The best food storage container sets you can buy

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The Insider Pick:

• Proper food storage helps you save money, stay healthy, and save space in your home. Thanks to the tall, slender design of the containers in the Equinox International Royal Storage Container Set, you can store a lot of food in a little space.

Preparing your own meals is a great way to ensure the foods you and your family eat are tasty, healthy, and affordable, but if you want to enjoy a wide variety of home cooked cuisine, you need to stock your fridge, freezer, and pantry with plenty of eats. Almost invariably, the well-stocked kitchen is also one where lots of food is thrown away. According to a 2012 study conducted by the National Resources Defense Council, Americans toss out about $165 billion worth of edible good each year, which amounts to more than $2,000 in annual food waste for the average household in the United States.

In terms of physical volume, the NRDC report estimated that we're throwing away some 35 million tons of food each year, waste that largely putrefies in landfills and adds greenhouse gasses to the atmosphere on top of the economic costs. But before we get any more heavy-handed here, let's look at the bright side. While food waste is a major problem writ large, there's a pretty easy solution available to each and every household: better food storage systems.

With the right food storage containers, you'll be able to preserve foods for longer in the fridge or freezer, save space on shelves, in drawers, and in the pantry, and better plan out your meal prep, too. In our guide, you'll find food storage containers designed especially for fresh fruits and veggies (AKA produce) alongside containers designed to hold anything from soup to pasta to cookies.

We've got disposable options that are nonetheless microwave and freezer safe and we've got glass containers that are safe for use in those appliances as well as in the dishwasher and oven. With a few of these fine food storage systems added into your kitchen's lineup, your household will waste less food, experience less clutter, and you might just find a reduction in your grocery bill, too.

Read on in the slides below to learn why the Equinox International Royal Storage Container Set is our top pick and why you might also like the Jalousie Borosilicate Glass Food Container Set, the Enther Food Storage Bento Box Containers, the Rubbermaid Brilliance Food Storage Containers, and the OXO Good Grips GreenSaver Produce Keeper Set.

The best food storage system overall

Equinox International Royal

Why you'll love it: There's one simple, brilliant thing that sets the Equinox International Royal Storage Container Set apart from the rest: all five containers occupy the exact same footprint, so fitting them into a drawer or on a shelf is easy.

There are a lot of food storage containers out there made with sturdy, clear plastic and with lids that form a secure, air-tight seal once in place. You probably have several of them in a kitchen cabinet or on a shelf right now, in fact. And if you're like most people, they are probably all of different sizes, each use different tops that are lost half the time anyway, and are basically impossible to stack or line up in an orderly fashion. Does all that sound accurate?

Enter the five-piece Equinox International Royal Storage Container Set. In this set, you will find one container that's tall enough for dry spaghetti, one medium-sized container perfect for crackers or cookies, two smaller ones that would serve well for sugar or storing leftover soup, and one little container good for berries, snacks on the go, or what have you.

All that's good, but here's what makes this system great: All of the containers are the exact same dimensions in width and depth, and all use the exact same lid. That means stacking or lining up these containers is mere child's play, and it means that one lost lid still means four containers that are ready to roll.

Granted, even the tall, slender shape of the larger containers is a bit limiting for some foods (you probably wouldn't use these to store leftover chicken wings or lasagna, for example), but the convenience of the matched sizing makes them perfect for most purposes.

With nearly 700 reviews posted on Amazon at the time of this writing, the Equinox International Royal Storage Container Set has a shining 4.7-star average rating. One satisfied buyer calls the containers "so easy to use" and ideal for getting "everything organized" in her pantry, while another speaks for many when she hails them as "truly air-tight."

A reviewer from Epicurious said the "containers are liquid friendly" and also found them reliably air-tight. And in the interest of disclosure, we use these containers in my house and we love them. My firsthand experience is what I'm more than comfortable calling them the best.

Pros: Interchangeable lids, easy to stack or align, reliably air-tight lids

Cons: Narrow shape not ideal for some foods

Buy the Equinox International Royal Storage Container Set on Amazon $36

The best multi-purpose food storage system

Jalousie

Why you'll love it: The durable containers in the Jalousie Borosilicate Glass Food Container Set are safe for use in the microwave, dishwasher, oven, and in the freezer, so food storage, prep, and cleanup will be easier than ever.

If you're the kind of person who liked to plan ahead when it comes to meals, then you're the kind of person who should consider the Jalousie Borosilicate Glass Food Container Set. In one of these durable, convenient containers, you could store food in the fridge or freezer, then cook it in the oven or microwave, then clean the container out in the dishwasher when done. This set actually comes with 10 containers, two each in sizes ranging from a 35-ounce capacity down to a 12-ounce capacity.

Whether used for foods to be prepped and served at home or for meals you bring along to the office, park, or to a friend's house, these containers seal reliably, preventing spills at home and on the go. The lids feature a vent that makes them easier to open when hot foods have created a vacuum during cooling, a good example of a clever solution to a problem that might not be all that serious but that's often mildly frustrating, so hey, why not address it?

Most buyers love their Jalousie Borosilicate Glass Food Container Set, with a buyer named Steven saying he was "extremely happy" with these durable, versatile containers. A lady named Belinda appreciated how they could be used in the "freezer, microwave, and fridge" and freezer, and found the "various sizes to be very useful."

I do have to mention that a few people have reported lids that don't attach easily or fit properly, so watch out for the potential dud in your own set. At least there are 10 containers per order.

Pros: Safe for use in multiple appliances, BPA-free construction, varied container sizes

Cons: Occasional lid sealing issues

Buy the Jalousie Borosilicate Glass Food Container Set on Amazon for $36

The best disposable food storage containers

Enther

Why you'll love it: The best thing about the disposable Enther Food Storage Bento Box Containers is that they're actually well enough made to be reused many times.

The Enther Food Storage Bento Box Containers are perfect for bringing a meal to work, on a train trip, or to a picnic in the park. Divided into three compartments and with a clear plastic lid that clips on securely, one of these containers is a great way to transport and serve a meal, and the convenience of a disposable food storage and service system is hard to beat.

But whether you're eco-friendly, budget-conscious, or both, you'll love the fact that you can clean out and reuse these boxes. And yes, you can even clean them in a dishwasher several times before they'll begin to show the wear. In fact, the brand promises to replace a container for free should it crack within its first 10 uses.

Ah, and one more thing, as we're talking about food storage systems today. The disposable/reusable Enther Food Storage Bento Box Containers are suitable for use in the freezer and the microwave. So basically they can do it all, except don't put one in the oven. That ... that would be a mess.

With well over 1,000 reviews posted on Amazon, these containers have a commendable 4.3-star rating. One buyer loved how "they separate food" and are "dishwasher safe," while another said they "make preparing healthy meals more practical."

A writer with UrbanVegan called the Enther Food Storage Bento Box Containers great for "portion control" and an "incredible low price for how many containers you get."

Pros: Disposable yet suitable for several uses, safe for most appliances, great price point

Cons: Not ideal for liquids

Buy a 20-pack of Enther Food Storage Bento Box Containers on Amazon for $20

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SEE ALSO: The best food storage containers you can buy