Best Glass Food Storage Containers with Glass Lids: 5 Sets I Tested (2026)

I replaced all of my plastic food storage containers about two years ago. I switched to glass because I did not want chemicals leaching into my food every time I reheated leftovers. But this is what's really annoying: most glass food storage containers still come with plastic lids. And when you microwave food in a glass container with a plastic lid on top, that lid is sitting directly in the steam path, getting hot, and potentially releasing the same microplastics and endocrine disruptors you were trying to avoid.

That sent me down a research rabbit hole, as I am prone to do! I wanted to find glass food storage containers with glass lids, no plastic anywhere, and I quickly discovered that this is harder than it should be. Many brands market their products as “glass lids” when the lid is actually a glass panel set inside a plastic or silicone frame. Some are genuinely plastic free. Others are not. And almost no one explains the difference.

So I ordered five different sets, examined every lid closely, and put together this guide to help you figure out which glass food storage containers are actually worth buying if your goal is to get plastic out of your kitchen.

About the author: I'm Cheryl McColgan, founder of Heal Nourish Grow. I've spent over 25 years studying and practicing health and wellness, with a background in psychology and a focus on how everyday choices affect long-term health. I have personally tested dozens of PFAS free cookware products in my own kitchen and I apply the same level of scrutiny to food storage.

Disclaimer: Links may contain affiliate links, which means we may get paid a commission at no additional cost to you if you purchase through this page. Read our full disclosure here.

Why Plastic Lids Are the Weak Link in Your “Healthy” Kitchen

Switching from plastic containers to glass is a great first step. But if you are reheating food with a plastic lid on top, you may still be exposing yourself to the very chemicals you were trying to eliminate.

A 2023 study published in Environmental Science and Technology found that microwaving plastic food containers released up to 4.22 million microplastic and 2.11 billion nanoplastic particles per square centimeter of plastic in just three minutes. Even refrigeration and room temperature storage over several months released millions of particles. The researchers concluded that the highest release occurred during microwave heating, which is exactly the scenario where most people leave a plastic lid on their glass container.

The concern does not stop at microplastics. Many plastic lids on glass containers are made from polypropylene (PP) and are marketed as “BPA free.” But research published in Environmental Health Perspectives found that the common BPA replacements, bisphenol S (BPS) and bisphenol F (BPF), are hormonally active at the same order of magnitude as BPA itself. The label “BPA free” gives the impression that a product is safe, but as a review in Diabetes and Metabolism Journal put it, “the safety of the substitutes is not fully verified.” These chemicals are structurally similar to BPA and show similar endocrine disrupting effects in studies.

This is why I went looking for glass food storage containers with actual glass lids instead of plastic ones. If you have already made the switch to PFAS free cookware and you understand what PFAS are and why they matter, this is the logical next step for your kitchen.

What “Glass Lids” Are Really Made Of: A Closer Look

This is the section that most product roundups skip entirely, and it is the most important thing to understand before you buy.

When a brand says “glass lid,” that can mean several different things. In most cases, the lid is a glass panel set inside a frame made from another material. The frame is what creates the seal and holds the lid together. Sometimes the frame is silicone (good). Sometimes it contains polypropylene or another type of plastic (not ideal if your goal is to eliminate plastic contact with food). The brands are rarely transparent about this.

I went through the product specifications, manufacturer materials pages, and Amazon listings for every brand I tested. Here is what I found.

*Caraway describes their food storage as “free from BPA, black plastics, and forever chemicals” but never uses the phrase “plastic free.” Their lids are listed as “not microwave safe,” which is unusual for a pure glass and silicone lid. Amazon's material filters list plastic as a material component. After examination, the colored lid frame appears to be a BPA free plastic rather than silicone. If you're not going to use the lid in the microwave, this may not matter to you if you prefer the sleek look and colors of Caraway.

The important distinction here is that silicone is not plastic. Silicone is derived from silica (sand and quartz), not petroleum. It does not contain BPA, BPS, BPF, phthalates, or the other endocrine disrupting chemicals found in plastics. Food grade platinum silicone, which is what the best brands use for their lid seals, is considered one of the safest food contact materials available. When you see “glass lid with silicone frame” on a product, that is a genuinely plastic free design. When you see “glass lid with BPA free lid” and no mention of being plastic free, that is worth investigating further.

Important note about Bentgo: Bentgo makes two different product lines with glass lids, and the materials are very different. The Bentgo Signature line (what I tested) uses borosilicate glass containers with tempered glass lids framed in silicone only. It is explicitly marketed as PFAS free and plastic free. The older Bentgo Glass Leak-Proof line uses PP plastic locking clips on the lids. Amazon lists its materials as “Borosilicate Glass Base, Tempered Glass Lids, PP Plastic, Silicone.” If you are shopping for Bentgo, make sure you are buying the Signature line.

What to Look for in Non-Toxic Food Storage

Here is the framework I use when evaluating food storage containers. This applies whether you are buying glass, silicone, or stainless steel.

