The 12 Best Meal Prep Containers to Keep Food Fresh for Longer

Between planning, shopping and cooking, you've worked hard to prep several days' worth of healthy meals. To reap the most from your efforts, make sure to pack your food in only the best meal prep containers.

The right meal prep containers will keep your food fresh for longer so that it tastes as good after a few days have passed as it did when you first cooked it.

Quality containers will also help keep spills at bay and make it easy to see exactly what you have stocked in the fridge — both keys to minimizing food waste.

There are about a million options to choose from, so we set out to find the ones worth buying.

If you're looking for basic glass meal prep containers, a lightweight plastic option that's BPA-free or something to tote your soups or smoothies in, this list of best meal prep containers has you covered.

We chatted with dietitians for their favorites and asked for tips on choosing quality meal prep containers. The products on this list were all chosen based on the following criteria:

• Material safety and durability
• Lid seal
• Convenience
• Ability to store
• Other features

This 24-piece set offers round and rectangular glass containers in 12 different sizes, so you've got options for when you're storing large batches or smaller portions.

Plus, they're microwave-, oven- and freezer-safe. You can freeze glass containers, but pay close attention to safe thawing practices.

The set of eight 30-ounce containers is ideal for storing large batches of just about anything. The locking, snap-on lids are spill-proof and water-tight, and these containers are even oven-safe up to 500 degrees Fahrenheit — without the lid, that is.

These plastic meal prep containers come in three sizes — two 59-ounce rectangular containers, six 25-ounce containers and six 11-ounce containers — and are perfect for prepping a week's worth of breakfasts, lunches, dinner and even snacks.

The lids are airtight and leak-resistant, and very importantly, the plastic is free of the endocrine-disrupting chemical bisphenol-A (BPA). They're also microwave-safe for under 5 minutes without the lid.

Zip-top bags have the benefit of laying flat when they're being stored and taking up minimal space in the fridge or freezer when they're in use. But, they're usually made with plastic that contains BPA and waste can be an issue as they're not typically recycled.

These large silicone bags are a cleaner, greener alternative that's heat- and cold-resistant and have an airtight zip-top. The best part is they're easily washable and reusable, so you always have them when you need them.

Simple glass Mason jars are great for storing single-serve smoothies and juices that you can grab before heading out the door. The jars in this 12-pack are just the right size for a filling blended drink.

Bonus: Unlike most canning jars, the lid is just a single piece, so you don't have to fiddle with a flat top and a ring.

If you like the idea of packing lunches or dinners in individual compartments, these 24-ounce glass bento boxes are just the thing for you.

The snap-on lids keep spillage at bay, and the tall dividers inside the containers keep foods separate (so the chicken won't get tossed with your fruit!) — even if the container gets jostled around.

If you're looking to make lunch-making duty as painless as possible, this kid-friendly bento box is definitely worth a look: It has separated segments for you to put different food items so they won't touch, making it easier to plan well-rounded, nutritious meals.

"This Bento box comes with its own small fork," says Dana Ellis Hunnes, Ph.D., MPH, RD. "Even though it says no BPA or chemical dyes, we still won't microwave with it in my house because it's plastic. But, it's definitely a nice bento box and it hasn't leaked for us in over a year!"

"These are ideal for storing fresh fruit, cut veggies and cooked proteins," says Rachel Fine, RDN. "The vacuum system is easy-to-use and convenient for busy mornings. My produce is kept fresh for longer — up to an entire week longer than your standard storage container!"

Glass, non-toxic and sturdy, these durable baby-food containers are perfect for families with kids of all ages, Fine says. "The smaller size is perfect for purees and cereals, and the larger size is perfect for leftovers."

And even if you're not feeding any little mouths, you can also use these small meal prep containers to keep condiments, freshly chopped herbs and sauces fresh for longer, saving them for later use.

Because these soup storage mugs are made with durable stoneware and BPA-free plastic materials, they are safe to use on a daily basis, says Christina Jax, RDN, LDN.

"These stackable and microwavable meal prep containers are perfect for healthy soups and broths that you batch-cook for the week," she says. "They are also great for prepping morning meals such as smoothies bowls and overnight oats."

Stainless steel is another material to look for in a meal prep container: It is plastic-free and does not have BPA, explains Jonathan Isbill, RD, LD.

That being said, Isbill recommends these stainless steel containers from U-Konserve: "They are super kid-friendly because the material is less likely to fall and break like glass containers," he says. Plus, the silicone lids are easy to clean.

Because these jars have two compartments, are dishwasher-safe and can hold hot and cold food with ease, Kristi Ruth, RD, LDN, says they are perfect for snack time.

"Use these jars from Kilner for taking bites and snacks like veggies and dip, chicken salad and crackers, yogurt and granola and so much more on the go," Ruth says.

"The stainless steel cup insert is an ideal size for holding granola, dip, guacamole, hummus, dressing, tuna, egg salad, chicken or chickpea salad. The options are endless!"

Before you go shopping or fill your virtual cart with meal-prep containers, keep this checklist in mind.

Lids with airtight seals keep air from getting to your food so it stays fresher longer, Andres Ayesta, RD, says. And they can help prevent annoying spills if the container tips over.

A mix of big and small containers helps you max out storage space in your fridge. Use big vessels for large batches and smaller ones for portioning out individual servings that you can take for lunch or stow in the freezer.

Plastic containers often contain potentially endocrine-disrupting chemicals like BPA or phthalates that can leach into food, especially when the plastic is heated or exposed to bright light. The risk of leaching is higher with hot or wet food, but it can occur with dry food too, Ayesta says.

Glass containers are naturally free of BPA and because they're clear, you can see exactly what's inside.

If you choose to go with a plastic option, make sure it's listed as BPA-free.

Good-quality containers with airtight lids will keep your prepped food fresher longer. But ​how​ long depends on what kind of food you're talking about. Heed these general storage guidelines from Ayesta:

• ​Veggies, beans or grains:​ Up to 5 days
• ​Meat or poultry:​ Up to 3 days
• ​Seafood:​ Up to 2 days
• ​Smoothies:​ Up to 2 days
• ​Salads:​ Up to 5 days when stored without the dressing.