The Best Cereal Containers, Tested & Reviewed

Milk and cereal will always be a comfort food for me, and with so few ingredients, I know one thing to be true: Your cereal’s only as good as what it’s stored in. Stale or soggy cereal? Not at my house. I scoured online reviews and consulted organization experts, including Ashley Murphy and Marissa Hagmeyer of NEAT Method, to find the best cereal containers on the market — then I put 10 of them to the test in my kitchen to determine if the containers lived up to the hype. I tested for airtight seals, ease of serving, and how well they fit into my daily routine.

Keep reading to find out which containers stood out, and why they’ll earn a spot on your pantry shelf or kitchen counter.

The Experts

Ashley Murphy is co-founder & CEO of NEAT Method, which began as a decluttering business in San Francisco, and now offers professional organization services and products nationwide. Organization-obsessed Murphy and the NEAT team share helpful tips and demos on using organizational products to an Instagram following of 776,000.

Marissa Hagmeyer is co-founder & COO of NEAT Method and is passionate about elegant organizing solutions. Hagmeyer previously worked in marketing and graphic design.

Kimberly Stewart is founder and CEO of The Realm, a luxury home organization company. Stewart focuses on curating spaces to maximize space with organizational systems, with the aim of reflecting the homeowner’s personality and specific needs.

What To Consider When Shopping For The Best Cereal Containers

Material

One of the first things to consider is whether you prefer glass or plastic. “We love glass jars, not only because they are pretty but because they are made with a natural and renewable resource,” Murphy tells Bustle. “However, they may not be the best option for families with small children. If you’re worried about breaking glass, durable plastic canisters are the next best thing.” Keep in mind that glass containers are usually pricier than their lightweight plastic counterparts, although they’re dishwasher-safe, unlike some plastic containers that may require hand-washing because they can warp under the heat.

Murphy also recommends clear containers to help you see when it’s time for a refill. “We [...] love using translucent canisters because you can easily keep an eye on supply.” With that in mind, I chose all clear or translucent storage containers for testing.

Airtightness

To keep cereal fresher than the box it came in, the best containers for cereal feature airtight seals, usually with a tight-fitting lid and a silicone gasket. Most food storage containers claim to be airtight — but I decided to find out by testing those seals using moisture-detecting silica beads. I poured a tablespoonful of the beads into each container and placed the closed containers in water for a couple of minutes. Determining if they worked was obvious — the blue beads turned pink if they detected any moisture. Eight out of the 10 containers passed the airtightness test, which I’ve noted below — and I also made sure to note the two that did let some moisture in and to what extent they fell short.

Size

I considered both smaller containers and larger containers to suit different households as well as both casual cereal consumers and those who buy in bulk on a Costco run. Most cereal containers will hold a regular size cereal box, usually 10 to 12 ounces, and a much-bigger option might not be worth the space it takes up on your shelf. On the other hand, you’ll definitely want a larger container with about a 4-quart capacity for family-size boxes, usually around 17 or 18 ounces of cereal, or larger for bigger boxes. Keep in mind there will be some variation here — cornflakes take up less space than chunkier cereals — and the container’s shape and lid will play a role in fit as well.

Ease Of Pouring

Do you want to pour your cereal in the morning, scoop it, or use a nifty dispenser? Most cereal containers mimic the tall, rectangular shape of a cereal box but with a snap-on lid; the most convenient versions feature a flip-top lid for easy pouring and a contoured grip for a built-in handle. Lidded glass containers look great on a counter, and you’ll likely be scooping to serve (scoops usually sold separately). And then there are food dispensers that are especially useful if you have kids at home who can serve themselves but might have a tough time pouring from a tall box without making a mess.

“Dispensing is personal preference. A scoop within a wide-mouth canister can be just as effective as one with a handle and pour spout. Making that determination has more to do with where the canister is stored versus where it will be dispensed,” Hagmeyer tells Bustle. “A scoop works better for a cereal counter that stays put while one with a handle might be more functional for cereal that gets moved around.”

As I tried out these cereal containers in my home, it became evident that yep, certain containers absolutely serve some needs better than others. I can’t deny how great glass containers looked or the functionality of a flip-top lid. And the cereal dispenser I’d initially written off — it requires a screwdriver for assembly — turned out to be a favorite. Now let’s find yours.

