Have you heard the news? Plastic is out, and safe is in—as in the safest food storage containers, that is.
We’ve seen a big movement toward more sustainable food brands—which is promising—but we shouldn’t lose sight of what our food is stored in either.
Traditional plastic food containers are chock-full of harmful chemicals with tons of negative consequences for us and our planet (read about these at the bottom).
Even BPA-free containers aren’t exactly what we consider safe. That’s why we’re going beyond BPA-free with a list of our fave alternatives that are made by brands that not only use healthy materials but also ethical labor and low-impact packaging.
We’re also rolling out a new Brand Rating System which will look at 22 different sustainability-related considerations, ranging from climate impact to water use. You can read about our methodology here.
We independently research all featured brands and we ask them to confirm their claims. In many cases we personally review recommended products. This post contains affiliate links which means we may earn a commission if you buy something. Learn more here.
Our Fave Non-Toxic Food Containers For Safer Snacking
Caraway’s quality ceramic-coated glass tupperware sets that contain zero harmful chemicals help keep our fridge tidy and leftovers fresh.
We’re big fans of Klean Kanteen’s segmented silicone and stainless steel bento boxes that keep our lunch (especially while traveling) as non-toxic as they do neat and tidy.
The nesting design of ECOlunchbox’s Seal Cup Sixome Set is a game changer for our tiny kitchen. We own several of this brand’s versatile food storage solutions, which are all made from high-quality stainless steel (some with silicone lids).
Index: Non-Toxic Food Storage Containers
- Caraway Jump to brand
- Hydro Flask Jump to brand
- Klean Kanteen Jump to brand
- ECOlunchbox Jump to brand
- Vejibag Jump to brand
- U Konserve Jump to brand
- Kilner Jars Jump to brand
- SuperBee Jump to brand
- Glasslock Jump to brand
- Stasher Jump to brand
Caraway
Price Range: $22–$305
Caraway‘s take on safe food storage solutions are high-quality glass coated with non-stick ceramic. The lids feature Air Release Technology, ensuring your food is fresh and odorless.
The glass storage containers are available in small, medium, and large sizes, or in a set of all of them, which also comes with minimalist fabric covered storage slots to keep your cabinets tidy. Caraway also offers Dot and Dash containers, which are fantastic for dipping sauces and snacks. Because the ceramic coating can be scratched, be careful to use wood or silicone utensils when scooping from the containers to ensure the coating stays pristine for years.
Caraway products are made by BSCI and SMETA production partners in China, and, on the whole, don’t contain any BPA, BPS, PFOA, PTFE, or heavy metals. The non-stick ceramic coating produces 60% less CO2 than other non-stick coatings.
My Personal Review of Caraway’s Ceramic Food Storage Set:
“I’ve tested Caraway’s containers and can say they are some of the best available. Not only are they safely stackable thanks to the slightly nested lids (which keep our fridge neat), but the non-stick coating really works. No more scrubbing out last week’s crusted-on leftovers that we forgot about… The set also comes with a magic cleaning eraser to remove tough stains, and we’re thrilled that it works just as well on their eco-friendly cookware.
We’ve also tested them in the freezer, dishwasher, and microwave, and we’re happy to announce they perform well in each, but we do follow Caraway’s advice to keep the Dot and Dash containers out of the microwave.”
Review by Amber McDaniel, SJ’s Head of Content
Hydro Flask
Price Range: $30–$45
Nearly everyone’s familiar with the Hydro Flask name for their colorful range of insulated eco-friendly water bottles, but liquids aren’t all their canisters are capable of carrying.
The food containers are made from 18/8 pro-grade stainless steel for zero flavor transfer and durability—with a lifetime warranty against product defects to back it up. They’re available in 8, 12, 20, and 28 oz sizes with a powder-coat finish that comes in just as many colors as their beloved bottles.
They’re also dishwasher safe and have a leakproof seal, but they aren’t oven, microwave, or freezer-safe.
They’re shipped in FSC-certified paper packaging annd Hydro Flask gives back is through Parks For All, a program they created to develop more green spaces and make the outdoors more accessible.
My Personal Review of Hydro Flask’s Insulated Food Jar:
“I tested out the 20 oz food jar and it quickly became a favorite for packing lunches to-go. We’re big fans of soup and other hot meal prep, so this container is perfect for packing up a hot stew, hitting the road, and it still being warm by the time lunch rolls around. And just like their plastic-free water bottles we’ve used for years, it’s SO durable, I’d be surprised if it doesn’t last a couple of decades.
