5 Reasons I Don’t Like OXO Containers

I'm finally saying it out loud– I do NOT like OXO containers.  They are an extremely popular product, but they are just not very functional.  I haven't found the perfect replacement for them (yet!), but I'm not going to leave you hanging, either!  Watch the video here or keep reading to see the two options I'm planning use to replace my OXO containers!

OXO containers are pretty pricey, so I wanted to share my thoughts if you're thinking about investing in them so you can make your own decision.   About the only positive thing I can say about the OXO containers is that the aesthetics are good.  They look very modern, which is nice.  I also like how you can click the center of the lid to pop it up (in theory releasing the seal), and use it to pull of the lid.  It then easily comes right off, which brings me to the first thing I don't like, LOL!

1.  The Lids Pop Off

If you aren't careful not to grab these by the lids, get ready for some major spills!  They really aren't secure, and they come off accidentally all the time.

Also, if I use them for storing powdered products (cocoa, powdered sugar, baking soda, etc.), the powder kind of gets stuck on the sides of the lids, and it makes the lids not seal at all, so they slide right off if I grab them by the lids.  My kids have had multiple HUGE spills when the lids have popped off unexpectedly.  A big spill is the last thing you want to have to clean up in the middle of baking!

2.  They're Not Airtight

The lids are supposed to be airtight…and they kind of are, a little bit, I guess???  I can store baking products in them because I bake frequently, so my flour, sugar, etc. doesn't go bad.  But I can't use these to store crackers or snacks because they go stale so quickly.  The lids just don't form a good seal.

3.  The Lids are Bulky

The lids take up a surprising amount of space. If you have a large kitchen, this might not be a big deal, but if you need every square inch of storage space, then these will not be good for you.

4.  They're not Modular

Anyone who has watched my videos or read the blog before knows that I'm obsessed with modular things.  I want everything to be stackable in a bunch of different ways, and bonus points if the stacks work out to the same height.

OXO containers just don't stack.  The middle size container can't fit two on top of the large.  The new smaller sized containers can fit two on top of the large, but it isn't really a great fit.  The lids kind of push them off a bit, and it just doesn't fit well.

5.  They Don't Nest Securely

The of course don't stack well… But even when you do stack them, there are no good ridges to lock them in place on top of one another.  They will slide right off if you try to move the bottom container.  This can make a big mess and cause extra hassle if you're trying to grab something with just one hand.

My Two Alternatives

Okay, so now that I've established my dislike for OXO– here's what I plan to use to replace it!  If you have better ideas, PLEASE help a girl out and let me know!  I don't think these two alternatives are the perfect solution (you'll see why!), but they're at least an improvement.

1.  The Home Edit Canister Line from Walmart

I've done an in-depth video review of these before.  Here's what I like:

• The lids are truly airtight.
• There's a latch that secures the lids to ensure they can't come off accidentally.
• They have nesting ridges so they stack securely and won't slide off.
• They are truly modular (yay!), and the heights of the different sizes are modular as well and stack up to the same level.

But sadly they're not perfect.  Here's what I don't like:

• There's an art to putting on the lids.  It doesn't bother me, but it drives my husband crazy.  You have to press down on the lid all at once.  You can't tilt one side in and then the other.  Once you get the hang of it, it's not a huge deal, though.
• The biggest negative for me is that their largest size won't fit an entire bag of flour.  This doesn't make sense to me since they're specifically designed as canisters.  But I HATE having an open bag of anything in my pantry.  I will have full, unopened bags waiting to refill my canisters, but I don't want a canister of flour plus a small partial bag with just a bit of flour in it.  It seems like that defeats the purpose, you know??

2.  Genuine Tupperware

Tupperware has turned into a general term for storage containers, but I mean the legit authentic Tupperware brand storage containers.  I grew up with them, so they're nothing new, but they are SUPER functional!

Here's what I like:

• They are EXTREMELY airtight.  Once that lid is on, it's totally sealed!  Nothing will go stale here!
• They are truly modular, and they nest securely with a good ridge to prevent sliding off once they're stacked.
• There is zero additional bulk in the lids.  It's about the thinnest lid you can get, so your space efficiency is fantastic.

Here's what I don't like:

• The biggest con for me is the aesthetics.  They just don't look as modern as other brands.  The plastic is cloudy and a bit opaque, and they just look kind of…old.  I guess they are since I grew up with them, LOL!
• Another slight negative is that the Modular Mates, which is what I use for my flour, sugar, etc. must be ordered online.  Target has a few styles in stock, but not these particular ones.  I do believe that you can now just go to the website, and you do not have to order through a dealer (but you still can if you know a consultant).
• They change the lid colors all the time!  I've heard that they may be consistently keeping the black color lid.  If a consultant is reading this, PLEASE let me know in the comments if this is true!  Otherwise they keep changing the lid colors, and it drives me batty to have colors mismatched with no rhyme or reason, LOL!

Organization that actually sticks for busy, happy lives