I like meal planning. Each week I give you a brand new 7-day meal plan so I don’t should stress about what to make for my household. You’ll want a few of the finest meal prep containers to arrange meals prematurely and save leftovers for lunch, so that you’re not cooking on a regular basis. I’ve a few of my favorites that I’ve discovered that helps me save money and time and keep on observe of main a wholesome way of life.
That will help you discover one of the best ones, I compiled my prime picks that I’ve used for years. I’ve additionally discovered another top-recommended meal prep containers that deserve a spot in your kitchen. Whether or not you like the flexibility of glass containers or the comfort of light-weight silicone ones, there’s an choice for you. Listed below are my prime picks for one of the best meal prep containers you should buy.
Our Prime Picks:
- What’s in My Kitchen: Ello Duraglass Meal Prep Containers – $31.28 at Walmart
- Finest Glass Set: Pyrex Merely Retailer 24-Piece Glass Meals Storage Container Set – $47.29 at Amazon
- Finest for Freezing: Souper Cubes Silicone Freezer Trays – $19.95 at Amazon
- Finest for Microwaving: Anyday Meal Prep Set – $170 at Williams-Sonoma
Opinions of The Finest Meal Prep Containers
1. What’s in My Kitchen: Ello Duraglass Meal Prep Containers
My go-to containers are the Ello Meal Prep Containers as a result of they examine all of my containers, and so they’re so cute and colourful! The duraglas materials gained’t stain or scent, whereas the BPA-free protecting silicone sleeve provides a no-slip grip, which suggests I can simply choose them up even when I’ve oven mitts on. The silicone leads are hermetic and leak-proof together with useful sealing snaps for on-the-go use.
All the components might be saved safely within the freezer and washed within the dishwasher. They’re additionally microwave- and oven-safe (as much as 450 levels Fahrenheit!) with out the lids.
The Specs:
- Materials: Glass and BPA-free silicone
- Capability: 3.4 cups
- Secure for: Microwave, dishwasher, freezer, oven
The Professionals:
- Doesn’t retain odors
- Secure for meals storage
- Oven secure as much as 450 levels F
- Leak-proof lids
The Cons:
- Heavy
- Lids might be tedious to scrub
What Others are Saying:
The Ello Duraglass Meal Prep Containers have greater than 800 critiques and a 4.8 score on Amazon. Moreover, Ladies’s Well being named them one of the best microwave-safe meal prep containers.
Purchase the Ello Duraglass Meal Prep Containers:
2. Finest Glass Set: Pyrex Merely Retailer 24-Piece Glass Container Set
With 24 items in a wide range of sizes, together with 1-, 2-, 3-, and 4-cup choices, you should utilize this glass set for every little thing from sauces to leftover meatloaf. I additionally love that the glass materials is secure to make use of within the microwave — as long as you’re taking the stretchy silicone lids off. They will also be used within the oven, freezer, and dishwasher too! Pyrex is understood for its sturdy design, so fortunately this set gained’t shatter into items if by accident dropped.
The Specs:
- Materials: Glass and BPA-free plastic
- Capability: (3) 4 cup, (3) 2 cup, (3) 1 cup spherical containers with lids, and (3) 3 cup rectangle containers with lids
- Secure for: Dishwasher, microwave, freezer, oven
The Professionals:
- Sturdy
- Number of sizes
- Lids are hermetic and leak-proof
The Cons:
- Heavy
- Lids usually are not microwave secure
- They don’t nestle effectively
What Others are Saying:
The Pyrex Merely Retailer 24-Piece Glass Container Set has greater than 24,000 critiques and a 4.8 score on Amazon. Meals & Wine named it one of the best stackable set, Store At present calls it one of the best oven-safe containers, and Forbes Vetted calls it one of the best meal prep containers.
Purchase the Pyrex Merely Retailer 24-Piece Glass Container Set:
3. Finest for Freezing: Souper Cubes Silicone Freezer Trays
Souper Cubes are food-grade, BPA-free silicone molds which can be particularly designed to freeze liquid-based meals like soups, lasagnas, and stews. All the compartments have measuring traces so you’ll be able to portion them out to 1/2, 1, or 2-cup increments, which suggests you can also make an enormous batch of rooster broth or pasta sauce and freeze some for later.
