The Best Meal Prep Containers (with plastic-free options)
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Do you love meal prepping but hate using single-use plastic bags? I have a few solutions that are good for you and environment-friendly.
There are two things you need to be successful at meal prepping – a meal plan and the right-sized storage containers to store all the food.
To be honest, plastic bags seem perfect for the job – they come in a variety of sizes, are freezer-safe, and are extremely affordable.
The unfortunate part is most of them are single-use and not bio-degradable.
Don’t worry, there are other eco-friendly and sustainable alternatives to single-use plastic, and this post lists them all below.
Affiliate Disclosure: Some of the links here are affiliate links, which means that I may earn a commission if you click on the link or make a purchase using the link. I only recommend products that I use and love myself, so I know you’ll be in good hands.
I bought these containers after a lot of research, and having used these silicone and glass meal prep containers for a year, I feel confident recommending them.
Here’s why I like them –
- They are durable and will last a long time to come.
- Freezer safe.
- BPA- Free
- Easy to use and clean.
- Environment-friendly.
Here are my go-to food prep containers from Amazon
- Pyrex Containers – Before you go shopping, look for glass containers that you already have at home. Most, if not all, glass Tupperware containers are freezer-safe and pre-heated oven-safe. Also, they come in all sizes and shapes to match your needs.
Uses: I love using these 1-cup and 2-cup glass containers for storing curry sauces.
- Souper Cubes – These freezing trays are made from 100% FDA Food Grade Silicone. They are BPA Free and dishwasher and oven-safe (not the lid). These come in 2-cup, 1-cup, and 1/2-cup sizes. They take less space than glass containers and stack really well.
Uses: These are perfect for storing portion-controlled meals. I use them to store tikka masala sauce, marinara sauce, and curry sauces.
- Stasher Bags – Made from pure platinum silicone, these plastic and BPA-free bags are safe for use in the freezer, microwave, dishwasher, boiling water, and oven up to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
Uses: I use the stand-up mega bag (I got it from the Stasher site) to marinate chicken and the stand-up mid bag to store, chop and freeze veggies such as cabbage, okra, etc.
- Mason Jars – These BPA-free glass jars have a wide-mouthed opening making it easy to scoop food out.
Uses: The wide-mouthed opening makes these jars perfect for overnight oats and chia puddings.
- Ice cube trays – Made from food-grade silicone, these BPA-free trays are safe to use in a freezer, dishwasher, or microwave.
Uses: I use them to freeze homemade ginger garlic paste into cubes. The silicone material makes it easy to pop the frozen cubes out of these trays.
- Zip Top bags – Made with 100% platinum silicone, these BPA-free bags are microwave, dishwasher, and freezer safe.
Uses: I bought the full set. The large cup stores a full tray of frozen ginger garlic paste cubes. I use the large dish to freeze legumes (without water). I use the other pieces for snacks or to store smoothie packs.
- Reusable storage bags – These reusable bags made from food-grade PEVA are BPA-free. These budget-friendly bags cannot be used in the dishwasher, oven, or microwave.
Uses: These are the first set of reusable bags I bought. I still use them to store and freeze chopped cabbage and other veggies.
- Glass meal prep containers – These food-grade safe, BPA-free glass containers are easy to use and clean. They are freezer safe; you can put them in the microwave, dishwasher, and oven without the lids.
Uses: My meal prep process involves mostly chopping veggies and making base sauces, but if you make complete meals, then these glass containers can come in handy to portion out meals.
Final thoughts
Some of these meal-prepping storage containers are expensive but think of them as an investment. They not only save you money by preventing food wastage, but they are environment-friendly too.
Also, you don’t have to buy all of them at once. I bought them over a period of one year as I got more serious about meal prepping.
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Meal planning 101 – Check out this essential guide to meal planning to learn all the tips that’ll take the stress out of making home-cooked meals.
Basic grocery list – Learn how to create a master grocery list, track your pantry items, and never forget to buy a staple again!
