday The Meal Prep Bundle
These bowls are not the same as the other 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 can actually cook your food in the microwave, and while they’re a bit of an investment up-front, they can save you hours on meal prep over time.
Before the start of a busy week, you can microwave huge batches of food to store in the refrigerator or portion out meals in the freezer trays. When you’re ready to eat, simply pop one out and thaw it in another 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
- Safe for: Freezer, microwave, dishwasher, oven
The Pros:
- All-in-one solution
- Cooks food in the microwave
- Versatile
The Cons:
- Could leak during transport
- Expensive
What Others are Saying:
The Spruce Eats recommends the Anyday Meal Prep Bundle in 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 made of high-quality borosilicate glass so they won’t stain, retain odors, or leach chemicals into your food. They also stack nicely, which saves space in your kitchen or fridge. Plus, they can be used in the oven, microwave, freezer, and dishwasher. The Prep Naturals Glass Meal Prep Containers are available at Amazon for $31.99.
OXO Good Grips Smart Seal Food Storage Container Set
The overall quality of these containers is with a durable borosilicate glass design that’s built to go from freezer to oven (or microwave!) without the need to fully thaw. They are also dishwasher-safe and stainproof with lids that fit tight and are leakproof. But, because the lids could eventually wear out, this set didn’t make my list. OXO Good Grips Smart Seal Food Storage Container Set is available 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 can separate foods into little pockets. They are easy to store with trays and lids that nest together and stack neatly. I love that they are safe for the microwave, but they didn’t make the cut because they wear out pretty quickly. The Bento Prep 3-Compartment Meal-Prep Containers are available at Amazon for $13.99.
Ziploc Endurables Silicone Containers
The Ziploc Endurables Silicone Containers can go straight from the freezer to the oven (up to 425 degrees Fahrenheit) and are microwave safe. They also have an easy-grab handle, which can make them easier to pluck out of a hot oven or microwave. The Secure Seal Technology is truly leak-free but they are cumbersome to clean and reuse. The Ziploc Endurables Silicone Containers are available at Amazon for $13.99.
Why You Can Trust Me
Back in 2008, I launched Skinnytaste to feature delicious, healthy, family-friendly recipes made with seasonal, clean, whole foods. At Skinnytaste.com, you’ll find healthy dishes that don’t sacrifice any of the flavor that can be found in their full-fat origins. My creations have to be “tasty” since this is the same food I cook on a daily basis for friends and family, and they are some of my toughest critics!
After trying out dozens of meal prep containers over the years that I’ve used for meal prep myself, I focused on my personal favorites to create this list. For the ones I didn’t own, I read through tons of online reviews from top culinary sites to figure out which ones deserve a spot in your kitchen. I looked at materials, size, performance, durability, and ease of use to make my final decisions.
Everything to Know Before Buying a Meal Prep Container
What to Consider Before Buying a Meal Prep Container
There are several things to keep in mind to make sure you’re buying the best meal prep containers for your needs and preferences. Here are some things that I think are the most important:
Size: Meal prep containers come in a variety of shapes and sizes, so make sure they are large enough to fit the portions and types of meals you want to prepare.
Material: Most meal prep containers are made from plastic or glass. There are pros and cons to each one: Plastic containers are lightweight, portable, and easy on the budget, but they can stain and aren’t the most durable. You also need to double check what kind of plastic is used to ensure they won’t leach into your foods when heated. I prefer glass containers that are sturdy, easy to clean, and versatile because they can go in the oven, but they are heavy.
Ease of Use: If you plan to use your containers for longer term meal prep and storage, check to see if the containers are safe to store in the freezer and can be heated up in the microwave or oven. Dishwasher-safe containers make for easy cleaning.
Stackability: There’s nothing worse than grabbing for a container amongst a mountain of lids and bottoms that don’t nestle. If you’re prioritizing space-saving containers, you’ll want a stackable set.
Are Plastic Meal Prep Containers Safe?
Most plastic meal prep containers on the market are safe, but always look for containers labeled as BPA-free and food-safe to make sure you aren’t allowing harmful chemicals to leach into your food. Since some plastic containers may not be suitable for heating in the microwave or oven, always check the manufacturer’s instructions on how to use them. Otherwise, you’ll have to transfer them to a separate microwave-safe plate or bowl to heat them, making more cleanup for you.
Can You Freeze Meal Prep Containers?
As long as the manufacturer’s instructions say the materials can withstand the extreme temps of the freezer, you’re good to go. I also have a few tips to help you ensure the best results with frozen food:
- Leave some room for the food to expand as it freezes. This is especially important for liquids.
- Allow your food to cool down to room temperature before placing it in the freezer. Not only does it prevent your freezer from working overtime, 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 will help you keep track and make sure you eat the food within a certain time!
Are Meal Prep Containers Microwave- and Dishwasher-Safe?
Most meal prep containers made from glass and microwave-safe (BPA-free) plastic are fine in both the microwave and dishwasher, but sometimes you’ll find a container set where the dishes are dishwasher-safe but not the lids. Double check the packaging to read the manufacturer’s recommended instructions to make sure.
How Long Can You Store Leftovers?
Most leftovers can be left in the refrigerator for 3 to 4 days and in the freezer for 2 to 3 months. Here are a few general guidelines for different foods:
- Cooked meat, poultry, fish: 3 to 4 days in the refrigerator, 2 to 6 months in the freezer
- Cooked rice and pasta: 3 to 4 days in the refrigerator, 2 to 3 months in the freezer
- Soups, stews, sauces: 3 to 4 days in the refrigerator, 2 to 3 months in the freezer
- Cooked veggies: 3 to 4 days in the refrigerator, 10 to 12 months in the freezer
Always use your best judgment and toss out leftovers that feel slimy or don’t pass a sniff test!
The Best Recipes to Meal Prep
Once you’ve chosen your favorite meal prep containers from my top picks, try your hand at some of my favorite recipes that are quick to whip up and store well for leftovers. Also be sure to check out my weekly 7-day meal plans for even more inspiration:
Prices were accurate at time of publication.
