XOXO OXO?

There is a cult around the OXO Pop storage containers. View any proud balabusta’s detailed decanted pantry, and nine times out of ten, the containers are the OXO brand Pop system. So, simple question: Are they really that good? They won the popularity contest a long time ago, but do they deserve it?

I tested six brands of pantry storage containers. I included OXO, direct competitors like Rubbermaid Brilliance, lesser competitors like LocknLock, and budget versions like Target’s Brightform and Walmart’s Mainstay brands.

I tested how easily the containers open, how childproof they are, how well they stack, how they seal, how aesthetically pleasing they are, and what happens when you drop them.

Testing, Testing

1. I gave each container to my three-year-old and told him to open it. (Spoiler, he easily opened every one, so no one wins points for that.)

2. I stacked each bottom on its lid to see how secure and stable it was.

3. I dropped each one from a height of five feet onto two different surfaces: tile and laminate wood flooring.

OXO Pop

Price: $10.00 (0.4 qt)
Stars: 4
Stacking: Easy stack, has tabs on the bottom to center
Dropping: Top popped right off
Seal: Tight, airtight seal
Opening: One handed, easy button
Looks: Chic, modern Lucite look we love
Notes: The Pop system is so easy that we can forgive the price, but can we forgive the fall?

Target: Brightform

Price: $4 (4x4x4 inches)
Stars: 2
Stacking: Super snug stack
Dropping: Didn’t budge from the fall
Seal: Tight, airtight seal
Opening: Have to pry open, imagine over exerting — everything, everywhere.
Looks: Fairly sleek and modular looking
Notes: It’s pretty, but that opening spells disaster. Think jellybeans, flour… everywhere.

Rubbermaid: Brilliance

Price: $12.97 (2 x 3.2 cups)
Stars: 4.5
Stacking: Room to fall
Dropping: Didn’t budge from the fall
Seal: Tight, airtight seal
Opening: Two easy locks
Notes: Does the job, fairly sleek, but compared to the ease of OXO, it doesn’t stack.

Mainstay:

Price: $5.97 for 3 stackable containers (1×1 qt and 2×0.6 qt)
Stars: 4
Stacking: Tabs on the bottom and on the cover to keep it in place
Dropping: Didn’t budge from the fall
Seal: No airtight seal
Opening: Flap on the cover makes it easy and pourable
Looks: Dull gray cover, looks meh
Notes: Super practical, does exactly what it needs to do at a good price, it’s just not pretty

LocknLock

Price: $8.80 (11 cup container)
Stars: 3
Stacking: Not good, not bad
Dropping: Didn’t budge from the fall
Seal: Tight airtight seal
Opening: Four easy locks
Looks: Neutral. Plastic, but neat
Notes: It’s good, but it’s just so vanilla.

Better Homes and Gardens

Price: $5.98 (4.5 cup container)
Stars: 3.5
Dropping: Seal unlocked and container opened a bit
Seal: Tight airtight seal
Opening: One easy tab
Looks: Lucite, but a bit bulky
Notes: Feels like an OXO knockoff but not as good. It’s bulky and doesn’t open as easily.

Overall Winner: Rubbermaid.

OXO is prettier and has a simpler opening system. But the Rubbermaid has its own class and didn’t open when dropped. If you have kids, slippery hands sometimes, or you’re just a clutz (we still love you), you can’t risk the OXO Pops. Also, price. OXO is pricey. Rubbermaid isn’t cheap, but you don’t need a second mortgage to keep your pantry organized.

Side note: Costco often has great deals on OXO systems. And you can find good prices on individual pieces in HomeGoods.

Tip: For the best pricing, buy a set, not individually.