Glass type matters. Borosilicate glass is the gold standard for food storage. It is more resistant to thermal shock than soda-lime glass (which is what most cheap glass containers and older Pyrex products use). Borosilicate can go from freezer to oven without cracking, which means you can actually use the same container for meal prep, storage, and reheating. All five brands I tested use borosilicate glass for the container body.

Lid material hierarchy. If your goal is to minimize chemical exposure from your food storage, here is how I rank lid materials from safest to least ideal: glass with platinum silicone seal (best), bamboo with silicone seal (good, but not microwave safe), BPA free plastic with silicone gasket (acceptable but still plastic), and standard plastic snap lids (what most people are upgrading from).

Certifications to look for. FDA food grade is the baseline standard in the US. LFGB certification (the German food safety standard) is stricter and tests for migration of harmful substances at levels the FDA does not require. Products that meet LFGB standards tend to use higher quality silicone with less odor and greater durability. If a product lists LFGB or the “knife and fork” symbol, that is a good sign.

Watch for the “BPA free” trap. As the research I cited above shows, BPA free does not mean endocrine disruptor free. The replacement chemicals BPS and BPF have been found to be hormonally active at comparable levels to BPA, with links to metabolic disruption, obesity, and reproductive effects. If a brand says “BPA free” but does not say “plastic free,” that is a meaningful difference.

If you prefer to shop on Amazon, all of the storage options are linked here. However, it's worth checking the links below because I was able to get a discount for you on some of them. Also note, if you happen to have glass containers with plastic lids, you can always use a glass and silicone microwave splatter guard instead.

The 5 Best Glass Food Storage Containers I Tested

Ziruma (Best Truly Plastic Free Option)

If your number one priority is zero plastic contact with your food, Ziruma is the cleanest option I found. The container is borosilicate glass. The lid is borosilicate glass. The seal is platinum silicone. Even the packaging is plastic free. There is literally no petroleum based material anywhere in this product.

Ziruma offers multiple size options (12 oz, 21 oz, 35 oz, and 50 oz) sold in packs of 2 or 4. I ordered the 2.6 cup (21 oz) 4 pack, which is a great size for individual meal portions, overnight oats, or storing leftover protein from dinner.

Materials: Borosilicate glass body, borosilicate glass lid, platinum silicone seal

Safe for: Microwave, oven, freezer, dishwasher

Certifications: BPA free, phthalate free, 100% plastic free (including packaging)

Best for: Anyone who wants the most conservative, zero-plastic food storage option available

Worth noting: These are heavier than containers with plastic lids. That is the tradeoff for having a glass lid. Not ideal for throwing in a lunch bag if weight is a concern.

Shop Ziruma

Bentgo Signature (Best Value Glass Lid Set)

The Bentgo Signature line is the best value I found for genuinely plastic free glass food storage. The 8 piece set (4 containers, 4 lids) runs around $43 and gives you four different sizes: 1.6 cup, 2.7 cup, 4.4 cup, and 6.3 cup. That is a full kitchen setup in one purchase.

The containers are borosilicate glass. The lids are tempered glass panels set in a silicone frame with a built-in VentSmart steam valve for microwave venting. Bentgo explicitly lists the Signature line materials as “Borosilicate Glass (Container), Tempered Glass (Lid Panel), Silicone (Lid Frame and Steam Valve).” No plastic. They also market it as PFAS free and plastic free, and it comes with a 2 year manufacturer warranty.

Materials: Borosilicate glass body, tempered glass lid panel, silicone lid frame and steam valve

Safe for: Microwave (with vent open), oven (up to 950F for glass), freezer, dishwasher

Certifications: PFAS free, plastic free, BPA free, 2 year warranty

Best for: Anyone who wants a complete set at a reasonable price point without compromising on materials

Worth noting: Do not confuse the Signature line with the older Bentgo Glass Leak-Proof line, which uses PP plastic clips on the lids. The Signature line is the plastic free version.

Shop Bentgo Signature on Amazon

Urban Green (Best for Everyday Use)

Urban Green is one of the most recommended brands in the non-toxic living community, and for good reason. They have been focused on eliminating plastic from food storage longer than most of the brands on this list. Their containers use borosilicate glass with semi-tempered glass lids framed in silicone, and they are marketed as 100% plastic free.

The standout feature is the air vent design built into the silicone lid frame. You can microwave with the lid on as long as the vent is open, which eliminates the need to remove the lid or cover your food with a paper towel. That may sound like a small convenience, but when you are reheating leftovers every day it makes a real difference.

I ordered the 3 pack with glass lids. One nice thing about these is that the lids stack nicely. Urban Green also offers square and rectangle options in various sizes, plus a stainless steel container line with glass lids.

Materials: Borosilicate glass body, semi-tempered glass lid panel, silicone frame with air vent

Safe for: Microwave (with vent open), oven (body only, lid not oven safe), freezer, dishwasher

Certifications: 100% plastic free, BPA free

Best for: Daily use, especially if you microwave leftovers frequently

Shop Urban Green on Amazon

Caraway (Best Ceramic Coated Premium Set)

I have tested and reviewed Caraway's cookware extensively, and their ceramic coating technology is genuinely excellent for non-stick performance without PFAS. Their food storage line applies that same ceramic coating to borosilicate glass containers, which means food does not stick, stains are easier to clean, and you get a non-toxic cooking surface that is oven safe up to 450F.

