RATINGS GOOD: FAIR: POOR: RATING FOOD STORAGE CONTAINERS Brand Testing Criteria Testers’ Comments HIGHLY RECOMMENDED Tupperware Rock ’N Serve Medium PRICE: $12.99 TESTERS’ COMMENTS: Well designed (handles, flat lid, vent for Deep Container PERFORMANCE, NEW: microwaving), with performance almost to match. We’re con- PERFORMANCE, USED: cerned about durability, though, as cracks developed during 100 MATERIAL: Plastic/polycarbonate DESIGN: dishwasher cycles. These cracks caused leaking during a second DISHWASHER INSTRUCTIONS: None submersion test. Some testers found it tricky to seal at first. SPECIAL NOTES: Open vent in lid to microwave Rubbermaid Stain Shield Square Container PRICE: $4.99 TESTERS’ COMMENTS: Handsome, sturdy container with wide rim PERFORMANCE, NEW: for easy handling. Lives up to marketing claims of stain resistance. MATERIAL: Plastic/polycarbonate-derived resin PERFORMANCE, USED: Odor control performance not perfect, though. DISHWASHER INSTRUCTIONS: Top rack only DESIGN: SPECIAL NOTES: Vent lid to microwave Genius VakSet: Four Vacuum PRICE: $57.99 TESTERS’ COMMENTS: Impressive performance comes with some Storage Containers with Pump PERFORMANCE, NEW: caveats: hassle factor of extra pumping step; vacuum-release PERFORMANCE, USED: method, which some may find unintuitive; containers rendered MATERIAL: Plastic/polycarbonate DESIGN: essentially useless if pump is lost. DISHWASHER INSTRUCTIONS: None SPECIAL NOTES: Lid cannot be microwaved Rubbermaid Seal’n Saver PRICE: $4.99 TESTERS’ COMMENTS: Staining was only problem encountered in PERFORMANCE, NEW: this sturdy container with excellent seal. MATERIAL: Plastic/polypropylene PERFORMANCE, USED: DISHWASHER INSTRUCTIONS: Top rack only DESIGN: SPECIAL NOTES: None RECOMMENDED WITH RESERVATIONS Betty Crocker Servables Container PRICE: $3.99 TESTERS’ COMMENTS: Decent, easy-handling container that didn’t PERFORMANCE, NEW: stand up too well to submersion and staining tests. So don’t sink it, MATERIAL: Plastic/polypropylene PERFORMANCE, USED: and store tomato products in another container. DISHWASHER INSTRUCTIONS: Top rack only DESIGN: SPECIAL NOTES: Vent lid to microwave GladWare Containers/Deep Dish Size PRICE: $2.89 TESTERS’ COMMENTS: Despite some staining and minor leaking, (pkg. of 3) PERFORMANCE, NEW: good overall performer, which surprised us given its flimsy feel. We PERFORMANCE, USED: were shocked that its performance improved after 100 washings, MATERIAL: Plastic/polypropylene DESIGN: particularly in shaking test. A good value. DISHWASHER INSTRUCTIONS: Top rack only SPECIAL NOTES: Vent lid to microwave Ziploc Brand Containers/Large Rectangle PRICE: $2.99 TESTERS’ COMMENTS: Only odor protection was truly subpar; (pkg. of 2) PERFORMANCE, NEW: bread smelled like onions at end of day one. We’re not crazy about MATERIAL: Plastic/polypropylene PERFORMANCE, USED: flimsy feel and lack of handles or rim, but you can’t argue with this DISHWASHER INSTRUCTIONS: Top rack only DESIGN: container’s performance. Stained less after 100 washings than when SPECIAL NOTES: Vent lid to microwave brand new. Sterilite Ultra Seal PRICE: $3.29 TESTERS’ COMMENTS: We were stunned that performance PERFORMANCE, NEW: improved with use, but it did. Less leakage, less staining, and better MATERIAL: Plastic/polypropylene PERFORMANCE, USED: odor protection after 100 dishwasher cycles. DISHWASHER INSTRUCTIONS: None DESIGN: SPECIAL NOTES: Vent lid to microwave Snapware Snap N’ Serve: Clear Stainproof PRICE: $19.97 TESTERS’ COMMENTS: Cracked during 100 dishwasher cycles, Six-Piece Food Storage Container Set PERFORMANCE, NEW: which impaired seal in submersion and odor protection tests. Has PERFORMANCE, USED: handles, but too small to help much when moving container hot MATERIAL: Plastic/Polycarbonate DESIGN: from microwave. We’re concerned about durability. DISHWASHER INSTRUCTIONS: None SPECIAL NOTES: Guaranteed unbreakable NOT RECOMMENDED Tramontina Stainless Steel Gourmet PRICE: $29.75 TESTERS’ COMMENTS: Despite good performance on virtually all Collection Storage Containers PERFORMANCE, NEW: tests because of its superhero seal, testers found it so difficult to affix PERFORMANCE, USED: lid to container securely (and, occasionally, to remove it, too) that MATERIAL: Stainless steel DESIGN: we would avoid this model. Besides that, it’s not microwave safe. DISHWASHER INSTRUCTIONS: Lid is top rack–safe only SPECIAL NOTES: Not microwave-safe Pyrex Storage Plus/Rectangle Dish with Lid PRICE: $5.99 TESTERS’ COMMENTS: Stain resistant for sure, but also heavy and PERFORMANCE, NEW: hard to handle when hot. Seals poorly. Odor protection was mini- MATERIAL: Ovenproof glass PERFORMANCE, USED: mal, and we wouldn’t store liquids in it. DISHWASHER INSTRUCTIONS: Top rack only DESIGN: SPECIAL NOTES: Avoid severe temperature changes SK Enterprises: Vacuum Seal Storage Containers PRICE: $19.94 TESTERS’ COMMENTS: Vacuum mechanism seemed flimsy and (set of 3) PERFORMANCE, NEW: fussy to operate. It failed us occasionally, especially if fine food PERFORMANCE, USED: particles such as sugar got into seal. Then, midway through testing, MATERIAL: Plastic/polypropylene DESIGN: mechanism broke and never worked again. DISHWASHER INSTRUCTIONS: None SPECIAL NOTES: Lid lever must be “up” to microwave PHOTOGRAPHY: VAN ACKERE COOK ’ S ILLUSTRATED SEPTEMBER & OCTOBER 2 0 0 3 26 27 .