Organize Your Pantry With Our Favorite Dry Food Storage Containers

Our Top Pick

Rubbermaid Brilliance Food Storage Containers (Set of 10)

View on Amazon

Rubbermaid is often seen as a staple for food storage, and for good reason. The brand has been around since the 1920s, so they know how to design containers to maximize the vertical space in your cabinets and pantries. This 10-piece set offers a variety of shapes and sizes, from a tall 16-cup container for spaghetti or cereal to a 0.5-cup cube for chia seeds or spices.

We tested these containers in our food lab, where they earned perfect scores across all categories—performance, design, capacity, and ease of cleaning. Apart from being functional, they are also visually appealing.

A strong rubber seal keeps out air and water, and they are leak-proof and durable even when dropped. They also come with two small measuring scoops. After holding tomato sauce and onions for two days straight, both the containers washed by hand and in the dishwasher were free of odors and stains. 

The Details: Plastic; dishwasher safe; includes (1) 16-cup, (1) 12-cup, (1) 7.8-cup, (1) 6.6-cup, (2) 3.2-cup, (2) 1.3-cup, (2) 0.5-cup containers plus lids, (2) 0.5-cup measuring scoops

Best Budget

Chef's Path Airtight Food Storage Container Set

$38 at Amazon

These 14 individual containers vary in size to match your storage needs—perfect for ingredients like cereal, pasta, grains, coffee, flour, and sugar. For smaller ingredients or those you keep in limited quantities (spices, nuts, etc.), you may want to consider smaller containers to use with this set.

Each container is made from BPA-free plastic that is top-shelf dishwasher safe, and the bundle comes with measuring spoons and reusable chalkboard labels. Silicone seals help to keep air out and freshness in, and they can also hold liquids if you decide to use them for juice, water, or soup. When we filled the containers with water and performed a shake test, a small droplet came out on the first shake, but was leak-free on all subsequent shakes.

The Details: Plastic; top rack dishwasher safe; includes (2) 11.83-cup, (4) 8.45-cups, (4) 5.92-cup, (4) 3.38-cup containers plus lids

Best Design

Better Homes & Gardens Flip-Tite Canisters

$47 at Amazon $30 at Walmart

This set is small but mighty and a great starter kit for someone who is just getting going with kitchen organization. It's not the cheapest per container set in this guide, but it's a well-constructed dry food storage set that's considerate of space, average storage sizes, and design. The four-piece set includes four different sizes that are ideal for foods like cereal, pasta, flour, and beans.

We loved how secure the lids were, even after being thrown off the counter of our test kitchen. The BPA-free plastic material is dishwasher safe (top rack recommended), and the clear plastic makes it easy to take stock of what's left or what needs a refill. The flip-top lid stays on for easy dispensing, and the seal around the lid helps keep air out for longer, fresher storage.

Plus, Better Homes & Gardens sells identically designed open-stock containers, so you can custom-build your pantry with the items you need, and those prices are similarly priced to this set.

The Details: Plastic; top rack dishwasher safe; includes (1) 19.4-cup, (1) 16-cup, (1) 10.1-cup, (1) 6.5-cup container plus lids

Best Large Capacity

Rubbermaid Commercial Products Food Storage Container

$26 at Amazon

If you're a baker who buys sugar and flour by the bucket instead of the bag, or you're the cook for a family of people who go through beans and rice in a flurry of meals each month, these large dry food storage containers will change the way you shop, store, and cook.

The Rubbermaid Commercial Food Storage Containers come in sizes from 6 quarts to 22 quarts, but you do have to buy the lids separately. The commercial-grade, break-resistant polycarbonate material is ideal for long-term storage because it's sturdy and see-through, which helps you know when it's time to restock. The lids are also designed with a small lip, which makes for safer stacking if you're keeping these in pantries or cooler basements.

As a bonus feature, these containers are also great for sous vide cooking. The material is designed to withstand -40° to 212° F, so it can store flour in the freezer or be used to cook a beautiful steak. They're also great for when you have a big haul of fruit or vegetables from fresh picking, and they make a great bucket substitute when you need to rinse and prepare produce.

Before you buy these large food containers, just do a quick measure. They are much bigger than standard food storage sets, so you want to make sure your shelves are deep and tall enough or that your freezer has enough space.

The Details: Plastic; can withstand -40° to 212° F; includes (1) 8.75 x 8.8 x 8.75-inch container

Most Stylish

Crate & Barrel White Ceramic Canisters

$20 at Crate & Barrel $30 at Zola

It's easy to see why these containers earned our top pick for most stylish. Their clean design and white color make for a beautiful way to store flour, coffee, sugar, and other dry goods—right on your countertop if you want to. The containers are slightly larger than average, which is helpful if you're refilling an item and there's still a little bit of flour left at the bottom, for example.

