The best plastic-free food storage containers for meal prep and more
Harmful chemicals from some plastic food storage containers, like bisphenol A (BPA), per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and phthalates, can get into our food, especially when heated, according to Tracey Woodruff, an associate professor of reproductive sciences at the University of California San Francisco. 'There are a lot of different chemicals that are used in the making of plastic or that are in plastic-related materials and these chemicals can leach from the plastic into people's food,' says Woodruff.
These chemicals can lead to an increased risk of infertility, reproductive health, cardiovascular disease and more, according to Woodruff. Additionally, researchers have found microplastics in several parts of the human body, including blood and the brain, according to Woodruff.
With this in mind, I spoke with experts about how to find a good plastic alternative and what you should look for.
How I picked the best plastic-free food container
The main factor in deciding the best alternatives to plastic food containers is finding a material that doesn't leach and is safe to put in the microwave and dishwasher. Here's everything our experts recommend I keep in mind when making this list:
Alternative materials: The best and most common non-toxic alternative to traditional plastic is glass, according to Woodruff. Unlike plastic, glass food containers aren't susceptible to leaching microplastics, making them safer to heat up, eat out of and prepare food in. Most of the food containers on this list are made of borosilicate glass, which is highly resistant to heat, thermal shock and cracking (though not shatterproof). Additionally, I also curated options that have ceramic coatings, which makes them stain resistant and nonstick, as well as containers made from stainless steel. While every container on this list is made from either glass or stainless steel, some of the included lids are made of BPA-free plastic and/or come with a silicone lining to prevent leaking, so some of the sets aren't entirely plastic free.
BPA and PFAS free: BPA and PFAS (sometimes called 'forever chemicals') are molecular chemical additives found in microplastics that some manufacturers use to give plastic durability, heat, oil and stain resistance, according to Paul Anastas, a professor of chemistry and director of the Center for Green Chemistry at Yale University's School of the Environment. As I mentioned above, chemicals found in microplastics are linked to an increased risk of adverse reproductive health issues in both men and women, lung and colon cancer, metabolic abnormalities, birth defects and more, according to Woodruff. With this in mind, I only included plastic food container alternatives that explicitly mention being BPA and PFAS free and/or 100% plastic free.
Use case: In making this list, I tried to find non-plastic food container options that you can use for a variety of purposes, including microwaving, baking, freezing and putting in the dishwasher. While not every option on this list is compatible for all four methods, most of them are dishwasher safe and microwave safe. I noted which purposes each one is best suited for.
Want more from NBC Select? Sign up for our newsletter, The Selection, and shop smarter.
The best alternatives to plastic food containers
All of the products below are either direct recommendations from NBC Select editors and/or have at least a 4-star average rating from 500 reviews or more on Amazon.
100% plastic-free food containers
All of the food containers below are entirely plastic free, including the lids.
I tested and reviewed Anyday's microwavable cookware bowls, which are available in multiple sizes and are similar to this set of frosted borosilicate glass containers designed specifically for food storage, instead of cooking (though they're also oven- and microwave-safe, too.) You'll get two 2-cup rounded dishes and two 2.5-cup square dishes. The dishes, including the lids, are entirely plastic free, according to the brand, and you can also microwave and bake with the lids, which have vents on top that act as a handle.
This set from Urban Green has a 4.1-star average rating from 2,031 reviews on Amazon and comes with five containers: a 0.5-cup, 1.5-cup, 2.6-cup, 3.8-cup and 6.25-cup. They're entirely plastic free, according to the brand — the containers are made of heat-safe borosilicate glass and the lids are bamboo. They're safe to use in the microwave and oven (without the lids) and they're dishwasher and freezer safe, too, according to the brand.
These wraps are made of beeswax, organic cotton, plant oil and tree resin, according to the brand, making them entirely plastic and silicone free. These wraps have a 4.5-star average rating from 10,862 reviews on Amazon and they work in the same way you'd use plastic wrap or aluminum foil, except they're reusable. The set includes a small, medium and large wrap, which are best for using with solid foods, like sandwiches, loaves of bread and produce. You can also use the wrap as a lid for a bowl with salad. That said, the wraps aren't suitable for heating and you can only wash them with cold water, according to the brand.
Mostly plastic-free food containers
All of the food containers below are plastic free, however some of the lids or accessories have BPA-free plastic.
