You've decided you want a silicone food container.
Great.
Then you start shopping and discover approximately 400 products that all seem to say some version of:
Premium. Food grade. Non-toxic. Silicone.
Which doesn't make choosing one nearly as easy as it sounds.
After spending three years developing a silicone food container myself, I think consumers should look beyond the front of the package. The material matters, but so do the testing, temperature limits, construction, lid and something that gets overlooked constantly: whether the container actually fits the way you're going to use it.
The quick answer
Don't buy a silicone food container based on the word "silicone" alone.
Look at what kind of silicone is used, what food-contact information the company provides, the temperatures the finished product is designed to handle, the lid and construction, size, cleaning instructions and whether the design works for the way you actually eat and store food.
Silicone food container buying checklist
| What to check | What you want to know |
|---|---|
| 1. Silicone material | Can the company tell you what kind of silicone it uses? |
| 2. Food-contact information | Are specific standards, testing or intended uses explained? |
| 3. Temperature limits | Is it designed for the freezer, microwave, dishwasher or oven? |
| 4. Lid & construction | Will the lid stay with the container? How does it seal? |
| 5. Size & shape | Does it fit the food and use case you actually have? |
| 6. Cleaning & durability | Is it practical enough for repeated everyday use? |
| 7. Portability | Will you actually have it with you when you need it? |
1. Find out what kind of silicone you're buying
"Made from silicone" doesn't tell you everything about a product.
Silicone products can differ in formulation, curing system, pigments, reinforcing materials, manufacturing and quality control.
Some companies will tell you that they use platinum-cured silicone. Others may provide information about the manufacturer or source of their raw material.
That kind of transparency is useful.
It doesn't mean you need to become a chemist before buying lunch containers. But I think a company selling something intended to repeatedly touch your food should be able to tell you more than, "Don't worry, it's food grade."
What does "platinum silicone" actually mean?
Platinum refers to the curing process used to turn silicone into the finished rubber material. It matters, but it isn't a food-safety certification by itself.
Read: What Is Platinum Silicone? →2. Look beyond the words "food grade"
This is probably the biggest thing I want people to take away from this guide.
A reassuring phrase on a product listing isn't the same thing as meaningful food-contact information.
In the United States, FDA food-contact evaluations consider the specific substances involved and the conditions under which they are intended to contact food.
That can include the type of food, duration of contact and temperature.
In other words, whether something is appropriate for cold food storage isn't automatically the same question as whether it is appropriate for reheating food or cooking at high temperatures.
Source: U.S. Food & Drug Administration, Food Types & Conditions of Use for Food Contact Substances.
What should you look for?
• Clear food-contact information.
• Specific testing or compliance claims the company can explain.
• Instructions for the temperatures and uses the product is designed to handle.
• A manufacturer or brand willing to answer material questions.
3. Check the temperature limits before you buy
One reason silicone is popular in kitchens is its usefulness across a range of temperatures.
But here's the important part:
Don't assume every silicone product can go everywhere simply because it's silicone.
Check the instructions for the specific product.
If you plan to microwave in it, make sure it is intended for microwave use.
If you want to freeze meals in it, check that it is designed for frozen storage.
If you want to put it in the oven, look for an actual temperature limit rather than assuming.
FDA food-contact guidance itself distinguishes between refrigerated storage, frozen storage, reheating and cooking at higher temperatures because the conditions of use matter when evaluating a food-contact material.
Source: U.S. Food & Drug Administration, Food Types & Conditions of Use for Food Contact Substances.
4. Pay attention to the lid
We spend so much time comparing container materials that the lid can become an afterthought.
It shouldn't.
Ask yourself:
• Is the lid easy to put on correctly?
• Does it create the kind of seal you need?
• Is it a separate piece that's easy to lose?
• Can every part be cleaned easily?
• Is the lid intended for the same heating and cleaning methods as the container?
A great container with a frustrating lid becomes a frustrating container.
5. Buy for the food you actually eat
Bigger isn't automatically better.
Neither is having seven perfectly matching sizes.
Think about what you're actually storing.
Lunches?
Restaurant leftovers?
Meal prep?
Snacks for travel?
Freezer meals?
The best container is the one whose size and shape make sense for the food you're regularly putting into it.
Still deciding between silicone, glass and plastic?
Each material has situations where it makes sense. We compared portability, weight, heat, breakability, storage and everyday use.
Read: Plastic vs. Glass vs. Silicone Food Containers →6. Think about cleaning before you think about Instagram
I appreciate a beautiful kitchen cabinet as much as anyone.
But after the first week, what matters is whether you actually want to wash and reuse the container.
