What I loved: My team really fell in love with these containers because they copy the form factor of classic deli containers. However, instead of being made of cheap, flimsy plastic, they are resilient, dishwasher- and microwave-safe silicone. While silicone storage containers aren’t known for their super tight seals, I was impressed by how much squeezing and shaking these could withstand without leaking. I wouldn’t keep one in a bag full of stuff all day long, but they can easily handle a commute without making a mess. The internal stainless steel rim gives them a nice sturdy structure, and the volumetric measurements on the side make them great for meal prepping.
What I’d leave: Unlike conventional deli containers, these don’t stack neatly inside each other, which means they take up more storage space when not in use. Silicone is also notorious for holding on to stains and smells, but that’s a fundamental problem with the material, and not unique to these containers.
How we tested food storage containers
In addition to evaluating quality and other factors (more on that below), we performed a series of three tests on at least one piece from every food storage container set:
This is exactly what it sounds like. I dropped the containers on the floor. For the glass containers, I dropped them empty from the counter to the BA Test Kitchen floor to see if they would shatter (or not). For the plastic containers, I filled them with water and dropped them multiple times from the counter to see how well the lids stayed on (or not). Yes, it did get messy.
For this round of testing, I filled the containers with water and shook them vigorously over a dry paper towel and evaluated how much (if any) water dripped out of the sides—and yes, I made sure to wipe the rims before sealing them.
For the final round of testing, I made a “stain soup” of garlic tomato sauce and ground turmeric. I filled each container with the bold creation and stored them—upside down—overnight in the fridge. The following day, I put each one in the microwave and then emptied and rinsed each one with water. I then ran each through the dishwasher and finally hand-washed each one with dish soap. At each stage, I made note of how much smell and color remained on the surface.