This popular set from Caraway comes recommended by NBC Select reporter Zoe Malin, who loves how well they seal. 'I've used these containers for over a year almost every day,' she says. 'They're super sturdy and don't stain, even when I use them to store pasta with red sauce or curry made with turmeric.' It's made of glass and coated in ceramic, similar to the brand's cookware. The 9-piece set, includes one large 10-cup square container, ideal for prepping multiple servings of food, two medium, rectangle 6.6-cup containers for individual meals, two small 4.4-cup containers for salads or sides, two small rectangular inserts with a 9-ounce capacity for snacks and two small square inserts with a 4-ounce capacity, compatible for dips and dressings. The set also comes with storage racks you attach to the inside of your cabinet and straps that hold the lid and container together.
NBC Select editor Mili Godio got this set of glass food containers as a wedding gift and says she can't 'ever go back' to her usual plastic Tupperware. 'They're super durable and stack really nicely on top of each other,' she says. The set comes with 10 containers of different sizes, so there's one to fit practically anything you need. The lids seal well and protect from spills, too, according to Godio.
This set of glass food containers comes recommended by NBC Select reporter Harry Rabinwotiz, who likes the many shapes and sizes included in the set and that the lids seal securely. Plus, the containers themselves are durable and can handle high heat and travel without cracking. 'I don't worry about throwing them in my backpack, in the sink with other pots and dishes, or in the oven and microwave,' says Rabinowitz. The set includes one large 6.3-cup container, two 3.5-cup containers and one 1.6-cup container in both round and square shapes.
I've had this glass set for about two months and I love everything about them. While the lids have plastic on them that isn't oven safe, the containers themselves are extremely durable — I've baked multiple foods in them (rice, poultry and pasta) all at once in the oven around 400 degrees and they don't have a single crack. Plus, I baked them with the silicone cover on the bottom (to protect them from damage) and it didn't melt at all. The lids snap closed and don't spill, especially when I've used them for foods with sauce. I've also put both the container and lid in the dishwasher and they've fared well and don't have any damage, even when I use hot water. Since the lids have plastic, I make sure not to microwave or bake with them on.
These food containers are made of stainless steel and have food-grade silicone lids. The set has a 4.7-star average rating from 39 reviews at Klean Kanteen and includes a 1.25-cup, 2.8-cup and 6.8-cup container. The smaller containers fit on the inside of the largest container, so you can keep food separated, similar to a bento box, or simply use the largest one as is. Unlike many stainless steel food containers, this set is microwave- and oven-safe since its texture prevents sparking or arcing, according to Klean Kanteen. Aside from the removable divider, the containers are entirely plastic free, according to the brand.
This small insulated container is ideal for warm foods since its stainless steel body helps maintain heat. With that said, it isn't microwave safe. It has a 4.2-star average rating from 2,334 reviews on Amazon and its lid has a top handle, which twists to lock and prevent spills. While it's best for warm food, you can still use it to store things like salad and vegetables.
How to shop for plastic food container alternatives
Many plastic food container sets have chemical additives (many of which companies aren't required to disclose) with adverse health effects. This includes BPA, phthalates and PFAS — and those are only the handful of ones researchers know about, according to Woodruff. The easiest way to avoid leaching consequences is to simply avoid plastic food containers altogether. Here's how to find the best plastic-free container:
Choose a material
Glass is arguably the best material to look for as an eco-friendly alternative to plastic food containers, according to experts. To a lesser extent, stainless steel containers can also be a reliable option. Glass allows for versatility since it's usually oven-, microwave- and dishwasher-safe, and isn't susceptible to leaching like plastic. Stainless steel doesn't always have these features, though it isn't susceptible to breaking or cracking and it often allows food to stay warm for longer. Also, many glass food storage containers have plastic lids, even if they're free of BPA, PFAS and other chemicals.
Use case
If you plan on only using storage containers to prepare food — whether it be on the stove or in the oven — and then transfer food to them, then they don't need to be oven- or microwave-safe. If you don't want to have to dirty more dishes or transfer the food to a plate for reheating, then you should make sure that whatever you buy is microwave or oven safe. If you're someone who likes to meal prep and then freeze food, be sure to purchase something that's freezer compatible.
Recycle
In addition to buying new containers, Woodruff also recommends reusing store-bought glass containers, like those for condiments or sauces, to store food (not necessarily heat it), similar to how you would a mason jar. Doing this can help you save money and it reduces your single-use plastic consumption.
