Best Overall
Rubbermaid Pantry Airtight Food Storage Containers
- This mix-and-match line comes with pantry storage containers of different shapes and sizes, making it a great overall pick for any kitchen.
This mix-and-match line comes with pantry storage containers of different shapes and sizes, making it a great overall pick for any kitchen.
- You can’t purchase these containers individually on Amazon.
You can’t purchase these containers individually on Amazon.
If you are going to buy one set of pantry storage containers, the Rubbermaid Brilliance collection should be it. The stackable and versatile containers are airtight, allowing you to store cereal, sugar, pasta, and more without anything going stale.
Each container has clear, BPA-free plastic sides and tops so you can get a clear view of what’s inside no matter where you store them on your shelves. The tight seal and wide mouth openings make the containers excellent vessels for storing baking essentials like flour since you’ll be able to fit measuring cups and scoops inside.
The brand offers several different container sizes and shapes to meet your pantry’s needs, but we tested the 4-piece set, which comes with cup capacities ranging from 3.2 cups to 16 cups. We found the overall design to be clean and attractive, making it easy to keep your pantry from looking cluttered while also displaying what’s inside at a glance. The containers also possess helpful little features like a lip around the rim to help open the sealed container and stackable lids to make use of your pantry’s vertical space.
The rest of the line has sizes ranging from 1.3 to 19.9 cups, so you can find a size that fits your needs pretty easily.
The airtight seal prevented liquid from leaking out, even when we shook them and dropped them on the ground. The Rubbermaid Brilliance pantry containers also remained essentially odor-free even when we used them to house smelly items like tomato sauce and chopped onion. Plus, they came out completely spic and span after a spin in the dishwasher.
Product Details: Material: Plastic | Volume: 3.2 cups, 7.8 cups, 12 cups, 16 cups | Number of Containers: Four | Dishwasher Safe: Yes
BHG / GREG DUPREE
Best Budget
Better Homes and Gardens Flip-Tite Canisters
- These airtight canisters didn’t leak in our tests even when shaken vigorously or dropped on the floor.
These airtight canisters didn’t leak in our tests even when shaken vigorously or dropped on the floor.
- The lack of carrying handle or design features that allow for easy carrying might be hard for people who struggle with their grip, such as the elderly or young children.
The lack of carrying handle or design features that allow for easy carrying might be hard for people who struggle with their grip, such as the elderly or young children.
Prevent cereals, pasta, and grains from getting stale while keeping moisture out of your sugar and flour with our very own Flip-Tite canisters.
The set of 4 rectangular-shaped plastic containers features a flip-buckle lid that makes it easy to open and shut while keeping the contents protected. It includes canisters ranging from 6.5 cups to 19.4 cups, so there are several sizes to fit your most common pantry items.
We put the Flip-Tite canisters through the same testing regimen as other pantry storage containers on this list, and it emerged with flying colors when it came to durability, sealing, and ease of cleaning.
Its food-grade silicone seal prevents the contents from getting stale, the seal wasn’t broken even when shaken vigorously or dropped on the floor. When it came to stain and odor resistance, we were pleased to see that the canisters came out of the dishwasher looking and smelling fresh.
While the containers are dishwasher safe, note that you will have to remove the lids and hand wash those before putting the rest of the pieces through the wash. You’ll also want to avoid carrying the canisters by the top buckle in order to prevent breaking the airtight seal. This requires a little mindfulness (and two hands) when picking up the containers and carrying them around.
Product Details: Material: Plastic | Volume: 6.5 cups, 10.1 cups, 16 cups, 19.4 cups | Number of Containers: Four | Dishwasher Safe: Yes, but lid is hand-wash only
BHG / GREG DUPREE
Best for Flour and Sugar
OXO Good Grips 8-Piece POP Container Baking Set
- This set comes with several plastic scoops, which conveniently attach to the underside of the lid.
This set comes with several plastic scoops, which conveniently attach to the underside of the lid.
- The lids tend to pop off when dropped.
The lids tend to pop off when dropped.
While technically you can use any plastic container for storing baking essentials, this set from OXO really shines due to a series of thoughtful features to make storing your flour, sugar, and other accouterments as convenient as possible. Each container is sized to accommodate common baking items, such as a bag of brown sugar, flour, or chocolate chips.
The set also comes with a terracotta disk to keep brown sugar soft as well as 2 half-cup scoops that fit into the underside of the lids, which means less rummaging around in drawers for your measuring cups when you’re in the middle of a recipe. Finally, the airtight seal (that audibly clicks when engaged via the button on the lid) keeps your dry goods fresher for longer. Plus, the containers can be closed and sealed with one hand by pressing a button on top of the lid.
The containers are dishwasher safe, and we found during testing that a single wash eliminates stains and odors, so you can use them to store items like onions or tomato sauce without ruining them. The BPA-free plastic containers stack well and are designed to take up as little space as possible in your pantry, which makes them perfect for small spaces.
