7 Microwave-Safe Food Storage Containers, From $16

As a recipe tester and developer, I cook a lot. On my busiest weeks, I sometimes make three recipes a day, testing them all for accuracy, taste, and replicability. Naturally, I give away some of what I make to my neighbors, but I keep the rest for lunches, dinners, snacks, and convenient frozen meals. 

With so much food constantly being made and leftovers being saved in my home, I’ve come to rely heavily on my storage containers. I own a wide variety — including my oft-used and much-loved deli cups — but my favorite pieces are durable, leakproof, and, most importantly, microwave-safe so that I can quickly get a hot meal on the table without dirtying more dishes. Read on to shop the seven food storage containers I use most often, starting at $16.   

Best Microwave-Safe Food Storage Containers 

• Pyrex 8-Piece Clear Glass Food Storage Container, $32, originally $36 at Amazon
• Mepal Set of 4 Deep Microwavable Nested Storage Bowls, $90 at Food52
• OXO 8-Cup Glass Container, $164, originally $17 at Amazon 
• Mepal Mini Lunch Pot, $32 at Food52
• Anyday 4-Piece Medium Microwave Cookware, $70, originally $80 at Amazon
• Lékué 400-Milliliter Jar To Go, $18 at Amazon 
• Opopop Silicone Popcorn Popper, $24 at Amazon

Mepal Set of 4 Deep Microwavable Nested Storage Bowls

I’ve owned Mepal’s deep storage bowls for over a year and have yet to find fault with them. First and foremost, they come in a range of sizes that nest inside one another for convenience. Secondly, they’re made of thick BPA-free polypropylene, which can be stored in the freezer, run through the dishwasher, and zapped in the microwave without their lids. Thirdly, they’re not made of glass, so I don’t have to be nearly as careful with them as I do with some of my other containers. Fourthly, fifthly, and sixthly, they don’t absorb odors, have never stained despite multiple meals featuring turmeric, and never scratch. And while my list could go on, I’ll end it with this last point: They’re gorgeous.     

Mepal Mini Lunch Pot 

My passion for Mepal’s large containers is matched only by my love of the brand’s smaller line, which has all of the same qualities, plus the added benefit of portability. With its separate containers, the lunch pot is particularly useful, as I can pack yogurt or salad on the bottom and granola or dressing on top. Pro tip: You can size up if 1 1/4 cups is too small for you. 

Anyday 4-Piece Medium Microwave Cookware 

Anyday’s microwave-safe containers, which chef David Chang called “indispensable,” are another fabulous addition to my collection. While I would never travel with these since the lids don’t have clasps, I use mine often to store and reheat leftovers at home. I love being able to put the entire container —  including the lid — in the microwave without worrying about splatters as my food reheats. Food & Wine editors have even made entire meals using just their Anyday bowls and their microwaves. 

OXO 8-Cup Glass Container

I make fish (usually salmon) at least once a week because it’s so easy to execute. I throw my filet in this OXO 8-cup container, pop it in the oven, eat what I can, and store any leftovers in the fridge before reheating it in the microwave the next day. And I do all of this using just this one dish. The borosilicate glass is sturdy, the lid is leakproof, and the storage possibilities are endless.    

Pyrex 8-Piece Clear Glass Food Storage Container

No list of microwave-safe food storage containers would be complete without Pyrex. This set features a few different sizes, including two 2-cup containers, one 6-cup container, and one 8-cup container, all with leakproof lids. More than 1,500 Amazon shoppers appreciate their stackability, versatility, and dishwasher-safe construction, calling them “by far the best” option on the market.   

Lékué 400-Milliliter Jar To-Go 

My husband and I take a lot of oatmeal to-go, and Lékué’s approximately 1 1/2-cup jar with its detachable spoon is a perennial favorite. We make it the night before and reheat it in the morning before heading out to work or appointments, all of which can be done in this handy jar. The fact that it’s dishwasher-safe and eco-friendly is a nice bonus, too.

Opopop Silicone Popcorn Popper

I eat popcorn almost as often as I eat oatmeal and, until recently, I popped it the regular way with the package on the floor of the microwave, fingertips burnt in the steam, and a separate bowl for pouring into and eating out of. And then I discovered Opopop’s silicone popcorn popper. It collapses for easy storage, has handles that don’t overheat, and is dishwasher-safe. The brand’s buttery popcorn tastes even better when almost every kernel pops perfectly.