Meet our experts
At NBC Select, we work with experts who have specialized knowledge and authority based on relevant training and/or experience. We also take steps to ensure all expert advice and recommendations are made independently and without undisclosed financial conflicts of interest.
Why trust NBC Select?
I'm a commerce editor at NBC Select, where I frequently write about home and kitchen topics. I also have a decade of experience writing about food. I spoke with two experts in chemistry and reproductive sciences for this story and included NBC Select-staff favorites for plastic-free food storage options.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mail
20-07-2025
- Daily Mail
Health tourists cost the NHS £200million in five years - despite Government pledges to crack down on those abusing the system
Health tourists have cost the NHS £200million during the past five years despite Government pledges to crack down on those abusing the system. Hospitals are being deprived of more than £110,000 on average every day by people who fail to pay when they are not entitled to free treatments. New figures obtained by the Sunday Express show the cost of providing care to these foreign citizens and former UK residents has continued to soar. Conservative MP Peter Bedford said: 'I suspect the true cost of this type of health tourism is far higher and call upon the Department of Health to recoup these colossal sums of money in the interests of each and every British taxpayer.' And Reform UK MP Lee Anderson said his party would 'shut down the 'health tourism' scam'. He said: 'Successive Conservative and Labour governments have sold out the British taxpayer. If you want to use our NHS then take out private healthcare insurance before you arrive. 'It is called the National Health Service and not the international health service for a reason.' It comes after a Mail on Sunday investigation, published in April, put the figure at £257million over the past five years. The latest data, obtained under Freedom of Information laws, show that last year the bad debt was £40.9million – up 12 per cent on the figure of £36.5million the year before. But this is likely to be just the tip of the iceberg as it only represents cases where invoices were generated and then not paid. In many cases officials would not have issued a bill because they realised there was no prospect of being paid. The Department of Health figures also exclude some of the major NHS trusts in urban areas that traditionally have the biggest issues with so-called health tourism. From 2017 NHS trusts were supposed to start charging patients upfront for the cost of their care, so administrators did not have to chase them for payment afterwards. However, there was an exception for patients needing emergency care, who could be billed afterwards. Foreign travellers to the UK and former UK residents who return home after having settled abroad do not routinely get free treatment on the NHS. The Government said its charging scheme should net an extra £500million for the NHS but a National Audit Office report said the money raised would fall far short of that target. Most of the NHS trusts with the biggest outstanding debts for treatments are in London. For the five year period, Barts Health Trust is owed £40.6million, King's College Hospital Trust £15.7million and Lewisham and Greenwich Trust £11million. One of the highest profile cases of a foreign patient being unable to pay for their care was that of a Nigerian woman who was treated as an emergency case at St Mary's A&E, in London, after her plane stopped at Heathrow. The woman, only identified at Priscilla, needed care for her unborn quadruplets and by the time she was discharged her bill had reached £330,000. The Conservative Party's 2019 election manifesto said: 'We will clamp down on health tourism, ensuring that those from overseas who use NHS services pay their fair share. 'And we will increase the NHS surcharge paid by those from overseas.' The issue was not mentioned in Labour's manifesto for the 2024 General Election, although it said it would create an extra 40,000 appointments every week paid for by cracking down on tax avoidance and non-dom loopholes. Alp Mehmet, chair of Migration Watch UK, said: 'Health tourism has long been a costly problem that successive governments have shied away from. Most of the NHS trusts with the biggest outstanding debts for treatments are in London 'Ministers are fully aware of its draining effect on the NHS. Wes Streeting would do himself and the NHS a power of good by getting on top of it.' Mr Bedford, who was elected as the Tory MP for Mid Leicestershire last year, added: 'This is yet another example of 'soft touch Britain' costing the hard-pressed taxpayer millions of pounds each year. 'When British people find it hard to get a medical appointment, and we see tens of millions of pounds wasted on foreign health tourism, is it any wonder that the public have so little faith in public institutions like the NHS?' Former Conservative Brexit minister David Jones, who now supports Reform UK, said: 'These figures highlight a real and ongoing problem. 'The NHS is a cherished national institution, but it 's not a free-for-all. 'Most people would agree that those not entitled to free care should be required to pay their way. It's only fair to taxpayers. 'The Government needs to ensure that the systems in place to recover these costs are actually working - otherwise trust in the system is undermined and valuable resources are diverted from British patients who genuinely rely on them.'
