Best Airtight Containers of 2021 for flour, cookies and coffee

Without Tupperware, you would have a lot of chaos in your kitchen. Since food products can easily rot away if left uncovered, you need to look for the best airtight containers to keep your food fresh and protected from microbial attack. 

There are different types of airtight containers, and depending on your needs, you can select the container for a specific food product or capacity. 

Image	Products	Features
Best Overall	Best Overall Chef’s Path Airtight Food Storage Set	BPA-Free: Yes Pieces: 7 Usability: Food Prep	Check Price
Best Budget	Best Budget Fullstar Airtight Storage	BPA-Free: Yes Pieces: 6 Usability: Lunch Prep	Check Price
Healthiest Option	Healthiest Option Prep Naturals Glass Meal Prep	BPA-Free: Yes Pieces: 5 Usability: Meal Prep	Check Price
Most Features	Most Features Rubbermaid Brilliance	BPA-Free: Yes Pieces: 5 Usability: Food Storage	Check Price
Most Versatile	Most Versatile Royal Airtight Storage	BPA-Free: Yes Pieces: 5 Usability: Uncooked food and grain storage	Check Price

Best Airtight Containers 2021

1. Chef’s Path

Chef’s Path is a popular name in the industry, and its food storage set would be a great addition to your kitchen. This set is built to last as the company has used the best materials to ensure that the containers last for many years. 

The lids have been made with Durable ABS plastic so that they do not break. Moreover, there is a Lid-Lock mechanism which keeps the food fresh and provides 100% airtightness. 

Whichever set you choose, you will have different options to store multiple food items. The containers come in different shapes, sizes, and capacities. On top of that, a chalkboard marker is included with the set so that you can organize your pantry easily.

Chef’s Path has designed its containers to take up minimal space in the kitchen, and they can even be stacked on top of each other to save more space. 

2. Prep Naturals

If you need a set of airtight containers for meal prepping or for portion control, then you can use this set from Prep Naturals. The containers have SmartestLock locking lids that prevent food from leaking or spilling.

You can prepare your meals at the beginning of the week and store it in these containers to eat whenever you want. The company has borosilicate glass for making these containers instead of plastic as they believe in providing a better health option for their customers. 

The containers are microwave-safe and can be kept in the oven too. However, make sure that you take off the lids or they would melt. The company also provides a money-back guarantee if you are not satisfied with the product. 

If you are running out of space in your kitchen, you can stack these containers up as they stack up perfectly on top of each other. Being one of the best glass dry food storage containers in the market, Prep Naturals set has become popular with health-conscious individuals. 

3. Rubbermaid

This set from Rubbermaid Brilliance has the best dry food storage containers as they have Tritan lids to keep the food well-stored. These BPA-free containers are spill and leak-resistant due to the presence of secure latches.

You can easily use them for keeping your snacks, and they also come in handy during an event. From using them to plan lunches for the week to take them with you on day trips, there is a lot that you can do with these containers.

They are crystal-clear, so you can see the food inside. Being made of really light material, they are easy to carry. Furthermore, there are vents under the latches which ensure that there is no splattering when you are microwaving the food. 

They can be put in a freezer, dishwasher, or microwave. Also, you can stack them up in case you do not have enough space in your pantry or freezer to keep them separate. 

If you are searching for airtight containers large in size, then you will like the biggest container in this set.

4. Royal

The Royal airtight container set has 5 containers of different sizes. You should be buying this container set if you are looking for something to keep your lighter snacks such as pasta and macaroni in. 

The glass is slightly tinted to create a unique look, and the BPA-free container set is made up of durable plastic. To keep the food fresh, there are black lids that tightly fit on to the container.

5. Fullstar

The company does not only focuses on giving you a budget-friendly option but also a healthy one. These containers are safe and reliable as they are made using polypropylene that has been approved by the FDA. 

You can keep them in the freezer, microwave, or oven. Just take the lid off, and you are good to go. Since there is no BPA or other toxins, nothing harmful will be leeching in your food. 

Moreover, the containers are impact-resistant, so they would not break or crack easily. Just keep them organized in your pantry and enjoy a fresh supply of food.