Where Caraway gets complicated is the lids. Caraway markets their food storage as “free from PTFE, PFOA, PFAS, and BPA.” They say the lids are glass. But they do not use the phrase “plastic free” on their food storage line, and the lids are listed as “not microwave safe,” which is unusual for a product with purely glass and silicone lids. The colored frame around each lid appears to contain a BPA free plastic component rather than being pure silicone.

I also want to note that the larger Caraway sets include small “Dot and Dash” containers that are explicitly described as BPA free plastic with plastic lids. These nest inside the glass containers and are included as accessories. If you are buying a Caraway set specifically to go plastic free, be aware that some of the pieces in the box are plastic.

Materials: Borosilicate glass body with ceramic coating, glass lid with colored frame (BPA free plastic), silicone gasket

Safe for: Microwave, oven (up to 450F), freezer, dishwasher (lids not microwave safe)

Certifications: Free from PTFE, PFOA, PFAS, BPA. Third party tested for 200+ PFAS types and 20+ heavy metals. CA AB1200 compliant.

Best for: Anyone who values premium design, non-stick ceramic coating for easy cleaning, and is comfortable with a BPA free (but possibly not fully plastic free) lid

Worth noting: Caraway is the most expensive option on this list but also the best looking. If kitchen aesthetics matter to you and you already own Caraway cookware, the color-matched food storage is hard to beat.

Shop Caraway

EcoPreps (Best Bamboo Lid Option)

EcoPreps takes a different approach entirely. Instead of glass lids, they use bamboo lids with a silicone seal ring. The containers are borosilicate glass. The result is a product that is 100% plastic free but lighter than an all glass lid design.

The bamboo lids are arguably the most attractive option on this list. They have a warm, natural look that stands out from the clinical transparency of glass lids. Several reviewers have noted that the bamboo lids double as small cutting boards, which is a nice bonus for meal prep.

Materials: Borosilicate glass body, bamboo lid, silicone seal ring

Safe for: Microwave (body only, remove bamboo lid), freezer, dishwasher (body only, hand wash lids)

Certifications: 100% plastic free, BPA free

Best for: Pantry storage, dry goods, and anyone who wants a natural aesthetic in their kitchen. Also good if you primarily store food in the fridge and reheat by removing the lid.

Worth noting: Bamboo lids need to be hand washed and allowed to dry completely. Over time, bamboo can absorb moisture and potentially develop mold if stored wet. For daily meal prep where you are microwaving with the lid on, glass lids are more practical. For fridge and pantry storage, bamboo works beautifully.

Shop EcoPreps on Amazon

Cost Comparison: Non-Toxic Glass Storage by Price

One of the most common objections to glass food storage with glass lids is the price. It is more expensive than a set of plastic containers from the grocery store. But when you compare these sets to each other and factor in how long glass lasts versus how often plastic containers need to be replaced, the math changes.

Here is how these brands compare on price. I normalized the comparison as much as possible, but these sets come in different sizes and configurations so a perfect apples-to-apples comparison is tricky. I have included the approximate price per container and noted the lid type and plastic free status for each. Prices are based on what I paid or current retail at the time of writing and may fluctuate.

The bottom line: you can outfit your kitchen with genuinely plastic free glass food storage for roughly $30 to $80 depending on how many containers you need and which brand you choose. Bentgo Signature offers the best value for a complete set. Ziruma offers the most flexibility to buy individual sizes. Caraway is the premium investment. And if you are just testing the concept before committing to a full set, a single Urban Green 3 pack or EcoPreps bamboo 3 pack is a low risk way to start.

What About Stainless Steel?

Stainless steel food storage is another excellent non-toxic option, especially if you need something unbreakable for travel, kids' lunches, or taking food on the go. Brands like Sustainable Containables, U-Konserve, and Tavva make stainless steel containers with silicone lids that are completely plastic free.

The tradeoff with stainless steel is that you cannot see what is inside without opening the lid, and most stainless steel containers are not microwave safe (a few newer designs from Urban Green and others pair stainless steel bodies with glass lids to solve both problems). Stainless steel is best as a complement to glass in your kitchen rather than a full replacement.

I will be covering silicone food storage bags (another great plastic free option for freezer storage, meal prep, and snacks) in a separate article. If you are building out a fully non-toxic kitchen, that piece will connect directly to this one.

How I Use These in My Kitchen

If you are just getting started with non-toxic food storage, my recommendation is to pick one set of glass containers with glass lids and use them for a month before replacing everything. You will quickly learn which sizes you reach for most, whether the weight bothers you, and how the cleaning fits into your routine. Then you can expand from there.

For more on reducing your overall toxic load in the kitchen, explore my PFAS free cookware guide and my article on whether enameled cast iron is safe.

Last updated: March 2026