My go-to containers, consistent fit
Update July 2023I bought another set. Like anything else, they don't last forever, but it's not far from it. I still have a few left in my scrub stack from my first purchase. The impressive part is that over the course of about a dozen years, the lids and containers from all generations fit each other. This is very unusual in the containers market since molds and materials can change over time, yielding different results.The only thing that has changed over time is now there is a flippable steam vent that didn't exist in the first few iterations. The steam vent has some benefit, though I haven't even thought about getting rid of those lids that don't. Pop the corner and microwave away. The place I found this steam vent to be most handy is when packing hot food. The remaining air inside the tub doesn't heat up and pop the lid. Just vent the cap and put it in the fridge if you don't have time to let it cool first.So far I've lost a few containers, but it's been due to my abuse of them, not due to any defect or wearing out. One got too close to the stove, I've left a few with friends or at my kids' house and I reheated some oily food in the microwave. 350F oil and plastic don't do well together.Even in the last case, it didn't really destroy the container so much as it made it very unsightly and kind of crazes the finish, and there's just a point where it has to go because you have better ones and you need the space. I now keep three stacks of containers, however. One stack is for everyday life, which is worn and not looking great. The second stack is my stack for breaking in and back up to the first stack when needed like on holidays. The third stack is when I have to take something to a function or take dinner to a sick friend.Watch the prices of these things as it fluctuates wildly. The set I just got was for $19 on Prime Day, which is less than half of what it is now, a week later.******************************I've bought these Rubbermaid containers now for about 10 years and they provide excellent service and just don't wear out easily. They are what Tupperware used to be 25 years ago. All the lids fit tightly and I haven't had a single one of the vents snap off, which was an initial concern of mine.The great part is that over the course of a decade, the product remains consistent from batch to batch and year to year, meaning that old lids fit with new containers and vice versa. I think they are the only containers I've bought that have retained this much compatibility with earlier versions.Nothing lasts forever and I don't expect these to either, but I have had a few that I've had to toss. There are essentially two problems that have caused their demise:1] Frozen with food and being dropped coming out of the freezer due to being brittle. I've never had a lid crack, but the clear body has cracked a couple of times. But in all cases, they've still been usable for a while and they've never split open and cost me my food. I can't blame the device. It's my clumsiness and nothing is unbreakable.2] Over time the containers can become a bit glazed looking and stain up, particularly when storing food with high acid or the food was extremely hot. Red tomato sauces and yellow turmeric colors in curry are the worst stainers, though even this coloring still eventually comes out. When storing these foods, I've learned to spray the container first with Pam cooking spray and that helps a lot.Despite the loss of a few containers, these will stay my food storage containers of choice and I will stay a Rubbermaid customer.