6. BlenderBottle

These containers come with a twist, literally and figuratively. They have a twist n’ lock mechanism, which allows you to stack them up and carry them around together. 

There are four containers in this set, and they are ideal for keeping smaller or lighter foodstuffs. This might just be one of the best airtight containers for cookies and smaller snacks like macaroni, jelly beans, and much more.

If you have healthier food options, you can store your protein powder or supplement it in the container. The best part about this set is that you can take the top handle off and clip the set to your bag.

7. Preplt

These days, life has become very busy, and you need airtight food containers to plan the meals for your whole week. If you have the best food storage containers in your kitchen, it makes meal prep so much easier. 

This Preplt set has the SmartestLock system that that moisture or air cannot get through the lid to the good. It also provides protection from spillage or leakage.

The containers can be stacked and taken around as you best. Since these containers are made of borosilicate glass rather than plastic, they are a much healthier option for your family.

8. Otis

One of the best airtight containers Amazon, in terms of health and cost that you can find is this Otis Classic set. The containers are made of borosilicate glass, thus presenting a much healthier option for you and your family. They can bear a temp of up to 750F.

Along with that, the containers are leak-proof, so you can store anything from flour to soup in them. They have tight-snap locks that make an airtight seal. 

Also, they are oven and freezer-safe so you can reheat the food easily and store it in the freezer for a long time. Otis Classic’s glass containers are FDA-certified, so you do not have to worry about any hazardous toxins leeching into your food. 

9. Elacra

There are many uses of airtight containers, and one of them is that you can use them to store baby food. This Elacra set is made, especially for that purpose. These leak-proof containers will keep the baby food fresh for long so that your money does not go to waste.

The 4-sided lid locking mechanism keeps the container fully airtight and prevents the entry of any harmful microbe in the container. 

To keep your baby safe, these containers are made of glass rather than plastic. Most mothers prefer glass since it is a healthier option. Plastic retains odor and taste while glass repels them so the baby’s food will always taste and smell fresh.

Take the set along with you when you are traveling and save yourself from the hassle of preparing food on the spot by meal prepping using these containers.

10. Enloy

A lot of people want to know how to clean airtight containers as plastic and glass containers often retain food stains over prolonged usage. However, you would not have to worry about this when you use Enloy stainless steel containers. 

This set comes with 4 airtight canisters that you can use for storing coffee, flour, sugar, tea, and spices of your choice. They come in a variety of sizes and clamp up for locking so that 100% airtightness is maintained. 

Airtight Containers Buyer’s Guide

Everyone wants to have the best airtight containers in their homes, but you cannot simply choose the right container based on how it looks. This airtight containers buyer’s guide will help you in making this decision.

Nowadays, you can find airtight containers online and in stores. Other than that, you can also find them in the Home section of departmental stores.

All containers have certain characteristics, but some have some extra specs that make them more appropriate and beneficial for your kitchen. Read on to learn which specs you should look for.

Ease of Opening

Airtight containers are made in a way that they should not allow even air to pass through them. Thus, they are quite tightly closed. However, it gets very annoying if you have to apply a lot of force every single time you close or open a container.

This is why you should look for a container that has easy-to-open lids. Some newer types of airtight containers have latches that make opening the containers much easier.

If you have kids at home or you are planning to use the airtight containers for lunch, then you should definitely buy containers that are easy to open.

BPA-Free

BPA or bisphenol A is a chemical that has been used to make some plastics since the 1960s. It is a toxin that can get into your body with food and harm you.

Plastics that are made with BPA are not suitable for long-term storage, and they should not be microwaved. So, only buy containers that are BPA-free. Nowadays, such containers are easy to find as most companies have stopped the usage of BPA plastics.

Size and Capacity

How many different sizes do you want in a set of airtight containers? What should be the capacity of the containers? These are the things that differ from one user to another.

When you buy airtight containers, they almost always come in a set. There are a different number of containers in a set, in different sizes. You can also buy a set with all containers the same size.

The size and capacity should be in accordance with how you intend to use the container. If you are going to use them for coffee or keeping spices, you need smaller containers. For meal prep and refrigerating food, you will need bigger sizes.

Freezer-Safe

If you are going to use the container for making meals for the whole week or storing leftovers, then you should check if they are refrigerator-safe.

