Where to Buy Meal Prep Containers: Amazon, Target, and More

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In the many years I’ve been meal prepping, I’ve learned a lot about the different meal prep containers on the market — from the various retailers, to the different types, and more. But when you’re completely new to meal prep, it can feel overwhelming to figure out where to buy meal prep containers from (not to mention which containers to buy). If you’re looking for the best place to buy your first set of containers, this in-depth guide will our top options from Amazon, Target, Walmart, and Bed Bath & Beyond.

Jump To:

• Our top 9 picks
• Amazon containers
• Target containers
• Walmart containers
• Bed Bath & Beyond containers
• Where is the best place to buy meal prep containers?
• Meal prep container FAQ

Our top 9 picks

Before we dive into the reviews, here’s a quick overview of our top 9 meal prep container choices from Amazon, Target, Walmart, and Bed Bath & Beyond.

Best for Budgets:

Promoze 28 oz. Single Compartment Plastic Meal Prep Containers
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Best for Beginners:

Freshware 32 oz. 2-Compartment Plastic Meal Prep Containers
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Best for Smaller Meals:

Bayco 22 oz. Single-Compartment Glass Meal Prep Containers
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Best for Microwaving:

Rubbermaid Brilliance 3.2 Cup Single-Compartment Food Storage Containers
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Best for Color-Coding:

Ello 3.4 Cup Single-Compartment Glass Meal Prep Containers
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Best for School Lunches:

Freshware 24 oz. 3-Compartment Plastic Meal Prep Containers
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Best for Buffet-Style Prep:

Rubbermaid Plastic TakeAlongs Food Storage Containers
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Best for Durability:

OXO Good Grips Smart Seal Glass Food Storage Containers
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Amazon containers

As the world’s largest online retailer, Amazon has millions of meal prep essentials — with a huge selection of meal prep containers to fit a wide variety of needs and budgets. Below, you’ll find four of the best meal prep containers on Amazon, including plastic, glass, and multi-compartment options.

Promoze 28 oz. Single Compartment Plastic Meal Prep Containers, 50-Pack

Promoze is one of the most affordable plastic meal prep container options on Amazon. These single-compartment containers feature sturdy plastic lids that are easy to secure and help keep food fresh. With up to 28 oz. of space, these containers are a great option for all kinds of meal prep recipes.

Promoze’s single-compartment containers are not only safe for the freezer, but they’re also dishwasher-safe (on the top rack) and microwave-safe. However, because these containers are a bit on the thinner side, you’ll want to make sure to be gentle with them. And whenever possible, try to wash the lids by hand to keep them from warping.

A bulk pack of 50 containers will easily see you (and another person if you’re prepping for two) through an entire week of meals. At less than $.60 per container, these are a great affordable option if you’re just starting out with meal prep.

➔ Read our full review of Promoze’s single compartment plastic containers!

Freshware 32 oz. 2-Compartment Plastic Meal Prep Containers, 15 Pack

Freshware’s 2-compartment containers are another great choice for first-time meal preppers. Each container has two compartments to store your ingredients separately, which is helpful if you have ingredients that don’t store well together (like tortillas and taco meat). And the containers themselves are quite large, which leaves plenty of room for bigger portions.

As with most of the plastic meal prep containers on the market, these Freshware containers are both freezer-safe and microwave-safe. If you’re not a fan of washing dishes by hand, they’re also safe for the dishwasher — although it’s recommended to wash the lids by hand to avoid any warping or cracking.

One of the best features about these containers is that the separate compartments are leak-resistant, which means that you can easily prevent your ingredients from leaking between compartments. You’ll have to make sure to close the lid tightly though, otherwise they may still leak. With 15 containers for less than $20, Freshware’s 2-compartment meal prep containers are another great beginner-friendly option.

➔ Read our full review of Freshware’s 2-compartment plastic containers!

Bayco 22 oz. Single-Compartment Glass Meal Prep Containers, 10 Pack

As one of the smaller glass storage options, Bayco’s single-compartment containers can hold 22 oz. (or about 2.7 cups) worth of food. Although this is slightly smaller than some of the other glass containers on this list, these containers are the perfect size for smaller portions of food, like overnight oats.

Bayco’s single-compartment meal prep containers are not only safe to use in the freezer and microwave, but also the oven (minus the lids) — which means that you can reheat your meals directly in the containers. Just make sure not to switch between any temperature extremes, like from the oven to the freezer, or you risk cracking the glass.

