Get silicone if you're fed up with leaks

Silicone lunch boxes are usually better than plastic at stopping leaks, but only if the lid actually seals.

The advantage is simple: silicone is flexible, so the lid presses evenly against the rim and forms a tight, watertight seal. Most plastic lunch boxes rely on a stiff lid or a thin rubber gasket that can fold, pinch, or wear out. A good silicone box is one piece — no gasket to lose or misalign.

Of course, not every silicone box is leakproof. Cheap ones can have foam seals that are just as questionable as plastic. And some plastic containers with a locking lid and proper gasket are just as leakproof as silicone. So it’s not the material alone — it’s the design.

But if leaks have ruined your lunch bag one too many times, silicone is the safer bet.