Commercial Food Storage Containers Buying Guide

How to choose the right commercial food storage containers for your kitchen

An organized pantry, fridge and freezer can save valuable time and reduce food costs in busy foodservice kitchens. Being able to quickly see inventory levels, be assured ingredients are safe and secure, maximizing shelf life, and maximizing use of storage space is one less thing you and your staff need to think about. 

To be clear, the food storage containers we are discussing here are not the same as plastic food pans also called cold food pans or steam tables pans. These are the containers your customers (typically) never see - they are all for your convenience. 

But not all food storage containers work in all situations.  Shapes, sizes, materials and features are important considerations in your buying decision. Use our buying guide to determine which one – or who are we kidding, you will need many – will best suit your operation's needs. 

Food Storage Container Materials 

The most common food storage container materials are plastic and that makes sense from a functional standpoint being lightweight and offering a multitude of benefits and features compared to using stainless steel, glass or ceramic.  All of the plastic materials can handle a range of temperatures allowing your ingredients and their containers to be stored in the freezer, refrigerator or pantry.

Polypropylene Storage Containers

Polypropylene is the most cost-effective option of the kinds of plastic used for food storage containers. It is translucent, shatterproof and BPA free. 

Polyethylene Storage Containers

Polyethylene is a white plastic material that can withstand the challenges of constant use. Extremely durable, stain resistant and can handle a wide range of temperatures. 

Polycarbonate Storage Containers

Polycarbonate is a crystal-clear material, strong and sturdy and perfect for use in high-volume commercial kitchens. 

Comparison of Commercial Food Storage Container Materials

Material	Colour	Cost	Temperature Range
Polyethylene	white	$	-40°F to 160°F
Polypropylene	translucent	$$	-40°F to 160°F
Polycarbonate	clear	$$$	-40°F to 210°F

Commercial Food Storage Container Shapes

There are three shapes found among food storage containers used in food service - round, square and rectangular.

Round Food Containers

The shape of round food storage containers allow proper circulation which increases the ability to cool or freeze large quantities of foods safely and quickly. This shape also makes it easier to stir liquids and mixtures directly in the containers and reduces the need to transfer to another container.  Many busy kitchen will prepare soup, transfer to round containers to cool, then use an immersion blender to blend directly in the storage container.

Square Food Containers

Square food storage containers are space savers - requiring less space than traditional rounds, square food storage containers are an industry staple. The square shape also means they hold more product in a smaller amount of space.  Be cautious using them in the fridge or freezer when you want to quickly cool or freeze foods.  Place them with space in between containers to allow for better allow flow for proper cooling or freezing. Once cooled, you can pack them tightly to make more room.  In the pantry, pack, stack and rack them.

Rectangular Food Containers

Rectangular storage containers are a popular shape for convenient stacking and racking. The rectangular shape is used for food storage boxes and bins, dough boxes and ingredient bins. Rectangle food storage containers are typically shallower than their round or square cousins.  This large surface area and relatively smaller depth makes this shape ideas for cooling large quantities of food quickly.

Commercial Food Storage Container Sizes 

Food storage containers, commercial grade versions, can range in size from 0.5 quarts to 10 gallons or more. And the size is measured by capacity or the total volume of product or ingredients the container can hold.  

The types and volumes of ingredients you use are deciding factors in the best size and shape of food storage containers. But also consider the full yields of your prepared recipes. 

Remember your staff when picking sizes – although you may fit a full batch of prepped potatoes in water in a container, the total weight might be too much for your staff, especially if they are expected to lift full containers onto shelves and counters. You might be best to split between two containers. 

For rounds and square containers, as the capacity increases so does the height and sometimes the diameter or width of the container. In some cases, that means that two or three containers of different capacities of the same shape use the same lids. 

Rectangular containers, typically called food boxes or food storage boxes, are sized by industry standard measurements like Full Size, Half Size, etc. but can also be named by the measurements. Containers of the same size (26” x 18” for example) can have varying depths to allow for increased capacities. Most also have a capacity measurement.  Using industry standard measurement means these rectangular containers fit the standard carts and racks that permeate commercial kitchens. 

Commercial Food Storage Container Features 

Food Storage Container Measurements 

Many food storage containers have graduated measurements on the outside and/or inside of the containers that help chefs and staff quickly assess inventory levels of key ingredients. Reducing the need to move products and ingredients between containers and measuring tools. 

Chef Tip: Take the weight of the empty container and write in on the bottom of the container in permanent marker.  Knowing the tare weight means you can weigh the container with product and still be able to figure out the total weight of just the contents.

Food Storage Container Handles

Food storage container handles may be of less importance in smaller capacity containers, but once you get to the larger capacities, handles are imperative for safety and stability when moving and transporting full containers around the kitchen areas. Molded, built-in handles is what you will see. However, some manufacturers go an extra step by adding a small hole in the handle, so when the containers are washed in their upside down position in the dishwasher the water that would collect in the molded handle will automatically drain out.

Stain Resist Food Storage Containers

Resistance to staining is imperative for foodservice kitchens, to know that containers are clean and sanitized at a glance.  Stain resistance is particularly important if your kitchen works with acidic foods (cooked tomato products) as they are more prone to staining containers. 

