Buying guide
Glass food storage containers: the lid is the question
Almost every glass container comes with a plastic lid. Which plastic, and whether it touches the food, is what makers rarely say.
The glass is rarely the problem; the lid is. Pyrex Zero Plastic (77, AU) has a borosilicate glass base and glass lid. Anchor Hocking TrueSeal (84) publishes its glass composition. Décor Glass Clips (73, AU) names borosilicate and a silicone seal.
It is a disclosure score out of 100, not a safety rating: what it is made of, who tested it, where it is made, whether the claim matches the evidence. A product can score 20 and be perfectly fine to cook in. What a low score means is that nobody outside the company can check. The rubric is here.
Our picks
Anchor Hocking TrueSealPublishes an oxide formula for its glass. Made in the USA.84/100See the full entry →
Pyrex Zero Plastic Rectangular Container 0.8L (David Jones)Glass base and glass lid, made in France.77/100See the full entry →
Décor Premium Glass Clips Oblong 1L (Myer)Borosilicate glass, removable silicone seal.73/100See the full entry →
Libbey Baker’s Basics Glass Bowl Set“Lead free soda lime glass”. Lid resin not named.73/100See the full entry →
Soda-lime and borosilicate handle temperature swings differently. Pyrex’s Australian distributor lists both, from three countries, without saying which you are buying (55). How to tell.
Every glass container in this guide
| Product | Score /100 | What touches the food | Our call |
|---|---|---|---|
| 84 | 60/60 | Best material | |
| 77 | 60/60 | Buy it | |
| 73 | 60/60 | Buy it | |
| 73 | 60/60 | Buy it | |
| 70 | 53/60 | Buy it | |
WECK Mold Jar · US | 70 | 53/60 | Read the caveats |
| 66 | 53/60 | Read the caveats | |
| 55 | 47/60 | They won't say |
- 84/100
- 77/100Pyrex Zero Plastic Rectangular Container 0.8L (David Jones) · AU
Borosilicate glass base AND borosilicate glass lid
The full entry → - 73/100
- 73/100Libbey Baker’s Basics Glass Bowl Set · US
“Lead free soda lime glass” — the glass type actually named
The full entry → - No maker photo70/100IKEA 365+ Food Container with Lid, glass 1.2L · AU
“Heat resistant glass” — type not published
The full entry → - No maker photo70/100
- No maker photo66/100
- No maker photo55/100
Plastic and stainless containers are on the food storage page and the Australian one.
Questions people ask
Should you store food in plastic or glass containers?
Glass removes the question. One study counted micro- and nanoplastic particles released by plastic tubs when microwaved, and during fridge storage too. What that means for health has not been shown. What the microwave study found.
Are there glass food containers without plastic lids?
Yes. Pyrex Zero Plastic (77, AU) has a borosilicate glass lid; the seal material is not published. WECK jars (70) use glass lids with a natural rubber ring and metal clamps.
What are some good glass bowls for meal prep?
Décor Glass Clips (73, AU) names borosilicate glass and a removable silicone seal, and rates the base oven- and air-fryer-safe. Anchor Hocking TrueSeal (84) is rated to 425°F and for the microwave and freezer.
What are some good glass storage containers for a pantry?
Jars with a glass or metal lid keep plastic out entirely. WECK (70) uses a glass lid and natural rubber ring. Ball Mason jars (66) use tin-plated steel lids, though the lid sealing compound is not named.
Related
Sources
- Anchor Hocking TrueSeal — maker or retailer page. www.anchorhocking.com
- Pyrex Zero Plastic Rectangular Container 0.8L (David Jones) — maker or retailer page. pyrex.co.uk
- Décor Premium Glass Clips Oblong 1L (Myer) — maker or retailer page. decor.com.au
- Libbey Baker’s Basics Glass Bowl Set — maker or retailer page. shop.libbey.com
- IKEA 365+ Food Container with Lid, glass 1.2L — maker or retailer page. www.ikea.com
- WECK Mold Jar — maker or retailer page. weckjars.com
- Ball Mason Jars, Wide Mouth 12-pack — maker or retailer page. www.ballmasonjars.com
- Pyrex Simply Store (Australian stock) — maker or retailer page. globalkitchenbrands.com.au
- MessyPig, Pyrex: borosilicate or soda-lime?. MessyPig, Pyrex: borosilicate or soda-lime?
- MessyPig, Is it safe to microwave plastic containers?. MessyPig, Is it safe to microwave plastic containers?
- MessyPig materials rubric. MessyPig materials rubric
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New scores, brands that finally answered, and any rule change that affects what you can buy. The list is not open yet — email us and we will add you when it is.