Elevating Your Kitchen Storage: A Deep Dive into Rubbermaid Premier Food Containers

Keeping your kitchen organized and your food fresh can feel like an endless battle. From forgotten leftovers to cluttered cabinets, managing your meal prep and food storage often presents challenges. That’s where high-quality food containers, like the Rubbermaid Premier line, step in. Designed with both freshness and convenience in mind, these containers offer a smart solution to help you maintain an orderly kitchen and ensure your culinary creations stay delicious longer. With over a decade of experience reviewing kitchen essentials, I understand the critical factors that separate good food storage from truly exceptional options. This article will guide you through the world of Rubbermaid Premier, exploring its innovative features and how it can transform your food storage experience.

What Are Food Containers, and Why Do You Need Them?

At its core, a food container is a vessel designed to hold and preserve food, protecting it from air, moisture, and contaminants. While this definition seems simple, the impact of a good food container on your daily life is profound. They are essential for a multitude of reasons, from extending the shelf life of ingredients and prepared meals to simplifying your meal planning and reducing waste.

Utilizing food containers offers several key benefits. First, they are paramount for preserving food freshness, sealing in flavors and nutrients while keeping out spoilage agents. This means your produce stays crisp, and your leftovers taste as good as day one. Second, they provide convenience for on-the-go meals, making it easy to pack lunches, snacks, or picnic items without spills. Third, by enabling proper storage, they contribute to a more sustainable lifestyle by minimizing food waste, which in turn saves money on groceries. Finally, effective food containers help organize your pantry and refrigerator, transforming chaotic shelves into tidy, accessible spaces.

Understanding the Rubbermaid Premier Food Container

The Rubbermaid Premier line stands out in the crowded market of food storage solutions. These containers are crafted to combine durability, clarity, and smart design, addressing common pain points associated with traditional food storage.

The primary material for Rubbermaid Premier containers is Tritan plastic. This advanced material is celebrated for its exceptional qualities:

• Shatterproof Durability: Tritan plastic is remarkably robust, resisting cracks and breaks, making these containers a long-lasting investment.
• Stain and Odor Resistance: Unlike many plastics that absorb food odors or become discolored by tomato sauces or curries, Tritan maintains its pristine clarity.
• Glass-like Transparency: The clear construction allows for easy identification of contents, eliminating the need to open lids to see what’s inside.
• Safety: Rubbermaid Premier containers are BPA-free and BPS-free, ensuring your food is stored safely without harmful chemicals leaching into it.

Beyond the base, the lids are a significant innovation. Featuring the Flex & Seal™ system, these lids are designed for a tight, secure seal that locks in freshness and prevents leaks. The Easy Find Lids™ system further enhances organization by allowing lids to snap to each other and to the bottom of their corresponding bases. This ingenious design means no more rummaging through cabinets for a matching lid; everything stays together, neatly stacked. Furthermore, one lid often fits multiple bases of the same size, simplifying your storage system.

In terms of features, Rubbermaid Premier containers are highly versatile:

• Microwave-Safe Bases: Ideal for reheating pre-cooked foods (always vent the lid or remove it).
• Freezer-Safe: Perfect for long-term food preservation.
• Dishwasher-Safe: Easy to clean (top-rack recommended to prolong life and prevent warping).
• Nestable and Stackable: Bases nest inside each other, and lids snap together, optimizing cabinet space.

A Comparative Look: Rubbermaid Premier vs. Other Food Container Materials

When choosing food containers, material is a key consideration. While Rubbermaid Premier offers specific advantages, understanding how it compares to other common types helps you make an informed decision.

Material Comparison:

Feature	Rubbermaid Premier (Tritan Plastic)	Glass Containers	Stainless Steel Containers	Standard Plastic (PP/HDPE)
Durability	Shatterproof, highly durable	Breakable, but very robust	Extremely durable, dent-resistant	Can crack/break over time
Stain & Odor Resistance	Excellent	Excellent	Excellent	Prone to staining and odors
Transparency	High clarity	High clarity	Opaque	Varies, often semi-clear
Microwave Safe	Bases only (reheating)	Yes (without lids)	No	Yes (with caution)
Oven Safe	No	Yes (bases only)	No	No
Freezer Safe	Yes	Yes (with caution for expansion)	Yes	Yes
Dishwasher Safe	Yes (top-rack recommended)	Yes	Yes	Yes (top-rack recommended)
Weight	Lightweight	Heavy	Moderate	Very lightweight
Price	Mid-range to high-end	Mid-range to high-end	High-end	Low-end to mid-range
Portability	Excellent, lightweight	Moderate, can be bulky/fragile	Excellent, durable	Excellent, lightweight

Advantages of Rubbermaid Premier:

• Best of Both Worlds: Offers the clarity of glass with the lightweight durability of plastic.
• Superior Organization: The Easy Find Lids system is unmatched for keeping cabinets tidy.
• Versatility: Safely transitions from freezer to microwave to dishwasher, making it ideal for daily use and meal prep.
• Reduced Waste: Its longevity and stain resistance mean less need for replacements.

