Glass beats plastic on stains, not on freshness

Glass beats plastic when it comes to stains and lingering smells, but both keep food fresh equally well if the lids seal tight.

The stain thing is the big difference. Plastic is porous, so tomato sauce, curry, and turmeric can leave permanent orange blotches. Glass is non-porous, so it rinses clean and doesn’t hold onto odors. If you’re tired of your container smelling like last week’s chili, glass is the fix.

For actual freshness, though, the material doesn’t matter much. What matters is the lid. A good airtight seal keeps food fresh in glass or plastic. If the seal is weak or warped, you’ll get stale sandwiches either way. Plastic containers are lighter and don’t shatter when dropped, so that’s a tradeoff you have to decide on.

If you’re specifically sick of stains and smells, switch to glass. If you’re just trying to keep lunch fresh until noon, your current plastic is fine.

Your nose and your tomato sauce will thank you later.