There are a lot of benefits to airtight containers, and one of them is that they keep your food fresh in the freezer. No odor or moisture will be able to enter the container and make the food soggy or smelly.

Microwave-Safe

Again, if you are planning to use the airtight containers for meal prep, they need to be microwave-safe. Smaller containers are not microwave-safe since they are made for storing coffee, tea, and spices.

Similarly, some plastic containers are not microwave-safe. Check the manufacture’s website to see if their product is warp-resistant in the microwave.

Stain-Proof

Over time, the airtight containers start to retain stains. This is most common with glass and plastic containers.

The stains become harder and more stubborn over time, and it is practically impossible to get rid of them. If stains really bother you and you are not willing to replace the containers after every few months, then you should opt for stainless steel airtight containers.

Leak-Proof

When you read the description for airtight containers, you will see that some of them are also leak-proof. It is better to get containers that are leak-proof because you can store liquids in them.

For example, if you have any leftover soup, it can go in the leak-proof container. You can do the same with chutneys or homemade jam.

Colored Lids

This is not really a requirement, but it does make your life much simpler. When you keep the containers in the cabinet, they all look the same, and it is not always easy to figure what is inside each of them without opening them.

You can either buy transparent containers so that you can see the contents inside or get containers with colored lids so that you can color code the foodstuffs.

We hope that this airtight containers buyer’s guide helps you in picking the right set of containers for your pantry. Do let us know which requirements you keep in mind when shopping for containers.

Frequently Asked Questions

Whether you have been using airtight containers for a while now or you just started using them, you will come across some issues. Hopefully, these frequently asked questions will resolve your queries.

Even though airtight containers are not as complicated as any electrical equipment, they do have their own set of related issues. You can find the answers to most of your burning questions below.

We hope that these frequently asked questions cleared the questions that you had in your mind about airtight containers. If you have another question, let us know in the comments.

5 Ways to Clean Airtight Containers

If you meal prep or keep food in storage containers, one of your pressing concerns would be to clean airtight containers.

Although most airtight containers are easy to clean, there are some that might be a little tough to work with. You would experience this problem with airtight plastic containers.

Even if you have bought the best airtight containers, if they are plastic, you will have to remove the stains from time to time. This is because plastic retains stains.

On the other hand, airtight glass containers are easy to clean as stains can be removed using dish soap or wet cloth. Here are a few ways to clean airtight containers.

Spray the Container

This is more of a preventive measure rather than a cleaning tip. Why not prevent staining in the first place so that you do not have to worry about cleaning the container afterward?

If you are using them at home, you would know there are multiple benefits of airtight containers, and one of them is food storage.

Cooked food has oils and colors in it, and these can stain the walls of the container. Before you fill an airtight container with such foods, spray cooking oil on its walls.

This will form a layer between the food and the container’s wall, acting as a barrier. Thus, the color would not pass through this barrier, and the container will not stain.

Remove Smells

When we talk about cleaning airtight containers, it also involves removing the odors. There comes the point when the container might have such a strange smell that you might consider throwing it away.

Before you do that, try a homemade remedy to remove the smells. Make a solution with 900 ml of water and four to five teaspoons of baking soda.

If the container is small, immerse it in the mixture. If it is bigger, pour this solution over the container and let it soak until the smell is gone.

Now, wash the container with water. If the smell is still there, wrap the container in a newspaper and keep the lid on it. After a few days, the smell will go away as the paper absorbs it.

Remove Stains

Before you remove stains from the airtight containers, make sure that there is nothing left in them. If there are big chunks of food in the container, take them out using a spoon or a fork.

Then, fill the container with distilled white vinegar to the extent that it covers the stain. If you do not have vinegar, use rubbing alcohol. You can also use hand sanitizer, but this would cost you much more.

Leave the container with vinegar for up to an hour. Vinegar has disinfecting properties, so it kills microorganisms that are residing in the food particles.

After an hour, drain the vinegar out and wash the container using dishwashing soap. Do not scrape too harshly as it might damage the plastic.

Rinse with water a few times, and you will have a container as good as new. Whenever you are cleaning an airtight container, keep the lid open until the container has fully dried on the inside.

