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Keeping a week’s worth of delicious workday lunches stocked in the fridge might seem like an arduous task (especially when it doesn’t feel like there's enough hours in the day) but it’s certainly worth spending a few hours on a sunday preparing different meals for the week to free up your evenings and to also help you stick to a healthy lifestyle.
The secret to properly preparing your meals is having the right glass containers to help you along the way! It’s important to make sure that your food stays fresh and delicious for the whole week without it going bad.
In this article, we’re going to be running through our top five picks and providing an unbiased review of each. At the end, you’ll find a helpful buyer’s guide area where we’re going to be going through the different types of criteria that all the best meal prep containers will feature, while also answering any questions you may have.
So if you’re trying to eat a little better or you’re a fitness fanatic that loves to prepare their meals ahead of time, read on for all of our expert picks.
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Our Pick
![[5-Pack,36 Oz]Glass Meal Prep Containers 2 Compartments Portion Control with Upgraded Snap Locking Lids Glass Food Storage Containers, Microwave, Oven, Freezer and Dishwasher (4.5 Cups)](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51Fn7jkXz2L._SL160_.jpg)
Whether you run a busy household or you have a busy, fast-paced career that doesn’t give you a lot of time to cook in the evenings, sometimes cooking and preparing healthy meals just aren’t an option. This is where the MCIRCO Storage Containers come in! Not only are they the most durable, versatile and reusable containers on the market, they also allow you to stick to a healthy food diet thanks to their 2-compartment design which allows you to plan and prep meals with ease.
Here are some features which stand Enther Boxes apart from the rest:
- They are freezer/washer/microwave safe! They can store frozen foods for long-term meal plans, heat up hot meals at work and can be chucked in the dishwasher when you’re done using them.
- They are stain and odor resistant so you don’t have to worry about lingering aromas or any stains from last night’s spaghetti.
- They come with an airtight lid that helps to prevent any spills or accidents.
- They have a 36oz capacity
- They are made of Borosilicate Glass
Best Meal Prep Containers - Comparison Table
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2 | ![[5-Pack]Glass Meal Prep Containers 3 Compartment with Lids, Glass Lunch Containers,Food Prep Lunch Box,Bento Box,BPA-Free, Microwave, Oven, Freezer, Dishwasher (36 oz)](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51J8KdRbm-L._SL160_.jpg)
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Best Meal Prep Containers - Reviews
We’re sure you know how frustrating the feeling is when you purchase a set of food preparation containers to find that they’ve cracked after just a couple of uses! With the MCIRCO meal prep containers, this isn’t the case, they have been built to last and to stand the test of regular, consistent use.
They are suitable to be used in the microwave, so they’re a great choice for anyone wanting to be able to warm up their meals in work, for instance. What’s better, these containers are certified BPA free and have been tested and approved for regular use. Thanks to two separate compartments, they make sorting and preparing meals easy and will accommodate any fussy eaters in your household that don’t like the different types of food to touch each other.
Ensuring that you get the very best value for money, Enther containers are washer and freezer friendly and are able to withstand low and high temperatures which means that you can re-use them again and again. Plus, to ensure that your food remains fresh and delicious, the lids are airtight with a snap-locking function and silicone seal that will prevent any moisture from entering.
If that hasn’t impressed you, they are also both stain and odor resistant. This means that no matter what type of food you put inside them, no unwanted smells or stains will be left lingering after you’ve finished your meal and washed them.
Pros
Cons
Made of high quality Borosilicate glass that is able to adjust to temperature changes much better than cheaper glass food storage containers, meal preparation is truly made easy with the EZ Prepa Meal Prep Containers!
Affordable and high performing, quality meets practicality with the EZ food containers. These food containers are also made of food grade BPA-Free glass that is thick and durable. They’re also very affordable (you’ll get a 5 pack) and a practical choice for the modern home thanks to their stackable design.
If you’re looking to control your portions or calorie intake, these containers have been conveniently made to help you measure out the correct portion sizes, while its three-part compartment design will help you easily prepare your meals for the week. Additionally, you’ll also be able to enjoy your meals hot or cold as the food prep container is microwavable and freezer safe! Made with you in mind, you can wash them conveniently in your dishwasher.
Plus, even though the food storage containers are quality, sealed and durable, they are also lightweight! This makes them easy to store and carry in your backpack so you can easily enjoy your meals out of your home!
Pros
Cons
Our next choice is the Prep Natural Glass Meal Prep Containers. These are a little different to what we have covered so far as they consist of a 5 pack stackable storage system that can be used in conjunction with one another or individually.
As they’re made of glass, these containers are BPA free and come with clever, SmartestLock sealable lids that are guaranteed leak-proof, so you can have confidence that these containers aren’t going to spill your food all over the contents of your bag. Plus, as they have the capacity to hold up to 290z (and measuring in at 6.5” x 4.75” x 2”) they’re really ideal for those looking to control their portions and calorie intakes. You can even put them in the freezer as well as the microwave!
The glass is certified Borosilicate glass which is very durable and long-lasting which makes them excellent value for money. As well as this, they are also oven-proof safe, so you can easily use these containers to heat up and prepare your meal after a long day at work.
