OXO Steel 6-Piece POP Container Set Review

We purchased the OXO Steel 6-Piece POP Container Set so our reviewer could put it to the test. Keep reading for our full product review.

Keeping your kitchen organized and clean can be a daunting task, and container sets are an easy solution to all your organizing and storage woes. Not only will they seal all of your dry goods so they stay fresh, but some of them are also designed to stack and look elegant while sitting on your shelves. As an avid baker, I’m always looking for the best way to store my baking ingredients, so I was curious whether the OXO Steel 6-Piece POP Container Set would be the answer. I found plenty of dry goods that needed better storage, from brown sugar to cornmeal. Are these the containers of my dreams? Perhaps. Read on to find out!

Design: Brushed stainless steel looks upscale

The containers are made from clear BPA-free plastic, and the lids are also plastic with stainless steel on top. When it comes to food storage, these clear containers make so much sense, making it easy to see the difference between cornmeal and popcorn, but all that clear real estate leaves little space for design flourishes. In this case, the lids are the design focal point with a brushed stainless steel top, giving them a bit of an upscale look compared to the many all-plastic sets on the market.

Besides the ability to identify the products inside, the clear sides make it easy to see when supplies are running low. There’s no need to open boxes when making out the shopping list since it’s easy to see how much flour, sugar, or cornmeal are left.

While most of the time I empty bags and boxes into storage containers, sometimes I want to keep the cooking instructions on packages, or I have several varieties of the same thing that I’d like to store together—for example, several types of dried beans. These containers help to keep those products together, and the airtight seal keeps them fresh.

The lids have a large central button that tightens and releases the lid with a simple push of the button—it can be done with one finger, so it’s easy for anyone to use. When the button is popped up, the lid is loose, and it can be lifted using the button, so it’s a one-handed operation. The openings are large enough to get a measuring spoon into the smaller containers or a measuring cup or scoop into the larger ones.

While the containers are airtight thanks to the seal, it’s still possible to pull the lids off even when the top button is pressed down, so these shouldn’t be lifted by their lids. However, it’s good to know that if the button gets stuck, it’s possible to pry the lid off to get to the food inside.

The lids slide deeply into the containers, which helps to make the seal, but that means there needs to be empty space for the lids to fit properly. To make it easy to see how full the container can be, there’s a line around the inside that marks the maximum fill.

These containers—and others in the same design that can be purchased separately—have three different lid designs: large square, small square, and rectangular. The containers’ bottoms are the same size for each of those shapes, and they’re designed for easy stacking. They even fit perfectly when a large container is stacked on a small one. The lid and container sizes are the same OXO Good Grips POP Containers that have white plastic lids, so those can be stacked with these as well. Not only is the stacking great for neat storage, but it can also become an interesting display on a shelf.

On the underside of the lid is a round button-like protrusion that doesn’t have an obvious function. It's actually a holder for the accessories that are available separately, like scoops and scrapers. I like to leave scoops or measuring cups right in the containers I use most often, but the dusting scoop could be useful for dusting powdered sugar or flouring a work surface when making bread or pastries. The brown sugar saver also looks like a good idea to keep brown sugar soft.

Care: Hand wash those lids

Storage containers like these are typically used for long-term pantry storage and might spend years being refilled with the same product over and over, so they may not need deep cleaning very often. If they’re full, they can be wiped clean with a damp cloth. To wash them more thoroughly, the containers can be cleaned in the dishwasher, while the lids should be hand washed.

While washing was easy before I filled them for the first time, the stainless steel can get water spots if they’re left to air dry. They’re easy to wipe off, though, and the brushed stainless steel thwarted fingerprints well.

Sizes: Good selections

This set includes one 0.4 quart container with lid, one 0.6 quart container with lid, one 1.1 quart container with lid, one 1.7 quart container with lid, one 2.7 quart container with lid, and one 4.4 quart container with lid. While those seem like odd sizes, they worked well with standard package sizes of common pantry items.

Besides this set, this design is available in other sets as well as single containers. It’s easy to create a custom storage set, no matter what sizes are needed for all of the pantry goods.

Price: A little pricy

This set retails for around $105. It's more expensive than generic no-name containers and even more expensive than similar OXO containers with white lids. This is definitely not a budget item. Still, they’ll likely last a very long time, and the nicer look of the stainless steel lids might be worth it for some buyers.

Competition: OXO Steel POP Container Set vs. OXO Good Grips POP Container Set

While the OXO Good Grips POP Container Set is very similar to the set I reviewed—and they even stack perfectly together—there are a few significant differences. The set I reviewed has sleek, stainless steel lids that look more upscale. On the downside, it’s more expensive per piece, and the lids aren’t dishwasher-safe. The real question buyers should ask is if the look is worth the extra price. For budget shoppers, the plastic lids still look good, and the white color will blend in with any kitchen décor. Both sets work well, so it’s all about personal preference here.