When we pushed the containers off the counter during our tests, the top popped open and the contents went everywhere. Because of this, we don’t recommend using them on high, narrow shelves or places where they may get knocked down easily.
Product Details: Material: Plastic | Volume: 1.6 cups, 4.4 cups, 17.6 cups | Number of Containers: Five | Dishwasher Safe: Yes
BHG / GREG DUPREE
Best Glass
Le'raze Glass Kitchen Canisters
- The silicone ring in these glass pantry canisters add an airtight seal missing from most similar products.
The silicone ring in these glass pantry canisters add an airtight seal missing from most similar products.
- The cylindrical design isn’t the best fit for small spaces where you need to maximize every inch.
The cylindrical design isn’t the best fit for small spaces where you need to maximize every inch.
If you have limited pantry storage and are looking for an attractive way to store items out in the open, the Le’raze glass canisters have a luxe look and feel to them that can’t be beat.
The set of five features crystal-clear glass bases and chic bamboo lids that are lined with a silicone band to create a tight seal. The canisters have varied heights ranging from 4 inches to 11.8 inches to fit pasta, flour, and other pantry essentials, and they all measure 3.7 inches in diameter.
The set is intended mostly for dry goods, this set hardly leaked, even when shaken—meaning you could use them for liquids in a pinch. We also found that a quick run through the dishwasher eliminated all stains and odors from the inside of the glass canisters, so you can store fragrant foods inside without worry.
While beautiful to look at and functional on an open countertop, Le’raze glass kitchen canisters likely aren’t a good fit for tight spaces. The round canister bases waste a little bit of shelf space, and they are not meant for stacking, since the canisters could slip off one another and shatter. If your pantry shelves are tight, we recommend purchasing rectangular, stackable containers.
Product Details: Material: Glass and bamboo | Volume: 2 cups, 2.8 cups, 3.7 cups, 5 cups, 6.75 cups | Number of Containers: Five | Dishwasher Safe: Yes, but the lid is hand-washable
BHG / GREG DUPREE
Best for Cereal
PrepWorks by Progressive Large Cereal Keeper
- It has measurement markings on the side and two separate openings at the top for filling or pouring.
It has measurement markings on the side and two separate openings at the top for filling or pouring.
- It’s a bit pricey for just one piece of pantry storage.
It’s a bit pricey for just one piece of pantry storage.
It can be so disappointing when your fresh, crispy box of cereal goes stale within a few days. Keep the crunch going for longer with this large, 4.5-quart container that is specifically made for cereal and other bulk foods. We love that it has measurement markings along the side so you can easily see how much you’ve poured and when it’s time to re-stock. The airtight silicone seal effortlessly keeps the contents inside fresh.
We loved the PrepWorks canister’s ergonomic groove for comfortable holding and pouring, as well as the two different openings at the top for filling and pouring. This means no more cereal spilling out all over the counter when transferring from the box! The opening flap also locks into place so it won’t slide and block pouring.
During testing, we used the container to store tomato sauce and sliced onion for several days to see if it would stain easily or hold on to odors, but we found that all traces came right out in the wash. Since the whole container is dishwasher safe, it was effortless to clean, and the lid still sealed nicely after being run through the dishwasher.
While it's ideal for cereal lovers, it is a bit expensive for just one container. However, in this case, you get what you pay for: the BPA-free plastic is designed to resist shattering if dropped, and the PrepWorks line is known for being durable and high-quality.
Product Details: Material: Plastic and silicone | Volume: 18 cups | Number of Containers: One | Dishwasher Safe: Yes
Best Large
Vtopmart Large Food Storage Containers
- Each container has a volume of 5.2 liters and they’re easy to stack on top of each other.
Each container has a volume of 5.2 liters and they’re easy to stack on top of each other.
- These aren’t a good choice for smaller amounts of materials and would take up a lot of space to store when not in use.
These aren’t a good choice for smaller amounts of materials and would take up a lot of space to store when not in use.
The Vtopmart containers are ideal for someone looking for an efficient, cost-effective solution to organize larger amounts of dry goods.
The set of four 5.2-liter containers has a large capacity and stacks easily on top of one another if you have more vertical space than horizontal. The sturdy, BPA-free plastic containers have lids that click on with four side-locking clips, and the whole container is dishwasher safe to make cleanup a breeze.
These pantry storage containers didn’t crack when filled with water and dropped on the floor, though it did leak slightly. We were also pleased to find that they didn’t stain or hold on to odors during our tests, making them a very durable choice. The set even comes with markers, labels, and a scoop to help you organize your pantry. The top openings are wide enough that you’ll be able to easily reach in with a measuring cup or transfer large bags of flour and sugar without making a huge mess.
The set is an incredible value with four containers, but they are all the same size. If you are looking for some uniformity and have a number of bulk pantry items to store this could be a great fit, but you’ll need to purchase a separate set if you have smaller food items you need to store, too.
Product Details: Material: Plastic | Volume: 18.8 cups | Number of Containers: Four | Dishwasher Safe: Yes
Best Small
Chef's Path Airtight Food Storage Container Set
- The set includes a variety of container sizes, including several small containers for holding smaller quantities of pantry goods.
