Some may not think that storage pieces for the kitchen are sexy. Who cares about about containers for leftovers when you can have pink mixers and steampunk teapots? But storage containers are a practical, everyday necessity for all of us, and frankly I was more excited to see the great glass storage on display at Housewares than almost anything else.
I'm in the middle of switching over from plastic to glass storage containers, so the vast array of glass storage this year was really exciting. I think that the backlash against plastic has prompted nearly every glass and storage manufacturer to create their own line of storage pieces for the kitchen. Here are three of my favorites.
Anchor Hocking
Anchor Hocking is an old American company, and their glass is still made in Lancaster, Ohio (near where I grew up!). I appreciate buying local, and Anchor Hocking is still quite local to me. Their new line of glass storageware was on display at Housewares. It was all still in prototype form, but it should be available soon. I loved the vintage style — it's a throwback to those vintage fridge containers of the 1950s, with the ribbed glass. The lids to the square pieces are glass as well, with bright green silicone rims and seals. They also had great batter bowls with plastic lids that hinge open so you can pour easily without taking the whole lid off.
Two thumbs up for this stuff; it looks really terrific in person. And given that it's Anchor Hocking I expect a very reasonable price as well.
Duralex
Duralex makes the iconic French Picardie tumbler (I have scads of these in my house and use them to hold everything from cold drinks to hot drinks to cocktails to candles). Their products are made out of tempered glass, which means that they can go from the freezer to the fridge to the oven. You can drop them on a hard floor and they will not shatter (most of the time!). Their line of glass storageware is really lovely, and a very nice shape. It has that solid tempered glass I love in all the Duralex lines. I do worry a bit about the lids; they are BPA-free and dishwasher-safe, but they look like they may warp in the dishwasher.
• Duralex Lys Square Bowls with Lid, 5-piece Set, $39 at Duralex USA
Bodum
Bodum has branched out from their traditional tea and coffee wares. They have been doing this for some time, but this year they really made a splash. I especially loved these baking and storage dishes with multipurpose silicone lids. The dishes are freezer and oven safe, and the lids can double as trivets on the table. Very nice! These should be available very shortly — within the next month or so.
What's your favorite sort of glass storage? Have you tried any of the brands listed above?
Related: Plastic-Free Food Storage Alternatives
(Images: Faith Durand)
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I always use glass storage. I've used two brands: for fridge/freezer, I use Frigoverre by Bormioli Rocco (made in Italy). The rectangular shaped ones stack & sort well. For packing a leakproof lunch, I use Glasslock (USA) containers. They have silicone rubber seals and the lids have plastic locking wings - 100% spillproof!
My dry storage is Bodum Yohki -- love those things!
IKEA carries glass/silicone storage containers very like the Anchor Hocking ones that are fantastic, and probably considerably less expensive. I've got several, and they've been fantastic.
I have a set of Duralex glass mixing bowls that I've used daily for 9 years, and they're indestructable.
All of my glass containers are Pyrex, but I would consider the Duralex containers if I ever need more.
i love my anchor hocking glassware!
I like to clean and re-use jars that came with food in them. Salsa and spaghetti sauce both come in conveniently sized jars, and you can even freeze them. Mason jars work nicely too.
I clicked on these links and didn't see the containers in the pictures on the left, above, with the ribbed glass and the green lids. Who makes those?
All of the IKEA glass storage containers I have found are made in China :( Given the fair number of recalls for various products made in China over the years, I'm not comfortable with using products made in China for food prep or storage.
That said, I love, love, love mason jars, and also re-use glass containers that stuff came in- although I'd love suggestions on how to get the pickle smell out of a giant glass pickle jar! It's an awesome jar, but I now have pickle-scented quinoa!
I have a bunch of Frigoverre and Pyrex glass containers for leftovers. Plastic lids, but I leave enough space on top so that food doesn't get all over the lid anyhow. Works for fridge and freezer.
I also clean and reuse the glass jars that certain foods come in, but they aren't always shaped for ease of use/cleaning.
I still have some plastic containers. I use them for dry goods, no heat.
@Beachychic, try dumping in a bunch of baking soda inside the pickle-smelling jar and leaving it in there (closed) for a week? You can use the baking soda afterwards for cleaning.
@sillyshopping these photos were all taken at the Housewares Show, so they are prototypes or products that aren't quite on the market yet (with the exception of the Duralex containers, which you can buy at the link above). They are made by a big company, though, and I expect to see them in stores within a couple of months.
@sillyshopping the ribbed glass with the green are prototypes from Anchor Hocking, as well as the batter bowl with close and pour lid. We hope to be launching them in the near future. We hope you'll stay tuned and follow us:
facebook:http://www.facebook.com/pages/Anchor-Hocking-Company/279487411614
twitter: @anchorhocking
www.anchorhocking.com
Thank you for your interest!
I use the Anchor Hocking TrueSeal line to carry my lunches to work, including soups, and they DO NOT SPILL. Highly recommended.
Did you get a sense of how sturdy the seals are on the Anchor Hocking storage containers (i.e., could I cart them to work without leaks)? I love the design (and Anchor Hocking. Yay Ohio!), but most of my storage needs are for leftovers that we take for lunch.
@randomname- great idea with the baking soda, thank you, I am going to do that.
Love the retro Anchor Hocking set. I've always refrained from buying glass fridge containers in the past (fear of breakage mostly), but with all the latest plastic scares, it seems worthwhile to make the change.
LOVE the Anchor Hocking stuff. I've got Martha Stewart nesting glass storage dishes (rectangle and round) but they have all-plastic lids (pale green) which have not worn well - several got melted in the microwave (not by me) and others are cracking at the edges. They also do not have an air-tight seal.
I also have an IKEA all-glass food container (short and rectangular) with a silicone edge to its glass top. It is also not air-tight. Will the Anchor Hocking ones be air-tight?
Until then, I'll stick to mason jars for portable storage and the glass stuff I have for in the fridge.
I bought a covered dish just like the one in the photo with the green trim, only it didn't have the green trim. I found it at the local Marshalls, which is also where I found lots of Frigoverre. I love glassware!
I have a question about Anchor Hocking - is it a part pyrex? I read that pyrex is now manufactured in China... The reason I am asking is that I am one of the unfortunate people who have my glass baking dish explode - yes explode - it was crazy. I did a bunch of research and it is not that uncommon - from what I gather it has to do with a different kind of cheaper glass that the chinese use. But if I thought Anchor Hocking and Pyrex were the same. But if not I will buy from them - because I will never ever buy a piece of pyrex again.
NO, Anchor Hocking is NOT part of Pyrex. More importantly, Pyrex is NOT made in China. It's still 100% proudly made in the USA. Glass bakeware can break when subjected to extreme temperature changes. I've had Pyrex for over 25 years and over 1/2 of it is vintage. No problems with any of it. Don't be afraid of Pyrex. Really. It's safe in every way shape and form!
I heard that the Anchor Hocking lids stain and do not hold up. I just bought some Pyrex with glass lids and silicon seals - freezer to oven. I will keep my fingers crossed - but I have heard that Pyrex is the way to go for those who want to get the plastic out of their kitchen!