While you wish to defrost your meals, simply pop one of many completely portioned squares or rectangles out of the plastic like an ice dice. It could actually get dear to purchase a ton of them, so you’ll be able to all the time switch the frozen cubes to a gallon freezer bag to maximise freezer house or use the Souper Cubes for one thing else.
The Specs:
- Materials: 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 solely)
The Professionals:
- Constructed from food-grade silicone
- Portion managed
- Maximize freezer house
- Lids are interchangeable
The Cons:
What Others are Saying:
The Souper Cubes Silicone Freezer Trays have greater than 1,000 critiques and a 4.9 score on Amazon. Moreover, Meals & Wine named it one of the best freezer container for soup.
Purchase the Souper Cubes Silicone Freezer Trays:
4. Finest for Microwave: Anyday The Meal Prep Bundle
These bowls usually are not the identical as the opposite bowls in your kitchen. Anyday’s line of meal prep containers have hermetic and leakproof lids with borosilicate glass and platinum-grade silicone. They had been designed so you’ll be able to really prepare dinner your meals within the microwave, and whereas they’re a little bit of an funding up-front, they will prevent hours on meal prep over time.
Earlier than the beginning of a busy week, you’ll be able to microwave large batches of meals to retailer within the fridge or portion out meals within the freezer trays. While you’re able to eat, merely pop one out and thaw it in one other Anyday dish. Meal prep can not get any simpler!
The Specs:
- Materials: Borosilicate glass, platinum-grade silicone, microwave-safe stainless-steel
- Consists of: Giant deep dish, giant shallow dish, medium deep dish, medium shallow dish, 2-Tbsp tray, ½-Cup tray
- Secure for: Freezer, microwave, dishwasher, oven
The Professionals:
- All-in-one resolution
- Cooks meals within the microwave
- Versatile
The Cons:
- Might leak throughout transport
- Costly
What Others are Saying:
The Spruce Eats recommends the Anyday Meal Prep Bundle of their testing.
Purchase the Anyday Meal Prep Bundle:
Different Meal Prep Containers to Contemplate
Prep Naturals Glass Meal Prep Containers
This set has compartments for a Bento-style lunch and is manufactured from high-quality borosilicate glass in order that they gained’t stain, retain odors, or leach chemical compounds into your meals. Additionally they stack properly, which saves house in your kitchen or fridge. Plus, they can be utilized within the oven, microwave, freezer, and dishwasher. The Prep Naturals Glass Meal Prep Containers can be found at Amazon for $31.99.
OXO Good Grips Sensible Seal Meals Storage Container Set
The general high quality of those containers is with a sturdy borosilicate glass design that’s constructed to go from freezer to oven (or microwave!) with out the necessity to absolutely thaw. They’re additionally dishwasher-safe and stainproof with lids that match tight and are leakproof. However, as a result of the lids may finally put on out, this set didn’t make my record. OXO Good Grips Sensible Seal Meals Storage Container Set is obtainable at Amazon for $54.
Bentgo Prep 3-Compartment Meal-Prep Containers
The Bentgo Prep 3-Compartment Meal-Prep Containers are nice for lunches as a result of you’ll be able to separate meals into little pockets. They’re straightforward to retailer with trays and lids that nest collectively and stack neatly. I like that they’re secure for the microwave, however they didn’t make the minimize as a result of they put on out fairly rapidly. 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 levels Fahrenheit) and are microwave secure. Additionally they have an easy-grab deal with, which may make them simpler to pluck out of a scorching oven or microwave. The Safe Seal Know-how is really leak-free however they’re cumbersome to scrub and reuse. The Ziploc Endurables Silicone Containers can be found at Amazon for $13.99.
