OXO’s name gets used as if it meant one thing, usually a POP container with its push-button lid. But the brand sells three quite different kinds of food storage: POP for dry goods, Smart Seal glass for leftovers, and Prep & Go for lunches. They answer different questions, and independent reviewers have only really tested two of them.
This guide is for someone who has decided on OXO. We sort POP sizes and sets by the food that goes in them, tell you where the leftover and lunch lines fit, and say where you’d do better with another maker. Picks here aren’t the same listings as on our pantry pages, so you can read both.
Julia’s earns a commission on purchases made through links on this page, at no cost to you. We have not used these products ourselves. Recommendations rest on maker details and on the published reviews we read and name below.
Quick verdict: which OXO storage to buy
For the pantry, buy the OXO POP 5-Piece Set, then add 4.4-quart containers if you buy flour and sugar in 5-pound bags. For leftovers, skip POP and buy Smart Seal Glass, which Prudent Reviews named its best overall set. For lunches, Prep & Go works, with caveats. If you drop things a lot, Rubbermaid Brilliance held shut where POP didn’t.
Five OXO picks side by side
This table shows five of the eight picks, each for a different job. Sizes and seal claims come from the listings unless a reviewer is named below.
| Product | Best for | Size | Closure | Buy on Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
OXO Good Grips 5-Piece POP Set, Matte BlackBest overall
|
A first POP set | 0.4 to 2.3 qt | Push button | View on Amazon |
OXO Good Grips POP 6-Piece Set, 4.4 QuartBest for bulk staples
|
Five-pound bags | 4.4 qt each | Push button | View on Amazon |
OXO Steel 6-Piece POP SetBest on the counter
|
Open shelves | 0.4 to 4.4 qt | Push button | View on Amazon |
OXO Good Grips 4-Piece Mini POP SetBest for spices
|
Bagged spices | 0.2 qt each | Push button | View on Amazon |
OXO Good Grips Smart Seal 8-Piece Glass Round SetBest for leftovers
|
Leftovers and reheating | 1 to 7 cups | Latches, gasket out | View on Amazon |
Our picks for the best oxo food storage
1. OXO Good Grips 5-Piece POP Set, Matte Black – A Starter Mix of POP Sizes
POP is the reason most people come to OXO, and this is the set we’d start with. You get a 2.3-quart, a 1.7-quart, two 1.1-quart and a 0.4-quart, a useful spread for coffee, sugar, dried chiles, beans and spices. Push the button and the silicone gasket seals. The button doubles as a handle for lifting the lid.
The listing calls it airtight, and Esther Kurtz at Kosher.com reported a tight, airtight seal and one-handed opening in her informal test of six brands. She also found the top popped right off when the container fell from five feet, and warned that families with kids or slippery hands should think twice. Rubbermaid’s Brilliance stayed shut in that same drop.
We chose this one because it mixes sizes in a small set. The plain clear 5-piece was short on stock when we checked, so matte black is the version to buy for now. The bigger 10-piece and 20-piece sets are on our pantry guides.
Why we like it
- Five useful sizes
- One-handed button, per Kosher.com and the listing
- Tight seal, per Kosher.com
- Clear walls
Key specifications
| Model | 11432400 |
|---|---|
| Material | BPA-free plastic, silicone gasket |
| Size | 2.3, 1.7, 1.1 (2), 0.4 qt |
| Set | 5 containers |
| Closure | POP push button |
| Seal claim or result | Airtight, per the listing; tight per Kosher.com |
| Best job | Dry goods |
| Warranty on listing | Not stated on this listing |
Why we recommend it
It suits someone trying POP for the first time who wants a working set for coffee and small staples.
Skip it if your household is hard on containers or your kids can reach the shelf. The lid came off in a drop test.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Good mix of sizes
- Easy to open
- Handsome on a shelf
Cons
- Lid can pop off if dropped, per Kosher.com
- Too small for 5-pound bags
- Matte black was the only plain-stock color we found
2. OXO Good Grips POP 6-Piece Set, 4.4 Quart – For the 5-Pound Bags
When you buy flour, sugar or masa in 5-pound bags, you need this size. The listing says this set uses 4.4-quart containers, built for vertical storage in a pantry cabinet, with clear fill lines. A second OXO listing says that size suits around 5 pounds of pasta, flour or sugar.
OXO says all the parts are top-rack dishwasher safe. Tall containers can be top-heavy once filled, and OXO warns not to carry POP containers by the lid. That’s a real limit on a tall, full 4.4-quart bin, so hold it by the body. A single 4.4-quart is on our other guides; buying a set makes sense only if you keep several staples in bulk.
