The meal prep container question is the one that trips up every beginner: what do I actually need, how much should I spend, and what is the difference between the £5 container and the £25 one? This guide answers all of those questions based on six months of testing across our household, where we meal prep for four people every Sunday and rely on these containers Monday through Friday for lunches, dinners, and breakfasts.
The short answer: you need a set of glass containers with snap-lock lids in two sizes (400ml and 900ml), a set of divided plastic containers for bento-style lunches, and two wide-mouth thermoses for hot soup or ramen. That combination covers every meal prep scenario. Everything else is a nice-to-have.
Glass vs Plastic: Which Is Better?
Glass containers are the better long-term investment for three reasons: they do not absorb smells or stains (particularly important for curries, tomato sauce, and anything with garlic), they are safe in the microwave and oven without concern, and they last indefinitely. The disadvantage is weight — glass containers are significantly heavier than plastic, which matters if you are carrying lunch to an office or school every day.
Plastic containers are lighter, cheaper, and more portable. The concerns about plastic are real: some plastics leach chemicals when heated, and most plastic containers stain and absorb odours over time, particularly from curries and tomato-based sauces. If you use plastic, look for BPA-free, food-grade plastic rated for microwave use, and replace containers that are cracked, stained, or smell persistently despite washing.
My recommendation: glass containers for home meal prep stored in the fridge, eaten at home or at a desk where weight does not matter. Lightweight BPA-free plastic for lunches carried to school or the gym. Both have a role.
The Sizes You Actually Need
Two sizes cover 90% of meal prep scenarios. A 400ml (approximately 14oz) container is the right size for a single serving of soup, a portion of overnight oats, a snack portion, or a single side dish. A 900ml (approximately 30oz) container is the right size for a complete meal — rice and protein, a large salad, pasta, or a substantial grain bowl. Anything larger produces containers that are either overfilled or carrying too much for one meal.
For a household of two, a starting set of 8 containers — 4 in the 400ml size and 4 in the 900ml size — covers a full week of meal prep with some containers available for leftovers. For a family of four, double that to 16.
Lid Types: What to Look For
Snap-lock lids with four locking clips are the most reliable for preventing leaks. They are slightly more fiddly than simple press-on lids, but the seal is far more reliable when the container is tilted in a bag. For liquid-heavy meals (soups, curries, stews), a snap-lock lid is essential.
Screw-top lids (as found on mason jars and Weck-style jars) are excellent for liquid-heavy items like overnight oats, smoothie bowls, and dressings. They seal perfectly but are slower to open and close.
Simple press-on lids (as found on most basic plastic containers) are adequate for solid foods but will leak under any pressure. Not recommended for anything with significant liquid content.
Divided Containers for Bento-Style Lunches
Divided containers with 2 to 4 separate compartments are essential for lunches where you want components kept separate until eating — the crispy element that would go soggy next to the wet element, the dressing you do not want soaking the salad, the fruit that would transfer colour to the main course. For children's lunches especially, the compartmented format is the one that gets eaten most completely — children eat more when food is presented in separate components they can choose between.
Look for divided containers where the dividers create a genuine seal between compartments rather than just a visual divide — a divider that leaks defeats the purpose. The best divided containers have a lid that locks the entire container and keeps each compartment separate.
Thermoses for Hot Lunches
A wide-mouth stainless steel thermos is the most underrated meal prep item. For hot soups, ramen, mac and cheese, fried rice, or curry, a properly preheated thermos maintains food at a safe eating temperature for 4 to 5 hours without reheating. The preheating step is essential: fill the thermos with boiling water and leave for 5 minutes before draining and filling with hot food. Skipping this step results in lukewarm food by lunch.
Wide-mouth thermoses (opening diameter of at least 7cm) can accept chunkier food — noodles, meatballs, stewed meat — not just liquid. Narrow-mouth thermoses are suitable only for soups and drinks. For school lunch use, wide-mouth is always the right choice.
Freezer-Specific Containers
Not all containers are safe for freezer use. Glass can crack if taken directly from freezer to hot oven or microwave — always thaw glass containers in the fridge overnight before applying heat. Plastic containers rated for freezer use (look for the snowflake symbol) are safer for direct freezer-to-microwave use. Zip-lock freezer bags are the most space-efficient freezer storage and work well for soups, sauces, and stews — freeze flat for easy stacking.
For oven-safe casseroles and pies frozen unbaked, use glass or ceramic baking dishes with a tight foil cover. These can go directly from freezer to oven if the recipe calls for it, but must be brought to room temperature for 30 minutes first to prevent thermal shock in glass dishes.
Labelling and Organisation
Unlabelled containers are the number one reason meal prep food goes to waste. Use masking tape and a permanent marker to label every container before it goes in the fridge or freezer. Write the recipe name, the date prepared, and the number of servings. A label takes 10 seconds. Discovering an unlabelled mystery container three weeks later and having to throw it away takes longer and costs more.
Organise the fridge by meal type: a designated shelf for lunches, a shelf for dinner components, a shelf for breakfast prep. Knowing exactly where things are in the fridge eliminates the morning fumble that makes meal prep feel more complicated than it is.
What to Buy First (Beginner Shopping List)
For a household of two starting meal prep for the first time: 4 glass containers (900ml snap-lock), 4 glass containers (400ml snap-lock), 2 divided plastic bento containers, 1 wide-mouth thermos, and a roll of masking tape. Total cost: approximately £35 to £50 depending on brand. This set handles a full week of meal prep and pays for itself within two weeks of replaced takeaway lunches.
Resist the impulse to buy 20 matching containers on day one. Start with the minimum set, identify what is missing after two or three weeks of actual use, and add specifically what you need. Most households discover they need more 400ml containers for snacks and breakfasts, and fewer large containers than they initially thought.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are glass containers safe in the microwave?
Yes — glass is microwave safe, unlike some plastics. However, metal lids and containers with metal components are not microwave safe. Always remove the lid before microwaving (or use containers with microwave-safe plastic lids). Borosilicate glass (Pyrex-style) is specifically heat-resistant and handles the temperature changes of microwave reheating reliably.
How do I stop curry staining my containers?
Glass containers do not stain from curry. Plastic containers stain from turmeric and tomato-based sauces no matter how well you wash them. For curries and heavily spiced foods, use glass. If using plastic, wash immediately after use with hot water and dish soap — the longer the food sits, the deeper the stain. A paste of baking soda and dish soap applied and left for 30 minutes removes most curry stains from plastic.
Can I put hot food directly into glass containers?
Allow food to cool to approximately 60°C before sealing in any container — packing hot food seals in steam, creates condensation inside the container, and accelerates bacterial growth. Spread hot food on a tray to cool quickly, then portion into containers when the steam has largely dissipated. This also preserves texture — sealed steam makes rice, pasta, and roasted vegetables soggy.
What is the best container for overnight oats?
A 400ml wide-mouth mason jar or a tight-sealing glass container. Wide-mouth jars are easy to stir and eat from directly. The overnight oat jar should be the right size to be filled to the top when assembled — headspace in the container allows the oats to dry out at the top. Most overnight oat recipes fill a 350 to 450ml container comfortably.
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