Glass beats plastic for leftovers

For bringing last night’s dinner to work, get glass containers with locking lids and don’t overthink it. Pyrex with the snap-lock lids is the standard for a reason.

Plastic is the trap here. It stains orange the first time you bring spaghetti, and it absorbs smells so your Wednesday chicken tikka tastes faintly of Tuesday’s chili. Glass doesn’t do any of that. It also reheats cleanly in the microwave — plastic can warp and leach, and nobody needs that.

If you’re hauling soup or anything with liquid, go Glasslock instead. The rubber gasket seals tighter than the Pyrex snappers, so it won’t leak in your bag.

Size-wise, grab the 2- or 3-cup containers, or a mixed pack. One portion of dinner fills one container, and you’re done. Microwave, eat, wash, done.

Your future self will take a way better lunch — and the container will still look new next year.