The Restaurant-Grade Food Storage Containers Chefs Use at Home

I cooked professionally for nearly a decade, and one of the most important lessons I learned was the value of food storage and organization. A peek into any restaurant’s walk-in or dry storage will show stacks of the plastic storage containers called Cambros. They come in a variety of sizes, and one significant benefit is that the same lids can fit multiple containers because the design gets taller to increase the volume.

Once I saw how streamlined restaurant storage was with Cambros containers, I immediately bought several for my home kitchen. It totally revolutionized my pantry game; everything fits in neat rows, and I can see literally everything I have on hand. It saves me time and money because nothing gets lost, and my dry ingredients stay fresher for longer. 

Cambro 2-Quart and 4-Quart Food Storage Container with Lids

Cambros come in many sizes, but for home kitchens, this 2-pack of mixed sizes is the most useful. I own roughly six of the 4-quart versions and another 10 or so of the 2-quart variety. I primarily use the 2-quart size for leftovers, freezing, and meal prep, while the 4-quart size is my go-to for pantry items. Both sizes stack neatly on top of each other and, unlike irregularly shaped or round containers, maximize every inch of fridge or pantry space. 

In my pantry, Cambros save me so much money over the year. Their airtight seal keeps moisture out of flours and prevents grains and dried beans from getting too dry and old. Before I started keeping everything in Cambros, I was constantly knocking over half-used boxes of pasta and spilling them all over my pantry, or buying another bag of bread flour, not noticing that a crumpled-up, half-full bag was hiding behind all the other miscellaneous boxes and containers. Keeping everything in Cambros keeps my pantry organized and clean, so I’m not accidentally making a mess or doubling up on ingredients. 

I always use the 2-quart size to freeze larger batches of things like soup or broth. On the weekends, I often prep some ingredients, like precut veggies or a big batch of quinoa, for easy dinners throughout the week, and these stack perfectly on the shelves of my fridge for convenient, organized access each night. 

I wouldn’t recommend these for small amounts of leftovers; you’d still need another set of food storage containers. These containers are also plastic, which some folks choose to avoid. However, for pantry storage, Cambros are unmatched. Glass is great, but it’s too heavy to stack, and even if you have a set of food storage containers you love for leftovers, they probably aren’t big enough to hold a whole bag of flour or a batch of soup for the freezer. 

If you’re tired of wasting money on stale pantry items or never knowing what you even have on hand, organize your kitchen like a pro with Cambro containers. They keep food fresh for longer and help you stay on top of your pantry and fridge. 

More Food Storage Containers to Shop Now

OXO Good Grips 5-Piece Pop Container Set

Rubbermaid Brilliance Food Storage Containers

Glasslock 18-Piece Assorted Oven Safe Container Set

Stasher 4-Pack Premium Silicone Reusable Food Storage Bags

At the time of publishing, the price was $30.