Glass food containers vs plastic – worth the switch?

[BusyWeekPlanner]

I’d love some honest opinions please.
We batch cook and store a lot of leftovers, and I’m getting increasingly fed up with plastic containers warping, staining or holding smells after a while.
I’m thinking about switching to glass but would really like to hear from people who’ve done it long-term.
What’s been good? What’s been annoying? Anything you wish you’d known before switching?

I went to glass for a time when I was doing fertility treatment and desperate to do anything to sway it and get pregnant. BPAs and microplastics were something I could control.

Cons: expensive, very heavy, lids are plastic or have plastic clips that tend to break easily! Rubbish for carrying a packed lunch as so heavy and breakable.

They look nice if all you're doing is storing stuff in the fridge in an influencer style, but honestly I've gone back to plastic because (now I have a child!) it's just more convenient!

I did, but they aren’t particularly useful. As Livid says, the lids cracked on mine. Though maybe the ones with snap latches last better.

The fridge shelf groans under the weight of them.

Plastic is so much better.

I prefer glass containers - they don't stain, they don't hold onto smells, some you can put into the oven as well (more versatile).

The lids have never snapped for me. I have bought a lot from Amazon which are really good quality.

Also I feel a bit wary of heating a lot of foods in plastic containers even if they are BPA free.

We use glass because of microplastics (I’ve a history of Alzheimer’s in my family and the link is depressing). They take up more space and obviously are heavy but the feeling calmer about the food for us all makes it worth it. They also last literally your whole life, wash properly don’t warp or smell.

We use both.

ikea is your friend here (with snap lids). They have proper decent larger sizes as well.

I e switched to glass. I like them because they can go from freezer to oven/microwave so I like the simplicity. Stacking them is a bit of a pain but other than that I think they’re great.

I batch cook a lot and just use zip lock bags. Way lighter, no issues with warping lids etc. I sometimes clean them and reuse them but if it's had a curry or a chilli then I don't bother.

I read/saw somewhere (maybe Nadia on TV) that if you put the bag in a tupperware to freeze, it freezes in a brick shape and you can take the tupperware out again to tessellate the bricks. I haven't bothered as we have enough freezer space but I might sometime as it looks nice

I started with great intentions a couple of years ago, I was going to swap out all my (genuine) Tupperware for glass, and bought maybe 10 glass containers from IKEA. I’ll be honest, they’re a pain in the ass! They take up a lot more space than an equivalent Tupperware, as the lip for the lid is huge which also makes them difficult to stack. I do use them, but I don’t find them convenient.
Sticking with my 50 year old Tupperware!

I used to be the plastic container queen, but then I read up about the hazards of plastic and food.

Fortunately the plastic containers are clear, so they’ve been repurposed as containers for other paraphernalia such as rubber bands, paper clips, screws… it keeps them tidy and easy to find.

Yes the glass is heavy
Yes it’s risky if you drop them
However, using the glass gives me peace of mind, and for me thats everything.

I don’t know how to attach a link, but as recently as this week, I read that food in ziplock bags is just as (if not more) hazardous as the plastic tubs.
Sorry, but if you’re interested, just google it, and the subject should come up.

I guess some people don’t give a fuck, but if you do care, then go with glass.

I use the Ikea 365 containers - some glass, some plastic and some metal. I’m phasing out the plastic ones, but I still use the plastic lids, for now.

The metal ones are quite good for lunch boxes and lighter than glass. Just not suitable for the microwave

My main concern with glass is that I’ve had two Pyrex explosions this year, after using the microwave. But otherwise I like it for food storage.

PP have covered the key points, but I would echo Ikea being a good choice for the flexibility of options. You can mix and match glass, plastic or stainless steel containers with plastic clip on of silicone oven proof lids all in the same size. So it makes it easy to use glass a fair bit, but flip to plastic when needed. They also have differing container depths with the same size lids, so again, you may not need multiple lids or containers to cover a lot of bases.