Times
18-07-2025
- Times
11 things that improve with age (including sex)
Ageing is often associated with deterioration — of health, fitness, even mental outlook. But not everything is doomed to get worse as the years go by. Here are some aspects of our health and fitness that get better from midlife onwards: Older people tend to have lower levels of anxiety and the Mental Health Foundation says that, from a peak of 28 per cent of 16 to 29-year-olds, incidence of anxiety decreases steadily, with those aged 70 and over 'the least likely group' to suffer. In 2023 a brain imaging study of healthy adults aged 21-85 in NeuroImage journal showed that two interconnected regions of the brain called the dorsal and rostral anterior cingulate cortex, which is involved in processing emotions, was less activated in older adults when they were shown images of faces with negative emotions. According to the Yale University team that led the trial, it suggests that older adults develop ways of quickly processing negative emotions, which reduces anxiety levels. We all know by now that muscle mass declines with age on a trajectory that, unless addressed, leads to frailty. But however old you are, it is possible to become stronger than ever. For studies in Frontiers in Physiology, a group of researchers at the University of Jyvaskyla in Finland asked a group of 65 to 75-year-olds to embark on twice-weekly full-body resistance training designed to boost their muscular strength. After three months of supervised weights sessions, they were assigned to continue with the workouts once, twice or three times a week while a control group did nothing. • I'm healthier in my sixties than I was 30 years ago: here's how Six months later even the once-a-week weightlifters had better strength as well as significant improvements in body composition (a higher muscle-to-fat ratio), cholesterol and blood sugar control. 'It is never too late to weight train,' says Dalton Wong, the personal trainer. 'If you have never done it before, it is possible to become stronger than you have been previously.' Migraines are two to three times more prevalent in women than men according to the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, with incidence often peaking in midlife but dropping from 60 onwards. 'Migraines can be related to certain triggers and may be exacerbated by hormone levels, the menstrual cycle and the menopause,' says Dr Dan Baumgardt, a GP and senior lecturer in the school of physiology, pharmacology and neuroscience at the University of Bristol. 'Often after the menopause, when oestrogen and progesterone levels have fallen and stabilised, sufferers see a positive change in the intensity and frequency of migraines. The same can also apply to cluster headaches [debilitating headaches that occur in cycles].' Juggling jobs, families and financial pressures creates a high daily stress load in our twenties, thirties and forties, which decreases dramatically when these stressors reduce as we age. At the same time emotional resilience improves the older we get. According to the Centre for Policy on Ageing, resilience in old age is defined as the ability to 'bounce back' to a state of equilibrium that comes from learning how to cope with and overcome adversity long term. Several studies, including one from the University of Manchester, have shown that over-64s are at least as resilient, if not more so, than people under the age of 26. Physically our body's ability to deal with stress might improve too. Psychologists at Ghent University and the University of Geneva found that during lab-based stress tests, a group of 65 to 84-year-olds not only reported feeling less stressed, but had lower levels of the stress hormone cortisol and a lower heart rate reaction than 18 to 30-year-olds. The actress Emma Thompson, 66, recently said: 'You need sex because it's part of your health plan, if you like. It should really be on the NHS. It should. It's so good for you.' She should have added that sex is also more satisfying from our mid-fifties onwards. Fifty-four per cent of men and 31 per cent of women over 70 in England are sexually active, with a third of these having frequent sex — at least twice a month — according to data from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing published in the journal Archives of Sexual Behaviour. • Yes, you can have great sex after 60 — I should know It is also likely to be the best sex of their lives for many, with a study in Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics finding that both men and women reported higher satisfaction with sex as they aged. Elsewhere, psychologists at the University of California discovered that women aged 55 to 80-plus reported higher orgasm satisfaction, even if levels of physical arousal had declined. 'Sex and masturbation are good for us and can indeed become more satisfying as we age,' says Joyce Harper, professor of reproductive science at University College London. 