I tried 5 types of storage containers. But one turned out to be fully glass.
Let me save you the search I did myself.
Once I realized my plastic containers were the problem, I wanted to switch to glass. Easy, I thought. Until I started searching online: Tupperware, IKEA, Mepal, Pyrex. All "safe," all "quality." So I simply ordered them all and tested them for months, in my own kitchen.
Four didn’t do what I hoped. But there was a clear winner. This is what I found out per brand.
1. The Tupperware for about €40 that I believed in
"Then just buy really good plastic containers," everyone said. So I did. More expensive, sturdier, from the most well-known brand there is.
And honestly: the first few months, the difference was noticeable. But it was still plastic. After six months: the same orange glow from tomato sauce, the same smell that came back after washing. More expensive plastic is just plastic with a longer runway.
2. The IKEA 365+ glass container for about €13 each
My first "switch to glass." The container itself? Great. Glass does what glass does: no smell, no stains, comes out of the dishwasher clean.
But then came the lid. Plastic, with snap closures. And that’s exactly where it all started again: the lid discolored, started to smell, and the clips broke off. I bought glass and still ended up with a plastic problem. It had just moved from the container to the lid.
3. The €39.95 Mepal set that everyone has
Dutch design, found in half of all kitchens, and looks beautiful in the cupboard. All of that is true.
But Mepal is plastic. Beautifully designed plastic, but plastic. Same sponge, different outfit: after a few months of daily use, the familiar issues showed up for me. And when it comes to heating, it’s simply what you read in my previous piece: wearing plastic plus heat is not a good combination for your food.
4. The Pyrex classic of around €55 that my mother swears by
The classic. The glass is legendary, and rightly so: my mother has been using her dishes for twenty years.
But look at her lids. Exactly. They’ve already been replaced three times, because the plastic lids tear, warp, and after a while no longer seal properly. The glass lasts a lifetime, the lids not even two years.
5. The set no one was talking about
Then there was the set that no one had recommended. No well-known name, no shelf spot at the hardware store. A reader mentioned it in a comment, and honestly I ordered it as an afterthought: Safecourt.
The first thing I noticed when I picked up the lid: heavy. Because glass. Not a little plastic cap, but a glass lid with a food-safe silicone rim, and a little valve you open for heating. For the first time in this whole test, I was holding a container with no wearing plastic on it.
After months of daily use, tomato sauce and all: no haze, no smell, no wear. Not even on the lid. Because there is no plastic that can wear down. From freezer to oven to microwave, and everything can go in the dishwasher. Including that lid.
How the five compared
Same kitchen, same meals, same dishwasher. This is where each brand ended up:
- Tupperware (approx. €40): premium plastic is still plastic. It discolored and started to smell, just a bit later.
- IKEA 365+ (approx. €13 each): great glass container, but the plastic lid discolored and the latches broke.
- Mepal (€39,95): the nicest design, but entirely plastic. Same sponge, different jacket.
- Pyrex (approx. €55): indestructible glass, but the plastic lids tear and after a while no longer seal properly.
- Safecourt (from €59,95 for a set): the only one that's all glass, including the lid. Nothing that discolors, smells, or wears out.
| The rest | Safecourt | |
|---|---|---|
| Container material | Plastic or glass | Borosilicate glass |
| Lid material | Plastic | Glass + silicone ring |
| Discolors or smells | Container and/or lid | No |
| Dishwasher incl. lid | Often not | Yes, without wear |
| Freezer → oven → microwave | Limited | Full |
Based on personal use and public product information, July 2026.
If you're at this step, you're truly fed up with the plastic story
Then there are the two questions my readers ask most often.
"Isn't glass impractical: heavy, breakable, a hassle?" I thought so too. But this is borosilicate glass, extra strong and made for intensive daily use: in all those months of testing, nothing has broken for me. The lid seals airtight and leakproof, so soup or salad can just go in your bag without accidents. And everything can go in the dishwasher, including the lid; you can even remove the silicone rim to clean extra thoroughly. If anything ever does happen: 2-year warranty and 60-day returns.
"Isn't it expensive?" A set costs more than plastic, once. But do the math: two plastic sets per year at €40 to €50, year after year. You buy glass once. These are the last containers you'll buy.
A little gift from me: 5% extra discount
For my readers, I arranged my own code. Enter SANNE5 at checkout for an extra 5% off the all-glass sets.