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For leftovers and meal prep, Rubbermaid Brilliance is a strong all-around option in Good Housekeeping’s testing, but it is not a universal winner: Bon Appétit reported staining and latch failures in its own tests. Snapware Total Solution, Joseph Joseph Nest Lock, and Rubbermaid Easy Find Lids offer alternatives with different strengths. The best choice depends on how you use containers and which trade-offs matter most.
Which plastic food storage containers are best?
Recent reviews name different top picks because they tested different products and used different protocols. Good Housekeeping’s May 26, 2026 review chose Rubbermaid Brilliance overall and Snapware Total Solution as its best value. Bon Appétit selected Joseph Joseph Nest Lock as its best plastic pick in an August 19, 2026 review. Reviewed’s July 7, 2026 roundup favored Rubbermaid Easy Find Lids.
Those rankings are useful starting points, not head-to-head proof that one set will work best for everyone. Good Housekeeping says its lab evaluated more than 85 food storage containers for seal tightness and dishwasher, freezer, and microwave performance, with additional long-term use at home. Bon Appétit tested plastic containers by dropping water-filled containers from counter height, shaking filled containers over paper towel, and checking tomato, garlic, and turmeric staining and odor after storage, microwave use, and cleaning. Different samples and methods can yield different results.
| Set | Review finding | Trade-off or useful detail |
|---|---|---|
| Rubbermaid Brilliance | Good Housekeeping’s best overall; described as lightweight, sturdy, clear, stackable, and tightly sealed, with microwave vents. Its tested set showed less staining than other plastic models in that review. | Good Housekeeping says lids can be cumbersome to store. Bon Appétit reported staining and locks that snapped open during its counter-height drop test. |
| Snapware Total Solution plastic 5-pack | Good Housekeeping’s best value; the five-container, three-cup set is described as affordable and stackable. | In Good Housekeeping’s shake test, it lost a small amount of water; the review also found minor staining after reheating pasta sauce. |
| Joseph Joseph Nest Lock | Bon Appétit’s best plastic pick: a 10-piece set evaluated for seal function, material feel, size choice, storage, drops, drips, stains, and odors. | The cited review summary does not provide a specific capacity breakdown or a quantified leak result. |
| Rubbermaid Easy Find Lids | Reviewed’s best plastic pick; its roundup highlights lids that snap together or attach to container bases, and strong dry-food freshness results. | Reviewed warns that tomato-based food can stain or pit the plastic. |
What does the evidence say about Rubbermaid Brilliance?
Brilliance has a clear strength-and-trade-off profile rather than a settled record across reviewers. Good Housekeeping praised its seal and found only faint spaghetti-sauce staining—less than on other plastic models in that publication’s test. Bon Appétit, using its own samples and procedures, found that the plastic set retained stains and that locks snapped open in a counter-height drop test. Neither result establishes how every Brilliance set will perform in every use.
#1 Best Overall
- Valued Carpenter Pencil Set: You will get 2 pcs solid carpenter pencils with 26 piece 2.8 mm refills, 1 replaceable sharpener, 1 plastic storage box.The complete carpenter pencils combination allows you to finish your work faster and more easily
- Deep Hole Marker Pencil: The deep-hole construction pencils adopts 45mm elongated tip design, which is more convenient to mark in the small hole or in other tight areas that other carpenter markers cannot reach
- Carpenter Pencils with Sharpener: The sharpener is screwed into the top of the work pencil, which won't get lost either. Built-in pencil sharpener that keep the lead with pointed and smooth to Improves line of sight in fine work
- Stronger Solid Lead: This work pencil is matched with a 2.8 mm thick lead , which is much thicker and stronger during the drawing process of construction work, it will not break or damage easily
- Marks on Various Surfaces: 3 colors solid construction pencil can marks on various surfaces,such as metal, plastic, wood, paper etc. Ideals for woodworkers, contractors, craftsmen, builders, merchants and masons
Rubbermaid describes Brilliance as BPA-free plastic with an airtight seal, secure latches, clear lids and bases, and stain- and odor-resistance. The brand also says vents under the latches allow splatter-resistant microwave use and lists the containers as dishwasher-, microwave-, and freezer-suitable. These are manufacturer claims; follow the care instructions supplied with the exact product.
The 20-piece assortment identified as model 1990616 contains four 0.5-cup, two 1.3-cup, one 3.2-cup, two 4.7-cup, and one 9.6-cup container, each with a lid. “Pieces” includes lids, so compare the number and capacities of containers rather than relying on the piece count. Other assortment sizes are available.
Rank #2
- Ergonomically Designed: Work in tight areas with a compact design that gets into tough spots
- Compact and Lightweight: Both tools are designed to fit into difficult to reach spaces. The 1/4" impact driver has a length of 5.55 in. and weighs just 2.8 lbs, while the 1/2" drill/driver measures only 7.5 in. and weighs 3.6 lbs
- Both the DEWALT impact driver and electric drill driver feature integrated LED work lights with a convenient 20-second delay, ensuring enhanced visibility in dimly lit or challenging work areas
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- Power drill cordless with 1/2" single sleeve ratcheting chuck provides tight bit gripping strength, making bit changes faster and more secure
How to choose a plastic container set
Match the seal to the food and trip
For soup, sauces, or dressed food carried in a bag, prioritize tested leakage behavior and secure closures. “Airtight” on a product page is a manufacturer claim, not the same thing as a reviewer’s shake or drop test. Review protocols differ, and a favorable result under one test does not guarantee performance in every situation.