Review by Amber McDaniel, SJ’s Head of Content
Klean Kanteen
Price Range: $10–$105
Klean Kanteen‘s post-consumer recycled stainless steel non-toxic food containers never fail to deliver—and we’ve tested plenty of them to know.
The Food Box, featuring a leak-proof silicone lid, is perfect for storing leftovers in the fridge and for our everyday lunch items. For example, it perfectly fits a sandwich (even the big bread kind!) with a little extra room for organic snacks, like carrots or celery sticks.
Aside from prioritizing your safety with products free of plastic, epoxy linings, BPA, and other toxic chemicals, employee-owned Certified B Corp Klean Kanteen also prioritizes the well-being of its team and the environment. They’re Climate Neutral Certified and a member of 1% for the Planet.
My Personal Review of Klean Kanteen’s Stainless Steel Food Storage:
“Because the Food Box is so lightweight, it’s ideal as a packable container, and I like to keep it on hand if I go out to eat so that I can sustainably box up any leftovers. Our larger versions, which have removable dividers to keep different foods separated, are ideal for this. If you’re someone like me with picky preferences about mixing food, you’ll know how clutch this is.
The insulated TKCanister is better used when I want a hot lunch, but I don’t have the ability to heat it myself, like when I’m on a road trip or going out climbing. That’s because its vacuum-tight seal and double-wall insulated design literally keep my hot food hot almost all day. I find the 32oz size to hold the perfect amount for two, making it the perfect picnic pal.”
Review by Amber McDaniel, SJ’s Head of Content
ECOlunchbox
Price Range: $12–$86
Using 100% high-quality, food-grade stainless steel, ECOlunchbox’s non-toxic food storage containers come in various shapes, sizes, and styles. You won’t find BPA, BPS, or phthalates, but you will find the weight of each container conveniently etched on the bottom to make your bulk store shopping trips that much easier.
The female-owned Certified B Corp ships all of its products in recyclable materials and offsets the CO2 equivalent to 4.7 million pounds of coal burned every year.
My Personal Review of ECOlunchbox’s Safe Food Storage:
“We personally love their nesting Seal Cups, which make for the perfect meal prep containers, as they’re stackable, nesting (when empty), and available in six sizes so you get that flexibility.
Alternatively, we reach for our Tri Bento box when we need to take food to go, thanks to its super secure, spill-proof latching design and three perfectly stacking compartments. As an old-school reimagined lunch box, it’s pretty nifty.”
Review by Amber McDaniel, SJ’s Head of Content
Vejibag
Price Range: $24–$30
Vejibag has proper fresh produce storage in the bag—an undyed 100% French terry USA-grown organic cotton bag, that is.
To use, all you have to do is dampen the cloth (every few days if storing for longer than that), place your fresh greens and veggies inside, put the bag in the fridge, and enjoy the crisp, fresh taste when you pull them out days later.
These bags will keep produce fresh for two or more weeks by perfectly balancing the right moisture level, keeping things damp but not wet.
While we don’t specifically own this Vejibag, we do own another cotton produce bag and can safely say it works wonders for keeping our produce fresh for longer.
U Konserve
Price Range: $13–$30
Plastic-free food storage containers don’t need to be colorful to be safe and effective. Sometimes, simple, unpainted stainless steel will do. U Konserve keeps it conversative with their premium stainless steel and silicone non-toxic tupperware.
Tested by CPSIA-accredited labs for any lead, BPAs, phthalates, and other harmful chemicals, the different sizes, shapes, and freezer-safe design make it safe and easy to store any and all leftovers. If you’re looking for silicone food storage, the BounceBox is as close to perfect as it gets. It’s dishwasher, microwave, freezer, and oven safe up to 400°F.
U Konserve is family-owned and operated, prioritizes ethical production practices in their facilities in China, and is a member of 1% for the Planet.
Kilner Jars
Price Range: $14–$61
Established way back in 1842 in England, Kilner Jars offers some of the safest glass food storage containers on the market—made from durable, heat-resistant borosilicate glass, which is exceptionally durable and allows you to put the glass jars in the microwave and oven.
Whether you need a stout glass jar for jam or something longer for canning, the glass containers don’t stain or leech flavor. Acidic foods are also fine, as the glass containers are resistant to acid degradation. The Breakfast Set is perfect for overnight oats, yogurt, storing granola, or anything else you would use glass storage containers for.