Why we like it
- Holds about a 5-pound bag, per OXO
- Fill lines on the side
- Stacks with other POP pieces
Key specifications
| Model | 11236400 |
|---|---|
| Material | BPA-free plastic, silicone gasket |
| Size | 4.4 qt each, per the listing |
| Set | 6 containers |
| Closure | POP push button |
| Seal claim or result | Airtight, per the listing |
| Best job | Flour, sugar, masa |
| Warranty on listing | OXO Better Guarantee, per the listing |
Why we recommend it
It suits a family or baker who buys in bulk and has the pantry height for it.
Skip it if your shelves are short. Measure first, since this listing doesn’t give a height.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Fits big bags
- Identical pieces stack evenly
- One hand to open
Cons
- Never lift by the lid
- Needs tall shelves
- Height not stated on this listing
3. OXO Steel 6-Piece POP Set – The Counter Version
OXO Steel is POP with stainless steel accents, sold for the countertop. The set runs across six sizes: 0.4, 0.6, 1.1, 1.7, 2.7 and 4.4 quarts. That means it covers everything from peppercorns up to a bag of flour, which makes it the widest range in one box on this page.
The listing says the seal is airtight and has a fill line, and it comes with the OXO Better Guarantee. We didn’t read an independent review of this line, and it’s the same POP idea in a dressier finish, so expect the same strengths and the same weakness if it’s dropped. If it’s in a cabinet where no one will see it, the plastic version does the same job.
Why we like it
- Six sizes in one box
- Stainless steel accents, per the listing
- Fill lines
Key specifications
| Model | 3119400 |
|---|---|
| Material | Stainless steel accents; body not detailed |
| Size | 0.4, 0.6, 1.1, 1.7, 2.7, 4.4 qt |
| Set | 6 containers |
| Closure | POP push button |
| Seal claim or result | Airtight, per the listing |
| Best job | Countertop staples |
| Warranty on listing | OXO Better Guarantee, per the listing |
Why we recommend it
It suits a cook who keeps staples out on open shelves and wants them to look good.
Skip it if they’d live behind a door. You’d be paying for steel you won’t see.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Widest size range in one set
- Looks at home on a counter
- Full POP system
Cons
- Same drop weakness expected
- Listing says accents, not a steel body
- No independent test found
4. OXO Good Grips 4-Piece Mini POP Set – Small Jars for Spices
These are the smallest POPs: four 0.2-quart containers, each 3.3 inches square and 3.1 inches tall. That’s the right size for ground cumin, Mexican oregano, whole cloves or a stash of chile flakes bought by the bag.
The listing says dishwasher safe, top rack, with the same push-button seal. OXO also suggests them for drawers and junk, which tells you this is a general box rather than a spice tin. Spices last better away from light, so keep clear ones inside a cabinet. That’s our advice, not OXO’s.
Why we like it
- Four identical small containers
- Stacks with all POP pieces, per the listing
- Top-rack dishwasher safe
Key specifications
| Model | 11236100 |
|---|---|
| Material | BPA-free plastic, silicone gasket |
| Size | 0.2 qt each; 3.3 x 3.3 x 3.1 in |
| Set | 4 containers |
| Closure | POP push button |
| Seal claim or result | Airtight, per the listing |
| Best job | Spices and herbs |
| Warranty on listing | Not stated on this listing |
Why we recommend it
It suits a cook who buys spices in bags from a mercado and needs somewhere to decant them.
Skip it if you only need a few teaspoons of each spice. These are bigger than a jar, and they’ll take up a lot of drawer.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Right size for bagged spices
- Fits the POP stack
- Simple to wash
Cons
- Wide for a spice drawer
- Clear walls let in light
- Small capacity
5. OXO Good Grips POP 2.8-Quart Big Square – Wide Mouth for Cookies and Scoops
If you only want to try one POP, this is the shape to buy. It’s a short, wide square at 2.8 quarts, and OXO describes it as ideal for 5 pounds of sugar, cookies or crackers. A wide opening is a practical thing: a scoop or a hand fits right in, and you can see down to the bottom.
It takes OXO’s add-on accessories (labels, a date dial, a leveler), according to the listing. Keep in mind that the model number on this listing carries a UK suffix, so the box may not match US packaging. Our pantry storage containers guide covers other makers.
Why we like it
- Wide opening
- Fill line
- Accepts OXO’s lid accessories, per the listing
Key specifications
| Model | 11233600V1UK |
|---|---|
| Material | BPA-free plastic, silicone gasket |
| Size | 2.8 qt |
| Set | 1 container |
| Closure | POP push button |
| Seal claim or result | Airtight, per the listing |
| Best job | Sugar, cookies, crackers |
| Warranty on listing | Not stated on this listing |
Why we recommend it
It suits anyone who wants one wide, easy container to test the POP button at home.
