Preparing meals to take with you to work, school or some specific social functions provides multiple benefits. You have full control over the entire process, from buying groceries to preparing the ingredients to cooking your meals. Your meals will be healthier and more nutritious because of the lack of chemical additives. Finally, eating out can get expensive so making your own food for breakfast and/or lunch can save you money.
Now, meal prep won’t be possible without the right containers. Whether you prefer plastic or glass, you want containers that won’t leak, are easy to clean, and can keep food fresh until it’s time to eat.
With this, here is a list of top-quality meal prep containers you can purchase online that we ranked for you. With the keen eyes of our industry experts, we chose the ones that would certainly pass your meticulous standard for durability and quality.
Best Meal Prep Containers Comparison & Rating
Image | Meal Prep Containers | Rating |
|---|---|---|
 | 95% | |
![Food Storage Containers with Lids - Food Containers with Lids Plastic Containers with Lids [5 Pack, 30 Ounce] - Leak Proof Lunch Containers Plastic Storage Containers with Lids - Meal Prep Containers](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51SRStqR0LL.jpg "Food Storage Containers with Lids - Food Containers with Lids Plastic Containers with Lids [5 Pack, 30 Ounce] - Leak Proof Lunch Containers Plastic Storage Containers with Lids - Meal Prep Containers")
| 93% | |
| 92% | |
 | 91% | |
| 89% |
Want to Learn More?
It’s necessary to compare products in order to make an informed decision on which one to buy. To help you out, each product featured here contains detailed information. This includes the actual item specifications, pros, and cons, as well as a verdict that considers both quality and performance. Don’t forget to click on the yellow buttons to see great deals for each of these products on Amazon.
Prep Naturals Glass Meal Prep Containers
Specifications | |
|---|---|
Dimensions | 6.5 x 4.75 x 2 inches |
Weight | 7.12 pounds |
Material | Glass |
Lid Type | Clip |
This set of five 30 oz glass containers are a great option if you want to completely avoid potentially toxic materials. For something made of glass, they’re quite easy to wash. The material feels solid and durable so you don’t have to worry about it easily cracking or breaking. In fact it can withstand temperatures up to 840 degrees Fahrenheit in the oven and microwave. They’re freezer-safe, too so you can conveniently store leftovers in them.
Fullstar Food Storage Containers with Lids
Specifications | |
|---|---|
Dimensions | 14.1 x 5.8 x 7.4 inches |
Weight | 1.94 pounds |
Material | Plastic |
Lid Type | Clip |
Say goodbye to spills with these food storage containers! Fullstar’s meal prep containers let you avoid having to deal with soggy food or messy clean-ups because they’re literally leak-proof. Fullstar uses an innovative four-hinge snap-lock system on the lids. So, each non-toxic lead closes tightly over the containers, allowing you to carry soup or stew to work or school without fear of spillage. You’ll really get what you pay for from this impact-resistant collection.
Rubbermaid Easy Find Vented Lids Food Storage Containers
Specifications | |
|---|---|
Dimensions | 18 x 14 x 8 inches |
Weight | 6.12 pounds |
Material | Plastic |
Lid Type | Snap |
The widely popular meal prep container set has everything — from half-cup pieces for salad dressings to large seven-cup containers with vented lids to that can hold enough food for both lunch and dinner. The larger containers are also great for keeping leftovers in the freezer. Each plastic container in this Rubbermaid set is made from durable BPA-free walls that you can leave in the freezer or reheat food in. They snap tightly at the base and can stack one on top of the other for easy organization. Finally the matching red lids make them easy to find.
Vremi Silicone Food Storage Containers with BPA-Free Airtight Plastic Lids
Specifications | |
|---|---|
Dimensions | 8.5 x 4.3 x 5.3 inches |
Weight | 1.5 pounds |
Material | Silicone |
Lid Type | Clip |
Say google to bulky meal prep containers with Vremi’s "The Collapsibles'' 4-Piece Container Set. This collection of four colorful, collapsible, rectangular containers expands to hold between 11 and 40 ounces of food. The bases are made of BPA-free silicone and can fold down to a third of its size. Each solid plastic lid snaps onto its container securely and has a built-in air vent for easy microwaving. Plus, all the pieces in this particular set are safe to put in the dishwasher and freezer.