Do not keep the lid back on if there is any moisture left in the container as it would only worsen the smell. Keep the container in a place that gets sunlight so that it dries quickly.

No Dishwashers

We know dishwasher makes washing dishes much simpler and quicker, but when it comes to airtight containers, it is best if you avoid dishwashers.

Wash the airtight containers manually, using dishwashing soap or a paste of baking soda and water. If due to any reason you need to keep the container in the dishwasher, put it in the top rack.

Plastic containers tend to warp in the dishwasher. The manufacturers might tell you that their container is dishwasher-safe. However, after consistent use, you will notice that the lids do not fit perfectly anymore.

Odor Absorbers

Some things act as odor absorbers and keep the airtight containers clean on the inside. Keep the containers out in the sun, and this would remove all bad odors.

Put baking powder or vinegar in the container and then cover it with the newspaper to get rid of the smell. Whenever you are using these remedies, rinse the container properly afterward.

There is no 100% effective method to avoid staining of airtight plastic containers. You can always opt for glass or stainless steel containers as they do not stain. Also, glass is a much safer option than plastic.

If you prefer plastic, make sure that you rinse the container well before and after putting in any food. Do not keep the food in one container for too long and let the containers dry completely before putting the lid on.

We hope that you have learned how to clean airtight containers and how to keep bad odors away. Now, your panty can smell fresh would no longer serve as a breeding ground for microbes. Let us know your tricks for cleaning food storage containers in the comments below.

5 Types of Airtight Containers

You would be surprised to find the variety that is present these days in the Home section of any store. Likewise, there are many types of airtight containers, and you might get confused when presented with so many options.

We have categorized airtight containers into 5 types, as these are the most common types that you will find in the market.

There are many uses of airtight containers, but if you buy the right type for your specific need, the functionality increases. We will describe different types of airtight containers and specify what they are best used for.

Plastic Airtight Containers

These are the most common type of containers that you will come across as they are usually used in most households. They are also cheaper than others and are easy to replace.

If you are buying plastic containers, make sure that they are BPA-free. Due to higher awareness of harms caused by plastic, many companies are using safe plastics or ones that are free of toxins.

Plastic containers, these days, are also dishwasher and microwave-safe so you can use them comfortably in the kitchen. These containers are available in different sizes, shapes, and capacities.

Another benefit of plastic containers is that they are easily stackable. Therefore, if you have a small kitchen space, you will find stackable containers beneficial as they do not take up much space.

Glass Jars

Glass jars do not only add to the aesthetic appeal of your kitchen, but they also are very beneficial when it comes to storing food. There are a lot of concerns with using plastic containers as plastic is harmful to the body.

On the other hand, glass jars do not present any such hazard. They either have a clamp or wooden lids that keep the container fully airtight.

Some companies sell glass jars with labels on them. So, you can sort your foodstuff easily, and the labels come off easily, unlike plastic or stainless steel. Glass jars are available in all sizes and are ideal for storing lentils, pasta, cookies, chips, noodles and much more.

Clamped Containers

These are the best airtight containers for storing foods such as pasta, cookies, macaroni, etc. The container could be made of any material but the clamp is made of stainless steel.

The clamp is very easy to open as you do not have to exert much force. Also, they provide 100% airtightness, so no odor, airborne particle, or moisture can get into the container.

Pop-Top Containers

These containers are the easiest to open, and these should be your pick if you have kids at home. They have lids that can be opened by pressing them with your finger.

These lids are present mostly on plastic or glass containers. They are available in all sizes and are great for storing anything from lentils to chips.

Stainless Steel Containers

If you need containers that you can rely on for a long time, then stainless steel containers are the best. As the name indicates, they are made of stainless steel.

These containers do not retain stains, unlike glass and plastic. Moreover, they do not break or get damaged over time.

However, you will not be able to put these containers in the dishwasher, so you need to clean this airtight container manually. Also, you cannot microwave food in this container as it is not safe.

Although you will find many more types of airtight containers, they are all modified forms of the types that are mentioned above. Let us know in the comment below which type you prefer to use in your pantry.

8 Benefits of Airtight Containers

Airtight containers have become a necessity in every kitchen because they are the ideal solution to today’s lifestyle. There are many uses of airtight containers. For using them in meal prep to storing food in the refrigerator, these containers are lifesavers in the pantry.

