One of the most decisive components of starting your meal-prepping venture is ensuring you have the best containers. And appropriate tools and gear in your cache! So the first step is to purchase the correct meal prep for storing your prepped meals.
Proper food storage is a very vital aspect during food preps. Meal prep storage containers are the focal point of successful meal prep. Using the best containers for meal prep reduces food spoilage by keeping air out of the container and protecting your meals from smells, thus improving convenience organization and offering frustration-free, on-the-go eating.
What makes the best containers for meal prep?
Glass or plastic meal prep containersThe biggest decision you always have to make is whether to use plastic or glass meal containers.
Merits of using glass
ü Glass containers are durable; they last as long as you do not break them
ü They will not absorb the smell of the food
Glass containers do not experience over-time fading
glass is the best oven-safe choice
The glass-to-plastic seal is more air-tight and better than plastic to plastic
more economical for long term
Easy to clean
Demerits
glass is easily breakable
Compared to plastic,
glass is expensive, especially when it comes to replacing them
Too heavy for long travel or on-the-go eating
Costs more
Merits of plastic containers
Plastic meal prep containers are comparatively Cheap
You get several identical containers for good value.
More resistant drops –If you are lugging them all over.
Ideal for a mobile lifestyle
Lightweight
More convenient for the various sizes
Easily disposable
Demerits
The plastic seal is not so air-tight.
plastic can be easily punctured
is not oven safe
can potentially absorb food smells and flavors
Leak-proof and air-tight lids are the best.
When choosing the best containers for meal prep, you must consider how the lid closes. Ideally, good lids are supposed to keep all contents inside the container, even when hot. There are a few tests you can do before buying your lids. A firm-fitting lid will protect your food and save your bags from spills and seep accidents.
- Oven safety
For those who require heat up their food before eating, you need the container holding the food to be microwave safe. The plastic containers in this regard are not oven-safe, and plastic sets for meal prep are mostly not sized for storing a large meal.
- Freezer safety
Freezer-friendly containers will protect the food’s flavor, texture, and color. They help reduce exposure of food to air, which protects the food from any unwanted side effects of freezing. Good freezer-friendly containers are sealable and rigid. Freezer-friendly containers will not entirely prevent freezer burns, but they will go a long way in helping preserve your food.
Remember that the amount of time particular foods can stay in the freezer before their flavors and texture decline can vary. Uncooked meat, for instance, tends to stay longer than cooked meat. Therefore make sure you label and rotate your frozen meals promptly.
Factors
- Container size
Containers come in all diverse sizes; your choice of container depends on what you intend to cook and where you are going with your food. If you are moving from point A to B, portability most likely matters less than for an individual who continually bounces from point A to B to C and then to Z.
How portable is the container? Top Containers for meal prep can fit easily in any travel bag or small space. A lightweight, slimmer, flat-shaped container is most likely a meal-prep veteran’s best friend; it’s the most adaptable and portable, and fits most regular meals. Container size is vital because without counting calories, you can be close approximate food portions with serving size.
- Compartments
You may need to break up the foods separately if you make two or three different side dishes alongside a main portion. It, therefore, calls for containers to have compartments.
Compartments are extremely important when looking for the best containers for meal prep. They will help you carry your food in one container instead of splitting them into different containers. Foods that need not mix are kept separately in the
Long Lasting
- Durability
Good meal prep containers need to handle the wear and tear coming with everyday use, including occasional tumble. Make sure they are durable and strong enough to survive the microwave, freezer, and dishwasher.
- Ease of cleaning.
Tomato-sauce-heavy foods like spaghetti can be the worst enemy to some storage containers leaving crusty, hard-to-scrub lines and extreme odors that won’t leave. It is very convenient to rinse food residue using running water. Another vital factor is how easily you can clean the meal prep container after use. Glass and stainless steel containers are the easiest to clean after use.
Reviews
- Meal prep containers compartment dishwasher
They are 3-Compartment Stackable 10-pack premium Containers with Lids. The microwave and dishwasher-safe containers come with a reusable Bento Lunch Box with plate dividers. The containers are also BPA-free.
Pros
An affordable price for the good quality
They hold up to
standard size 28oz of food,
offer varied options for the number of compartments.
microwave and freezer friendly?
stackable with notches at the bottom.
Cons
· They are not durable
· The seal is not tight.
- Meal lab three-compartment container dishwasher
Is 3-Compartment Stackable Meal Prep Food Storage Containers with Lids? The containers are microwave and dishwasher-safe and come with an accompanying Bento Box. Besides, it is a great portion control bundle.
Pros
- Microwave and Dishwasher safe
- It comes with a bonus pack of Portion Control Plates
- long-lasting
- BPA free
- Air-tight.
Cons
- It is quite pricey
- Meal prep haven compartment container
Meal Preps’ Haven 3 Compartment Food Containers are air-tight containers with a Bento Box and a Lunch Box for Meal Prep. They come in a set of seven and a 21-day fix and portion control.
Pros
Bottom of Form
- Designed with long-lasting plastic and a double-snap seal with an air-tight lid to protect food from spoiling and spilling.
- The containers are BPA-free, microwave and freezer-safe, and dishwasher-safe, which makes them safe to reuse.
- Each bento lunch box stores a maximum of 32 oz. of food, a simple portion control technique. It works great when combined with the 21-day fix.
- They are durable
- They are affordable
- The seven sets give options when parking
Cons:
- Not as tough or safe as glass or stainless
- It is still plastic
- Not a sturdy plastic. The lid is easily prone to cracking
- Fitpacker containers, microwavable stackable dishwasher
Fitpacker has greatly upgraded its container, from the simplicity of the take-out container to bringing the sealing and leaking up to standard. The USA manufacturers developed BPA-free stackable containers with a lunchbox and portion control options. The original simple, inexpensive layout was kept but with a solid container.
Pros
Bottom of Form
- Safe food-grade plastic containers made from BPA and phthalates-free materials are also CFC standard compliant.
- A USA manufacturer specially manufactures it. They are dense and undeniably the highest quality meal prep containers ever made.
- Fully Reusable; they are microwave and freezer friendly and can be used in the dishwasher.
- The Patented Sure Lock seal close with complete leak resistance, making storing food convenient.
- It comes in a set of sixteen, giving you a broad range of packing options.
Cons
- They are pretty expensive
- At extremely high freezer temperatures, the lid can be broken
- Compartment containers container microwave dishwasher
Are 20 Pack 2 Compartment Containers Durable for 30 oz of food? The pack is made from good quality BPA Free Plastic with an air-tight lead. The 20-pack is complete with 20 sets, tops, and containers that are stackable for convenience in moving or putting in the freezer.
Pros
- Microwave and dishwasher safe. Certified and tested plastic for food safety, the containers are constructed of the best materials to withstand microwave and freezer temperatures.
- They are Sturdy and conveniently sized for easy portability. You can carry them in your for pre-portioned meals making them ideal for healthy dieting—an essential staple for your 21-day fix, a 6-pack bag, clean body cleansing and bodybuilding preparation.
- Reusable and sturdy enough and therefore dishwasher safe,
- Affordable enough and a great value for the money
- They are also stackable, which can save space in the fridge.
Cons
- Come only in 2-compartments reducing their versatility
Conclusion
Food storage is an important process usually carried out in most homes. People will take the extra mile to store food. Using meal prep containers is a good addition to the food preservation options. Meal prep storage containers are primarily the focus of any successful meal prep strategy. And for any meal Prep endeavor, you must have the best meal prep containers.
Luckily, many meal prep containers are available today, and you will need to strategically determine which type and size will accommodate your particular needs.