We love that each container comes with a scoop that nestles into the side. The lids need to be washed by hand (they're solid wood), but the containers can go in the dishwasher, which can come in handy every once in a while, especially if you're switching up the contents.

In tests, these canisters stood out for their attractiveness and performance. When filled with water and shaken, there were zero leaks, and they smelled nice and clean after washing out tomato sauce and onions.

The Details: Ceramic, wood, stainless steel; container is dishwasher safe (wipe off the lids with a damp cloth); includes (1) 5.51 x 4.92 x 5.12-inch container

Best for Rice and Pasta

Vtopmart Large Food Storage Containers

$35 $25 at Amazon View on Vtopmart.net

If your dry food storage concerns fall primarily in large-quantity foods—like pasta, beans, and rice—then you may simply need several larger containers that are designed specifically for this purpose.

The four large containers hold about 22 cups, so they can fit a 5-pound bag of sugar or flour. That's a great size for families or cooks who keep their dry ingredients on regular rotation. You could also use one of the canisters to house pet food or snacks for safekeeping.

The 7.5 by 7.5 by 9.1-inch containers are small enough to fit most pantry shelves, but they could also fit in cabinets or under kitchen islands for quick access. They are made from high-grade, food-safe, BPA-free plastic, and the containers are safe to use in the dishwasher (lids should be washed by hand). The kit also comes with 24 chalkboard labels and four measuring cups.

Keep in mind when determining where and how to store these containers that because of their size, they will be heavy when they're full. But they do stack and store well.

The Details: Plastic; containers are dishwasher safe, lids are hand wash only; includes (4) 7.5 x 7.5 x 9.1-inch containers plus lids, (24) chalkboard labels, (4) measuring cups

Best for Flour

Oxo Pop 4.4-Quart Container

$22 $18 at Amazon $22 at Oxo View on Boscovs.com

We tested the entire Oxo Pop dry food storage container collection, but if you're going to splurge on just one, we suggest investing in the ingredient where freshness and quality really count: flour.

Flour that is not properly stored can quickly become rancid. This will deliver an off or sour taste to your final baked goods, or it could make recipes with a flour-based sauce seem spoiled. Not to mention, flour stored in a lid that's not airtight can also tip over and make a mess. This container is designed to hold a 5-pound bag of flour perfectly, and it's easy to stack in case you have multiple types. We love that with this new design, the entire lid and container are dishwasher safe.

Oxo combats these problems of air intrusion with a press-button lid that seals to shut off airflow between the inside of the container and the outside. To release the pressure, you press a button that doubles as a lid handle when it's in the up position.

The Details: Plastic; dishwasher safe; includes (1) 4.4-quart container plus lid

Best for Spices

Simple Houseware 12-Pack 4 Ounce Square Spice Bottles

$23 at Amazon

Most disposable spice containers are designed for safe, long-term storage, with airtight lids and durable containers. However, if you don't like the wide variety of shapes and sizes found at the grocery store, or if you're buying spice in bulk and need a better storage container than a thin plastic bag, this set of reusable glass spice bottles is a great option.

Available in 4 or 6 ounces, this kit comes with 24 glass bottles, 24 lids, a funnel for adding spices, 48 spice labels, and 20 blank labels. If you have ever tried refilling spice jars, you know how helpful the inclusion of the funnel is in this set. Although we wish more of the labels were customizable to accommodate spices that aren't listed in the set, the included tags include most of the essentials. The brand also offers optional accessories to go with the set, like a magnetized rack.

The Details: Glass; hand wash only; includes (24) 1.75 x 1.75 x 4.12-inch bottles plus lids, (48) spice labels, (20) blank labels, (1) funnel

Best Glass

Le'raze Glass Kitchen Canisters

$40 $30 at Amazon View on Lerazedecor.com

This set of containers combines functionality and style. Five containers are included, each topped with a natural bamboo lid and an airtight silicone seal to keep everything fresh. The glass is safe to use in the microwave, oven, and freezer, and the containers will display beautifully, whether kept out on the countertops or left in the cupboard.

In tests, the containers didn't experience any leftover odors or stains. There was some minor leakage while testing them with liquids, so these should remain dry food storage containers only. Although the lids need to be hand washed, the bottom containers are safe to put in the dishwasher for easy cleanup.