An amazing fact about airtight containers is that they are not just for storing cooked food but also for storing solid, uncooked foodstuffs, and even snacks.

There are different types of airtight containers for different foodstuffs. Let us explain the benefits of airtight containers in detail so that you get yourself the best airtight containers as soon as you are done reading.

Keep Food Fresh

The air around you is filled with pollutants, dust particles, and a lot of other particles that roam freely and can enter your food. These particles spoil the food. If you leave certain foods out in the open, they rot or get soggy.

Airtight containers keep your food fresh for a long time. For example, if you have any leftover dinner, you can keep it in an airtight container to keep it fresh till the morning.

These containers also prevent drying of foods. Thus, if you want to keep snacks or even cooked liquid foods fresh for days, keep them in airtight containers.

Prevent Contamination

Airtight containers also prevent contamination of the food by airborne particles or microbes. There are many foodborne diseases that are caused due to the presence of harmful pathogens in the food.

When you leave food out in the open or in a container that allows air to pass through, you are putting yourself at risk. Pathogens in the environment enter the food and gain entry into your body through it.

Upon eating this food, you are bound to get sick. Airtight containers keep you and your family safe from these harmful pathogens.

Prevent Rancidity

Another issue with keeping food exposed to air is rancidity. When oxygen interacts with the food particles, it makes them go rancid. If the food is rich in oils or fats, the chances of rancidity with oxygen exposure is very high.

However, if you store the food in airtight containers, no oxygen will be able to enter. Consequently, the food will not go rancid and will remain fresh for days.

Meal Plans

Nowadays, life is getting busier and busier with every passing day. If you have a hectic weekly routine, it is best to prepare some meals for the week over the weekend. This saves you the hassle of cooking every day.

However, you cannot just put this food in the fridge in any container because the food might get spoilt or smelly. Airtight containers allow you to plan meals for the whole week or two weeks in advance.

Keep Smell Out

Your fridge is a place for all the food that comes to your house. These foods include liquid foods, fruits, leftovers, and so much more.

Some foods have a very strong smell that easily travels from one pot to another and settles there. No matter how tasty the food is, if it has an off-putting smell, you would not want to eat.

Smell travels through air, so if you restrict the air supply to a container, no smell will be able to settle in the food. This is why airtight containers are so effective at keeping odors out.

Easy Organization

By keeping snacks or spices in airtight containers, you can organize them easily. Some airtight containers, such as those made of glass, have tags on the outside so you can label the container according to the food.

Organizing does not only make the cooking process much easier, but it also helps you find where everything is.

You can also organize solid grains, lentils, coffee, tea, pasta, spaghetti, and other things of the sort in airtight containers.  

Keep you Healthy

Airtight containers keep you and your family healthy. Three main environmental factors have an effect on food: physical, biological, and chemicals.

Physical factors include pressure or mechanical stress. However, if the food is tightly packed in an airtight container, there will be no spillage even if you drop the container accidentally.

Biological factors include the pathogens that are roaming around in the air, waiting for an opportunity to infect your food. You can stay safe from them by keeping your food in airtight containers.

Chemical factors include the dust particles or toxins that might be present in the air. There are many airborne diseases that you need to keep your family safe from, and airtight containers assist you in doing that.

Portable

Another benefit of airtight containers is that they are easy to transport and stack. They do not take up a lot of counter or fridge space, as you can stack them on top of each other.

If you want to store snacks in these containers and take them with you on a road trip, this is also feasible. Basically, airtight containers make your life much safer and simpler.

If you have ever had a situation where the leftovers you wanted to eat the next morning turn out to be rancid, you would know the importance of airtight containers.

As you can see, there are plenty of benefits to airtight containers. Let us know in the comments below how you use airtight containers at home.

Conclusion 

Here are our picks for the best airtight containers 2021 that you can have in your kitchen today. If you are struggling with choosing the best option for your use, airtight containers buyer’s guide can help you out.

Buying containers online can be a little daunting as you are not entirely sure how the material feels to touch. However, you can get a pretty good idea of the actual product by reading the FAQs. Let us know below which airtight container you will be getting for your pantry.