'We should make it a priority in our lives.' From our mid-thirties onwards we wage a battle against gradual age-related muscle loss, or sarcopenia, that only accelerates as we progress through the decades. But a team of British exercise scientists has overturned the widespread belief that older muscles are less resilient and slower to recuperate after a hard workout. Reporting recently in the Journal of Aging and Physical Activity , they showed how older muscles experience significantly less soreness and fewer biochemical signs of damage than more youthful counterparts. Contrary to expectation, results showed that post-workout soreness was consistently lower in the over-35s, with reductions of about 34 per cent after 48 hours and 62 per cent at 72 hours compared with those in the 18-25 age bracket. • Is creatine the secret weapon for midlife women? Dr Lawrence Hayes, a lecturer in physiology at Lancaster University, measured creatine kinase (CK) levels, a marker of damage to muscle cells, in the blood of participants. Typically these can take one to three days to return to normal, and until now it was believed that the process took longer past middle age. Yet in this study CK levels taken approximately 24 hours after exercise were shown to be 28 per cent lower in older adults than in the under-25s. 'We can now dispel some myths — so they won't take longer to recover, won't feel sorer and won't lose function for longer than they did at a younger age,' Hayes says. A decline in brain function is not necessarily our destiny as we age, as neuroscientists reported in a study of 702 participants aged 58 to 98 published in Nature Human Behaviour. They found that two key brain functions involved in decision-making, navigation and memory (orienting and executive inhibition) can improve as people get older. When driving a car, for example, orienting comes into play when attention shifts to any unexpected movement, such as a pedestrian or bike. Executive inhibition helps to block out distractions to stay focused on the road. Joao Verissimo, an assistant professor at the University of Lisbon and lead author of the study, says that both brain functions are skills developed with lifelong practice and can become strong enough to outweigh any underlying cognitive decline. Our brains reach peak capacity in our twenties and from then on slowly get smaller, but that doesn't necessarily mean that all aspects of memory will deteriorate. Researchers, including those reporting in Psychology of Ageing journal, have shown that while our episodic memory (recollection of past experiences) tends to decline with age, our semantic memory (the ability to recall facts and general knowledge) remains relatively stable — and can even get stronger. Examples of semantic memory include language, vocabulary and numbers. Your procedural memory, such as the ability to ride a bike or use a keyboard, also remains stable, according to research at the University of Illinois. Older people tend to be happier with their lot in life, according to a study of 1,000 people led by Susan Charles, a professor of psychological science at the University of California, published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. Life in old age is often more stable, enabling us to focus more on the present and less on planning for the future, and people tend to feel more satisfied with their close friends and family members, Charles found in her research lasting over two decades. 'This mindset is one possible explanation for high levels of wellbeing later in life,' she says. Another study of 1,546 adults aged 21-100 in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry showed that feelings of life satisfaction, wellbeing and happiness improved from 21 through to the nineties. According to the most recent Sport England Active Lives Survey, activity levels for those aged 55-plus are the highest since records began a decade ago — and, what is more, it is those aged over 75 who are driving the upward trend. About 43 per cent of people aged over 75 are physically active, meaning they average 150 minutes of physical activity per week, compared to just 33.4 per cent during the year to November 2016. At the other end of the age spectrum, the proportion of 16 to 35-year olds who are active is 2.3 per cent down on 2015-16. 'There has been a huge growth in activity levels for older adults,' says Nick Pontefract, chief strategy officer at Sport England. 'This is helping to support people to live healthier and happier lives.' The adage that with age comes wisdom is true according to a growing body of researchers who suggest that older people who are not diminished by dementia and cognitive decline are more astute and well-balanced than younger counterparts., for instance. One landmark paper from the University of Michigan, published in The Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, suggested that over 60s were more better able resolve social conflicts largely because of their ability to emphasise different perspectives on issues, to compromise, and to recognise the limits of their knowledge. And last year the psychologist Laura Carstensen, founding director of the Stanford Centre on Longevity, told Scientific American that 'the belief about old people is that they're all kind of the same, they're doddering, and that ageing is this steady downward slope' is a gross misunderstanding. Octogenarians 'include the wisest people on the planet', Carstensen said.
