Buying fresh, high-quality ingredients is the best way to take your favorite recipes from good to great. But if you’re like most people, you probably buy foods well in advance of when you actually plan on cooking them. Keeping food fresh can be a challenge, whether that’s stuff you plan on keeping for a few days like produce, or pantry staples you might have for months like pasta and flour. That’s why one of the best ways to store pantry items and snacks is in an airtight food storage container.
While there are many pantry foods that don’t technically spoil, most of these foods still lose freshness. We’ve all opened an old bag of popcorn only to find that it tastes like a cardboard box. Buying matching storage helps you organize your kitchen and pantry in a more efficient way. The standardized sizes make it easier to Tetris everything into place. And, since many airtight food containers are made from glass or plastic, it’s much easier to see what’s inside and find exactly what you need. The key, of course, is that these containers should be actually airtight. Otherwise, they’ll lose freshness faster than if you had just left them in their original packaging.
Another added benefit of airtight food containers is that they help make your kitchen less attractive to pests. It might be unpleasant to think about, but an airtight container will minimize food smells while ensuring that no one but you and your family snacks on your favorite foods.
We’ve rounded up some of the best airtight food containers, including options from some of our favorite kitchen brands like OXO, Anchor Hocking and Rubbermaid.
1. Rubbermaid Brilliance Pantry Organization & Food Storage Containers
If you’re looking to do some reorganizing, consider this set from Rubbermaid. It comes with 10 jars with matching lids, and the jars come in a variety of sizes to store different kinds of food like pasta, grains, sugar, coffee, etc. The containers are made from sturdy and BPA-free Tritan plastic. The lids have snap-on handles on the sides, which make them airtight while making them easy to open and close.
Pros: Good bulk option. The rectangular shape makes these easy to stack and store. Easy snap-on lids. Three lid sizes for 10 jars, making it easy to find the right size.
Cons: Some of the smaller containers are not that practical.
2. Anchor Hocking TrueSeal Round Glass Food Storage Containers
If you’re looking for an option for leftovers or containers you can take on the go, then consider these sturdy glass containers from Anchor Hocking. Anchor Hocking produces sturdy glass products in the US, and, since it’s glass, you never have to worry about plastic odors or chemicals. Plus, these containers can be used in the microwave or oven. The glass jars come with lids made from plastic with a flexible silicone pull tab.
Pros: Sturdy glass containers that are oven, microwave, freezer and dishwasher safe. Convenient option for leftovers or packed lunches.
Cons: Lids can be somewhat tedious to take off.
3. OXO Good Grips 5-Piece POP Container Set
This option from OXO is available in a variety of packs between three and 20 pieces, and we’ve decided to highlight the ten-piece container for its good variety of sizes. The feature that sets the OXO POP containers apart is the unique lid, which features a button that seals and unseals the top of the container. The containers are made from lightweight, BPA-free plastic.
Pros: Unique push-button lid seals the container, and the pop lid also acts as an easy handle for removing the lid. Rectangular shape for easier organization.
Cons: Expensive.
4. Brabantia Stackable Glass Food Storage Containers, Set of 3
These airtight containers have a sleek modern look, so you can display them on your counter or keep them in your pantry. The glass jars have lids made from a hard plastic with a silicone gasket, which helps ensure a tight seal. The best part of the lid is the sloped design that creates a divot to easily and securely stack the jars. The set of three jars includes a 10, 20 and 34 oz size. The jar and lid are also dishwasher safe.
Pros: Easily stackable design. Secure and airtight lids. Three different sizes for storing different kinds of items.
Cons: Only includes three, and they’re fairly expensive.
5. Airscape Coffee and Food Storage Canister
The problem with even the best food storage containers is that, while no air is getting in, there’s still air inside the container. That’s what makes this option so unique. There’s a second lid that pressed down to the top of the fill line, and another lid that covers the top of the container. This helps to extract as much air as possible from the container, keeping your food fresher for longer. It was designed with coffee in mind, but it works for grains and other foods that you plan on storing for a long time.
Pros: Unique second lid pressed to fill line, to keep coffee fresh for longer.
Cons: Only one canister included.
6. Prep Naturals Glass Meal Prep Containers
These sturdy glass containers are great if you like to do meal prep and plan your meals for the week in advance. This set comes with five containers, so you can plan for the entire workweek. The glass jars have dividers, so you can keep your fruits, veggies and protein separate. The containers have lids with plastic snap-on latches for an airtight fit. These containers are microwave, oven and dishwasher safe, and they’re made from sturdy borosilicate glass.
Pros: Microwave, oven and dishwasher safe borosilicate glass. Containers have section dividers, making them ideal for meal prep.
Cons: Containers are somewhat small and only available in one size.
7. Vtopmart Airtight Food Storage Containers
If you need to stock up on a lot of containers, consider this affordable set. Twelve equally-sized containers are included, and their small rectangular shape makes them easy to stack. Each container holds 1.6 liters, and the containers have lids with four snapping locks for a secure fit. In addition to the containers, 24 reusable labels are included, so you can easily distinguish between foods that might look similar.
Pros: Set of 12 makes it easy to stock up. 24 reusable labels are included in addition to the containers.
Cons: While you can choose sets with larger containers, there’s no variety in the size within each set.
8. Coffee Gator Stainless Steel Coffee Container
If you’re an avid coffee drinker, you might appreciate this stylish container from Coffee Gator. It has a handy snap clasp that’s easy to open and close, so you don’t have to fuss with it on busy mornings. The top of the container has a unique valve that releases CO2 to keep coffee fresh for longer. Plus, they throw in a measuring scoop as well.
Pros: Innovative and stylish option for coffee drinkers. Coffee scoop included.
Cons: Expensive, considering only one container is included.
9. SilverOnyx Canisters Sets for the Kitchen Counter
These airtight containers from SilverOnyx are smartly designed; the sides are made from metal, keeping light from reducing the food’s freshness, but the top is made from glass so you can still easily see what’s inside. The glass lids have convenient metal handles for easy opening, and the lids have rubber rings for a more airtight fit. Five containers of varying sizes are included, and a set of measuring cups is also included.
Pros: Set of five containers of varying sizes. Stylish look. Metal containers to keep food fresher for longer than see-through containers.
Cons: Somewhat expensive.