Shop The Best Cereal Containers

In a hurry? These are the best cereal containers on Amazon:

1. Overall Best Cereal Container ($$$): OXO Good Grips Cereal Dispenser

2. Runner Up ($): Chef's Path Airtight Cereal Storage Containers (3-Pack)

3. Best Budget Option ($): Buddeez Bag-In Cereal Dispenser

4. Best Cereal Dispenser ($$$): Conworld Countertop Cereal Dispenser

5. Best Container For Storing Bulk Cereal ($): Rubbermaid Cereal Keeper

6. Best Set For Bulk Buys ($): Chef's Path Extra Large Cereal Containers (2-Pack)

7. Best Glass Set ($$): Flrolove Glass Food Storage Containers Set (5-Pack)

8. Most Comprehensive Set ($$): ClearSpace Airtight Food Storage Containers (14-Pack)

Also Notable:

9. A Fan-Fave Cereal Dispenser ($) Honey-Can-Do Dry Food Dispenser

10. A Larger Glass Container ($$$): LEAVES AND TREES Y Large Glass Food Storage Container

1. The Overall Best Cereal Container

What we like:

• Passed our air tightness test
• Sturdy construction
• Comfortable grip
• One-handed open/close flip-top lid
• Nearly 12,000 five-star ratings on Amazon

What we don’t like:

• High price point
• Not dishwasher-safe

Not only is this OXO cereal container an expert fave, it’s also a fan-favorite on Amazon with an overall 4.8-star rating with more than 14,000 reviews on Amazon. Stewart says, “For my personal use I love the OXO clear cereal box with an airtight lid and solid grip. That works for me and fits in our cabinets perfectly, eliminates on-counter space and doesn’t require a scoop.” Stewart also noted that they open easily.

Right away as I began testing, this container stood out for feeling sturdy and comfortable in my hand, especially with the contoured grip. The pop-open lid for one-handed dispensing is convenient, and the wide opening made it easy for me to refill. The rectangular shape with rounded corners sits well on my pantry shelf or countertop, and the plastic walls are noticeably thicker and seem more durable than other containers. And it passed an airtightness test using silica beads, so the two silicone seals are getting the job done.

It’s not dishwasher-safe, but washing it by hand is easy to do and you can remove the silicone gaskets if you’d like. The only thing that might keep from stocking up on a bunch of these right away is the price per container. That said, this pick feels incredibly well-made for long-term use. This container also comes in a 2.5-quart size for granola and a 4.5-quart size for bulk cereal.

Material: Plastic | Capacity: 3.4 Quarts | Style: Flip-top | Airtight seal: Yes | Dimensions: 10.2 x 4.3 x 10.5 inches (L x W x H) | Dishwasher-safe: No

2. The Runner-Up

What we like:

• Passed our air tightness test
• Comfortable grip
• Measurement markings
• More than 46,000 five-star ratings on Amazon
• Dishwasher-safe
• Three containers included in set; good value for the price

What we don’t like:

• Company logo on front of container

If you usually buy the regular or family-size box of cereal and want to keep a few different kinds of cereal on hand, this is a great set of cereal containers. When I tested them, I found each one in the set can store either a regular-size 10.7 ounce box of cereal or family-size 18-ounce box of cereal, but not a giant-size box. These containers feel comfortable and durable in hand, and this set of three is a great deal.

The flip-top lid stays open while pouring, and these lids with a silicone gasket passed the airtight seal test easily. The wide openings are easy to refill, and these sturdy containers with comfortable grips come with a bonus set of scoop-style measuring cups; though you don’t really need them to fill or serve from these containers. My only gripe with this set is the company logo on the grip side, but you could cover it with one of the provided reusable labels and marker. But that’s a small thing — I’m not at all surprised that this set maintains a near-perfect overall rating after more than 56,000 reviews.

