Best Food Storage Containers in Egypt: Glass vs Plastic for Fridge and Freezer

Glass or Plastic?

• Plastic: Lightweight, doesn't break if dropped, cheaper, and easy to take to work or school. Its downside is that it absorbs tomato sauce, turmeric stains, and garlic smells over time, and gets scratched by scrubbing pads. Choose a container labeled PP or "BPA-free" on the product page, and if it's not written, don't assume.
• Glass: Doesn't absorb odors or colors, and is suitable for reheating and serving. Its downside is that it's heavy and can break, and most plastic lids are not oven-safe.
• Heat-resistant glass (Borosilicate or Oven Glass): Withstands thermal shock better than regular glass, but still, don't move it straight from the freezer to a hot oven.

The practical solution for most homes: a good plastic set for the freezer and bag, and a few glass containers for the fridge and microwave.

Freezer Containers: Molokhia, Mahshi, and Tomato Sauce

• Molokhia: Freeze it in small, flat containers sized for a single cooking session, so you can thaw the whole thing at once and never refreeze it.
• Rolled Mahshi before cooking: Arrange it in a wide rectangular container in 1 or 2 layers, and place a sheet of parchment paper between the layers so they don't stick together.
• Tomato sauce and soup: Small containers from 250 to 500 ml, leaving about 2 cm of empty space at the top, because liquids expand when frozen, which is what pops the lid or cracks the container.
• Label each container with what's inside and the freezing date using a marker or sticker.
• Let the food cool first before sealing it and putting it in the freezer.
• Organize the freezer: Flat containers should be stacked on top of each other or side by side like books, put the oldest in the front so they get eaten first, and thaw what you'll cook in the fridge overnight.

Sizes a Egyptian Household Needs

For a family of 4, the most used are: 2 or 3 small containers (about half a liter) for sauce, cheese, and olives, 2 medium containers (1 to 1.5 liters) for leftover cooked food and rice, and 1 large container (2 liters or more) for pasta, salad, and Mahshi. A set with various sizes is better than a set where every container is the same size. Rectangular and square containers stack in the fridge and freezer better than round ones and take up less space.

Clips and Vacuum: What's the Difference?

Lids with 4 clips and a silicone gasket are what actually prevent leaks, which is important if you're carrying soup or Molokhia in a bag. As for the word "vacuum" on cheap containers, it usually just means a tight lid, not true air evacuation. True evacuation requires a pump or a device like FoodSaver and specially made containers, which is more useful for meat and cheese stored for a long time. If you aren't buying the device, a container with clips and a good gasket is enough.

Cleaning, Odors, and Stains

• Take the silicone gasket out of the lid periodically, wash it, and dry it because food and moisture hide underneath it.
• Tomato sauce stains in plastic fade if you soak the container in hot water and baking soda, or leave it in the sun after washing.
• Don't microwave in a plastic container unless it is labeled microwave-safe, and open or remove the lid while reheating.
• Replace the plastic container if it gets cracked or heavily scratched on the inside.

Check Before You Buy

• The number of "pieces" usually counts the lids, so a 14-piece set might only be 7 containers.
• Check if the freezer, microwave, and dishwasher ratings apply to both the container and the lid, because sometimes the container can handle it and the lid cannot.
• Read the capacity in ml, not just how the picture looks.
• Know who the seller is, because there are containers with names and pictures similar to well-known brands, and count the pieces as soon as the set arrives.