The set includes a variety of container sizes, including several small containers for holding smaller quantities of pantry goods.
- The containers warp a bit in the dishwasher and may not be as durable over the long run as some other options on our list.
The containers warp a bit in the dishwasher and may not be as durable over the long run as some other options on our list.
The Chef's Path's collection includes a versatile range of 14 stackable containers including two extra tall (2.5 quart) canisters, four tall (1.8 quart) canisters, four medium (1.2 quart) canisters, and four small (.7 quart) canisters, which means that whatever you need to store will have a place. Each container has a four-hinge locking system that forms an airtight seal and is made from BPA-free plastic.
When filled with water and shaken, these containers leaked slightly, so we don’t recommend using them to store liquids. However, we loved that the small containers in this set are ideally sized to keep dry goods like sprinkles, chocolate chips, and dried fruit organized in your pantry, or to store fresh food like chopped fruit and vegetables in your refrigerator.
During testing, the lids were harder to fit onto the canisters after going through the dishwasher, making this set a better fit for long-term pantry storage than short-term storage that will cause you to wash them frequently. Handwashing may also help to avoid warping.
The collection also includes a measuring spoon set and whiteboard label with chalkboard marker for an aesthetically pleasing way to organize your space. The square shapes stack on top of each other, saving you valuable space, and the sleek design is simple enough to work in pretty much any pantry.
Product Details: Material: Plastic | Volume: 10 cups, 7.2 cups, 4.8 cups, 2.8 cups | Number of Containers: 14 | Dishwasher Safe: Yes
Best Stackable
The Container Store 5-Piece Graphite Modular Canister Set
- These plastic containers are designed to stack on top of each other without toppling over.
These plastic containers are designed to stack on top of each other without toppling over.
- The seal is not completely airtight, so they might not be suitable for baking goods.
The seal is not completely airtight, so they might not be suitable for baking goods.
To avoid a falling waterfall of containers spilling out of your overstuffed pantry, stackable containers like this five-piece set from The Container Store make it easier to keep your space neat and organized.
The shape of the silicone lids allows you to securely stack the containers on top of each other without concerns about them falling over. The BPA-free plastic set comes with five sizes: one 2.64-quart container, two 1.7-quart containers, and two 24-ounce containers. The classic design or clear, square base and black lids will fit into almost all kitchen decor themes, should you choose to display them on your countertop.
During testing, the inside of these plastic containers stained slightly when we put tomato sauce inside it for a few days, so we don’t recommend using them to hold sauces or other brightly-hued foods. However, we loved how easy to clean this set was, since all components are dishwasher safe. The soft silicone lids are easy to get on and off but don’t provide a 100% airtight seal, so they’re best suited for storing pasta, beans, rice, and other non-perishable items.
Keep in mind that these containers aren’t as durable against dropping as other pantry storage containers on this list, so avoid placing them on shelves higher than waist height to keep them from cracking if they fall.
Product Details: Material: Plastic | Volume: 3 cups, 6.8 cups, 10.6 cups | Number of Containers: Five | Dishwasher Safe: Yes, top rack
Best for Countertops
Crate and Barrel White Ceramic Canisters
- The attractive design of these stackable containers allow them to serve dual purposes as functional storage pieces and kitchen decor.
The attractive design of these stackable containers allow them to serve dual purposes as functional storage pieces and kitchen decor.
- Stoneware is more prone to shattering than plastic containers.
Stoneware is more prone to shattering than plastic containers.
If you have limited space in your pantry, or you’re looking for an attractive way to keep coffee readily available to use in your coffee maker, or sugar, or other baking staples out on your countertop, the Aspen canisters are the best pantry storage containers for displaying outside the cupboard.
The white, glazed stoneware base is offset by a gorgeous hardwood lid, allowing it to double as a decor piece. The set includes three containers (small, medium, and large), and a stainless steel scoop that conveniently hangs on the outside of the canister for easy access.
While the stoneware base is dishwasher safe, the wood lids can be wiped clean, making it easy to wash and reuse these containers. We found that the lids sealed surprisingly well compared to other, similar styles, and the canisters didn’t leak, even when shaken vigorously.
The clean lines and classic white and wood color combination will complement most kitchen aesthetics, and the stoneware isn’t prone to staining or holding onto smells, so you can use these containers to hold sauces or aromatic foods without worry. You’ll just want to be mindful of storing anything oily or greasy in these canisters, as the wooden lids could stain.
Of course, ceramic is quite fragile and will shatter if dropped, so we don’t recommend placing these containers in high-traffic areas or on narrow shelves where they’re more likely to fall. That being said, the Aspen line was surprisingly durable and sturdy, given the material.
Product Details: Material: Ceramic and wood | Volume: 9 cups, 13.4 cups, 21.6 cups | Number of Containers: Three | Dishwasher Safe: Base is dishwasher safe, lid is hand wash only