The Best Food Storage Containers for Your Fridge

There’s one resounding question I’m asked when someone sees one of my fridge pics for the first time: What food storage containers do you use?

I completely get it.  There’s nothing I love more than a good fridge storage solution find!

So, I thought I’d take the time to share with you my top glass food storage containers and refrigerator bins that I personally use and recommend.  You’re also going to learn what kinds and brands I use for different types and amounts of food.

And, yes, you heard that right: Glass food storage containers.  If you’re looking for maximum length of freshness for the food in your fridge then glass is the best way to go.

Here’s what we’ll cover:

• Mason jar storage guide (the 3 sizes you need most & how to use them)
  
• the 2 snap-lock glass container sets I recommend most
• my favorite fridge storage bins 
• re-purposing jars & containers you already have

I have not been paid to recommend any of these products.

If you decide to make a purchase using my Amazon Affiliate links I will receive a small commission–this does not affect the price you pay.  If you decide to purchase through one of my links I sincerely thank you for supporting the work I do here at Hello Nutritarian!

The Three Sizes of Mason Jars to Keep in Your Fridge & How to Use Them

They’re simple, humble, infinitely-useful and inexpensive.

If there’s only one food storage solution to buy into right now it’s glass Ball Mason jars.  And not only are they wickedly useful and cheap they are 100% made in the USA, which is a rare find indeed when it comes to kitchenware.

There are three Mason jar sizes and one optional accessory that I’ve found to be most useful when prepping my fridge.

Here we go…

1. Pint-Sized Wide Mouth Glass Mason Jars (16 oz.)

This Mason jar holds 2 cups–just in case you’re as confused as I am about weights and measures 😉  I’ve found that I use this specific size most frequently in my fridge.

If you’re starting from ground zero building your glass storage collection the pint-sized Mason jar is the perfect place to begin and then you can expand into the next sizes I recommend from there.

This size can also be frozen for longer-term storage.  Just thaw the whole frozen jar on your counter till it reaches room temperature.

How to use these in your fridge: Use this sized Mason jar to store individual portions of soups (2 cups is the perfect amount), homemade dressings & sauces, pickled veggies, chopped fruits and veggies, hummus, overnight oats or to store fresh herbs (simply drape a loose plastic bag over the herbs).  This size works well in the freezer.

2. Half-Pint Wide Mouth Mason Jars (8 oz.)

After you’ve invested in 2 or 3 sets of pint-sized jars, it’s time to think about other useful sizes–because sometimes you have more or less stuff, amiright?

First up is the cute kid-sister of the pint-sized jar, the wide-mouth, half-pint Mason jar (that’s 1 cup storage capacity).

How to use these in your fridge: Use this sized Mason jar to store smaller meal leftovers (soups, sauces, dressings, etc…), citrus juice, chopped herbs, seeds, and smaller portions of chopped fruits or veggies.  These are especially ideal for individual portions of Overnight Oats.  This size works well in the freezer.

3. Quart-Sized Wide Mouth Mason Jars (32 oz.)

If you plan on batch prepping your food and you want the cheapest possible storage solution that will still give you ample size and amazing freshness results, then upgrading to quart-sized Mason jars should be your next glass food storage container purchase.

Note that I don’t recommend this size for use in your freezer.  If you’re planning on freezing prepped food you’ll want to go with one of the snap-lock sets I recommend below.

How to use these in your fridge: Use quart-sized jars to store homemade plant milks and juices, homemade veggie broth, large batches of homemade soups, cooked rice, pastas or beans.  Larger batches of chopped fresh fruit or veggies for your in-fridge salad bar (see here for info).  This size does not work well in the freezer.

4. White (or Black) Plastic Mason Jar Caps

Okay these are purely an add-on and they are a want more than a need.  These plastic caps don’t contribute anything different as far as freshness goes, it’s purely convenience.  (Oh, and I happen to think they look particularly smart all stacked up in the fridge.  The white caps have become something of a Hello Nutritarian trademark.)

Personally, I’ve just found it easier for to use these one-piece white plastic caps with my Mason jars because I am literally screwing and unscrewing them every day, multiple times per day.

You’ll do just fine using the metal two-piece lids that come standard with every Mason jar.  In fact, those metal lids are wonderful for freshly cooked soups and beans because they’ll seal in the freshness making the seal air-tight.