With easy-to-open lid clamps and a thick rubber seal, these fitted lids keep your glass meal prep containers both airtight and leak-proof. Coming in at less than $5 per container, Bayco’s single-compartment glass containers are a great option for both new and experienced meal preppers.

Prep Naturals 29 oz. 2-Compartment Glass Meal Prep Containers, 5 Pack

Compared to Bayco’s smaller glass containers, Prep Natural’s 2-compartment containers offer 29 oz. of space. And with dual compartments — including one smaller compartment — you can easily keep ingredients separated until you’re ready to eat.

Prep Natural’s rubber-fitted lids stay easily locked into place to keep these containers airtight and prevent leakage. However, there’s no protection from leakage between the two compartments, so you’ll still need to be mindful of that when transporting your meals. Still, these 2-compartment containers remain microwave-safe, dishwasher-safe, and oven-safe (minus the lids, of course).

One of the defining features of Prep Natural’s containers is that the lid contains a vent to release steam, which is especially helping for cooling down meals. And while these glass containers are slightly more expensive than other options at around $6 each, the dual compartments and vented lids easily place these containers at the top of our list.

➔ Read our full review of Prep Natural’s 2-compartment glass containers!

Target containers

Target is one of the most popular home goods retailers in the country, with a great selection of essentials to meet all your meal prep needs. Ahead, we’ve shared two of the sturdier meal prep container options — including both plastic and glass — that Target has to offer.

Rubbermaid Brilliance 3.2 Cup Single-Compartment Food Storage Containers, 5 Pack

Unlike some of the lower-price plastic container options, Rubbermaid’s Brilliance single compartment plastic containers are made of thick, sturdy plastic. They can hold roughly 3.2 cups of food, and are a great choice for larger meal prep portions.

Although these containers are not oven-safe, they are microwave-safe, dishwasher-safe, and freezer-safe. And there’s one special feature that most plastic containers don’t offer — leak-proof lids that are designed for splatter-free microwaving. All you have to do is simply lift the latches (no need to remove the lid) and you can safely reheat your food without having to worry about a mess.

Like many of the other containers on this list, Rubbermaid’s Brilliance containers are both leak-proof and airtight to help keep your meal prep fresh for longer. While these containers are one of the more expensive plastic options at roughly $7 per container, they perfectly bridge the gap between the plastic and glass meal prep containers on the market.

Ello 3.4 Cup Single-Compartment Glass Meal Prep Containers, 5 Pack

Ello’s single-compartment glass meal prep containers bring both function and beauty to any meal prep kitchen. With 3.4 cups of space for any type of recipe you can imagine, they’re a great size for a single-compartment meal prep container.

In addition to being freezer-safe and dishwasher-safe, you can also use these containers in both the oven and microwave without even having to remove the silicone sleeves. And airtight lids feature strong clamps and thick rubber around the lip to help keep your meal prep fresh and protected from leaks.

One unique feature about Ello’s containers is the colored silicone sleeves, which not only protect the glass, but also offer color-coding for your weekly meal prep recipes. Plus, you can find a variety of different colored sets on Amazon to fit your personal style. Although you’re paying around $10 per container for this set, these glass meal prep containers are truly as functional as they are gorgeous.

➔ Read our full review of Ello’s single compartment glass containers!

Walmart containers

Walmart is well-known for having a wide selection of budget-friendly kitchenware, including meal prep containers and other meal prep essentials. Below, you’ll find two budget-friendly options for meal prep containers — including one super budget-friendly option costing less than $1 per container.

Freshware 24 oz. 3-Compartment Plastic Meal Prep Containers, 21 Pack

Like their 2-compartment containers, Freshware’s 3-compartment plastic meal prep containers have multiple compartments to help keep ingredients separated. With one larger compartment and two smaller snack-sized compartments, these plastic containers are perfect for recipes with multiple ingredients.

While these meal prep containers are safe to use in the freezer, microwave, and dishwasher, you’ll want to make sure to remove the lids for the latter two. And while they don’t necessarily feature an airtight lid like some glass containers do, the plastic lid is leak-proof between all three compartments — but only if you close it tightly.

Speaking of lids, Freshware’s leak-proof containers also feature ridges on the tops of the lids that make them easily stackable in the fridge. At around $1 per container, this 21-pack of plastic meal prep containers is enough storage to get through an entire week of solo meal prep without needing to wash dishes once.

