We live in a land of infinite choices: cash or credit? Take-out or delivery? And when it comes to food storage containers, glass or plastic? The answer isn’t that simple. Aside from personal preference, the choice depends on environmental and safety concerns, space and weight considerations, and functionality. Below, we’ve laid out the factors to consider when choosing between glass and plastic, and determined a winning material for each category.

FOR THE ENVIRONMENT: GLASS

First up: recycling. With care, glass containers will last almost indefinitely, and if you do discard of them, they’re 100 percent recyclable. An unfortunate amount of plastic, however, can’t be recycled in most municipal recycling programs. (Plastics are labeled with numbered symbols and local programs typically recycle some, but not all, of the labels.) According to a recent study, approximately 6300 metric tons of plastic waste had been generated as of 2015, 9 percent of which had been recycled. The only kind of plastic containers that might be comparable to glass in terms of environmental benefits are ones made of recycled plastic, like these by Preserve.

FOR YOUR HEALTH: GLASS

Even when you choose BPA-free plastic, toxic, endocrine-disrupting chemicals may migrate into your food during microwaving. Glass has a non-porous surface that doesn’t absorb like plastic and can be safely washed at higher temperatures in your dishwasher without melting or warping—most food storage containers made of glass are designed to withstand high heat without breaking.

Glad containers are designed to store tiny amounts of dressing.

 Photo by Caleb Adams

FOR BRINGING YOUR LUNCH TO WORK: PLASTIC

Plastic containers are definitely the convenient option for transporting food. They’re much lighter than glass and won’t shatter into a million little pieces if you drop them. Some, like these Glad containers, are designed with a lid for storing tiny containers of dressing or sauce. If you’re looking for another transportable, replaceable, and inexpensive plastic container for carrying your lunch, heed Epi staffer Erika Owen’s advice and use 32-ounce plastic deli containers.

FOR PACKING YOUR KIDS’ LUNCHES: PLASTIC

If you’re sending your children off to school with their lunch, plastic is best for the same reasons above. Anya Hoffman likes this portioned option because it has tiny compartments for different items.

OXO glass containers for the win.

 Photo by Caleb Adams

FOR STORING LEFTOVERS IN THE FRIDGE & FREEZER: GLASS

For storing food in the fridge or freezer, glass, particularly OXO’s set wins. The containers are freezer-safe so the glass won’t break, leakproof with a tight seal (no mysterious liquids sticking to your refrigerator shelves!), and easy to clean. Plus, you don’t have to worry about glass releasing chemicals when frozen. Pyrex’s glass bakeware dishes, also freezer-safe, are particularly useful for cooking big batches and storing half in the freezer.

FOR SPACE SAVING: PLASTIC

While you can layer glass containers like a transparent Russian nesting doll, you can’t collapse them like you can with some of the newfangled plastic storage containers. Many of the reviews on Amazon for collapsible containers speak highly of compact food storage for camping, picnics, traveling. When you’re thinking about the haul, plastic is a winner.

FOR AESTHETICS: GLASS

From a personal standpoint, I’d much rather serve a dish from glass containers than from plastic. They’re pretty close to actual dishware and don’t absorb smells or stains—no frightening marinara discoloration after one too many uses. In modern classics or vintage patterns, glass, particularly Pyrex, wins my heart and my open shelving space.

Buy the food storage containers mentioned in this story:

• Preserve 8-Piece Food Storage Set, $25 on Amazon
• Glad 32-Ounce To Go Lunch Containers (Set of 4), $3 on Amazon
• DuraHome Deli Food Storage Containers (Set of 24), $14 on Amazon
• EasyLunchboxes 3-Compartment Bento Lunch Box Containers (Set of 4), $14 on Amazon
• OXO 16-Piece Smart Seal Leakproof Glass Food Storage Container Set, $60 on Amazon
• Pyrex Storage 6-Cup Rectangular Dish with Dark Blue Plastic Cover (Set of 4), $36 on Amazon
• Thin Bins Collapsible Containers (Set of 4), $18 on Amazon
• Pyrex 10-Piece Decorated Storage Set, $32 on Amazon

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