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The Best Reusable Food Storage Containers Australia
The best reusable food storage containers are made from glass, stainless steel, or silicone, built to last years, and free from plastic. This guide covers our tried-and-tested picks across every budget. Last updated April 2026.
Most of us know we should ditch the plastic containers, but a lot of what’s out there to replace them is either overpriced (for what they are) or starts to show wear after only a few months of regular use.
The best food storage containers are the ones you’ll still be reaching for in a decade. That means skipping the cheap sets and investing in containers that don’t need replacing every year.
The best plastic-free food storage containers in Australia
Over the years, we’ve tested a lot of food storage containers, from glass to stainless steel to silicone. The brands that made this list are the containers we’d trust with everything from a packed lunch to a batch of leftovers, and we’re confident they’ll last you years.
Here are the best plastic-free containers we’ve found in Australia, across every budget.
And if you’re looking for more ways to reduce plastic in your kitchen, check out our guides on alternatives to cling wrap and where to find refill and bulk food stores near you.
Another Daily Rectangular Stainless Steel Containers
Best for bulk meal prep and packed lunches
Good food storage lives and dies by the seal, and the Another Daily containers have one of the best we’ve tested. We packed ribollita soup for a bike commute, and it arrived without a drop spilled.
They come in two sizes, 370ml and 1 litre, both made from 304-grade food-safe stainless steel with a clear glass lid and silicone seal. The glass lid has a vent so you can reheat directly in the container without transferring everything to another dish first. And yes, these are microwave safe for up to 8 minutes.
They stack neatly in the fridge and nest in the cupboard, which makes them one of our favourites for meal prep and batch cooking. They’re lightweight, dishwasher safe, and the stainless steel won’t stain or hold onto smells over time. Stainless steel is also one of the more durable long-term alternatives to plastic. Buy a set once, and you won’t be replacing them anytime soon.
The Zero Waste People Silicone Containers
Best all-rounder for kids’ lunches and leftovers
Five years ago our editor picked up a set of the medium round containers when Zero Waste People first launched. They’re still going strong with no fading, no warping, no staining.
A huge range of styles and sizes in fun colours covering everything from snack containers and bento-style kids lunchboxes to large round containers perfect for leftovers and bulk cooking. All are microwave and dishwasher-safe. You can even pop your little one’s name on them with the personalisation option. One thing to note is that stronger foods like garlic and spices can linger, and a hand wash won’t always cut it. Run them through the dishwasher, and they come out clean every time.
Silicone is not perfect from a sustainability standpoint. It’s not biodegradable, and the production process isn’t without impact. The tradeoff is durability, silicone done well lasts a very long time, and a container you’re still reaching for in a decade is almost always the better environmental choice.
Kitchen Pro Airlock Glass Container Set
Best for oven-to-fridge meal prep
The set covers four sizes from 600mL to 1.5 litres, all made from borosilicate glass that goes from freezer to oven (without the lid) and into the microwave with the vent open. Most glass containers come with bamboo lids (which break) or plastic lids (which we don’t want). These lids are glass with a silicone trim.
The lids are airtight with silicone seals and a built-in vent, so reheating doesn’t mean lifting containers out of the microwave covered in sauce. Clear glass makes it easy to see what’s inside without opening everything, and they stack well.
They are a little heavier than silicone or stainless steel, but multipurpose. You can cook in them and use them in the oven. Borosilicate is built to handle temperature changes without cracking, making them great for things like baked oats for breakfast meal prep.
Seed & Sprout Stainless Steel Food Container Set
Best for lunchboxes
Made from 304-grade stainless steel with LFGB-certified silicone lids, which means they’re food-safe and fully recyclable at the end of a very long life. The stainless steel and silicone combo keeps them light enough for everyday use, and noticeably lighter than glass, which makes them the better option for packed lunches and taking to work.
They are leakproof for most leftovers, though we’d skip the soup to be safe. If you’re short on space, the containers nest inside each other for easy storage, and they pair well with Seed & Sprout’s insulated cooler bags. Plus, they’re dishwasher-safe, stain-resistant, and best of all, they don’t hold onto smells.
The set covers snack pots, small and large lunch containers, so there’s a size for most situations. And they also sell them individually if you’d rather build up the collection over time. We have a full review if you want to go deeper.
Frequently asked questions about food storage containers
Can you microwave stainless steel containers?
No. Metal containers can’t go in the microwave, so stainless steel suits packed lunches you’ll eat cold or food you’ll reheat on a plate. The exception in this guide is the Another Daily container, which has a vented glass lid designed for reheating in the container.
Is silicone safe for food storage?
Food-grade silicone is considered safe for storing food, including in the microwave, freezer, and dishwasher. Look for LFGB certification, the stricter European food-safety standard, rather than FDA-grade alone. Silicone isn’t biodegradable, so its sustainability case rests on lasting many years.
What is the safest material for food storage?
Glass and stainless steel are the safest options because neither leaches chemicals into food, even when heated. Unlike plastic, they contain no phthalates or bisphenols, the additives that can migrate into food, especially fatty foods and especially with heat.
Are glass containers worth it?
Yes, if weight isn’t an issue. Borosilicate glass handles freezer, oven, and microwave temperatures without cracking, never stains or absorbs smells, and lasts indefinitely if you don’t drop it. For packed lunches, stainless steel or silicone are the lighter choices.
We hope you like the brands we recommend on The Green Hub. Our editors select each one independently. We may receive an affiliate commission when you follow some links.
Sustainability is an ongoing journey, and brands evolve over time. We do our best to keep this guide accurate and up to date, but certifications lapse and links occasionally break. If you spot something that needs a refresh, let us know.
The brands featured meet a range of ethical and sustainable standards, from certifications and living wages to transparent supply chains. That said, ethics are personal. This guide doesn’t cover every factor — like use of animal products or local manufacturing — so we always recommend checking a brand’s About page to see if their values align with yours.