Rubbermaid Plastic TakeAlongs Food Storage Containers, 52 Piece Set

Rubbermaid’s TakeAlongs plastic food storage containers are perfect for both regular food storage and meal prep food storage. TakeAlongs come in multiple sizes — but the 52-piece set features a variety of containers to accommodate different food and meal prep storage needs, including:

• (4) 0.5 cups
• (4) 2.1 cups
• (4) 2.9 cups
• (4) 3.2 cups
• (4) 4.0 cups
• (4) 5.2 cups
• (2) 8.0 cups

All Rubbermaid TakeAlongs containers and lids are freezer-safe and dishwasher-safe, and the containers themselves are also microwave-safe. Plus, the thick and durable plastic lids feature a “snapping” mechanism to help you keep your containers firmly closed for storage and transportation.

Rubbermaid’s 52-piece set comes in at a little less than $1.00 each for 26 food storage containers. Speaking from personal experience with these containers throughout the years, Rubbermaid’s 52-piece TakeAlongs set is one of the best food storage container sets on the market.

Bed Bath & Beyond containers

Bed Bath & Beyond is a popular home goods retailer that features a wide variety of kitchenware, including a great selection of meal prep containers. My longest lasting set of meal prep containers (so far) from Bed Bath & Beyond — so, let’s take a look at what the OXO Good Grips food storage containers from Bed Bath & Beyond have to offer.

OXO Good Grips Smart Seal Glass Food Storage Containers, 1 Pack

OXO Good Grips glass food storage containers feature a variety of sizes, making them perfect for both large and small recipes — and everything in-between. These sturdy glass containers feature airtight, leak-proof plastic lids, which makes them a great choice if you want to keep food fresh during storage.

OXO’s Good Grips containers range from as small as 4 oz. for sides and snacks, to 8 cups for buffet-style meal prep. I currently use the 3.5 cup containers for my portioned meal prep recipes, the 1.6 cup containers for side dishes and snacks, and the 4 oz. containers for sauces and condiments.

As with most glass options, OXO’s food storage containers are freezer-friendly, microwave-safe, oven-safe, and dishwasher-safe — minus the lids. And speaking of lids, the tightly locking lids feature rubber seals to ensure an airtight environment that helps keep your meals fresh.

Of all the containers listed in this review guide, OXO’s glass food storage containers are the highest investment, ranging as high as $17 per container. However, if you treat these containers well and avoid misusing the lids, they are an investment that should last you for years to come.

Where is the best place to buy meal prep containers?

Where you choose to buy your meal prep containers from largely comes down to personal preference. Who is your favorite home goods retailer? Does this retailer offer the best price? And what are the return and refund policies? These are just a few questions to consider when choosing where to buy your containers from.

One of the reasons I’m a fan of Amazon is because they have the largest selection of food storage and meal prep containers on the market. They also have great budget options, plenty of sales, and quick 2-day shipping if you have Amazon Prime. Considering that I’ve been using Amazon to purchase almost all my kitchen equipment over the past few years, it certainly holds a spot at the top for me.

Still, there are plenty of home goods retailers that sell meal prep and food storage containers — and ultimately, you should choose the retailer with the best options to fit your personal meal prep needs.

Meal prep container FAQ

If you’re still on the fence about where to buy meal prep containers, or even which meal prep containers to buy, here’s are a few more things to keep in mind.

How many meal prep containers do I need?

Generally, the amount of meal prep containers you need depends on how many meals you want to prep for the week. If you’re someone who uses 5-day or 7-day meal plans, for example, a 21 pack of containers is enough to cover 3 meals a day for a full week. But if you’re fine with washing containers mid-week, then a 10 pack of containers is usually enough.

Are meal prep containers microwave and freezer safe?

While it depends on the container, most meal prep containers are both microwave-safe and freezer-safe, up to certain temperatures. However, you might notice that frequently microwaving your plastic containers makes them less sturdy — so I recommend transferring your food to a microwave-safe plate for reheating.

Are meal prep containers dishwasher-safe?

Most plastic and glass meal prep containers are dishwasher-safe, but it depends entirely on the container. A good rule of thumb is to dishwash food storage containers on the top rack, and container lids by hand. Not following the recommended washing instructions can lead to your containers warping and cracking.

Are glass or plastic containers better for meal prep?

Both plastic and glass meal prep containers are great storage options for meal prep, but each has their pros and cons. Plastic meal prep containers are usually more affordable, but they tend not to last as long. Glass meal prep containers are usually more durable, last longer, and keep food fresher — but they can be more expensive up-front.