As a professional organizer, I seek solutions that are multi-purpose, well-designed and long-lasting. As a cook, I crave whatever won't peg me as having the cooking skills of a pre-schooler. A clumsy, finicky pre-schooler.
Rubbermaid Glass With Easy Find Lids are attractive, durable, and safe and keep my culinary debacles minimized and under wraps.
FORM
I like the variety of sizes. My set includes the 5.5-cup, 4-cup, 2.5-cup and 1.5 cup versions with matching lids, but Rubbermaid also makes petite 1-cup sizes, perfect for portion control, and 9 and 11.5 cup versions for larger leftover storage. The graduated sizes make it much easier for the glassware to nest, and the squared shapes maximize space in the fridge, the freezer, and (on days when you need to cook or reheat multiple items simultaneously) the oven.
Not only can you see through the glass, but the lids have see-through "windows" on the top. You can use your label maker to mark the contents (in case everything you make – meat? cake?) looks the same once frozen) and date (so you can pluck leftovers in a timely fashion) and affix it to the lid or the glass.
The glassware doesn't stain, no matter what spices or ingredients (even tomato sauces) are contained. And although the glass has heft you can appreciate, it's not unduly weighty for carrying from fridge to oven to table.
The Easy-Find Lids that are so fabulous for plastic food storage are even better with glassware. The lids and glass bases lock together, or the lids can nest together separately under the nested glass containers.
Though I may cook like a barbarian, I prefer gracious living enough to not want to eat or serve out of plastic food storage. The glassware is suitable for serving (or in casual settings, eating) out of, without the necessity of dirtying (and later, washing) other containers.
FUNCTION
Rubbermaid Glass with Easy Find Lids is safe for the household, family and food.
The lids are BPA-free, which is a comfort given the worrying news about the health concerns of BPA. The containers are leak-proof thanks to the built-in gasket that seals Flex N Seal lids tightly to the glass. This doesn't just mean that soups and stews won't leak; highly fragrant foods keep their aromas tucked away, as well.
For heating, they're safe in the oven up to 425°, as long as you preheat to avoid uneven heating speeds and sources. (Of course, the plastic lids aren't oven oven-safe -- even I know that.) The glassware is safe in the microwave, too. Just be sure to lift the lid off to let steam vent. (Thanks for that warning, Mom!)
Rubbermaid Glass is safe in the fridge or freezer, which is cool (no pun intended) because plastic-ware sometimes warps after too numerous visits to the chill chest. Glass also seems to keep the food tasting fresher even longer than plastic. The glass and lids are even safe in the dishwasher -- so the product appeals to me as both chief cook *and* bottle-washer.
The only minor drawback relates to the lids' gaskets needing to be removed for washing; snapping them back in can be a teeny bit difficult at first, especially if you have long nails, but if you snap in one corner and move your way around, it becomes second nature.
I hope Rubbermaid will consider making smaller sizes, including ¾-cup versions for dips and sauces and lunch-sized side servings.
As a side note, Rubbermaid sent me a set of Rubbermaid Glass With Easy Find Lids at no charge to ask for my honest opinion and feedback, as both a professional organizer and as a consumer.