Good storage containers

What makes a good storage container?

A good storage container does two things: it seals tight, and it lasts. A lid that closes completely protects your dry goods from moisture and air, so your flour doesn't clump and your coffee doesn't go stale after a few weeks. And a material that can withstand daily use, year after year, without cracking or becoming cloudy.

But a container also has to be practical for everyday life. Can you see what’s inside without opening the lid? Can you stack it so the cupboard doesn't become a mess? Is the size a perfect fit for exactly what you're pouring in? These are the questions that determine whether the container will be kept out and used, or end up at the back of the cupboard. The rest of this text is about how to get each of these things right.

Glass or plastic for your dry goods

The short answer: both can be right; it depends on where the container will be stored and what you are putting in it.

Glass is heavy, scratch-resistant, and does not become cloudy or discolored over time. It does not absorb odors or colors from tomato, curry, or strong spices, and it looks great on the kitchen counter or an open shelf. Our glass food storage container with a bamboo lid is a great example: square, so it utilizes space, and nice enough to be kept out. If you want to see our full selection of glass containers, you can find them gathered under Glass storage containers.

Plastic, on the other hand, is lightweight and can withstand a drop to the floor without breaking, which is especially nice for high shelves or in homes with children. Our Gastromax containers for dry goods are made of plastic and are available in a wide range of sizes, so you can match the container to the quantity. If you need a complete overview of the plastic models, they are under plastic storage containers. A rule of thumb: glass for items that should be kept out and look nice, plastic for items that need to be lightweight and robust for daily use.

How to choose the right size

The most common mistake is buying one size for everything. A bag of pasta, a bag of flour, and a bag of coffee take up very different amounts of space, and a container that is too large creates air around the food and wasted cupboard space, while one that is too small forces you to keep the rest in the bag next to it.

A good guide: a standard 1 kg bag of wheat flour fits nicely in a container of about 1.6 liters, while pasta, rice, and granola often need more. The very large ones, from 3.5 liters and up, are for the dry goods you use the most. The small ones, down to 0.35 liters, are perfect for baking powder, seeds, bouillon cubes, or anything else you only have a little of. If you only want to see the compact ones, you can find them under small storage containers. If you buy multiple sizes from the same series, you also get a uniform look, where the containers line up neatly in height and width next to each other.

Why food stays fresher in an airtight container

Air and moisture are the two things that degrade dry goods over time. Flour and sugar clump when they absorb moisture, coffee and spices lose their aroma when they come into contact with air, and an open bag never seals completely again, no matter how many times you fold it.

A container with a lid that closes tightly gives food significantly better conditions. It is also the best insurance against uninvited guests in the cupboard: flour moths and other pests cannot get through a tightly sealing lid, whereas they can easily eat their way through a paper bag. That is why a good lid is not just a detail, but the very reason the container does its job. If you want to assemble a whole series for the shelf, we have put the selection together under storage containers for dry goods.

Square or round

Shape matters more for space than you might think. Square containers stand edge to edge and utilize every centimeter in the cupboard or on the shelf, while round ones always leave small gaps between them. If you need many containers to stand close together and create a calm, uniform look, square ones are almost always the best choice. You can find them gathered under square storage containers.

Round containers, on the other hand, have the advantage of being easier to clean at the bottom, as there are no corners where flour and crumbs can gather. If you prefer that shape, they are under round storage containers. For most kitchen cupboards, the square ones win on space efficiency, but it ultimately comes down to what your shelf looks like and what you prioritize most.

Add labels for a complete overview

A row of uniform containers looks great, but when flour, powdered sugar, and baking powder look alike through the glass, you end up opening three lids to find the right one. A label on the front solves this in a second and also makes the whole shelf look more peaceful.

We have labels that fit the containers under labels for storage containers. Feel free to write the refill date if you want to keep track of how long the dry goods have been stored; this is especially smart for things you use rarely. It is a small measure, but it is often exactly what makes the difference between a cupboard that looks organized and one that actually is.

Are the containers freezer, microwave, and dishwasher safe?

That is a reasonable question, because a container that can only do one thing quickly becomes inconvenient. It depends on the material and the individual model, so always check the product's own description before putting it in the freezer or microwave.

In general: glass containers are usually freezer and dishwasher safe, and the glass part itself can usually go in the microwave, while wooden and bamboo lids must always be removed first and washed by hand so they don't crack or lose color. Plastic containers are easy to handle and are typically dishwasher safe, but their ability to handle the freezer and heat can vary. If the container is primarily to be used for leftovers and meal prep that needs to go from freezer to table to wash, it is worth choosing a model that is clearly suitable for everything, so you avoid moving the food to something else along the way.