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There are so many containers out there, which should you choose? If you're looking for pretty and functional containers, you're in the right place! Here are a few brands that I absolutely love and have been using for years (no I don't get paid for this post).
Meal Prep by Good Cook
Ziploc Twist and Loc
Rubbermaid TakeAlongs
Pyrex
Dollar Tree
Curious how I use these containers? Here's the low down.
Meal Prep by Good Cook come in all sizes. However I've stuck to a select few that meet mine and my family's needs.
Containers for Hot Food and Leftovers
The black Meal Prep by Good Cook containers are great for meal prepping hot food or large amounts of leftovers. These containers hold up to 4 cups of food. Sometimes I like to meal prep Instapot hot food for the week and these containers are great because I can fill them up halfway for a full meal. These are also great for prepping quinoa or rice to use over the next few days. This makes dinner prep so much faster instead of waiting for the rice to cook every night.
Containers for Sandwiches and Salads
The Rubbermaid TakeAlongs (pink or turquoise that comes in two sections) are great for half sandwiches, hot foods or salads.
For salads, I love adding the mini sauce containers (keep reading) into the larger section with the lettuce, and place any toppings (like shredded chicken) in the small section so it's easier to reheat the chicken later.
For Sandwiches, I put the wet ingredients (such as tomatoes or cucumbers into the smaller section) to prevent the sandwiches from getting soggy. Toasting the bread will also keep it nice and crunchy once you add the mayo or other contents during meal prep.
Single Containers for Sandwiches, and Hot Food
The Rubbermaid TakeAlongs turquoise square containers come in two different sizes: 1.26 cups and 2.9 cups. The larger size is great for sandwiches, while the small size is great for smaller amounts of leftovers or hot food.
If your child goes to a preschool, these single containers are a great addition to a bento box. If your child's school has requested you bring hot food in a separate container, you will save the lunch lady a lot of time trying to separate the hot food out of a bento box (now imagine she has to do that for all the other bento boxes, yeah don't be that parent). So these Rubbermaid TakeAlongs are your answer and they last a long time.
Best Containers for Snacks
The small Meal Prep by Good Cook containers are great for snacks! These have two sections, each section measures out to 1/2 cups which is great for portion control. If you love to snack often throughout the day or have snacks with your lunch, these containers are your go-to! The only caveat is to be mindful what snacks you're pairing to prevent them from getting soggy. I've learned to keep the rice crackers separate from the hummus, and nuts separate from fruit by using the two sections.
Containers for Prepping Ingredients
Pyrex glass containers are my favorite for prepping ingredients so they don't get forgotten and spoiled. I like chopping up fruit and placing them into a large pyrex container until I'm ready to meal prep snacks. Or chopping up green onions, onions, cucumbers or tomatoes until I'm ready to make dinner later that week. It helps me to have ingredients ready for use and so I don't forget we have them.
Containers for Salad Dressings, Sauces and Dips
These Dollar Tree mini containers (comes in sets of 10) are great for salad dressings or sauces or dips. These are a must for salad lovers, since it will keep the lettuce from getting soggy until you're ready to add the dressing!
Containers for Yogurt Parfaits, and Fruit Cups
The Ziploc twist and lock containers are great for yogurt, chia seed pudding, overnight oats, cottage cheese and fruit cups. They prevent spills in lunchboxes and are small enough to fit. These come in several sizes but I prefer the 8 oz containers because it's a good portion size for adults. However, parents with small children prefer the 4 oz containers. These containers come in a set of 4 so it's easy to buy multiples to have one for each day.
The small round Rubbermaid TakeAlongs are great for yogurt and comes with a divider for nut, seeds or fruit. You can buy these as part of a set with different sized containers, and hold 1.2 cups. However these are handy containers to throw in your lunch box once a week (if you meal prep on a weekly basis), or wash them every night and then add fresh ingredients (if you meal prep every night).
There are so many containers out there! Hopefully this list has inspired you to find containers that work for you. Let me know in the comments below (pictures are welcome) what containers you prefer to use for meal prep. Or hit me up on Instagram @Calmlivingorganizing.
Karina Howell
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