If you’re looking for a different aesthetic than white, I recently bought a set of these black caps and they work wonderfully too:

How to use these in your fridge: Use these as replacements for the standard two-piece metal lids that come with your Mason jars.  They are most useful for jars you’ll be opening frequently.  Buying all wide-mouth size will ensure use across all the sizes in your Mason jar collection.  These lids work well in the freezer.

The Best Glass Food Storage Container Sets

There are a ton of different glass food storage sets out in the market, but none are more reliable and better-made than the two brands I’m going to share with you now.

It’s important to note that I’m not being paid by either of these companies to let you know I love their products.  I’ve been meal prepping and organizing my fridge since 2016 and I still have these original sets and they are going strong!

The tightness and fit of the snap-lock lids make all the difference in freshness.  I prefer hard plastic lids to soft rubber lids.  And with each of these brands the lids don’t lose their hold overtime like other brands I’ve tried (yes, there have been companies who have sent me sets hoping I’d love them but I didn’t).

I own and use both of these brands and I recommend either set if you’re looking to upgrade your glass storage container collection.

1. Pyrex Snapware Glass Food Containers:

2. Snapware Glasslock Storage Containers:

How to use these snap-lock containers in your fridge: Batch-prepped meals, soups, pre-cooked whole grains (potatoes, rice, bean pastas), pre-chopped fresh fruit and veggies, bean burgers, tofu, pre-washed salad greens and literally anything else you can think of that will call your fridge home!  All sizes freeze well, just thaw on the counter till they reach room temperature.

My Favorite Plastic Fridge Bins

When you’re cultivating the world’s healthiest fridge you know that your fresh produce is bound to outgrow the absolutely tiny “fruit and vegetable” drawers that come standard in most refrigerators.

I’ve had these same plastic organizer bins in my fridge since we bought it in 2013.  I recommend them because of their range in different sizes, durability, and their built-in front handles:

How to use these in your fridge: Use these to organize fresh produce or arrangements of Mason jars in your fridge.  Particularly useful for whole fresh fruit, bell peppers, cabbage, kale bunches, collard greens and fresh herbs.  Use them like you would your produce drawer in your fridge but you may want to drape them loosely with a plastic bag if you have less-sturdy greens.

Fridge Storage Containers on a Budget

Guess what?

You can absolutely transform your fridge and make it your personal temple for healthy eating without any of the products I just mentioned above.  Period, full stop.

Guys, this is about taking action, not buying all the things.

I don’t want you putting off getting your fridge in gear because you’re saving up for all-glass storage containers

“Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can.”

-Arthur Ashe

That’s right, I’m throwing down my all-time-favorite the-time-to-take-action-is-now quote for ya!  Because I don’t want anything separating your desire to create a better fridge and you taking action making it happen.

In my early days of fridge organization, as you can see above, there was plastic.  I used plastic baggies and bins for greens and repurposed hummus containers from Costco to store fresh cut fruit (see top right corner).

If it can contain things it can help you take the first step!

So here’s what we’re going to do…  Let’s get creative using what you already have around your kitchen and then once you’ve started your fridge-tox (read here for more my recommendations on cleaning & organizing your fridge) then you can upgrade your storage over time.

Some creative fridge storage ideas:

• old condiment containers for pre-chopped fresh fruit and homemade condiments
• old spaghetti sauce jars or other repurposed glass jars in place of Mason jars for batch-prepped food storage
• plastic baggies for salad greens (make sure the greens are very dry and add a napkin in the baggie)
• old plastic containers that you’d otherwise recycle
• office or bathroom storage bins (seriously anything can work)

If You Want to Learn More

You might have more questions right about now.

Like what’s that pretty pink stuff you keep in the Mason Jars?  How much soup should I prep for me and my husband?  How long will cooked food last in the fridge?

I answer all the questions in my book Fridge Love!

Here are my additional resources:

• Follow @hellonutritarian on Instagram: every week I share fridge pics and I have a collection of “fridge tours” in my Story Highlights that show you exactly what I have prepped in each storage container!
• The Eat to Live Fridge Guide: grab a free printable shopping list and learn about cleaning, refrigerator organization strategies and what 6 items to keep in your fridge to maximize your health!
• Join my Prep Program: if the sight of these fridges inspire you, if all that bright, colorful and healthy food makes you want to take major action for your health, then you should learn more about my premium prep program!

I hope you found this fridge storage container guide useful in developing and sustaining your healthy lifestyle!

I can tell you that nothing has been more instrumental in making this my forever lifestyle than taking the time to clean, organize and prep my fridge.