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Check how lids open and store
Latches can make a closure feel secure but may take effort to open and add bulk in a drawer. Brilliance’s lids were described as cumbersome to store by Good Housekeeping. Easy Find Lids are designed to snap together or attach to container bases, which may help keep a set organized. Consider storage both when containers are stacked and when lids are put away separately.
Rank #3
- 【Great Compatibility】This Katerk 1/4 inch hex shank bit holder is specifically designed for 1/4 inch hex shank drill bits. It's compatible with most 1/4 fast hex handles, hex sockets, various electric screwdrivers, and handheld screwdrivers. The bit holder makes it a valuable addition for any handyman.
- 【Secure and Safe】Built with a secure backup nut design, each drill bit holder securely locks onto your bits, ensuring they stay firmly in place. Additionally, our bit holder incorporates a high-quality steel ball rolling design that holds up to several kilograms of weight, ensuring your various drill bits don't fall off.
- 【Easy One-Handed Operation】The bit holder for impact driver allows you to change bits single-handedly, simplifying your workflow. Its multi-color design further allows for quick identification of the drill bit you need.
- 【Compact and Convenient】Thanks to its compact size, this 1/4 inch bit holder is easy to carry around. The bit holder allows for easy attachment to various tools, making this a convenient addition to your construction accessories. The Katerk bit holder is cast from high-quality alloy material, promising a long product lifespan. Despite its rugged strength, the bit holder remains lightweight, making it portable.
- 【Cool Christmas Gift For Men Stocking Stuffers】 This screwdriver bit holder, driver bit holder, impact bit holder, can be given as a gift to your loved one, especially for anyone involved in construction or electrical work. It's a must-have for stocking stuffers for men and women, tools gifts for dad, tech gadgets for men, gifts for dad, gifts for him, gifts for husband, gifts for boyfriend, cool gadgets for men, and cool gifts for dad.
Allow for staining and odors
Tomato-based sauces and strongly colored foods can stain some plastic containers; Reviewed also cautions that tomato-based food may pit the Easy Find plastic. Good Housekeeping found relatively little sauce staining on its Brilliance sample, while Bon Appétit found staining on its own Brilliance sample. Treat stain results as specific to the model and test conditions, not as a guarantee.
Choose useful capacities, not an impressive piece count
Think about the portions you actually store: small amounts of leftovers, lunch servings, or larger meal-prep batches. Check each container’s capacity and count containers separately from lids. Assortments differ, even within one product line, so verify the exact model and listing contents before buying.
Rank #4
- Long Nib and Deep Hole Marker: Our mechanical carpenter pencil with 45mm nib is designed for easy marking of deep holes or narrow areas. These construction pencils are the great choice for woodworking tools, construction tools, carpenter tools, contractor tools, wood carpentry tools and architect tools
- Extra Refills in 2 Colors for Versatile Marking: The construction mechanical pencil comes with 12 extra 2.8mm refills, including 6 red and 6 black refills. The black refill is suitable for light surfaces, while the red wax is perfect for dark surfaces. Our carpenter mechanical pencil makes sure that you'll have an ample supply for extended use
- Built-in Sharpener: Our construction pencil comes with a built-in sharpener to ensure the mechanical pencil tip is always sharp and ready for use. Never buy an extra pencil sharpener again. A great tool for any woodworker pencil, contractor pencils. The refill can easily be extended or retracted with a simple click of the pencils mechanical, allowing you to work more efficiently and accurately
- Portable Clip Design: Our deep hole construction pencil features a portable clip design, easy to carry and attach to your pocket or tool box, so that you can keep the carpenter pencils mechanical close at hand, making it a convenient tool to have on the go. Great gifts choice for carpenters
- Stronger Pencil Lead: The black refills are made of lead, sturdy and smooth. The red refills are made of wax, clear and light. These marking pencils are much thicker and stronger than normal pencils during the marking process of construction work, suitable for various surfaces, such as glasses, metal, boards, floors, walls, furniture, etc. The written marks can be easily wiped with a wet paper towel when needed
Consider stacking, nesting, and portability
Stacking helps when containers are full; nesting can save cabinet space when they are empty. For lunches, check the dimensions against the bag or lunch box you use. A set that organizes neatly in a cupboard may not include the right shape for carrying a meal.
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Dishwasher, freezer, and microwave suitability should be checked against the instructions for the exact model. Reviewers may test those uses, and manufacturers may list them as compatible, but neither supports assuming every plastic container is suitable for every heating or storage scenario. For Brilliance, Rubbermaid lists those uses; follow the instructions supplied with the assortment you purchase.
Best Value
- Milwaukee Ink all Fine Point Marker, Black, 4 Per Pack
- 4 per pack Features Clog Resistant Marker Tip Writes through Dusty, Wet and Oily Surfaces Durable Marker Tip for Writing on Concrete, OSB and Rough Surfaces
- Clog resistant tip writes on dusty, wet and oily surfaces and is optimized for rough surfaces such as OSB, cinderblock and concrete
- Hard hat clip- attaches for easy access
- Quick dry time with reduced smearing and marking
Where to verify Rubbermaid Brilliance set details
Rubbermaid’s product page lists the Brilliance range and retailers including Amazon, Home Depot, Walmart, Lowe’s, Target, and Sam’s Club. Check the specific listing for model number, capacities, included containers, and current availability: Rubbermaid Brilliance food storage containers.
For the publication-specific testing and rankings, see Good Housekeeping’s food storage container review, Bon Appétit’s food storage container review, and Reviewed’s food storage container roundup.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
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