Whether you're following our official#cook90 meal planor devising daily menus of your own, the#cook90 challengeinevitably comes with a lot of leftovers (or, as we like to call them,nextovers).
And in the spirit of #cook90, everyone on the Epicurious editorial staff has been going out of their way this month to repurpose their leftovers into more meals, be they repeats of the original dish or entirely new creations. Leftovers, however, are only as good as the containers they're stored in. Whether you're looking for an ingenious way to store curry or a lunchbox that keeps its contents cold, here are 6 food storage container tips and recommendations from the Epi staff.
1. Buy deli storage containers in bulk
"These restaurant-style quart containers have been saving me in terms of transporting lunch and saving leftovers at home. You can get them at dollar stores or on Amazon." -Erika Owen, Associate Audience Development Director
BUY IT:DuraHome 32-Ounce Deli Food Storage Containers With Lids, $16 for pack of 24 on Amazon
2. Invest in OXO's leakproof containers
We already waxed poetic about OXO's 30-piece leakproof plastic and glass container set in our2017 gift guide, and associate editor Emily Johnson is still lusting after it (spoiler alert: she didn't get it for Christmas). Senior food editor Anna Stockwell actually owns the containers and maintains that they're truly leakproof. "I love that you can remove the plastic seal for complete cleaning. Personally, I like the glass ones better because they're glass, but they're best for using at home in the fridge, not carting to work."
BUY IT:OXO Leakproof Food Storage Containers, $100 for a set of 30 containers on Amazon
3. Use a freezable bag
"This lunchbox is a little loud for me, but I like that it has a built-in gel pack. You can store it in the freezer overnight and then pack your lunch in the morning; your food will stay cool through the afternoon." -Bilal Shaikh, Associate Analytics Director
BUY IT:PackIt冻经典午餐盒在沙漠绿洲, $20 on Amazon
4. Organize your lunch with a bento box
Epicurious editor David Tamarkin will either bring his lunch to work ingood ol' Gladware, or a cute bento box. Our favorite is made by Takenaka; it comes with two tiers that can be sectioned off and a built-in fork so you never have to worry about finding silverware when you're on the go. Plus it's microwave- and dishwasher-safe.
BUY IT:Takenaka Rectangle Bento Box, $26 on Amazon
5. Cook and store in batches
"These Pyrex containers are a lifesaver when we're doing batch cooking. This week we made a beef and butternut squash chili,Thai chicken curry, and a ton ofspiralized zucchini, and they're all in these containers. I have three of them from when I used to do a weekly meal swap with neighbors." -Anya Hoffman, Senior Editor
BUY IT:Pyrex 11-Cup Rectangular Bakeware Dish, $13 on Amazon
6. When packing kids' lunches, keep it cheap and convenient
If you want to portion off your kids' lunches in a more balanced way, go with this three-compartment container. The largest section can easily hold a sandwich, while the other two are good for snacks, fruit, or a small dessert. "These are thecontainers I use for my kids...I love the different compartments, and they're super cheap," Anya says.
BUY IT:EasyLunchboxes 3-Compartment Bento Lunch Box Containers, set of 4 for $14 on Amazon