S SALIENT Glass Food Storage Containers with Locking Lids
Specifications | |
|---|---|
Dimensions | 8.9 x 8.8 x 6.8 inches |
Weight | 6.5 pounds |
Material | Glass |
Lid Type | Clip |
S SALIENT’s glass meal prep containers have three food compartments. This makes it easy for users to stick to serving sizes for protein, grains, vegetables, and fruits. You get three 36 oz containers for your meal prep and food transport needs. They’re also extra sturdy and quite heat-resistant so you can reheat food in the microwave or standard oven. Finally, the set is really convenient since you get metal cutlery that attaches to the locking lid with clasps.
Meal Prep Container Buyer's Guide
Meal prep containers are made from a number of different materials — metals, glass, silicone, plastic. Metal food containers are commonly made from aluminum. They’re highly durable and conduct heat really well so you can literally cook in them. However these containers aren’t necessarily rustproof. And because they easily conduct heat, transporting food in them might not be such a good idea.
Glass food containers are typically made from a material called borosilicate glass, a type of glass that contains boron trioxide, allowing for a very low coefficient of thermal expansion. This means it can be subjected to extreme temperature so the containers made from this material are usually oven-proof and freezer-friendly. While stronger than regular glass, these containers aren’t entirely immune to breaking or cracking if dropped or not handled properly.
A lot of people like silicone meal prep containers because they’re the ultimate space savers. They can expand when in use and fold down for easy storage. However, some of these products can come with a strong chemical odor that doesn’t go away even after the containers have been washed. While microwave-safe, it’s not advisable to leave them in there for a long time.
Finally, you have plastic containers made from BPA-free plastic. Of all options, these are probably the most functional. These are ideal for transporting, reheating, and storing food in the fridge.
Meal prep containers are not just used to carry and store your meals and snacks in. Typically you eat out of them too. So, it’s important to purchase containers that are lightweight and easy to clean. Food containers with a certain heft to them will only get heavier once you add food. And if they become a nuisance to carry around, it could cause you to abandon meal prepping entirely. Furthermore, you’ll want a product where food bits and grease are easy to wash off. Get something you can load on the top shelf of the dishwasher without getting damaged.
The meal prep containers you can purchase online or in stores have either a snap or clip lid. A snap lid is something that’s typically bigger than the container itself. The edges are molded with grooves that snap into the rim of the container. Meanwhile, a clip lid is about the same size as the container with a seal on the bottom part to prevent spills. You place it on top of the container and clip the sides.
Many meal prep containers are sold in sets with different sized containers. And some even have accessories to make eating on the go more convenient (e.g. cutlery, napkins). Consider whether these add-ons are necessary to include in your purchase before adding a set to your cart.
FAQs
Yes. Most of the reusable meal prep containers you can purchase in stores or on the internet are made from BPA-free plastic. BPA is short for Bisphenol A, an industrial chemical that has been used to make certain plastics and resins since the 1960s.
It sure does. A 40oz container could hold way too much food than what you can eat for lunch. You might just end up throwing it away or overeating; both options are no good. Experiment with container sizes. A 25oz one is a good place to start as it holds about three cups of food. See if you need to get something smaller or bigger depending on your daily activities and nutritional needs.
The amount of containers you should have will depend on the number of meals you prepare per week. Say you meal prep two meals (breakfast and lunch) plus a snack five days a week, you can follow the breakdown below.
Five 11 oz (small) containers for overnight oats
Ten 25 oz containers for meals
Four 3 oz mini containers for peanut butter, hummus, dressing etc.
Getting dividers is a personal preference but they (especially the removable or adjustable ones), can really help with portioning out macronutrients (carbs, protein, fat). They’re also great when you don’t want certain food groups to touch.