Material: Plastic | Capacity: 4.2 Quarts | Style: Flip-top | Airtight seal: Yes | Dimensions: 9.6 x 9.3 x 3.9 inches (L x W x H) | Dishwasher-safe: Yes, top-rack only

3. The Best Budget Option

What we like:

• Passed our air tightness test
• Low price
• Slim shape
• Dishwasher-safe

What we don’t like:

• Basic lid without silicone gasket
• Cheaper feel

As soon as I held this in my hand, this cereal container just felt a bit cheaper than other plastic containers. Still, it’s easy to fill and hold, the flip-top lid stays open when pouring, and it passed the airtight test despite having no silicone gasket. This container fits a regular-sized box of cereal containing 10.7 ounces, and it’s a fine pick if you usually just keep a box of cereal around. The slim, rectangular shape mimics a cereal box, though I didn’t find that I could fit one inside like some of the pictures. It’s also a bit taller than other containers I tested, so it didn’t fit on my pantry shelf.

This budget-friendly cereal container is also available in a huge 8-quart size for under $20.

Material: Plastic | Capacity: 4 Quarts | Style: Flip-top | Airtight seal: Yes | Dimensions: 7.25 x 4 x 11.25 inches (L x W x H) | Dishwasher-safe: Yes, top-rack only

4. The Best Cereal Dispenser

What we like:

• Passed our air tightness test
• Large capacity
• Smooth dispensing

What we don’t like:

• Requires a screwdriver for assembly
• Not dishwasher-safe
• Cleaning inside of base can be tricky

This plastic cereal dispenser surprised me by requiring a screwdriver for assembly. A tool. For cereal! But attaching the spring-loaded handles was actually easy, gave me a sense of accomplishment, and after initially writing this one off based on assembly, it actually turned out to be a favorite.

The minimal look of this dispenser fits right in with contemporary decor, and this 16.5-inch-tall sturdy container fit comfortably on my countertop and underneath my upper cabinets (and slid in quietly, thanks to rubber feet on the base). The rectangular, clear compartment holds a giant-sized 27.2-ounce box of cereal, and the levers smoothly dispense cereal into a bowl. Part of the appeal of a dispenser-style container is easy access, especially with children in a household, and I can attest that my kids absolutely loved this one with a trap-door style dispenser. Plus, it passed the airtight test with silica beads.

A wider bowl fit great on the base of this dispenser, and the top part can be removed for tossing out any stray crumbs. Washing the compartment by hand is easy enough, but just know that getting into the dispensing area is trickier.

Material: Plastic | Capacity: 6.86 Quarts | Style: Dispenser | Airtight seal: Yes | Dimensions: 6.3 x 6.3 x 16.54 inches (L x W x H) | Dishwasher-safe: No

5. The Best Container For Storing Bulk Cereal

What we like:

• Passed our air tightness test
• Easy grip for pouring
• Flip-top lid
• Dishwasher-safe

What we don’t like:

• Very utilitarian look
• Heavy when filled

If you stock up on cereal with the giant-size boxes, consider the Rubbermaid cereal container with its extra-large capacity; it fits a giant-size 27.2-ounce box of cereal with room to spare. Just keep in mind that once it’s filled, it is noticeably heavier to hold. The contoured grip on one side does makes it more comfortable to hold for pouring, despite this container being so big, and the plastic feels sturdy and durable.

Filling this container is easy because of the wide opening. According to the brand, the cap on the flip-top lid should stay fully extended while pouring, but it kept falling forward when I tested it; cereal still pours out fine though. This airtight container passed the silica bead test. This pick fit comfortably on my pantry shelf — and that’s where I’d keep it, because it works great but its very utilitarian design isn’t one I’d leave out on the counter.

Material: Plastic | Capacity: 6 Quarts | Style: Flip-top | Airtight seal: Yes | Dimensions: 5.78 x 11.34 x 11.18 inches (L x W x H) | Dishwasher-safe: Yes

6. The Best Set For Bulk Buys

What we like:

• Passed our air tightness test
• Huge capacity
• Measurement markings on the side
• Easy grip for pouring
• Flip-top lid
• Dishwasher-safe
• Nearly 47,000 five-star ratings

What we don’t like:

• Tighter fit on a pantry shelf, especially because of flip-top lid

This set comes with two extra-large cereal containers that offer huge storage capabilities, and their rectangular shape really maximizes space and fit nicely side by side. Each container fits a giant-size 27.2-ounce box of cereal, and they’d be a welcome staple after a Costco run. The lid with silicone gaskets snaps onto all four sides, and it features a flip-top lid that I can confirm stays fully open when pouring. These did great in an airtight test, too, as none of the silica beads tested detected moisture. This pair of sturdy containers also comes with a set of scoop-style measuring cups, chalkboard marker, and eight reusable labels.