The Details: Glass, bamboo; containers are dishwasher safe, lids are hand wash only; includes (1) 2-cup, (1) 2.8-cup, (1) 3.7-cup, (1) 5-cup, (1) 6.75-cup containers with lids

Best for Coffee

Airscape Stainless Steel Coffee Canister

$36 at Amazon $45 at Williams Sonoma View on Planetarydesign.com

There are a few cases when a clear food storage container isn't a good idea—and coffee storage is one of them. That's because air and light are enemies of coffee beans.

This stainless steel container is capped off with an Airscape lid that uses a patented design to force air out and lock the lid in place, with a second outer lid to defend the interior against light. The design keeps the flavor of your whole roasted and pre-ground beans at their peak freshness. If you're not a coffee drinker, the canisters come equally in handy for nuts, seeds, and spices.

The canisters come in two sizes, so depending on how much you want to refill your coffee, you can pick up a small (32-ounce) or large (64-ounce) container. The sleek design is nice enough for keeping right on your countertop by your coffee maker.

The Details: Stainless steel; hand wash only; includes (1) 32-ounce or 64-ounce container with lid

Best for Brown Sugar

Rubbermaid Brown Sugar Container

$19 $12 at Amazon $15 $12 at Target

The Rubbermaid Brilliance line of containers features open-stock items designed for specific packages or types of food. In this case, the 7.8-cup container holds a 2-pound bag of brown sugar. It's vital, as most bakers know, to keep air away from brown sugar. Otherwise, you'll soon have a brown sugar brick that you won't be able to easily integrate into baking recipes.

Another brilliant (pun intended) element of this line of food storage containers is that many of the lids are designed to be interchangeable, so you're not left chasing down single lids in a cabinet of spares. According to reviewers, these containers won't retain food stains, and the seal is completely leak-proof.

The Details: Plastic, top-rack dishwasher safe; includes (1) 7.8-cup container plus lid

Best for Snacks

Gourmet Basics by Mikasa Madam Basket

$30 $27 at Amazon $30 at Home Depot

Pre-packaged snacks may not need airtight containers, but they do need organizing. This wire basket comes with an acacia wood lid to stack multiple bins, but they also nest neatly while not in use. They're large enough for multiple packs of chips, crackers, and granola, and they have enough design appeal to look nice on a kitchen counter or under an open kitchen island.

The heavy-gauge, carbon-structured steel is wrapped with a BPA-free, food-safe powder coating. That makes it great for open food storage, even for foods like potatoes and onions. The basket measures 14 by 12.5 by 9.75 inches, so it can still be tucked back into a cabinet or onto a counter out of the way.

The Details: Metal, wood; hand wash only; includes (1) 14 x 12.5 x 9.75-inch basket plus lid

Most Versatile

Progressive Prepworks ProKeeper 6-Piece Plastic Food Storage Container Set

$60 at Amazon $62 at Wayfair View on Overtons.com

This set offers one of the widest varieties of sizes and functions in a dry food storage container set we've found, so you can basically outfit your entire suite of baking ingredients in one fell swoop. The six different containers range in size from 4 quarts to 1.5 cups, which is perfect for food storage basics like flour, sugar, beans, nuts, snacks, and even spices.

Beyond that, it features easy-catch lids designed for safe stacking with silicone seals that keep air out once the container is closed tight. Instead of removing the entire lid when you need to get to the food, you need only open one side, as it's attached and swings open.

If that weren't enough, this set has another genius feature: integrated tools for specialized ingredients. There's a leveling tool for the flour container, a dusting tool for powdered sugar, a slotted lid for sprinkles, a pour spot for sugar, and even a stay-fresh terra cotta disk for brown sugar. These thoughtful additions help justify the slightly higher price tag, as you'll be able to make great use of them every time you pull one of these containers from your pantry or cabinet.

The Details: Plastic, silicone; dishwasher safe; includes (1) 4-quart flour keeper, (1) 2.5-quart sugar keeper, (1) 1.5-quart brown sugar keeper, (1) 1.4-quart powdered sugar keeper, (2) 1.5 cup mini keepers

Best for Canned Goods

SimpleHouseware Stackable Can Organizer

$30 $24 at Amazon

Alongside your containers of flour and sugar, you likely keep a healthy stock of canned favorites. Adding a can rack or two can be a great way to keep the whole of your pantry organized and accessible.

A canned goods rack, like a snack basket and clear dry food containers, is about one thing: orderly storage. With cans in this rack system, you can see what you have easily, restock when things are low, or help build a meal plan off what's already in your pantry.

This rack can hold up to 36 cans and comes with adjustable dividers if you need to tame extra-large or extra-small cans.

The Details: Metal, plastic; hand wash only; includes (1) 11.4 x 17 x 14-inch rack with plastic dividers