Additionally, Kilner ensures that its manufacturing processes adhere to responsible waste management practices, and shares food preservation tips and ideas for upcycling Kilner jars.
SuperBee
Price Range: $15–$230
Sometimes, food storage containers don’t need to be containers at all. In SuperBee’s case, they take the form of wraps, sandwich bags, and bread bags all made from (you guessed it) beeswax. Responsibly harvested, pesticide-free beeswax, to bee precise, combined with tree resin and organic coconut oil atop a 100% GOTS-certified organic cotton fabric base.
If you’re new to beeswax wraps, you can start with the Beginner 3-wrap set. Or if you’re like us and are dedicated users, go for the full Beeswax Wrap Combo pack with bags and wraps of all sizes.
SuperBee is a Certified B Corp, woman-owned, and supports women in Thailand by paying 20% more than the recommended living wage provided by the Fair Trade Association.
My Personal Review of SuperBee’s Beeswax Wraps:
“We’re buzzing about these reusable food wraps after having tried them ourselves, and we’re particularly impressed with how well they seal and keep food fresh. Even things like bread, which we’ve found can go stale because of small air gaps in a beeswax wrap’s seal, stay soft and fresh in these for days.”
Review by Joy McConnochie, SJ’s Co-founder
My Personal Review Of SuperBee’s Beeswax Wraps “Beeginner” Set:
I’ve been using a few of Superbee’s wraps for about a year now, and they’re still performing super well. The coating is still going strong and doesn’t show much wear and tear; it’s not noticeably thinner than when I first got it. Since they’re designed to last about two years (depending on use and care), I expect to get at least another year from them.”
Review by Amber McDaniel, SJ’s Head of Content
Glasslock
Price Range: $23–$71
Glasslock’s FDA-approved glass food storage containers aren’t just BPA-free, non-toxic, freezer-safe, microwave-safe, and dishwasher-safe (on the top rack) but their tempered glass construction is so durable, they can even go into the oven (just don’t heat it TOO high).
The glass container lids include an airtight silicone seal and are available in circular and rectangular designs, which make them versatile enough to use for everything from lunches to baking.
Stasher
Price Range: $11–$70
If you’re looking for healthy food storage containers to act as alternatives to Ziploc bags, Stasher has the stash just for you. Made of 100% pure platinum-grade silicone, their reusable snack, sandwich, and freezer bags don’t contain any BPS, BPA, lead, phthalates, or latex.
The downside is that silicone isn’t biodegradable and while it is recyclable, there aren’t yet widespread options to do so. Stasher offers one of the few, thanks to a partnership with TerraCycle so customers can recycle damaged or old bags.
The company also utilizes SA8000-certified manufacturing sites and donates 1% to non-profit organizations supporting environmental causes across the globe.
My Personal Review of Stasher’s Silicone Food Storage Bags:
“I’ve used Stasher’s alternative to Ziploc bags for literally years and love the ‘self-sealing’ that keeps snacks and sandwiches fresh, especially on the go. My favorite part is the fact that they are 100% silicone, unlike some silicone bags which have a press zipper made of other materials that melt in the dishwasher (ask me how I know…). I’ve used these in the freezer, oven, dishwasher, and sous vide machine with no issues. I don’t own a microwave so I can’t speak to that but according to them that’s no problem either.
“Just be sure to properly allow the inside to dry to prevent mildew that might leap onto unsuspecting food.”
Review by Amber McDaniel, SJ’s Head of Content
Why Choose The Safest Food Storage Containers?
Let’s talk about why you shouldn’t store food in plastic containers. Besides getting rid of unsightly pasta sauce stains, switching something more sustainable may benefit more than your cupboard aesthetics.
Hard plastic containers typically contain Bisphenols (like BPA and BPS), while Ziploc bags and softer plastics typically contain phthalates, which can leach into stored food when heated or exposed to acidic foods and thus into the body where they can cause numerous health problems.
BPA is linked to type 1 diabetes, high blood pressure, heart problems, and developmental problems—which is why the safest baby food containers should never be plastic.
Phthalates are known as endocrine disruptors, meaning they can interfere with normal hormonal function and lead to various health complications, like infertility and cancer. They also lead to high levels of oxidative stress, which is linked to cancer.
Not to mention, many traditional plastic storage containers aren’t recyclable or biodegradable, meaning they end up in landfills or pollute sensitive ecosystems with dioxins, microplastics, and heavy metals.