Considerations:

While highly regarded, it’s important to note some considerations for Rubbermaid Premier:

• While resistant, very potent spices like turmeric can still potentially cause slight staining over extended periods.
• Not designed for cooking in the microwave; reheating only.
• Extreme temperatures or high sugar/oil content foods microwaved for too long can damage the containers.
• Plastics can become less flexible when frozen, so handle with care when very cold.

Guiding Your Choice: How to Select the Right Food Container

Choosing the ideal food container, whether from the Rubbermaid Premier line or another brand, involves assessing your specific needs and priorities. As an admin with a decade of experience, I emphasize these criteria for making the best selection:

1. Determine Your Usage Needs:

• What kind of food will you store? Dry goods, liquids, delicate produce, leftovers, meal prep? This dictates capacity, seal type, and material.
• How much capacity do you need? Are you storing single servings, family-sized meals, or bulk ingredients? Rubbermaid Premier offers a range of sizes, from small snack containers to larger family-pack options.
• Do you require special features? If you frequently microwave leftovers, ensure the container bases are microwave-safe. For lunches, leak-proof designs are non-negotiable. Rubbermaid Premier excels here with its secure Flex & Seal™ lids.

2. Prioritize Safe Materials:

Always opt for food-grade materials that won’t leach chemicals into your food.

• BPA-Free Plastics: Rubbermaid Premier uses Tritan plastic, which is certified BPA and BPS-free, providing peace of mind regarding food safety.
• Durable & Temperature Resistant: Ensure the material can withstand your intended use—whether it’s freezing, refrigerating, or reheating.

3. Evaluate Durability and Longevity:

A good food container should withstand daily use, including drops, temperature changes, and frequent washing.

• Shatterproof Design: Tritan plastic offers excellent impact resistance, a significant advantage over glass for busy households or portability.
• Resilience to Stains and Odors: This is where Premier truly shines, keeping containers looking new even after storing vibrant or aromatic foods.

4. Consider Practicality and Convenience:

• Airtight Seal: Crucial for freshness and preventing leaks. The Flex & Seal™ lids are designed for a secure, easy-to-use seal.
• Ease of Organization: Look for stackable and nestable designs. The Easy Find Lids™ system of Rubbermaid Premier is a game-changer for cabinet organization, as lids snap to bases and to each other.
• Ease of Cleaning: Dishwasher-safe containers save time and effort. Most Rubbermaid Premier components are top-rack dishwasher safe.

5. Read User Reviews:

Before making a final decision, delve into what other users are saying. Look for consistent feedback on durability, leak-proof performance, and overall satisfaction. User experiences often highlight practical insights not found in product descriptions.

Top Rubbermaid Premier Food Container Sets

While “top products” often feature different brands, for the keyword “Rubbermaid Premier,” the focus is on showcasing excellent options within this specific line. Here are some highly-rated and popular Rubbermaid Premier Food Storage Container sets that exemplify its best features:

1. Rubbermaid Premier Easy Find Lids 20-Piece Set:

   • Description: This comprehensive set typically includes a variety of container sizes (e.g., 0.5-cup, 1.25-cup, 2-cup, 3-cup, 5-cup, 7-cup) along with their corresponding lids. It’s a fantastic starter set for anyone looking to overhaul their kitchen storage.
   • Pros: Excellent value, wide range of sizes for diverse storage needs, all key Premier features (Tritan, Flex & Seal, Easy Find Lids).
   • Cons: Some users might find certain sizes less useful for their specific needs.
   • Ideal For: Families, meal preppers, and anyone needing a complete kitchen storage solution.

2. Rubbermaid Premier Easy Find Lids 10-Piece Meal Prep Set:

   • Description: Often featuring a more focused selection of medium-sized containers (e.g., three 3-cup and two 5-cup containers with lids), this set is tailored for daily meal prep.
   • Pros: Perfectly sized for single-serving meals and leftovers, compact for fridge and freezer, maintains freshness.
   • Cons: Fewer small containers for snacks compared to larger sets.
   • Ideal For: Individuals or couples focused on weekly meal planning and packing lunches.

3. Rubbermaid Premier Easy Find Lids Large Single Containers (e.g., 9-cup or 14-cup):

   • Description: These are individual large containers, sometimes sold in multi-packs of just large sizes, designed for bulk storage, family-sized leftovers, or baking ingredients.
   • Pros: Great for larger portions, excellent for storing whole batches of soup or salad, robust construction.
   • Cons: Takes up more space; the very large lids (like for 14c) sometimes have slightly varied leak performance after microwaving/dishwashing, as noted in care instructions.
   • Ideal For: Batch cooking, storing large quantities, or transporting food to potlucks.

