Fridge storage organizer series#

So why don’t any show up among our top five or even on our recommended list? Here’s the scoop. Plastic containers, like Tupperware, have long been the obvious way to pack up food, and silicone options, in recent years, have become more popular. That’s how, despite not being microwave-safe, many stainless-steel containers still end up with high Overall Scores and rise to the top of our ratings. But these ease-of-use features are weighted far less heavily than durability or a leakproof seal. Containers that can nest easily to take up less room on a shelf rack up extra points, too.

So to assess ease of use, we take stock of which models-along with their lids-can also withstand the freezer, dishwasher, microwave, and oven. Deitrick found that the higher-scoring models often-though not always-featured additional sealing mechanisms, like gaskets and latches.įood storage containers typically do well in the fridge. Many containers were prone to leaking the best ones kept the water securely inside.

To test the quality of each food container’s seal, Deitrick fills each with water and sloshes it around. Only one glass model-the Caraway-shattered on impact. The best-performing containers hit the floor without losing their lids or breaking. For the second test, they simply drop the container straight to the floor from the height of the countertop. For the first test, testers slide the container off a 36-inch-high countertop onto the floor.

Fridge storage organizer series#

To test durability, Deitrick fills containers with dried black beans and subjects each model to a series of two “drop” tests. The containers with chips that remain essentially unchanged receive the highest score for the storage test. After two weeks, a panel of three judges evaluates the chips for crispness and flavor, comparing them to those from a fresh bag of PopCorners. To assess freshness, Deitrick and his team of testers fill each container with the same number of PopCorners chips (the kettle corn flavor, if you’re curious), seal it up, and let it sit. In our labs, we test food storage containers for their ability to keep food fresh, their durability, the quality of the seal between the lid and container, and their ease of use.