As somebody whose job is to jot down about cool merchandise, I’m always discovering new trending objects which might be purported to make life simpler. My most up-to-date was Caraway Food Storage Set. After one too many Instagram adverts, and having lengthy been a fan of the model’s equally viral nonstick pans and heard good issues about its stainless steel cookware, I used to be intrigued and determined my Tupperware cupboard may use an improve.
To see if the set was simply as game-changing as the cookware, I and our social lead Hannah Lauson put the containers to the check and in contrast notes. I prefer to meal prep and hoped the storage containers would make storing and reheating prepped food a breeze, whereas Lauson needed to provide them a check drive after seeing social submit after social submit praising the trendy, but expensive, set.
The 13-piece Caraway Food Storage Set consists of 5 containers: one giant, two medium and two small. There’s additionally a 22-piece set for those who want extra storage choices, and you’ll add its Dash or Dot containers (mini containers that match inside for dressings and sides). In true Caraway vogue, you additionally get the model’s customized storage group system so you possibly can maintain your cupboards tidy. The containers are listed as microwave-, dishwasher-, oven-, refrigerator- and freezer-safe. The lids, nevertheless, are usually not microwave- or oven-safe.
Caraway is no stranger to a viral second. The model has aesthetically pleasing cookware and instruments all the way down to a science, and if there’s something TikTookay and Instagram customers love, it’s one thing fairly to take a look at. But the model has extra to supply than simply attractiveness. Its ceramic lineup, which incorporates these food containers, has a nontoxic coating and is free from heavy metals and different artificial and manufactured chemical substances that you just may discover in competing manufacturers’ nonstick choices.
It’s not stunning Caraway’s containers are getting consideration. These all-in-one containers declare to streamline your routine as a result of you possibly can take them from the fridge to the microwave or oven to the dishwasher, eliminating the want for extra dishes and handwashing. Sounds like a dream, proper? Well, not a lot.
While this storage and organization system made meal prepping and cooking simpler in some ways, the storage containers are finally not worth the hype. But first, we’ll begin with the positives.
Overall, we each discovered the containers helped reduce down on dishes after prepping and cooking. “The ceramic containers are great for storing food and reheating in the same container,” Lauson mentioned. “I have used them in the microwave and oven and washed them in the dishwasher multiple times with no issue!” Cleanup was a breeze, too, saving me time as soon as the cooking was full. Even once I was utilizing oils or messy components, like tomato sauce or turmeric, the containers have been straightforward to wash. There was no staining or residue left over after hand-washing or after they got here out of the dishwasher.
While Lauson favored the mini containers for sauces and dressings and appreciated that the set features a material strap to maintain the bigger containers closed for on-the-go carrying, I wasn’t a fan of utilizing these as to-go containers. No matter which dimension you’re utilizing, they’re heavy. Since they’re comprised of ceramic-coated glass, this isn’t completely stunning. The giant container weighs simply over 3 kilos and the mini container weighs simply over 2 kilos, and whereas that doesn’t sound like an excessive amount of weight, it will get hefty to hold to and from the workplace.
And our listing of woes solely continued from there, particularly with the lids. First, Lauson and I each discovered the lids to be extremely tough to tackle and off. The lids have an hermetic seal, which retains food contemporary and stops odors from escaping into your fridge, but they take some muscle to open and shut. My mother, who broke her wrist a number of years in the past and has observed some muscle weak point in that hand since, struggled to open these containers and it took her a number of tries. I’m in the gymnasium 4 or extra days per week and even I had points getting a great grip and pulling them open with out feeling like I used to be going to interrupt a nail or the lid.
On high of that, the lids began cracking. Lauson first observed cracks in the similar spot after working the lids by means of the dishwasher, and shortly after, I observed small cracks in the rims of the lids after a number of months. Sure, it’s not an enormous chore to hand-wash the lids, but at $265 for a set that claims it’s dishwasher-safe, it’s irritating that this promise isn’t being fulfilled.
Lauson and I agree, for such a splurgy merchandise, the lids breaking is a significant dealbreaker. “For how much they cost, each piece of these containers should hold up for a very long time,” Lauson mentioned. Plus, for me, if the food storage system is going to unravel a variety of points in the kitchen, it could be good in the event that they have been lighter and simpler to move.
With that mentioned, I included a number of food storage alternate options beneath that we advocate over Caraway’s Food Storage Set.
Stasher luggage are comprised of food-safe silicone and are additionally refrigerator-, freezer-, dishwasher- and microwave-safe for storing and reheating food. I’ve used my Stasher luggage for years with minimal indicators of damage and tear. They’re light-weight and nice for carrying sandwiches and snacks to and from the workplace.
This set of food storage containers was a reader favorite again in October, in addition to a favourite of our dwelling and presents editor Amina Lake Patel. While she purchased them on sale, the customary worth is nonetheless affordable at $40 for a set of 5. The lids additionally create an hermetic seal to stop food from going stale.
Our testing and updates author Michelle Rae Uy has examined a variety of hermetic containers for pantry group and landed on these as her favorites. She mentioned the containers maintain her dry items more energizing for longer and the 10-container set offers you a variety of food storage choices for an inexpensive worth alongside withan further lid and scoop. You probably will not use them primarily for meal prep storage, but they will maintain your dry items contemporary and arranged.
While the Caraway Food Storage Set streamlines meal prep routines and the cleanup that follows, there’s no excuse for it to begin breaking after only a few months, particularly given its steep price ticket. Do the cracks in the lid have an effect on the utilization of the containers? No, as a result of they nonetheless created an hermetic seal, but we don’t know if the cracks will ultimately have an effect on the seal down the highway. Yes, the unhazardous and nonstick containers assist get rid of further dishes, and for those who’re affected person sufficient to hand-wash the lids, you’re much less more likely to expertise the similar cracking we did. That mentioned, the lids are nonetheless tough to get on and off, making them a little bit of a trouble to make use of.
Yes, the Caraway food storage containers and their lids are listed as dishwasher-safe. However, after months of use, we discovered the lids began breaking after a number of makes use of in the dishwasher, so we’d advocate hand-washing them when potential.
Yes, the Caraway food storage containers are microwave-safe, since they’re comprised of ceramic-coated glass. The lids are usually not microwave-safe, although, so you’ll want to take away them earlier than heating.
NCS Underscored has a crew of expert writers and editors who’ve a few years of expertise testing, researching and recommending merchandise, they usually guarantee every article is fastidiously edited and merchandise are correctly vetted. We discuss to high specialists when relevant to make sure we’re testing every product precisely, recommending solely the greatest merchandise and contemplating the execs and cons of every merchandise.
For this story, social lead Hannah Lauson and updates author Ellen McAlpine examined the Caraway Food Storage Container Set for months, utilizing the containers for food storage and cooking and cleansing them each by hand and in the dishwasher.