We Tested Rubbermaid Brilliance Food Storage Containers

We purchased Rubbermaid Brilliance Food Storage Containers so our reviewer could put it to the test in her kitchen. Keep reading for our full product review.

With so many affordable food storage container sets on the market it’s easy to cast research aside and just buy the first $20 set you find on Amazon. Alas, this can lead to leaky, low-quality containers that need to be frequently replaced. That’s why we decided to give Rubbermaid’s Brilliance Food Storage Containers a go. The easy-to-use, leak-proof containers promise to keep food and liquids secure and with a few different size options, you can efficiently store your snacks and meals. Keep reading to see if the containers have what it takes to stand out in a sea of budget-friendly tupperware. 

Design: Pretty yet useful

A lot of Rubbermaid products are made with cloudy plastic so you need a label to know what’s inside, but that’s not the case with the company’s Brilliance containers. Every item in the 14-piece set proves completely clear, so you can easily see which contains last night’s lasagna and which is the odd experiment your child is doing with bread mold. The set includes four 1.3-cup containers, two 3.2-cup containers, one 9.6-cup container, and seven corresponding lids. The capacity of each can be found on the bottom of the container, so you don’t have to guess when storing something. Each lid and container also has Rubbermaid branding stamped on it so you don’t have to blindly guess what goes with what when pulling them out from your tupperware drawer. 

As we already mentioned, the lids are see-through but that’s not the only aspect that makes them stand out. Rubbermaid actually encourages putting lids in the microwave because their design features air-releasing holes under each lid clasp.

The lid’s airtight seal is part of what makes these storage containers so useful. You can actually hear the air escaping when you open them. At the same time, the strong rubber band around the lid makes somewhat difficult work of closing the containers. We imagine the rubber lining and clasps might loosen over time, but a few weeks of use—in the dishwasher and microwave—hasn’t altered them, so we’re not so sure. 

Material: Quality plastic

Rubbermaid Brilliance containers are made from BPA-free plastic that is stain- and odor-resistant, which means storing tuna salad or spicy curry won’t come back to haunt you weeks later. It’s durable, too, though you might not believe it given the set’s glass-like look. Still, we don’t recommend being too rough with them; Rubbermaid’s containers aren’t as thick as others we’ve used and they scratch pretty easily.

Heating Capacity: Mess-free microwaving

You can microwave whatever you like in these containers—they handle heat really well. You can even leave the lid on (with the tabs up) for mess-free microwaving. As long as you aren’t heating for more than three minutes or so, the sides of the container will remain cool enough to touch. 

In our testing, we zapped leftover rice, chicken, and vegetables for lunch, and heated up a slice of leftover quiche for breakfast. Ninety seconds was enough for each to fully warm up. You can also microwave items straight from the freezer; we found that defrosting a 3.2-cup container of frozen pasta sauce took just four minutes with a stir break in the middle. 

Care: Easy as can be 

The Rubbermaid Brilliance containers are a cinch to clean—simply throw them in the dishwasher and marvel at how clear they come out. The only cleaning difficulty lies in the crevices of the seal on the lid. This always proves the most difficult spot to get clean, but it’s possible with the pre-dishwasher swipe of a sponge. 

Price: Surprisingly affordable

Because these containers look so pretty compared to others, the $25 price tag doesn’t feel like too much. You’re paying a little extra to get that glam, but also to truly have a storage device that makes transporting and heating up messy foods easy.

Competition: Plenty of plastic 

Fullstar Food Storage Containers: Fullstar’s offering is a major bargain. For just a few dollars more than Rubbermaid’s set, you get 24 pieces—nearly double the amount of containers. These also have locking, spill-proof lids, and are microwave-, dishwasher- and freezer-safe. 

S Salient 18-Piece Glass Food Storage Containers: If you’re looking for different shapes and sizes, the 18-piece locking-lid set by S Salient offers rectangle, square, and circle containers for $30. This brand also features odor- and stain-resistant plastic that’s BPA-free. The containers are approved for use in the freezer, dishwasher, and microwave, though you must remove the lid before heating anything up.

Popit! Plastic Food Storage Containers: Where the crystal-clear plastic of Rubbermaid containers proves pleasing to the eye, the lightweight design of Popit!’s storage containers make them easy to tote to work in your lunchbag. This $20 set comes with eight containers (16 pieces in total) of all different sizes and all with airtight, locking lids.