The seven alternatives as good as Tupperware
Founded by Earl Tupper in 1946, the Tupperware Plastics company may have reached the end of the line. Now trading as Tupperware Brands, it filed for bankruptcy yesterday citing “the challenging macroeconomic environment” – believed to include rising raw material and wage costs, coupled with slowing demand.
For many, the word “Tupperware” has long since slipped its association with the Florida-based company and has become a catch-all term for food storage containers.
Despite its popularity in the UK in the 70s and 80s, Tupperware actually ceased operations here in 2003 and, aside from an ill-fated 2011 relaunch attempt, never returned. In its place, myriad options have sprung up offering different speciality functions, from locking tops to glass pots for easy reheating.
“Meal prepping has seen an enormous surge in popularity for a range of reasons: increasing costs of living, awareness of the environmental impact of single-use packaging and food waste, as well as the rise in health-conscious consumers,” says Dan Black, co-founder of UK-based sustainable food container brand Black + Blum, whose products are microwaveable and plastic free. He continues, “sales of lunch boxes have increased 131 per cent over the last 12 months and we’ve seen great interest in bento boxes with the rise of consumers wanting variety in their lunches and an emphasis on aesthetically pleasing meals.”
If your Tupperware is looking a little on the shabby side, check out our guide to buying, cleaning, and storing your food containers. Here are our picks for the best products you can buy right now…
Vonshef glass storage containers
Best for value
These containers are made with borosilicate glass which is naturally stain resistant and can withstand thermal shock, meaning it shouldn’t crack even if you take it straight from the freezer to the oven. They also have a BPA-free silicone lid with snap locks which ensures they are air-tight. They are only available in 5 or 10-unit multipacks, but for ￡24.99 or ￡34.99 respectively, they’re good value (IKEA has a similar price but on a per-unit basis these are cheaper.)
￡34.99 for a ten-piece set, VonHaus
Black+Blum Stainless Steel Bento Box
Best bento-style box
Containing two 500ml stainless steel leak-proof containers and a sliding divider to keep your curry separate from your rice, this premium bento box is something special. The bamboo lid conceals a handy fork and doubles as a chopping board or plate. This one isn’t microwaveable but it’s freezer-safe and comes with a 2-year guarantee. Stylistically, Mr Tupper’s creations could scarcely hold a candle to this, though it is at the pricier end of the spectrum at ￡49.95.
￡49.95 for two 500ml containers, Black + Blum
LocknLock Top Class range
Best for reheating
Made from heat-resistant glass with a BPA-free Tritan lid, Japanese brand LocknLock’s Top Class range can withstand temperatures up to 400C without issue so it’s ideal for reheating foods in the oven or air fryer. The glass can also be cooled to -20C making it suitable for freezing too. Although the boxes come in many sizes, the full range hasn’t made its way to the UK yet so your only option is the 1L container for ￡16.67 from Amazon.
￡16.67 for a 1l container, Amazon
OXO Good Grips Silicone Reusable Bags
Best for space saving
For those who batch-cook soups and stews and want to avoid filling up their fridges with clunky plastic boxes, OXO has the compact solution in the form of these neat stand-up bags. Made from food-grade silicon with a simple press seal, they’ll keep your leftovers fresh with no leaks. They’re also dishwasher and microwave-safe. From ￡12 for a 335ml bag.
￡12 for a 355ml bag, John Lewis
Sistema Ultra
Best for kitchen organisation
In many ways, Sistema has picked up Tupperware’s mantle as the go-to plastic food storage solution, with a vast collection of lunch boxes, containers and tubs. The Ultra collection, made from shatterproof plastic, has a modular design so different sizes can be stacked on top of each other – ideal for larder cupboards and drawers.
￡7 for a 460ml container, Ocado
Pyrex Cook&Heat collection
Best for microwaving
With a unique pair of steam valves in the sealed lid, these microwavable pots from Pyrex are ideal for those who want to heat their food on the go. The glass dish ensures an even heat distribution and the valves prevent it from turning to mush in the process. As with all Pyrex products, this one comes with a 10-year guarantee and the glass can withstand temperatures of up to 300C.
￡11.90 for a 400ml container, Pyrex
Joseph Joseph Lock 5-piece Multicolour Container Set
Best for lunchboxes
Colourful and cute, this nesting set from Joseph Joseph has five containers of different sizes that can fit inside each other for easy storage when not in use. Made of lightweight plastic, they’re ideal for carrying to and from work or school and the airtight lids snap on in four places to ensure they stay locked even in the rough and tumble of your bag.
￡40 for a five-piece set, Joseph Joseph
