Pyrex Vs Rubbermaid: Which Food Storage Containers Last The Longest?

A good food storage container should be able to withstand years of use. Beyond just storing a variety of foods, it will also likely have to withstand countless dishwasher cycles and extensive microwave use — or, in the case of glass containers, even high oven temperatures. Between two popular brands, Pyrex and Rubbermaid, which one lasts longer has a lot to do with the material. But the answer is still Pyrex.

As suggested by its name, Rubbermaid makes a wide range of plastic food storage containers. Compared to glass, plastic is more prone to warping, melting, or otherwise degrading to the point of unusability. But Rubbermaid also makes the Brilliance line out of soda-lime glass, the same material that Pyrex uses for its food storage containers.

However, the brands don't perform the same. In both, the glass can theoretically last forever, but some Rubbermaid Brilliance owners have complained about spider-web cracks in their containers. This is not a common issue with Pyrex, though the plastic or silicone lids will eventually degrade after several years. This is why, depending on the product line, Pyrex sells replacement lids separately to keep the container going for decades.

The longevity of Pyrex food storage containers goes a long way toward their popularity. The best-selling Pyrex set that has customers buying more takes this durability to the next level, with a glass-and-silicone lid. Pyrex calls it the Ultimate set for a reason, with a viewing window that will last much longer than more delicate plastic, and can even go in a preheated oven — but pre-heating is an essential safety measure when putting Pyrex in the oven. According to the company, the intensity of an oven's heating elements during preheating can cause enough thermal shock in Pyrex to shatter the glass. People do, however, commonly put Pyrex in a cold oven and then turn it on, but they're risking disaster each time.

Although they typically last longer than Rubbermaid food storage containers, several of the downsides to Pyrex dishes revolve around the risk of thermal shock. It's why they're not recommended for toaster ovens, and why hot Pyrex should never go on cold or wet surfaces. But this risk is not unique to Pyrex; it's shared to varying extents by any glass food storage container brand. So you may as well go with the superior Pyrex anyway, and take good care of it.