The 9 best containers for leftovers: Consumer Reports

A food storage container that leaks turns a packed lunch into a soggy mess by the time it reaches the fridge or a backpack. A lid that pops off during a fall can mean cleaning spilled food off the kitchen floor instead of just reheating dinner. Consumer Reports tested stainless steel, glass and silicone containers for seal quality, durability and ease of use, so shoppers can find a set that holds up.

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The Cykorxicc 24-piece Stainless Steel Food Storage Container Set costs $50 and packs 12 lidded containers in a range of sizes into one set. Consumer Reports rated its durability exceptional in counter-height drop testing, crediting the strength stainless steel offers over other materials. CR also rated the seal quality excellent, crediting clamp-style lids paired with a removable gasket on each container. Ease of use scored very good, just behind the top performers in this lineup.

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The Ikea 365+ Food Storage Container costs $6 and is sold individually in a 34-ounce size meant for one person's lunch or leftovers. Consumer Reports found it remarkably simple to use and held up well through repeated drop testing, noting the lid stayed firmly attached without breaking. CR credited the seal quality to plastic lids with snap-and-lock flaps, paired with a removable silicone gasket that allows for thorough cleaning. The transparent top lets shoppers see what's stored inside without opening it.

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The Lille Home 6pc Stainless Steel Food Storage Container Set costs $28 and includes three containers, sized at 470, 900 and 1,400 milliliters, each with a snap-on lid. Consumer Reports rated its seal quality as middling, since the lids lack a flexible gasket, and found ease of use subpar overall. CR did note a slip-resistant rubber base on each container as a helpful feature, along with a clear lid that makes identifying contents easy. The set isn't dishwasher-safe, and that tradeoff is worth weighing against its lower price.

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The Bentgo Leak-Proof 8pc Glass Set costs $33 and includes four containers ranging from a small 39-milliliter size for snacks up to a 1,491-milliliter option for full meals. Consumer Reports rated it excellent across seal quality, durability and ease of use, including how well the containers stack and store. CR noted the containers use borosilicate glass, which withstands sudden temperature changes without cracking, while the clamp-style lids use plastic construction with a removable gasket. This level of performance across every test category places it among the top-scoring sets in this lineup.

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The Pyrex Freshlock 20pc Glass Set costs $43, drawing on Pyrex's long history making durable glass mixing bowls and bakeware. Consumer Reports rated it highly durable and easy to use, backing up the brand's reputation for sturdy glass construction. CR praised the clamp-style lids as a convenient touch, though the flexible gasket responsible for the excellent seal doesn't come out for separate cleaning. That fixed gasket is the one tradeoff on an otherwise strong performer in this lineup.

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The Rubbermaid Brilliance 18pc Glass Food Storage Container Set costs $80, priced higher than every other set in this lineup, and packs nine glass containers into the set, each topped with a see-through lid that snaps shut via clamps. Consumer Reports rated it excellent across seal quality, durability and ease of use, the last category covering how simply the containers can be used, stacked and stored. CR noted the lids lack a removable gasket, unlike several other sets tested here. Even without that feature, the set's consistent top scores justify its higher price for shoppers who want glass storage built to last.

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The Annaklin Collapsible Food Storage Containers cost just $14, priced lower than every other set in this lineup. Consumer Reports rated durability and ease of use excellent, though seal quality trailed behind the glass and stainless steel sets tested alongside it, since CR found that tradeoff common across silicone containers generally. CR recommends separating these containers from other items when carrying them, since their seal isn't reliable enough to fully prevent contact with liquids or crumbs. For fridge or freezer storage alone, CR found this budget-friendly set still holds up well.

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The Kitchen + Home Silicone Food Storage Containers cost $23 and include four containers with clamp-style lids and removable, flexible gaskets. Consumer Reports rated durability and ease of use excellent, but found the same seal-quality limitations common to silicone sets, observing some leakage when the containers were filled with water and jostled the way they might be while being carried. CR noted the colorful design as a nice touch for identifying containers at a glance. As with other silicone sets tested, CR suggests reserving these for stationary storage instead of transport.

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The Vremi Silicone Food Storage Containers cost $22 and include a set of four colorful containers that collapse for storage, secured with clamp-style closures and removable, flexible gaskets. Consumer Reports rated ease of use highly and found the containers aced durability testing. Seal quality came back mediocre, consistent with other silicone sets CR tested, so caution is warranted when transporting liquids or greasy foods in them. CR's testing suggests these containers suit at-home storage more than carrying meals on the go.