Skip it if you want tall storage that saves shelf width. This one trades height for width.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Easy to reach into
- Good first purchase
- Dishwasher safe, per the listing
Cons
- Uses up shelf width
- Single container only
- Listing model has a UK suffix
6. OXO Good Grips POP Medium Cereal Dispenser, 3.4 Quart – Pours Without Spilling
This POP has a pour spout, which makes it a good fit for cereal and for pouring rice or dried beans straight into a measuring cup. OXO lists it at 3.4 quarts. It uses the same button seal as the rest of the line, and it’s top-rack dishwasher safe.
Check you’re looking at the new-offer listing for this medium size: the large dispenser’s offer was a used one when we looked, so we left it out. For a bigger cereal range, see our cereal containers guide. A spout has more parts to clean, and crumbs like to hide in it. That’s our judgment rather than a tested finding.
Why we like it
- Pour spout
- 3.4-quart size
- Top-rack dishwasher safe, per the listing
Key specifications
| Model | 11114000V1UK, part 11114000V4 |
|---|---|
| Material | BPA-free plastic, silicone gasket |
| Size | 3.4 qt |
| Set | 1 container |
| Closure | POP button with spout |
| Seal claim or result | Airtight, per the listing |
| Best job | Cereal, rice, beans |
| Warranty on listing | Not stated on this listing |
Why we recommend it
It suits a house where children pour their own cereal or a cook who portions rice daily.
Skip it if you scoop more than you pour. A plain POP is simpler.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Controlled pouring
- Fits the POP family
- Simple to refill
Cons
- Spout adds parts to clean
- Tall on a low shelf
- Listing model has a UK suffix
7. OXO Good Grips Smart Seal 8-Piece Glass Round Set – OXO’s Best-Tested Leftover Box
POP is for dry goods. For leftovers, OXO’s line is Smart Seal, and it’s the opposite of POP in its evidence: it’s been tested properly. Prudent Reviews named Smart Seal its best overall food storage set after it passed leak, airtight and stain tests, baked without damage, and only a faint garlic scent stayed on the lid. It liked that the gasket comes out by hand.
America’s Test Kitchen was less kind. It rated a 12-piece Smart Seal set Recommended with Reservations: no leaks and ovensafe to 550°F, but stiff latches that took significantly more force to close, gasket channels that were hard to clean and dry, and lids that kept fishy odors. So reviewers split on the same design. Try one and see how your hands get on with it.
This set has 7-cup, 4-cup, 2-cup and 1-cup rounds. The listing calls the glass shock-resistant pressed borosilicate. The 16-piece set is on our parent food storage guide.
Why we like it
- Best overall in Prudent Reviews’ test
- Removable gasket
- Pressed borosilicate glass, per the listing
- Never leaked for America’s Test Kitchen
Key specifications
| Model | 11179500 |
|---|---|
| Material | Borosilicate glass, plastic lid, removable gasket |
| Size | 7, 4, 2 and 1 cup |
| Set | 4 containers with lids (8 pieces) |
| Closure | Latching lid |
| Seal claim or result | Passed in two published tests |
| Best job | Leftovers, reheating, baking |
| Warranty on listing | Not stated on this listing |
Why we recommend it
It suits someone who wants to reheat and bake in the same glass, and who wants to take the gasket out to clean it.
Skip it if you have sore hands. America’s Test Kitchen found the latches stiff. Rubbermaid Brilliance Glass was its winner.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Strong independent results
- Gasket comes out
- Glass base handles the oven
Cons
- Stiff latches, per America’s Test Kitchen
- Lids held fish odors in that test
- Gasket channels take work to dry
8. OXO Good Grips Prep & Go 20-Piece Set – Lunch Boxes With Clips
Prep & Go is OXO’s portable line: nine containers with a silicone gasket and two locking clips, including a 6.3-cup salad container with a removable tray, a 3.3-cup, a 2-cup divided one and a 1.9-cup with a colander. The listing covers microwave, freezer and dishwasher use, and they nest for storage.
America’s Test Kitchen rated this set Recommended with Reservations. The seal kept liquid in and the gaskets came out easily. But a faint fishy odor stayed in the lids, the opaque white bases and frosted lids made it hard to see the contents, a corner chipped after a short drop when frozen, and most of the nine are small. The listing does mention a clear window. A salad or a side of pico de gallo suits it; a big leftover doesn’t.
