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The decision between meal prepping containers is glass or plastic, and it turns on how you reheat. Glass can go in the oven and will not stain or hold curry smell, while plastic is lighter, cheaper and survives being dropped in a bag. The Zulay 36 oz borosilicate set is the pick if you reheat in an oven, and a 50 pack of plastic is the pick if you batch cook a week at a time. The table below lists material, capacity and pack size for all ten.
A container that leaks in a bag or clouds up in the microwave undoes a whole Sunday of cooking in seconds. The right meal prepping containers keep portions sealed, stack efficiently in a crowded fridge, and survive a daily cycle through the microwave, freezer, and dishwasher without warping or holding onto old smells. Material matters too: glass resists staining and reheats cleanly, while a well made plastic container saves weight and cost for anyone hauling lunch to work every day. The USDA recommends using most refrigerated leftovers within three to four days, so a reliable seal on a set of meal prepping containers matters just as much as size.
This guide covers the best meal prepping containers available right now, from bulk plastic packs built for a full week of dinners to glass sets designed to go straight from the freezer to the table. Whether the goal is portion control, cutting down on grocery waste, or simply keeping a fridge organized, there is an option here that fits how often meals get prepped and how much food each one needs to hold. Packing prepped meals along for an active day out, like a hike, is easier with the right gear too, covered in our guide to what to pack for a day hiking a Colorado 14er.
Meal prepping containers compared by material and size
How we picked: we chose containers in stock on Amazon with strong review counts, then recorded material, stated capacity and pack size from each listing. Material decides how you can reheat and how long the container lasts, so it leads the comparison rather than price per unit. We did not test these containers ourselves.
| Container | Material | Capacity | Pack size | Key feature | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Freshware 50 Pack | Plastic | Not stated | 50 containers | Microwave, freezer | A full week of portions |
| Rubbermaid Premier | Plastic | Mixed sizes | Set | 4 sided locking lid | Stain resistance |
| Anchor Hocking 2 Cup | Glass | 2 cups | Set | Oven and microwave safe | Reheating in the oven |
| Zulay Kitchen 36oz | Borosilicate glass | 36 oz | 5 pieces | Oven safe | Full sized meals |
| Kitch’nMore 38oz | Plastic | 38 oz | 30 containers | Extra thick | Largest portions in bulk |
| Ello Duraglass | Glass with sleeve | Mixed | Set | Silicone sleeve | Glass with drop protection |
| Mepal Cirqula 3 Piece | Plastic | Mixed | 3 pieces | Servable bowl shape | Doubling as a serving dish |
| LocknLock Easy Essentials | Plastic | Mixed | Set | Side latch seal | The most secure seal |
| Pyrex 1 Cup | Glass | 1 cup | 12 pieces | Oven and microwave safe | Small portions and sauces |
| Ello Plastic with Boot | Plastic | 3.7 cups | Set | Silicone boot | A standard lunch portion |
Glass or plastic, and what capacity to buy
Glass is oven safe, does not stain from tomato or turmeric and does not retain odours, at the cost of weight and breakability. Borosilicate, used in the Zulay set, handles thermal change better than ordinary soda lime glass. Plastic wins on weight, price and surviving a commute, and the silicone sleeved options split the difference. On capacity, a standard adult main sits comfortably around 3 to 4 cups, so the 36 and 38 ounce options suit a full meal while the 1 and 2 cup sets are for sides, sauces and snacks rather than lunches.
Choosing the Right Meal Prepping Containers
These meal prepping containers were chosen to cover the two things that matter most for a prep routine: an airtight seal that survives the fridge, freezer, and microwave, and a shape that stacks cleanly instead of taking over a shelf. Whether that means a thirty container bulk pack for a full household or a small glass set for solo portions, each option here holds up to the daily wear of opening, reheating, and washing.
If starting a prep routine for the first time, begin with a set of meal prepping containers sized around three or four cups per container, since that covers most single meal portions without leaving extra space for food to shift and spill. Glass is worth the extra cost for anyone reheating sauces or tomato based dishes often, since it will not stain or hold onto smells the way plastic can over time. For a bigger household, lean toward one of the bulk packs and add a smaller glass set for snacks or side dishes.
A consistent prep routine saves time during the week and makes it far easier to stick to portion goals, especially when paired with a regular workout schedule like the options in our guide to the best stepper machines for home workouts. Pick a set that matches how much cooking actually happens on a given Sunday, and the rest of the week gets noticeably easier.
Meal prepping containers: your questions answered
What are the best containers for meal prepping?
It depends on how you reheat, which is the question worth settling first. If you use an oven, glass is the only option here that goes in it, and the Zulay borosilicate set at 36 ounces holds a full meal. If you batch cook and carry lunches, a 50 pack of stackable plastic covers a week and survives being dropped in a bag.
Is glass or plastic better for meal prep?
Glass does not stain, does not hold odours and can go in the oven, so it lasts longer and stays looking new. Plastic is lighter, cheaper per container and does not shatter, which matters if it travels in a rucksack. Neither is simply better, and the silicone sleeved options like the Ello Duraglass are a genuine middle ground.
How many meal prep containers do I need?
Count meals rather than days, so five lunches plus a few for sauces and snacks is a realistic starting point for one person. Doubling that lets you prep while the previous batch is still in use rather than washing up mid week. That is why the 30 and 50 packs exist, and why a three piece set suits someone prepping occasionally rather than weekly.
What size container is best for meal prep?
For a full adult main, roughly 3 to 4 cups, which is what the 36 and 38 ounce options provide. The 1 and 2 cup sets here are for sides, dressings and snacks and will not hold a lunch. Buying a mixed set is often more useful than a single size, since a week of prep usually includes both.
Can meal prepping containers go in the oven?
Only the glass ones, and only where the manufacturer says so. The Anchor Hocking, Zulay and Pyrex options here are oven safe, though the lids never are and must be removed first. No plastic container in this list is oven safe, and putting one in will melt it.
Do plastic containers stain?
Yes, particularly with tomato sauces, curries and anything containing turmeric, and the colour is very difficult to remove once set. Glass avoids the problem entirely, which is the main practical argument for it. If you use plastic, rinsing immediately rather than leaving it to soak reduces staining noticeably.
Are these containers freezer safe?
Most are, but leave headspace because food expands as it freezes, and that is what cracks glass rather than the cold itself. Filling to around three quarters and cooling food fully before freezing avoids it. Check the specific listing, since freezer safety and oven safety are separate claims and a container may allow one and not the other.
How to choose meal prepping containers
Let your reheating method decide the material
Oven reheating rules out plastic entirely, so that single habit settles the choice. Microwave and fridge use works with either, which opens up the cheaper and lighter options. Decide how you will actually reheat before comparing anything else.
Buy for a full meal, not a side
A standard adult main needs roughly 3 to 4 cups, and smaller sets get relegated to sauces within a week. The 1 and 2 cup options here are genuinely useful, just not as lunch boxes. Mixed size sets tend to get the most use across a real week of prep.
Check the lid, because that is what fails
Containers rarely wear out but lids warp, crack and stop sealing, which is when leaks start. Latching lids like the LocknLock and four sided locking lids like the Rubbermaid hold their seal longer than simple snap on lids. Where a set is sold cheaply per unit, the lid is usually where the saving comes from.