Skip Pyrex: Consumer Reports Names The Better Buy From IKEA

There is one thing gourmet home cooks, takeout aficionados, and everyone in between must stock in their kitchen: food storage containers. And for years, they have been synonymous with Pyrex, to the point where we've been calling them "Pyrex containers" instead of their more official title. In an upset to tradition, however, Consumer Reports has named their top food storage of the year, and there's a new name topping the best of chart: IKEA's 365+ food container with lid.

Aren't all food storage containers one-size-fits-all? While they do the same job — hold your food — anyone who's pulled their lunch out of the work fridge only to find their container leaked everywhere knows some work better than others. Plastic containers are popular, and for good reason: they tend to be more budget-friendly, easy to find, and come in every size. However, the toxic chemicals in plastic have a tendency to seep into food, especially if exposed to high temperatures, so much so that Consumer Reports excluded them from their study. While glass or stainless steel containers tend to be on the more expensive side, their longevity and decreased risk of toxic exposure is worth it in our opinion.

How did Consumer Reports discover the perfect food storage? According to the organization's article, testers put each product through the wringer, figuratively and literally. From sliding containers off countertops to the "slosh test" (and yes, it's what it sounds like), Consumer Reports tested each item's durability, seal quality, ability to keep food fresh, and how easy it was to use. The testers did note that while the ease-of-use rating was important, it didn't matter as much as the other three.

If it's time to replace your glass food storage containers, you might consider skipping Pyrex and choosing IKEA's 365+ food container with lid. The stainless steel model scored a near perfect rating in Consumer Reports' testing, landing at the top of the scores in durability, ease of use, and seal quality. The review even notes it has an "excellent ability to keep food fresh", something we consider a key requirement for food storage containers. The container's 34-ounce capacity means it can hold every kind of leftover from soup to soufflé, and at $8.99, IKEA's 365+ food container with lid is among the more budget-friendly stainless steel options out there.

We also love the stainless steel base because it can go straight from the fridge into the oven. Or, after dinner, cooled leftovers can head straight to the freezer. One thing to keep in mind, however, is this is one food storage container that can't go in the microwave. If you want to zap your leftovers, make sure to transfer them to a microwave-safe bowl first.

While the 365+ container holds a high, 4.8 rating on the IKEA website, there were a few folks who didn't share Consumer Reports' adoration. Among the comments were mentions that the lid was difficult to secure and that the measurements were misleading. In our experience, the lids can be tricky to maneuver into place at first, but gets easier once you get the hang of it. If you want to see it for yourself, we suggest checking it out in the store (and maybe grabbing a meatball or two while you're there).