Pros
Cons
If you’re looking for meal prep containers that will allow you to pack snacks separately or if you’d prefer to create one ‘whole’ meal (rather than separating it into compartments) so that you can easily heat it up at work, the bowl design of these Freshware Prep Containers may be better suited to you and your personal needs.
The perfect way to stay fit and healthy, the Freshware Meal Prep Containers combine supreme quality with thoughtful design. They are made exclusively of 100% food-safe, BPA, PVC and Phthalate free, FDA Approved polypropylene, these reusable launch boxes are the safest choice you can make.
With 1 spacious compartment bowl, you can use this set of 10 for various snacks without them mixing all together or for preparing one larger meal that will look and taste good all day long. You can even use these bowls to provide yourself and your kids with a decent meal of controlled portions with main course, salad and even dessert.
Plus, thanks to their unmatched quality you have the option of easily preparing more meals in advance and freezing them for the busy days when you won’t have time to cook, microwaving them to enjoy a piping hot meal and then clean them hassle free in the dishwasher when you’re finished.
Pros
Cons
Last up on our list is the Bayco Glass Meal Prep Food Storage containers. If you’re on the lookout for a smaller meal prep box that is going to be able to perfectly house sides, snacks or desserts, then the Nutribox One Compartment Containers are a great choice!
Combining ease with convenience, you can easily prep your meals and take them on-the- go with these smaller food storage containers. As they are smaller in size, they don’t have the capacity to carry a big meal, so they are ideally suited to carrying sides and snacks. However, these containers can accommodate a small lunch, which makes them suited to a mom or dad looking for a lunch container for their children!
Additionally, these stackable containers are BPA free, food safe, microwave safe (except for the silicone lids) and freezer safe - so you can feed yourself and your family with peace of mind that it’s safe. They are also eco-friendly thanks to them being BPA free and have been designed with durable (recyclable) plastic that will last for a long period of time.
These glass food containers also come with snap locking lids that are airtight to ensure that no spill occurs and that your food will stay fresher for longer. The snap locking system forms an airtight and watertight seal so you can have confidence that no accidents will occur.
Pros
Cons
Best Meal Prep Containers - Buyers Guide
After reading through our top five picks, we’re hoping that you’ve not only discovered which one you would like to purchase, but also the benefits of meal preparation and how it can change your lifestyle for the better.
However, you do want to make sure that the containers you are purchasing are reliable, long -lasting and most important, safe to use, which is why we’ve created this helpful list below which explains some of the different features to take into consideration before parting ways with your hard earned cash:
Material
One of the most important questions when it comes to choosing the best meal prep containers is whether you should go with glass or plastic! Each has advantages and disadvantages (glass is usually more resistant to high temperatures while plastic is usually more lightweight and easy to store)
You can even find metal containers out there on the market. However, though they are tough and practically impossible to break, you can’t microwave them - which can be a bit of an issue when it comes to meal prepping. However, they are suitable for preparing meals for a weekend camping trip, for example.
BPA-Free
This is a really important criteria to consider. BPA (bisphenol A) is an industrial chemical that is used in the manufacturing process of certain plastics, including those used for food containers.
This is a real concern for anyone who cares what they’re putting into their body because BPA exposure has been linked to issues with fertility, heart disease and more issues that are detrimental to your health. The good thing here is that glass containers don’t tend to be made with any BPA (sometimes it can be used to make the lids) so it is still very important that you double check before making a purchase, even if it’s glass.
Size/Capacity
Another criteria worth considering is how big (or small) you want your meal prep containers to be! Generally speaking, most meal prep containers are in the 24 oz. to 30 oz. range (which is more than enough to store one big meal or lots of snacks and sides), but you can get small ones around 12 oz which are great for holding smaller lunches for children or desserts. The average size is probably going to be good for a typical lunch or dinner, while the small variety is great if you want to take snacks to the gym or throw some in your child’s backpack before they head off to school.
Compartments
Compartments aren’t a requirement of meal prep containers, though you might enjoy opting for containers that offer this. Whether you like to separate your food out (or you have a fussy child who doesn’t want their food to touch each other) you’ll probably benefit the most from a 3-part compartment design. However, if you prefer to have one meal that’s mixed together, you might prefer a no compartment style container.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can meal prep containers be reused?
All the best ones can definitely be reused many times before you need to consider replacing them. All the containers that we have included in our list above can be reused multiple times (as well as being microwave, freezer and dishwasher friendly) in order to make your life easier and to also provide excellent value for money, too!
If you are going to be checking out some options of your own and you’re unsure of whether they are reusable, we recommend checking the descriptions to double check.
Should I pick a glass or plastic meal prep container?
Good question! As with anything, both of these types do have certain drawbacks but they are both, in general, great options to pick. If you want containers that are going to be able to withstand consistent high temperatures in the microwave or dishwasher, you might want to go for glass (however, they are more likely to smash). On the other hand, plastic containers are also a great choice because they are specifically designed to be strong and durable. However, you do need to make sure that the plastic containers you are considering purchasing are BPA-free.
How many containers do you need to prepare your meals?
This really all comes down to you and your personal preferences. If you want to prepare a week’s worth of food, you should consider purchasing a ‘pack’ of meal prep containers. However, if you only want to prepare a daily snack, you might only need to purchase one.