I’ve had both but prefer microwaveable stainless steel.

glass takes up a lot more space and is heavy.

but we use glass for anything sour/saucy or things for the oven.
we save up pasta sauce jars as well, the slim shape stacks well in fridge/freezer.

tbh I would keep some plastic containers for dry stuff. and I would not use plastic containers to heat up food.

I have been replacing my plastic tubs with glass and I’m not going back to plastic. They are heavier but the lids fit properly, they come out the dishwasher sparkling and can go in the oven & airfryer.

This is what you want https://www.robertdyas.co.uk/pyrex-cook-freeze-4-piece-set-1-5l?cq_src=google_ads&cq_cmp=20998781679&cq_term=&cq_plac=&cq_net=x&cq_plt=gp&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=21008825656&gclid=CjwKCAiA9aPKBhBhEiwAyz82J9vTPqBKlgJqwsnSHk6DQgx6j8hKi4zRIdUQo64Sd6dR2Gc52b6z1xoC324QAvD_BwE

No clips or hinges to break, slimline, not heavy. You can use for fridge storage, freezer and can then stick them in the microwave or oven so by far the most efficient option. I've used them for about 20 years and barely use any tupperware at all. I also use regular pyrex dishes with glass lids for fridge storage/leftovers so almost never use clingfilm. One roll lasts me about 2 years. Honestly, the planet can't take all this plastic!

I like the Pyrex zero plastic range (glass lids) but they are expensive so I’m gradually building my collection. I don’t really see the point of switching to glass if you’re still using plastic lids.

Glass is so much better. I swapped because I learned about nasty stuff leaching from plastics into foods - particularly when hot food is put into plastic. I now have a stash of ikea glass containers - which are amazing, they can go in the freezer, in the oven, in the air fryer, in the microwave, in the dishwasher and they never smell or warp or anything. And they stack beautifully. I also save glass jars and use those - totally free and amazing.

The lids don’t touch the food unless you overfill. Just don’t overfill. It’s food touching plastic that is the problem.

The Ikea lids are very hard wearing. I’ve had mine for years. Also they sell the lids separately so if one did break replacing it is easy peasy. I have metal containers for lunchboxes - agree with other posters that glass is obv no good for that.

Like many PP, I use IKEA 365 glass containers. They are often offered at a reduced price.

I opted for bamboo lids and have gradually built up a set of all the round, square and oblong ones. The lids fit the shallow and deep versions so no need to search for the correct lid.

I stack them in a cupboard and store the lids on their side in a storage tray.

Edited to add... I do take them to work. I just put them at the bottom of my lunch bag and pack the rest of my lunch on top.

I love my glass storage.
Mine are mostly TK Maxx and IKEA and have never had an issue with the lids.
I much prefer them as you can put them in the oven (without the lid obviously) and they look good on the table for serving or to eat straight out of. They’re also so much easier to clean with no staining or tainting like you get with plastic.
I also have some stainless steel ones for out and about although DD takes the glass to work in an insulated lunch bag and has never had an issue.
Once I dropped a glass one when putting into the microwave which was annoying to clean up and devastating because it was a lovely shepherds pie but it’s been only one in years of using.

Thanks everyone — this has been really helpful.
Sounds like there’s no perfect solution and it depends a lot on how you use them. I hadn’t really considered the weight / lunchbox issue vs the staining / smells trade-off, so this has given me a lot to think about.
Appreciate all the real-life experiences 👍

I love our glass ones and would turf all the plastic but DH hates them. Too heavy, too noisy, they don't stack well (he's deluded about that).

If you have a costco nearby they have the best value and quality Glasslock ones, with excellent sturdy lids
I don't use plastic containers bar for food I don't heat up ie snack boxes, fruit etc
Sometimes use zip lock bags for meal prepping and spicing up meat and freezing it.

Do prefer my glass containers. but im cautious of microplastics w heating food. They are heavier but I use them for everything - the costco ones come with different size and shape ones including round, I use those as cereal bowls or dipping bowls!
Perhaps you could freeze in the plastics and then transfer to glass for heating and eating, cutting down on having so many