These Glass Containers Are My Go-To Plastic Alternative

If you’re like me, the resurgence in news about microplastics feels worrisome. I can feel stuck when I’m overwhelmed by a range of options. There are many instances of plastic being present in my kitchen, whether I’m shopping at the grocery store, prepping food at home, or getting takeout. I don’t even know how to avoid microplastics.

Luckily, therapy has taught me I can’t move the world overnight (shocking news). But I can take small steps to make a difference every day. One of the simplest swaps is ditching plastic storage containers for glass versions. It won’t take much effort, since I already own a set I love: the Pyrex Simply Store line. They are the most reliable, fuss-free glass food storage containers I have tried. I’m about to move, so I need a fresh set of my own. The hardest decision will be deciding which set I want to grab first. Shop through these glass containers with me, and ditch those flimsy plastic containers for good. 

Pyrex Simply Store 9-Piece Mixed-Sized Glass Food Storage Set

Studies—like this 2023 one from the American Chemical Society—have found that plastic containers release microplastics and nanoplastics over time, even if you don’t heat them. It’s frustrating because plastic containers make taking food on the go easier. I’m ok with minimizing these instances. However, having a good alternative from Pyrex is essential in cutting down on most use cases. 

Regardless of the set you pick, you’ll get the same top-notch features I love. The bases are made from durable glass that is safe to use in the refrigerator, freezer or microwave. They’re completely stain- and odor-resistant: I’ve used them for foods like tomato sauce, strawberry hibiscus jam and turmeric-based dressings; they’ve never held onto remnants—smells or colors alike. 

Pyrex Simply Store 7-Piece Mixed-Sized Glass Food Storage Set

The lids on this set are plastic, but that’s ok with me! It’s hard to find a glass set with a non-plastic top, and the food rarely touches these BPA-free lids. I also make sure I never heat the containers with the tops (though they are listed as being microwave-safe) and I always wash them by hand. Material aside, I appreciate the lid’s streamlined design. 

There are no nooks and crannies to finagle while I’m cleaning, and the lids are very easy to pop on and off, so they’re great for folks who struggle with dexterity. Despite not having latches, they still create an airtight seal, too. I wouldn’t say they’re fully leakproof, so I’d never put them in my bag with a serving of dressing, but snacks and non-liquid foods should be fine. They’re useful for pretty much all pantry, refrigerator or freezer needs. 

Pyrex Simply Store 12-Piece Mixed-Sized Glass Food Storage Set

I’ll likely be picking up the 9-piece version of this set, which comes in both round and rectangular sizes. It has a 7-cup round container, a 6-cup rectangle container, two 4-cup round containers, two 3-cup rectangle containers, two 2-cup round containers, and a 1-cup round glass container—all with lids. When we were testing the best glass containers on the market, the 9-piece set ranked as our favorite thanks to a mostly leakproof design and ability to keep produce fresh.

Pyrex Simply Store 8-Piece Mixed-Sized Round Glass Food Storage Set

The eight-piece set has also caught my eye, as it contains a variety of round-shaped containers in different sizes. It has two 7-cup round containers, two 4-cup round containers, two 2-cup round containers, and two 1-cup round containers—all with red-colored lids.

These containers can go in the freezer, refrigerator, and microwave, and are top-rack dishwasher safe, but like the other Pyrex containers I have, I’ll be washing these by hand to ensure they stay in top-notch condition.

Pyrex Simply Store 5-Piece Mixed-Sized Glass Food Storage Set

If you’re lacking in storage space, the 5-piece version has varying container sizes and shapes. This set has one 6-cup rectangular container, one 3-cup rectangular container, one 4-cup round container, and two 2-cup round glass storage containers, with navy blue colored lids. Once filled with leftovers or meal preps for the week, these containers stack neatly on each other in the refrigerator. When not in use, they nest together for streamlined storage.

Pyrex Simply Store 8-Piece Small-Sized Round Glass Food Storage Set

There are times when you need smaller containers to hold small portions of cut-up fruit, sauces and dressings, and more. I can see this 8-piece set of the smaller round containers being pretty handy to have around. The set includes four 2-cup containers and four 1-cup containers. It’s easy to keep track of which lids go with which size container since each size has its own color lid, too.

Pyrex Simply Store 3-Piece Mixed Size Glass Food Storage Set

The 3-piece set has larger-sized containers that will surely come in handy for storing larger portions of leftovers or for a side dish to take along when going to a get-together. The set includes one 7-cup round container, one 4-cup round container, and one 2-cup round container. I can see myself filling up the 7-cup with a crisp green salad and using a smaller one for homemade dressing to drizzle on it.

Shop these Pyrex glass containers at Amazon now, and feel better about your daily kitchen routine. It’s a simple swap I am committing to, and I know you can too.

At the time of publishing, the price started at $30.