I did notice the contoured grip feels wider in my hand than others, so it can be less comfortable to hold than other options, especially if you have smaller hands like me. And because this is a large container, it’s harder to hold one-handed, especially when filled with cereal. That said, this set checks a lot of boxes and I can see why it maintains a near-perfect overall rating with over 56,000 reviews.

Material: Plastic | Capacity: 6.6 Quarts | Style: Flip-top | Airtight seal: Yes | Dimensions: 11 x 5.3 x 11.3 inches (L x W x H) | Dishwasher-safe: Yes, top-rack only

7. The Best Glass Set

What we like:

• Passed our air tightness test
• Beautiful, cohesive set
• Durable borosilicate glass
• Dishwasher-safe

What we don’t like:

• Small capacity

The cohesive look of these five glass storage containers together looks really beautiful displayed on a countertop — it lends itself to setting up an attractive cereal or granola station. Probably just the largest three sizes would be useful for storing cereal, as each of the containers is a different size, though you could put some granola in the smaller ones, too. None of these are really big enough to store an entire box of cereal in one container; I’d probably use a couple of them to store a regular box’s worth of cereal or use these to feature cereals on a countertop and use one of the larger, plastic sets for storing the rest of a bulk box as backstock in a pantry.

Each one of these borosilicate glass containers with a bamboo lid and silicone gasket passed my airtight test. No scooper is provided with this set, but the taller, cylindrical shape of these makes them easy to pour from. The luxe set comes with labels and marker, and a spare silicone gasket.

Material: Glass | Capacity: 1.5 Quarts | Style: Scoop and serve | Airtight seal: Yes | Dimensions: 3.7 x 3.7 x 10.8 inches (L x W x H) | Dishwasher-safe: Yes

8. The Most Comprehensive Set

What we like:

• Passed our air tightness test
• Versatile set with 14 containers
• Interchangeable snap-on lids

What we don’t like:

• No flip-top for pouring
• Not dishwasher-safe

If you’re organizing cereal into storage containers, chances are you’re looking at upgrading the storage for other dry goods, too. In that case, this is the most versatile set of storage containers for your whole pantry. The lids with silicone gaskets easily snap onto each of these containers, and though there are a total of four different sizes, I appreciated that the lids work interchangeably with any of them.

In the set, there are two tall containers for cereal, and that’s where I focused my cereal testing. I found they held a family-size box of 18 ounces of cornflakes and a regular-size 10.7-ounce box of cereal. The plastic walls on these containers felt solid in my hand, and I liked that the bottom of each container was labeled with its capacity. And these passed the airtight test — no moisture beads changed color.

There’s no flip-top on these for convenient pouring, but I found the tall, slim shape makes it easy enough to pour from and I didn’t miss a contoured grip when holding them. The set includes bonus measuring spoons, plus reusable labels and a marker.

Material: Plastic | Capacity: 3 quarts (extra-large size) | Style: Snap-top | Airtight seal: Yes | Dimensions: 6.1 x 4.3 x 11.6 inches (L x W x H) | Dishwasher-safe: No

Also Notable:

9. A Fan-Fave Cereal Dispenser

What we like:

• Fun rotating dispenser
• More than 2,000 five-star ratings

What we don’t like:

• Requires some assembly
• Not dishwasher-safe
• Did not pass our air tightness test

The previous cereal dispenser was my all-around favorite for this style, but this cereal container is worth considering if you don’t buy cereal in bulk and are interested in an affordable dispenser that’s an upgrade to a cereal box. Amazon shoppers really like this one and have given it over 2,000 perfect ratings.

The rotating, dispensing piece arrives attached to the clear compartment, and you’ll just need to snap the piece that holds it into the base. I found that the rotating dial on this product didn’t dispense as smoothly as others, and occasionally a bit of cereal went flying; it’ll likely crush some cereals slightly. However, the dispenser’s location probably allows a wider variety of bowls to fit underneath. You’ll want to store cereal from regular-sized boxes, up to 17.5 ounces, in this one.