Look at the corners, folds, lid and sealing surfaces.
Is it dishwasher safe if that's important to you?
Can you easily reach the places where food could collect?
Reusable only works if you want to reuse it.
7. Ask the question most buying guides forget: Will I actually have it when I need it?
This one is personal for me because it's the entire reason BYOB exists.
I already owned reusable food containers.
That wasn't my problem.
My problem was that they were sitting at home when I was in a restaurant.
A reusable restaurant container only works if you actually bring it to the restaurant.
That's why portability deserves to be part of the buying decision.
How much space does it take up when it's empty?
Can you put it in a purse or work bag?
Can it live in your car?
If your goal is restaurant leftovers, these questions may matter every bit as much as what material the container is made from.
Want to use your reusable container at restaurants?
The first time can feel a little awkward. After that, it becomes surprisingly normal. Here's exactly how I do it, from food trucks to nicer restaurants.
Read: How to Bring Your Own Container to a Restaurant →What I would not use to choose a silicone container
I also wouldn't make my decision based on one viral test or one impressive-sounding phrase.
You've probably seen tips online that promise to reveal the quality of silicone by squeezing, stretching or pinching it and watching for a color change.
That may tell you something about how a particular material looks when stretched. It does not tell you whether a finished product meets applicable food-contact requirements.
I would put much more weight on actual material information, intended-use instructions and meaningful food-contact testing.
A kitchen trick can't replace that.
What I look for now
After developing my own product, my checklist has become pretty simple.
Can the company tell me what the material is?
Can it explain its food-contact standards or testing?
Are the use and temperature limits clear?
Does the design solve the problem I actually have?
Will I use it often enough to justify buying it?
That's more useful to me than a package covered in reassuring adjectives.
How BYOB stacks up against my own checklist
It would be strange to give you a buying checklist and not tell you how the product I created fits into it.
BYOB is made with LFGB-certified platinum silicone material sourced from Elkem.
I chose silicone because the container needed to collapse, expand and survive repeated everyday use.
The lid stays attached because I didn't want another separate piece to find.
It has two usable expanded heights because restaurant portions aren't all the same.
And most importantly for the problem I was trying to solve, it collapses small enough to keep in my car door, purse or bag before I know whether I'll have leftovers.
That's why I built it the way I did. Not because silicone should replace every container in your kitchen, but because it was the right material for this particular job.
Want to compare actual collapsible containers?
We compared five popular options by design, portability, size, use case and price.
Compare the Top 5 Collapsible Food Containers →Frequently asked questions about choosing silicone food containers
What should I look for in a silicone food container?
Look for clear information about the silicone material, food-contact testing or compliance, intended temperature range, lid and sealing design, size, cleaning instructions and whether the container fits the way you plan to use it.
Is platinum silicone better for food storage?
Platinum curing is commonly used for high-quality silicone applications, but the curing method alone doesn't establish the quality or food-contact suitability of a finished container. Look at the material, manufacturing, testing and intended use together.
What does LFGB mean on silicone products?
LFGB refers to Germany's Food and Feed Code. Germany's BfR also publishes recommendations used to assess silicone food-contact materials. If a company makes an LFGB claim, look for clarity about whether it applies to the raw material, the finished product or specific testing performed.
Are all silicone food containers microwave safe?
No. Many are designed for microwave use, but you should follow the instructions and temperature limits for the specific container and all of its components.
Is thicker silicone always better?
Not necessarily. Thickness affects structure and feel, but the ideal construction depends on what the product is designed to do. A collapsible container, for example, needs enough structure to hold food while remaining flexible enough to collapse.
Are collapsible silicone containers good for restaurant leftovers?
They can be particularly useful because the empty container can take up less space before you need it. That makes it easier to keep a reusable container in a bag or car and actually have it with you when you eat out.
Don't buy the label. Buy the container you'll actually use.
Silicone can be a fantastic material for food storage.
But "silicone" shouldn't be the beginning and end of your buying decision.
Ask a few more questions.
What is it made from? How was it evaluated? What can it actually do? And will I actually use it?
Those answers will tell you much more than the buzzwords on the package.
Looking for one made to go with you?
BYOB is a reusable collapsible platinum-silicone food container designed for restaurant leftovers. It folds down small enough to keep with you, then expands when there's food worth bringing home.
Shop BYOBSources:
U.S. Food & Drug Administration, Food Packaging & Other Substances that Come in Contact with Food.
U.S. Food & Drug Administration, Food Types & Conditions of Use for Food Contact Substances.
German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR), Recommendations on Food Contact Materials and Recommendation XV: Silicones.
Bring Your Own Box,
Rachel