Why we like it
- Tight seal, per America’s Test Kitchen
- Removable gaskets
- Salad and divided shapes
Key specifications
| Model | 11425500 |
|---|---|
| Material | BPA-free plastic, silicone gasket |
| Size | 6.3 cups down; 9 containers |
| Set | 9 containers with lids and inserts (20 pieces) |
| Closure | Two locking clips |
| Seal claim or result | Kept liquid in, per America’s Test Kitchen |
| Best job | Lunches and salads |
| Warranty on listing | Not stated on this listing |
Why we recommend it
It suits someone packing varied lunches who wants separate sections for salad and dressing.
Skip it if you store mostly leftovers. America’s Test Kitchen said this set has too few bigger containers.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Purpose-built shapes
- Good seal
- Nests when empty
Cons
- Hard to see contents, per America’s Test Kitchen
- Brittle when frozen in that test
- Mostly small sizes
Where OXO falls short
POP has less independent evidence than its reputation suggests. We ran a search for tests of POP’s seal, and the only comparison we could read was Esther Kurtz’s informal one at Kosher.com: a three-year-old trying to open each container, plus a drop from five feet. POP tied for second, liked for its looks and one-handed button. Rubbermaid Brilliance won. We didn’t find a measured test of POP’s airtight claim, so that word on this page is OXO’s.
The POP lid is also its weakness. OXO itself says not to carry these containers by the lid, and the lid came off in that drop test. The Kosher.com author’s verdict is direct: families with kids or slippery hands can’t risk them.
Smart Seal has a strong result and a mixed one. Prudent Reviews liked it best of all, and America’s Test Kitchen rated it Recommended with Reservations, naming Rubbermaid Brilliance its winner for glass. Prep & Go is similar: a good seal, but cloudy walls and few big sizes. If you want a line with fewer doubts, Rubbermaid Brilliance is the competitor to compare first, and our food storage containers guide sets it next to others.
How to choose among POP sizes and sets
Match the size to the bag. OXO says 4.4 quarts takes around 5 pounds of flour, sugar or pasta. For a pound of coffee or beans, the 1.7-quart or 2.3-quart range is a sensible start; check that against your own bags, since OXO’s sizing varies by shape.
Measure your shelf first. POP works by stacking and by filling height. Tall sizes can miss a shelf by an inch, and these listings don’t always state height.
Buy a small set, then add. All POP pieces stack together, per OXO, so you can start with five and add sizes as you learn what you use.
Keep POP dry. It’s sold for dry goods. Use Smart Seal or Prep & Go for anything wet.
Check the condition and seller. Some OXO listings show a used lead offer or third-party resellers. Every pick here showed a new offer sold by Amazon when we checked. Look again before you buy.
How we picked these OXO containers
We haven’t used these containers ourselves. We counted different sizes, sets and lines, not colors, and we checked every listing through Amazon’s data for stock and a new offer. Exact listings on our pantry and other pages are out. The reviews we read are Prudent Reviews (updated September 2026, affiliate-funded), America’s Test Kitchen’s plastic and glass tests (December 2025), and Kosher.com’s informal comparison. POP picks mostly rest on OXO’s listing details, and each write-up says so.
A brand search of the CPSC’s recall database shows one OXO recall, a Nest booster seat from 2015, which has nothing to do with food storage.
OXO food storage questions, answered
Are OXO POP containers airtight?
OXO says so, and Kosher.com’s author reported a tight seal. We didn’t find a measured test of that claim.
Are OXO POP containers dishwasher safe?
Most POP listings here say top rack. Older pieces can differ: OXO’s large POP cookie jar says only its gasket goes in the dishwasher, with the other parts washed by hand. Check your exact listing.
Can you put liquid in OXO POP?
OXO sells POP for dry goods, and nothing we read tested it with liquid. Use Smart Seal or Prep & Go for that.
Which POP size holds 5 pounds of flour?
OXO lists the 4.4-quart for around 5 pounds of pasta, flour or sugar. It also lists the wider 2.8-quart for 5 pounds of sugar, so density matters.
Is OXO Smart Seal better than Rubbermaid Brilliance?
Reviewers disagree. Prudent Reviews picked Smart Seal. America’s Test Kitchen picked Brilliance. The main difference is OXO’s removable gasket versus Brilliance’s easier latches.
Our final pick for OXO storage
Start with the POP 5-Piece Set for the pantry and the Smart Seal glass set for leftovers. They’re different tools, and the buyer who owns both has the right one for each job. For other makers, read our pantry storage containers guide and glass food storage containers guide.