Why You Can Belief Me
Again in 2008, I launched Skinnytaste to characteristic scrumptious, wholesome, family-friendly recipes made with seasonal, clear, entire meals. At Skinnytaste.com, you’ll discover wholesome dishes that don’t sacrifice any of the flavour that may be discovered of their full-fat origins. My creations should be “tasty” since this is similar meals I prepare dinner each day for family and friends, and they’re a few of my hardest critics!
After attempting out dozens of meal prep containers through the years that I’ve used for meal prep myself, I targeted on my private favorites to create this record. For those I didn’t personal, I learn by way of tons of on-line critiques from prime culinary websites to determine which of them deserve a spot in your kitchen. I checked out supplies, measurement, efficiency, sturdiness, and ease of use to make my last selections.
All the things to Know Earlier than Shopping for a Meal Prep Container
What to Contemplate Earlier than Shopping for a Meal Prep Container
There are a number of issues to remember to be sure you’re shopping for one of the best meal prep containers on your wants and preferences. Listed below are some issues that I feel are an important:
Dimension: Meal prep containers are available a wide range of styles and sizes, so make sure that they’re giant sufficient to suit the parts and forms of meals you wish to put together.
Materials: Most meal prep containers are made out of plastic or glass. There are execs and cons to every one: Plastic containers are light-weight, transportable, and straightforward on the finances, however they will stain and aren’t probably the most sturdy. You additionally have to double examine what sort of plastic is used to make sure they gained’t leach into your meals when heated. I want glass containers which can be sturdy, straightforward to scrub, and versatile as a result of they will go within the oven, however they’re heavy.
Ease of Use: If you happen to plan to make use of your containers for long run meal prep and storage, examine to see if the containers are secure to retailer 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. If you happen to’re prioritizing space-saving containers, you’ll need a stackable set.
Are Plastic Meal Prep Containers Secure?
Most pliable meal prep containers available on the market are secure, however all the time search for containers labeled as BPA-free and food-safe to be sure you aren’t permitting dangerous chemical compounds to leach into your meals. Since some plastic containers is probably not appropriate for heating within the microwave or oven, all the time examine the producer’s directions on learn how to use them. In any other case, you’ll should switch them to a separate microwave-safe plate or bowl to warmth them, making extra cleanup for you.
Can You Freeze Meal Prep Containers?
So long as the producer’s directions say the supplies can face up to the acute temps of the freezer, you’re good to go. I even have a number of ideas that will help you guarantee one of the best outcomes with frozen meals:
- Depart some room for the meals to broaden because it freezes. That is particularly essential for liquids.
- Permit your meals to chill all the way down to room temperature earlier than inserting it within the freezer. Not solely does it stop your freezer from working time beyond regulation, quickly cooling scorching meals has an elevated danger of rising micro organism.
- Label and date every container with its contents and the date it was frozen. This can make it easier to preserve observe and be sure you eat the meals inside a sure time!
Are Meal Prep Containers Microwave- and Dishwasher-Secure?
Most meal prep containers made out of glass and microwave-safe (BPA-free) plastic are positive in each the microwave and dishwasher, however typically you’ll discover a container set the place the dishes are dishwasher-safe however not the lids. Double examine the packaging to learn the producer’s really helpful directions to verify.
How Lengthy Can You Retailer Leftovers?
Most leftovers might be left within the fridge for 3 to 4 days and within the freezer for two to three months. Listed below are a number of common pointers for various meals:
- Cooked meat, poultry, fish: 3 to 4 days within the fridge, 2 to six months within the freezer
- Cooked rice and pasta: 3 to 4 days within the fridge, 2 to three months within the freezer
- Soups, stews, sauces: 3 to 4 days within the fridge, 2 to three months within the freezer
- Cooked veggies: 3 to 4 days within the fridge, 10 to 12 months within the freezer
At all times use your finest judgment and toss out leftovers that really feel slimy or don’t cross a sniff take a look at!
The Finest Recipes to Meal Prep
When you’ve chosen your favourite meal prep containers from my prime picks, strive your hand at a few of my favourite recipes which can be fast to whip up and retailer effectively for leftovers. Additionally you should definitely take a look at my weekly 7-day meal plans for much more inspiration:
Costs had been correct at time of publication.
