8 Dollar Tree Kitchen Storage Items That Aren't Worth Buying

Dollar Tree is expanding. With over 9,000 stores (and 400 more opening in 2026), the discount store is taking over. For some, discount retailers like Dollar Tree are the only place in town to shop after the market drove local options out of business. The chain's low prices draw customers in, but are the products actually worth it? For this list of kitchen storage items, the answer is no.

Dollar Tree seems to have a problem with sourcing lids that work. Multiple product complaints focus on container lids not fitting, not clamping on all the way, or even allowing some leakage. Other issues come down to the thin, weak plastics used to make the containers. Some products also turn out to be cheaper elsewhere if you look at the per-item cost. This is a problem we've flagged before, as one of our 12 reasons to think twice when shopping for food at a dollar store. Sure, the actual price may be lower at the Dollar Tree, but when you look at what you are getting for that price, you may find better deals elsewhere. Read on for our suggestions of food storage items we suggest you avoid buying at Dollar Tree.

Whether you are bringing food to work or storing leftovers in the fridge, a lid that fits isn't optional. According to reviews, Dollar Tree skipped that necessity on its Meal Portions By SureFresh Medium Plastic Food Storage Containers. Multiple people complained about the lid not closing and the contents leaking out. "The inside divider is too tall for the lids to close," one reviewer diagnosed. Another customer resorted to tape in order to keep the lid on. With this many complaints, you're better off using plastic deli containers the way Anthony Bourdain did.

Another food storage item, another dodgy lid. The Glass Oil and Vinegar Bottles with Metal Pour Spouts received poor reviews due to their loose tops. Even the "most helpful favorable review" on the product's Dollar Tree page mentions having issues with the pour spout topper. Many complain that the lid will fall into the bottle if you push the topper onto the spout too hard. Thicker liquids like oil come out slowly and require the pourer to hold the spout in place. "You need to swing the bottle with a little force to get the thicker liquid out," wrote one reviewer.

One of the more damning reviews for these Cooking Concepts Silicone Travel Dressing Containers is simply titled "Not Travel Friendly." Maybe Dollar Tree should just avoid selling things with lids until it figures them out, because this is another product where reviewers complain about leakage. One customer points out the problem is where the base of the lid connects with the bottle. They suggest using thicker liquids, but say it "cannot be used as described (travel dressing container)." Another reviewer doesn't hold back, writing, "I don't see why it's still even in production."

Dollar Tree found a new way to screw up the lid. If you're buying the Ribbed Glass Jars with Glass Lids online and expect a glass jar with a glass lid, you'd be half right. "These jars have METAL lids, not glass," warned one customer. "Don't order them. I ordered them twice, hoping I would get the right jars the second time, but I didn't." Other customers complain about the metal lids and ask the store to return to the old glass lids.

At first glance, nothing seems wrong with these Hefty OneZip Quart Storage Bags. The product's sole reviewer even gave it five stars. So, what's the problem here? If you do the math, you'll realize this is not a good deal. The box from Dollar Tree comes with seven plastic bags for $1.50, which is around $0.21 a bag. Compare this to the price at Walmart, where the same bags are $5.72 for a box of 50. That's about $0.11 per bag. You can save even more money by reusing resealable bags, as they're a kitchen item you shouldn't throw away!

That's right, we're back to poorly made lids. Reviewers actually felt that the bowls themselves were fine. "OK little bowls but none of the lids will seal or even fit on the bowls," wrote one customer. "I put all the lids in the recycle bin." Another found that the glass broke in the microwave. The reviewer said they were told the bowls are microwave-safe (though Dollar Tree's website doesn't share this information).

The Essentials Rectangular Plastic Egg Storage Containers appear to be made of thin plastic that breaks easily and — as is the Dollar Tree way — come with lids that don't fit. "These egg cartons are nothing like they used to be," wrote one reviewer. "The lid does not sit on it correctly because it is very thin plastic so it warps." Fortunately, keeping eggs in the original container is one of our key tips for storing them, so perhaps this is a product you can always skip anyway.

The McCormick Rectangular Storage Containers have gone downhill, according to reviews from customers. "[Over] the past year or two[,] the container itself got much thinner and actually bends [and loses] shape when something is carried in it," they wrote. The other problem? "Defective lids," wrote another shopper. "Do not buy to transport food!" Hopefully, after reading all these product reviews, you might just avoid containers with lids altogether during your next trip to a Dollar Tree location.