Odour Resist Food Storage Containers

Your kitchen needs to know that when ingredients and prepared foods are added to clean and sanitized food storage containers they are not going to take on the odour of whatever was in there previously.

Stackable Food Storage Containers

Whether your food storage containers are empty or full (with a lid), stackability is key.  You want to the amount of space they take up when not in use to be as small as possible.  But when full with a lid to still be able to efficiently use the space you have available. Stacking when full requires sturdy lids for obvious reasons but to also avoid cross-contamination. For food storage containers to be stackable features like stacking lugs are necessary to be able to easily get the containers apart. These are notches toward the top of the containers that don't let the containers nest together too tightly.  Without these notches (also called lugs), sure they still will stack and take up a bit less space, but you will be fighting to get them apart.

Cleaning Food Storage Containers

Dishwasher safe is a must have, even if you may not have a commercial dishwasher. Why does that matter if you don't have a commercial dishwasher? That tells you the containers can handle the abusive temperatures, wear and tear of foodservice kitchens. 

Colour-Coded Food Storage Containers

Colour coding can mean two things. 1. When the writing or printing on the container matches the colour of the lid.  Making it easy to match lids to containers quickly or 2. The plastic of the box and lid is tinted, but still transparent. This type of colour coding can assist with organization and as a further quick reference guide for ingredients. 

Allergen-Free Food Storage Containers 

Managing allergens in busy commercial kitchens can be difficult.  To help with this challenge, many manufacturers have designed allergen safe product lines using a distinctive colour system - purple - to help operators quickly segregate ingredients and prepared foods.  

Food Storage Container Labels 

Commercial food storage containers can have panels designed to be written on for easy identification and dating of ingredients and prepared foods. Another option is to stock up on food rotation labels to keep your inventory moving in the right direction. Cambro's StoreSafe labels dissolve in less than 30 seconds in the dishwasher or under running water and leave no residue - ready for the next batch and a new label.

Food Storage Container Lids and Covers 

Not all lids are the same. Different materials and styles have unique features that could help your kitchen staff. Be aware that certain materials and styles only fit specific food storage containers. 

Food Storage Container Seal Lids 

As the name implies, seal lids are tight-fitting and resist spills. Double seals (inner and outer) help to achieve spill resistance but are not leak-proof. Some specialized seal lids are available that provide a leak free seal. 

Food Storage Container Snap-On Lids

Again, as the name implies these lids snap into place but do not fit as tightly as seal lids. Perfect for busy kitchens that prefer a quick on and off of the lids while still providing protection from cross contamination.  Although not a seal lid, this type of lid still assists in prolonging shelf life of its contents. 

Food Storage Container Covers 

Not quite a snap-on but still offering protection from cross contamination and increasing the shelf life of your products and ingredients. They match the container but sit or nestle on top but don't snap, click or seal onto the container.

Specialty Food Storage Container Lids and Covers 

When you get into food storage boxes, there are a variety of lids and covers available.  Including hinged and slide lids allowing access without the need to completely remove the cover. 

Commercial Food Storage Container Accessories 

Colanders and Drain Boxes for Food Storage Containers

Designed for use with food storage boxes, these colanders or drain boxes are the same dimensions as the box just a slightly shallower depth to allow for drainage. This feature promotes increased air circulation and keeps liquids separate from products to keep foods fresh. Also a great option for thawing. 

Drain Grates for Food Storage Containers

Designed for use with food storage boxes, these grates (also called a drain shelf) sit in the bottom of the box. This raises the product or ingredients off the bottom. The benefit is increased air circulation which is great for keeping product crisp and fresh or for allowing juices and liquids to drip. 

Cambro recently released a redesigned square food storage containers, known as their FreshPro® line, that has a drain shelf available separately  With the container, drain grate and lid (all sold separately) you can build your own kit.

Some manufacturers offer complete colander kits including the food storage box, colander/drain box and the lid. You can also find kits with a food storage box, drain grate and lid – sometimes referred to as a produce crisper or produce storage container. Some manufacturers even have kits that contain a filter to maximize produce shelf life. 

Specialty Food Storage Containers 

Dough Boxes

Rectangular in shape, dough boxes are typically made of polypropylene and are specifically designed for proofing dough – pizza, buns, bread, etc. With matching lids and their ability to be safely stacked, these storage containers are a space saver for pizzerias and bakeries and other kitchens making dough or at least proofing dough. The lids keep the dough from drying out or crusting while proofing. 

Ingredient Bins

Available in varying shapes, ingredient bins range in size from 1 qt to 31 gallon or more. These specialty food storage containers are made for storing while allowing repeated access to ingredients. Slide or hinged openings and FIFO features for inventory management make these bins a must have for high-volume kitchens, bakeries and foodservice operations. Shelf style and mobile (with castors) are available. 

No matter what food ingredients you are buying or what foods you are preparing for your menu, the proper food storage containers with the right lid can maximize the quality and shelf life of your inventory.   

Shop our collection of Commercial Food Storage Containers