Tired of leaky lids and stained plastic? These 4 meal prep containers fix that

Pyrex has been making glass kitchenware for over a century, and the Simply Store set is its everyday option. The glass bowls can go in the microwave, dishwasher and preheated oven (without lids), so you can bake, store and reheat in the same dish. Glass does not stain from tomato sauce or curry and does not hold smells. The set includes several sizes that nest when empty. The trade-off is the lids. They are plastic, press-on rather than locking, and owners say they are not fully leak-proof with thin liquids. Keep soups upright or use a locking container.

If you carry lunches in a bag, a leak-proof seal matters more than anything else. Brilliance lids clip down on all sides with a gasket, and owner reviews consistently say they keep soups and dressings inside. The clear Tritan plastic is lighter than glass, resists staining better than cheap containers and looks almost like glass in the fridge. Lids have vents for microwaving. The downsides are price per piece, which is higher than basic plastic, and the gasket, which needs to be removed and cleaned sometimes to keep it fresh.

If you plan meals by portion, compartments help a lot. Bentgo Prep containers split each tray into three sections, so a week of chicken, rice and vegetables can be laid out in minutes. They stack neatly, are microwave and dishwasher safe and come in multi-packs that are cheap per container. Owners like them for lunches at work and for portion control. The lids are snug but do not latch, so saucy foods can seep between compartments. They are also lighter-duty than the Rubbermaid or Pyrex sets, so expect to replace them sooner.

Not everything fits in a box. Stasher bags handle snacks, chopped vegetables and marinades, and they lie flat in the freezer. The pinch-press seal is airtight when closed fully, and the platinum silicone can go in the microwave, dishwasher and freezer. Owners also use them for sous vide. Single bags cost more than a box of disposables, so the savings come over months of use. They can be hard to dry inside, and greasy foods can leave a film that takes a hot wash to remove. Buy a few sizes once and you rarely need plastic bags again.