If you’re just starting out with meal prep, all the food container options can be overwhelming, and so expensive! Here are the Top 3 Meal Prep Lunch Containers I Actually Use weekly in my home, plus tips on what to look for when you buy yours.
Note from Danielle
You may already know this, but we take meal prep lunches seriously at my house. It’s hard work to pick, shop, and cook recipes. So I want them to stay as fresh as possible, for as long as possible.
When lunch is already prepared, precious time is saved. Hurrah! But that lunch will only last if you house it in a sturdy, dependable container. Womp womp.
Instead of giant novel of what to buy, I’ve curated this list of the three specific types of containers I’m always reaching for to hold my lunches. I’ve been using all of these for years, and I want you to know about them!
Happy lunching,
What is a meal prep container?
A meal prep container is a food-safe storage bowl with a tight-fitting lid meant for holding cooked food, ingredients, or complete meals.
Meal prep containers can be made from glass or plastic, and come in all shapes and sizes. There are numerous types of brands, designs, and qualities available.
What to Look for in a Meal Prep Lunch Container
Here are four things to look for when considering which containers to buy for meal prep lunches:
- Airtight required, leak proof if possible.
- Glass over plastic. Borosilicate when possible.
- More durable than plastic & won’t shed microplastics.
- Safely go from freezer or fridge to oven.
- Won’t stain or smell.
- See through so you know the contents.
- Microwave and dishwasher safe.
- Right size for a lunch portion: 3-4 cups volume
Related: For more on all the types of meal prep containers I use, browse my longer article on The Best Meal Prep Containers By Size & Type!
Top 3 Meal Prep Lunch Containers I Actually Use:
1
Prep Naturals 2- & 3- Compartment Glass Containers
⭐ Best for Snack Plate Meals & Divided Lunches
✅ What it is: Individual meal sized glass container with dividers that create compartments for separating ingredients and lunch components. Available in 2- or 3- compartment containers.
✅ Why I love it: Helps keep the dry components away from the wet components. Makes the perfect lunchable/bento box style meal container.
✅ What I use it for: Snack-style lunches, component lunches (i.e. saucy main + grain side), almost any kind of lunch! I use these a lot.
🔻 Downsides worth mentioning: Hand wash the lids. Storage can be tricky for a whole set because it takes a decent amount of space for all five containers to stack.
Recipes for these containers:
2
3- & 4- Cup Glass Pyrex Containers
⭐ Best for Reheated Meals All Mixed Together
✅ What it is: Individual meal sized Pyrex rectangular (3-cup) or round (4-cup) containers with plastic lids.
✅ Why I love it: They stack really well, and the larger flatter bottom helps with more even reheating.
✅ What I use it for: Bowl-style lunches that I plan to reheat and mix everything together.
🔻 Downsides worth mentioning: Hand wash the lids (though they are affordable to replace). Not completely leakproof (for soup or liquid, I’ll use my Rubbermaid Brilliance container).
Recipes for these containers:
3
Wide Mouth Pint-Sized Mason Jars
⭐ Best for Salads, Sides, Anything Not Being Reheated
✅ What it is: Classic glass mason jars with a wide mouth and metal ring lid.
✅ Why I love it: Available anywhere, completely dishwasher safe, easy to stuff with salad or eat out of with a spoon.
✅ What I use it for: Any odds and ends like berries, or small complete meals like salads or oatmeal.
🔻 Downsides worth mentioning: Not really meant for reheating in the container, but you could pour hot water inside or put it in the microwave without the lid. Limited volume in the jars compared to other options.
Recipes for these containers:
HONORABLE MENTIONS:
A couple more options I don’t use nearly as often, but I also own them and wanted to highlight their details. They might end up being your favorite!
Leakproof Container: Rubbermaid Glass Brilliance Containers (affiliate link!)
- Lid had a leak proof seal.
- High quality and dependable.
- Most expensive on this list (I only have one).
Salad Container: Bentgo Glass Salad Bowl Container (affiliate link!)
- It’s plastic, but has everything you need for salads.
- Can be expensive; I got them at Costco.
- A lot of parts to wash.
How to Pack Sauces With Lunch
Want to know the best way to pack sauces with your meal prep lunch? I’ve broken down all the options, from free to stainless steel. Let’s get saucy, shall we?
Which meal prep lunch container to start with:
If I could only buy one container or one set to start, it would be the set of Pyrex, either round or rectangular, whichever is cheaper. You’ll get the most bang for your buck.
But keep an eye out for Rubbermaid Brilliance container sales at your local grocery store!
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