NBC News
17-07-2025
- NBC News
The best plastic-free food storage containers for meal prep and more
I used plastic food containers for most of my life — they're affordable and accessible at most of the grocery stores I frequent. But, in recent years I've learned more about the potential dangers plastic food containers and microplastics pose to my health and the environment. Leaching, which is the process of microplastic getting into food, is one of many reasons I recently turned to non-plastic food containers and cooking utensils. Harmful chemicals from some plastic food storage containers, like bisphenol A (BPA), per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and phthalates, can get into our food, especially when heated, according to Tracey Woodruff, an associate professor of reproductive sciences at the University of California San Francisco. 'There are a lot of different chemicals that are used in the making of plastic or that are in plastic-related materials and these chemicals can leach from the plastic into people's food,' says Woodruff. These chemicals can lead to an increased risk of infertility, reproductive health, cardiovascular disease and more, according to Woodruff. Additionally, researchers have found microplastics in several parts of the human body, including blood and the brain, according to Woodruff. With this in mind, I spoke with experts about how to find a good plastic alternative and what you should look for. How I picked the best plastic-free food container The main factor in deciding the best alternatives to plastic food containers is finding a material that doesn't leach and is safe to put in the microwave and dishwasher. Here's everything our experts recommend I keep in mind when making this list: Alternative materials: The best and most common non-toxic alternative to traditional plastic is glass, according to Woodruff. Unlike plastic, glass food containers aren't susceptible to leaching microplastics, making them safer to heat up, eat out of and prepare food in. Most of the food containers on this list are made of borosilicate glass, which is highly resistant to heat, thermal shock and cracking (though not shatterproof). Additionally, I also curated options that have ceramic coatings, which makes them stain resistant and nonstick, as well as containers made from stainless steel. While every container on this list is made from either glass or stainless steel, some of the included lids are made of BPA-free plastic and/or come with a silicone lining to prevent leaking, so some of the sets aren't entirely plastic free. BPA and PFAS free: BPA and PFAS (sometimes called 'forever chemicals') are molecular chemical additives found in microplastics that some manufacturers use to give plastic durability, heat, oil and stain resistance, according to Paul Anastas, a professor of chemistry and director of the Center for Green Chemistry at Yale University's School of the Environment. As I mentioned above, chemicals found in microplastics are linked to an increased risk of adverse reproductive health issues in both men and women, lung and colon cancer, metabolic abnormalities, birth defects and more, according to Woodruff. With this in mind, I only included plastic food container alternatives that explicitly mention being BPA and PFAS free and/or 100% plastic free. Use case: In making this list, I tried to find non-plastic food container options that you can use for a variety of purposes, including microwaving, baking, freezing and putting in the dishwasher. While not every option on this list is compatible for all four methods, most of them are dishwasher safe and microwave safe. I noted which purposes each one is best suited for. Want more from NBC Select? Sign up for our newsletter, The Selection, and shop smarter. The best alternatives to plastic food containers All of the products below are either direct recommendations from NBC Select editors and/or have at least a 4-star average rating from 500 reviews or more on Amazon. 100% plastic-free food containers All of the food containers below are entirely plastic free, including the lids. I tested and reviewed Anyday's microwavable cookware bowls, which are available in multiple sizes and are similar to this set of frosted borosilicate glass containers designed specifically for food storage, instead of cooking (though they're also oven- and microwave-safe, too.) You'll get two 2-cup rounded dishes and two 2.5-cup square dishes. The dishes, including the lids, are entirely plastic free, according to the brand, and you can also microwave and bake with the lids, which have vents on top that act as a handle. This set from Urban Green has a 4.1-star average rating from 2,031 reviews on Amazon and comes with five containers: a 0.5-cup, 1.5-cup, 2.6-cup, 3.8-cup and 6.25-cup. They're entirely plastic free, according to the brand — the containers are made of heat-safe borosilicate glass and the lids are bamboo. They're safe to use in the microwave and oven (without the lids) and they're dishwasher and freezer safe, too, according to the brand. These wraps are made of beeswax, organic cotton, plant oil and tree resin, according to the brand, making them entirely plastic and silicone free. These wraps have a 4.5-star average rating from 10,862 reviews on Amazon and they work in the same way you'd use plastic wrap or aluminum foil, except they're reusable. The set includes a small, medium and large wrap, which are best for using with solid foods, like sandwiches, loaves of bread and produce. You can also use the wrap as a lid for a bowl with salad. That said, the wraps aren't suitable for heating and you can only wash them with cold water, according to the brand. Mostly plastic-free food containers All of the food containers below are plastic free, however some of the lids or accessories have BPA-free plastic. This popular set from Caraway comes recommended by NBC Select reporter Zoe Malin, who loves how well they seal. 