This review looks at all the different sizes of our favorite glass food storage container, the OXO Good Grips 8 Cup Smart Seal Rectangle Container. You can read our original review with detailed brand comparisons here.
When we last tested glass food storage containers, we recommended the OXO Good Grips 8 Cup Smart Seal Rectangle Container. But what if you do a lot of meal prep and need glass containers that can securely contain smaller quantities of food? OXO produces smaller sizes of our favorite glass container, so we rounded up the 7-cup round container, the 4-cup round container, the 3.5-cup rectangle container, the 2-cup round container, the 1.6-cup rectangle container, the 1-cup round container, and the 4-ounce rectangle container to see if they would perform as well. And since many meal preppers prefer to buy sets of matching containers, we also tested the 16-piece mixed shape, the 12-piece mixed shape, the 8-piece rectangular, and the 8-piece round container sets, all made by OXO.
Our goals were the same as when we tested the winning OXO 8-cup glass container: to find truly airtight, leakproof containers that resist stains and odors and can be used to store food in the refrigerator and freezer and reheat food in both the oven and microwave.
To see if all of these containers were airtight and leakproof, we first opened and closed their latches 25 times. Next, we submerged all the containers in water to see if they let any liquid in before filling them and vigorously shaking them to see if they let any liquid escape.
The good news: We can recommend all the containers we tested. All the latches proved durable, as their seals proved to be airtight and leakproof. In other words, you can be sure that these OXO Smart Seal containers, no matter their size, will keep your food fresh with no mess.
And since these containers come in both rectangular and round shapes, we made some notes along the way detailing what we liked about each. We appreciated the rectangular-shaped containers for their efficient stackability, and liked how deep the larger round containers were, which added to their versatility. Another plus? Since they’re glass, they can function as serveware, going right from the oven to the table.
So, which should you buy? Your choices will depend on your storage needs. If you want multiple containers in different sizes we suggest buying a set; it's cheaper than buying individual containers. If you’re looking for a set of identical containers for meal prep, we suggest buying multiples in one of two sizes: either the 3.5-cup rectangle or the 4-cup round—both are roomy enough to hold a sandwich and a side, a grain bowl, a hearty amount of soup, or generous green salad. We’ve outlined potential uses for all the containers below.
10,000+ foolproof recipes and why they work Taste Tests of supermarket ingredients Equipment Reviews save you money and time Videos including full episodes and clips Live Q&A with Test Kitchen experts
Start Free TrialAbsolutely the best chicken ever, even the breast meat was moist! It's the only way I'll cook a whole chicken again. Simple, easy, quick, no mess - perfect every time. I've used both stainless steel and cast iron pans. great and easy technique for “roasted” chicken. I will say there were no pan juices, just fat in the skillet. Will add to the recipe rotation. Good for family and company dinners too. I've done this using a rimmed sheet pan instead of a skillet and put veggies and potatoes around the chicken for a one-pan meal. Broccoli gets nicely browned and yummy!
Absolutely the best chicken ever, even the breast meat was moist! It's the only way I'll cook a whole chicken again. Simple, easy, quick, no mess - perfect every time. I've used both stainless steel and cast iron pans. great and easy technique for “roasted” chicken. I will say there were no pan juices, just fat in the skillet. Will add to the recipe rotation. Good for family and company dinners too.
Amazed this recipe works out as well as it does. Would not have thought that the amount of time under the broiler would have produced a very juicy and favorable chicken with a very crispy crust. Used my 12" Lodge Cast Iron skillet (which can withstand 1000 degree temps to respond to those who wondered if it would work) and it turned out great. A "make again" as my family rates things. This is a great recipe, and I will definitely make it again. My butcher gladly butterflied the chicken for me, therefore I found it to be a fast and easy prep. I used my cast iron skillet- marvellous!
John, wasn't it just amazing chicken? So much better than your typical oven baked chicken and on par if not better than gas or even charcoal grilled. It gets that smokey charcoal tasted and overnight koshering definitely helps, something I do when time permits. First-time I've pierced a whole chicken minus the times I make jerk chicken on the grill. Yup, the cast iron was not an issue.