Essential Tips for Using and Maintaining Your Rubbermaid Premier Food Containers

To maximize the lifespan and performance of your Rubbermaid Premier containers, proper usage and care are crucial. These simple tips will help keep them looking and performing their best for years to come.

Cleaning and Odor Removal:

• Initial Wash: Always wash new containers and lids before their first use.
• Dishwasher Use: For convenience, Rubbermaid Premier containers are dishwasher-safe. Place bases and lids on the top rack to prevent warping from direct heat exposure.
• Hand Washing: If hand washing, use warm, soapy water and a soft sponge. Avoid abrasive scrubbers that can scratch the Tritan plastic.
• Tackling Stubborn Odors: For persistent smells, a paste of baking soda and water applied to the container, left for a few hours (or overnight), then rinsed, can work wonders.
• Stain Prevention: While highly resistant, rinse containers immediately after storing brightly colored or oily foods (like tomato sauce or curry) to further minimize any chance of residual staining.

Storage and Organization:

• Leverage Easy Find Lids: Always snap lids to their corresponding bases or to other lids. This system is designed to keep your cabinets clutter-free and make finding pairs effortless.
• Nest Bases: Stack empty bases of similar shapes and sizes inside one another to save valuable cabinet space.
• Avoid Overpacking Freezers: When freezing liquids, leave a little headspace, as water expands when frozen and could potentially crack the container if completely full.

Microwave Use Guidelines:

• Reheating Only: Rubbermaid Premier bases are microwave-safe for reheating pre-cooked foods to a proper temperature, not for cooking from raw or extensive heating.
• Vent When Microwaving: Always remove the lid or loosen it to allow steam to vent. Sealing plastic lids while heating can create excessive pressure, potentially causing the lid to warp or damage the container. You can also loosely place the lid on top and rotate it a quarter turn.
• Avoid High Heat Foods: Do not reheat foods high in salt, oil, fat, or sugar (e.g., butter, chocolate, syrups) for extended periods, as this can cause localized extreme heat and potentially melt or severely damage the container.
• Handle with Care: Always use caution when handling containers with hot contents or after reheating in the microwave.

Things to Avoid:

• No Conventional or Convection Ovens: These containers are not designed for use in conventional ovens, convection ovens, under browning elements, or on a stovetop.
• Sharp Utensils: Avoid using knives or other sharp utensils directly in the container, as they can scratch or scuff the surface.
• Excessive Freezing Drops: While durable, plastics are less flexible when cold. Dropping a frozen container could potentially lead to breakage.

“Investing in quality food storage like Rubbermaid Premier is not just about organizing your pantry; it’s about preserving your food’s integrity, simplifying meal prep, and ultimately fostering a more efficient and less wasteful kitchen environment.”

Conclusion

Rubbermaid Premier Food Storage Containers offer a compelling solution for modern kitchens, blending the durability and clarity of glass with the convenience and lightweight nature of advanced plastic. Their innovative Tritan construction, coupled with the ingenious Easy Find Lids system, addresses common frustrations associated with food storage, from staining and odors to cluttered cabinets and mismatched lids. By understanding their features and following proper care instructions, you can significantly enhance your food preservation efforts, streamline your meal prep, and bring a new level of organization to your home.

Are you ready to transform your food storage experience and discover the lasting benefits of a truly organized kitchen?

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes Rubbermaid Premier different from other plastic food containers?

Rubbermaid Premier containers are made from Tritan plastic, which is specifically engineered to be shatterproof, resist stains and odors, and maintain exceptional clarity. This advanced material provides superior durability and performance compared to many standard plastic containers, which are more prone to staining, absorbing odors, and cracking over time.

Are Rubbermaid Premier containers truly leak-proof?

Yes, Rubbermaid Premier containers feature Flex & Seal™ lids that are designed to create an airtight and leak-proof seal. This makes them reliable for storing liquids like soups or sauces and for transporting meals without worrying about spills, though very large lids (e.g., 14c) may have slight variations in leak performance after microwaving/dishwashing.

Can I use Rubbermaid Premier containers in the microwave and freezer?

Absolutely. Rubbermaid Premier bases are safe for reheating pre-cooked foods in the microwave (always vent the lid), and both bases and lids are freezer-safe. This versatility makes them ideal for daily meal prep, storing leftovers, and long-term food preservation.

How do Rubbermaid Premier’s “Easy Find Lids” work for organization?

The Easy Find Lids system is a key feature. Lids are designed to snap securely to each other and to the bottom of their corresponding container bases. This innovative design ensures that lids and bases stay together, preventing clutter in your cabinets and making it effortless to find the right lid for every container.

Are Rubbermaid Premier containers safe for health, being made of plastic?

Yes, Rubbermaid Premier containers are made from Tritan plastic, which is certified BPA-free and BPS-free. This means they do not contain these common chemicals, offering a safe option for storing your food without concerns about chemical leaching.