This cereal dispenser didn’t quite pass the airtight test, as some water creeped in through the lid and some of the beads turned pink, indicating moisture; this may not be the dealbreaker it initially sounds like if you go through cereal quickly. If you think you might be moving this dispenser around, know that it’s kind of loud and would’ve benefited from some rubber feet for smoother sliding.

Material: Plastic | Capacity: 4 Quarts | Style: Dispenser | Airtight seal: Not completely | Dimensions: 7.5 x 6.5 x 16.3 inches (L x W x H) | Dishwasher-safe: No

10. A Larger Glass Container

What we like:

• Looks beautiful on a countertop
• Durable borosilicate glass
• Dishwasher-safe
• Scooper included

What we don’t like:

• Did not pass our air tightness test

If you want to store cereal in an attractive container and go through a box pretty quickly, this glass cereal container could work for you. It fits a family-size box of 18 ounces of cornflakes or a regular-size box of cereal. Pouring from this container isn’t really an option because of its large size and round shape, so I appreciated that it included a small ladle-style scooper for serving. The wide-mouth opening is easy to fill, and the borosilicate glass construction lends reassuring durability.

While this cereal container does look great on my countertop, the bamboo lid and silicone gasket don’t provide an airtight seal. When I tested it, water immediately seeped in and the silica beads turned pink and started popping like popcorn, confirming moisture detected inside the container. This container looks great on display, but it’s not your best bet for long-term storage and avoiding stale goods.

Material: Glass | Capacity: 3.1 Quarts | Style: Scoop and serve | Airtight seal: No | Shape: Round | Dimensions: 5.9 x 5.9 x 7.8 inches (Lx W x H) | Dishwasher-safe: Yes

How We Tested

To help you find the best cereal container for your home — because it really depends on your household needs — I consulted organization experts, researched the different kinds of food storage containers, and reviewed shopper comments to inform product selection. After narrowing the container selection down to 10, it was time to put them to the test. Here’s what I kept in mind for testing:

Assembly: I washed, assembled, and filled each container with a variety of cereals from different-sized boxes to see how easy — or difficult — they were to put together and clean. There was a range of assembly here — some were as easy as topping with a lid while one required a screwdriver.

Airtightness: To verify if these containers are truly airtight, I placed a tablespoonful of moisture-detecting silica beads inside each container and placed the containers in water for two minutes to test the seals; if the blue beads detected moisture, they turned pink.

Functionality: To see how these containers would function on the day-to-day, I poured or served bowls of cereal from each container and tested out how these felt in my hand and fit on my shelves and kitchen countertops.

About The Tester

Ileana Morales Valentine is an associate editor at Bustle; she previously wrote about home cooking and food as a columnist for Florida’s largest newspaper, and also had a food blog, A Little Saffron, back in the day. She learned to cook because she loves to eat and planning any trip starts with finding the best places to eat. She once planned a two-week trip to Spain based on a dinner reservation in the hills of San Sebastián. Though these days, she’s home more and testing out nutritious recipes that are delicious enough to satisfy even the harshest food critics: her kids. Her favorite cereal is Honey Bunches of Oats (with the almonds).

FAQ

What Is The Best Way To Store Cereal?

An airtight container is superior to a cereal box for storage after opening. When kept in the original bag inside a box, cereal tends to get stale as it’s exposed to air. Decant the cereal into an airtight canister, and it’ll stay fresher for longer.

Are Cereal Dispensers Worth It?

Yes, cereal will last longer, so the initial investment is worthwhile because you won’t end up tossing out stale stuff and having to rebuy cereals. The best cereal dispensers are airtight to help cereals last longer. Also, there are several types of cereal containers with features that’ll serve your specific household’s needs.

Is It Better To Store Cereal In Glass Or Plastic?

Cereal containers come in plastic or glass, and each option brings different things to the table. Plastic is a popular material for storage containers because it’s lightweight, more affordable, and less likely to break, but not all plastic containers are dishwasher-safe since they could warp under the heat. Glass containers offer a more luxe look that might look better on display than most plastic counterparts, and they’re usually dishwasher-safe. It’s also more expensive than plastic; if you’re worried about breakage, look for durable borosilicate glass, which can stand up to more wear and tear.

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Experts:

Ashley Murphy, co-founder & CEO of NEAT Method.

Marissa Hagmeyer, co-founder & COO of NEAT Method.

Kimberly Stewart, founder and CEO of The Realm.