The Best Plastic Food Storage Containers

Our new favorite passed every test and looked good doing it. Its clear, lightweight Tritan plastic material stayed as clear and stain-free as glass, and its audibly snug seal didn't leak, even when we turned the container upside down and shook it hard. It held a generous amount of chili, and its low profile helped foods chill or heat up more evenly than did deeper containers. Microwaving chili was easy and neat, with lid vents that let you leave the container fully sealed while keeping splatters contained and extended rims that stayed cool for easy handling. Its flat top made for secure, compact stacking in the fridge or freezer. One quibble: While we like that the gasket is attached so we don't have to fuss with removing it, you do need to clean carefully under its open side, as some testers detected very slight fishy odors. It's also sold in sets, in varying sizes.

This container was perfectly leakproof and airtight, even after 50 dishwasher cycles and plenty of abuse. While it acquired a slightly orange, cloudy look from the microwaved chili, it didn't warp or sustain other damage in testing and it didn't spill—even when we filled it with water, pushed it off the counter, and two lid flaps popped open as it hit the floor, upside down. We wish it came in a larger size, since its 6.5-cup capacity seemed a bit cramped. Its teensy silicone gasket is nearly impossible to remove for cleaning and retained slight fishy odors. We interpreted the instructions to mean that the lid can't be used in the microwave, so we put paper towels over the food to prevent splatter. We’ve since learned that the lid is microwave-safe as long as the flaps are not latched.

This roomy container was a front-runner, with solid construction and flaps that seal firmly with a crisp snap, so it broke our hearts when it leaked—albeit just a few steady drops—and admitted a bit of moisture when submerged. It also retained a mildly fishy odor in our sniff tests and an orange tint after microwaving chili (although a frosted look to parts of the container disguises some staining). But it stayed intact and sealed when we threw it off the kitchen counter full of water and dropped it full of ice onto the floor. The gasket is thin and hard to budge from its tight channel for cleaning, but we liked the “Easy Match” feature where a colored dot on the base matches the trim of the lid.

Looking like a deep plastic loaf pan with a cover, this container sealed with a pleasant snap and didn't leak. It displayed some good design elements, such as its ⅜-inch-wide soft gasket, which was easy to remove and rethread and had a channel broad enough to wipe dry with a cloth-covered fingertip. But we really did have to pull out, wash, and dry that gasket, or it would trap odors and moisture. The container's tall, narrow shape meant foods took slightly longer to heat or chill than when in flatter containers. And while its lid has a shallow depression to help anchor anything smaller that was stacked on it, the edges were round and slick, so larger items slipped off. The plastic stained faint orange in our chili test, and when we filled the container with water and pushed it onto the floor, all four flaps flew open and water gushed out. When we froze water in it and dropped it, a small tab that extends off one corner of the lid broke off; it's there to help lift the lid, and the breakage didn't affect its seal. Note: We like that the lids are interchangeable between this container and the glass version of the Oxo Smart Seal, our winning glass storage container.

Our former winner just didn't hold up this time. It held onto stains and retained slight fishy odors, and worst of all, the gasket darkened and split in our first round of testing and continued to degrade and crack as we completed testing. When we dropped the container off the kitchen counter full of water, its flaps opened and water gushed out. We have learned that the company was sold since our previous testing, which may have affected production methods. When we compared our testing copy to a version purchased just after our previous testing, we noticed that the gasket appears to be a slightly different shape and material. While we still like its snappy seal, flat stackable lid, and low profile that made it easier to heat and chill food uniformly, the failure of the gasket means we can no longer recommend it.

“I don't like this closing system. It doesn't feel secure,” one tester complained of this container, the second largest in a set of six. Others agreed, and our testing proved it: The lid leaked instantly when the container was shaken, and the container quickly filled with water when submerged. When we dropped it, the lid flew off and water rushed out. Expanding ice pushed the lid up and nearly off in the freezer, and the lid became slightly warped over the course of testing. The container retained fishy odors, and its depth meant food chilled and heated more unevenly than in flatter containers. While we liked its generous size, nesting storage, and the clever system of matching a colored dot on the bottom to the lid trim, this container isn't the best choice.