Not Pyrex: Consumer Reports Says This Stainless Steel Food Container Set Is Nearly Perfect

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If you're storing your leftovers in food containers you kept after a restaurant delivers pad Thai or chicken noodle soup, it may be time for an upgrade. Just because Anthony Bourdain kept his food in plastic deli containers doesn't mean you have to. Rather than digging through thrift stores in search of old, superior PYREX, there may be a better and less time-consuming answer. Consumer Reports, the nonprofit consumer advocacy group, tested 28 different food containers and found a set that is just a few points away from perfect: Cykorxicc's 24-piece Stainless Steel Food Storage Container Set.

The group praised the set for durability, seal quality, and ease of use. Only IKEA's food storage container was rated slightly higher by Consumer Reports, but those are only sold as individual pieces. The Cykorxicc set includes three 400 milliliter rectangular containers, two 400 milliliter round containers, one tall 550 milliliter rectangular container, one 600 milliliter rectangular container, two 600 milliliter round containers, two 900 milliliter rectangular containers, and one tall 1500 milliliter rectangular container, all with lids that clamp on. While they can't go in the microwave and you can't readily see what's inside, stainless steel containers use a durable material that won't absorb odor and is dishwasher safe. You can get the Cykorxicc 12-piece (Consumer Reports counts the lids as individual pieces) Stainless Steel Food Storage Containers on Amazon for around $50.

Customer reviewers on Amazon give the Cykorxicc set 4.4 stars from almost 400 reviews, largely praising it for its durability and the fact that it isn't plastic. "We have peace of mind knowing we aren't storing food in plastic, and we aren't still using the heavy/breakable glass," wrote a reviewer. Compared to heavy glass, customers appreciate the lightweight stainless steel. Most use the containers in their refrigerator or freezer. If your freezer is in need of some organization, these will help tame the chaos.

One thing to consider is that these containers are made from grade 304 stainless steel. This grade is typically all-purpose, but can run into problems with pitting and corrosion if you are a heavy pickler and use the containers to store anything brined. For that, you'll want to stick with glass. For all other uses, this stainless steel set looks like a good buy.