'I've used these containers for over a year almost every day,' she says. 'They're super sturdy and don't stain, even when I use them to store pasta with red sauce or curry made with turmeric.' It's made of glass and coated in ceramic, similar to the brand's cookware. The 9-piece set, includes one large 10-cup square container, ideal for prepping multiple servings of food, two medium, rectangle 6.6-cup containers for individual meals, two small 4.4-cup containers for salads or sides, two small rectangular inserts with a 9-ounce capacity for snacks and two small square inserts with a 4-ounce capacity, compatible for dips and dressings. The set also comes with storage racks you attach to the inside of your cabinet and straps that hold the lid and container together. NBC Select editor Mili Godio got this set of glass food containers as a wedding gift and says she can't 'ever go back' to her usual plastic Tupperware. 'They're super durable and stack really nicely on top of each other,' she says. The set comes with 10 containers of different sizes, so there's one to fit practically anything you need. The lids seal well and protect from spills, too, according to Godio. This set of glass food containers comes recommended by NBC Select reporter Harry Rabinwotiz, who likes the many shapes and sizes included in the set and that the lids seal securely. Plus, the containers themselves are durable and can handle high heat and travel without cracking. 'I don't worry about throwing them in my backpack, in the sink with other pots and dishes, or in the oven and microwave,' says Rabinowitz. The set includes one large 6.3-cup container, two 3.5-cup containers and one 1.6-cup container in both round and square shapes. I've had this glass set for about two months and I love everything about them. While the lids have plastic on them that isn't oven safe, the containers themselves are extremely durable — I've baked multiple foods in them (rice, poultry and pasta) all at once in the oven around 400 degrees and they don't have a single crack. Plus, I baked them with the silicone cover on the bottom (to protect them from damage) and it didn't melt at all. The lids snap closed and don't spill, especially when I've used them for foods with sauce. I've also put both the container and lid in the dishwasher and they've fared well and don't have any damage, even when I use hot water. Since the lids have plastic, I make sure not to microwave or bake with them on. These food containers are made of stainless steel and have food-grade silicone lids. The set has a 4.7-star average rating from 39 reviews at Klean Kanteen and includes a 1.25-cup, 2.8-cup and 6.8-cup container. The smaller containers fit on the inside of the largest container, so you can keep food separated, similar to a bento box, or simply use the largest one as is. Unlike many stainless steel food containers, this set is microwave- and oven-safe since its texture prevents sparking or arcing, according to Klean Kanteen. Aside from the removable divider, the containers are entirely plastic free, according to the brand. This small insulated container is ideal for warm foods since its stainless steel body helps maintain heat. With that said, it isn't microwave safe. It has a 4.2-star average rating from 2,334 reviews on Amazon and its lid has a top handle, which twists to lock and prevent spills. While it's best for warm food, you can still use it to store things like salad and vegetables. How to shop for plastic food container alternatives Many plastic food container sets have chemical additives (many of which companies aren't required to disclose) with adverse health effects. This includes BPA, phthalates and PFAS — and those are only the handful of ones researchers know about, according to Woodruff. The easiest way to avoid leaching consequences is to simply avoid plastic food containers altogether. Here's how to find the best plastic-free container: Choose a material Glass is arguably the best material to look for as an eco-friendly alternative to plastic food containers, according to experts. To a lesser extent, stainless steel containers can also be a reliable option. Glass allows for versatility since it's usually oven-, microwave- and dishwasher-safe, and isn't susceptible to leaching like plastic. Stainless steel doesn't always have these features, though it isn't susceptible to breaking or cracking and it often allows food to stay warm for longer. Also, many glass food storage containers have plastic lids, even if they're free of BPA, PFAS and other chemicals. Use case If you plan on only using storage containers to prepare food — whether it be on the stove or in the oven — and then transfer food to them, then they don't need to be oven- or microwave-safe. If you don't want to have to dirty more dishes or transfer the food to a plate for reheating, then you should make sure that whatever you buy is microwave or oven safe. If you're someone who likes to meal prep and then freeze food, be sure to purchase something that's freezer compatible. Recycle In addition to buying new containers, Woodruff also recommends reusing store-bought glass containers, like those for condiments or sauces, to store food (not necessarily heat it), similar to how you would a mason jar. Doing this can help you save money and it reduces your single-use plastic consumption. Meet our experts At NBC Select, we work with experts who have specialized knowledge and authority based on relevant training and/or experience. We also take steps to ensure all expert advice and recommendations are made independently and without undisclosed financial conflicts of interest. Why trust NBC Select? I'm a commerce editor at NBC Select, where I frequently write about home and kitchen topics. I also have a decade of experience writing about food. I spoke with two experts in chemistry and reproductive sciences for this story and included NBC Select-staff favorites for plastic-free food storage options.
