I really like the glass containers with clear plastic lids from Crate and Barrel. They are heat resistant, dishwasher and microwave safe. They have several different sizes that work for us.

Here is a link that might be useful: Largest set C&B sells

I started out with the Crate and Barrel ones and really like the glass ones. I then got the Glasslock ones that I linked below and I like them much better. These are expensive but I have not broken one in two years and they are really easy to stack on top of each other.

Good luck!

Here is a link that might be useful: Glasslock containers

I have my Mom's glass refrigerator dishes. She had them from when she got married in the 40's. I have added more since then. I keep a few plastic but much prefer the glass as it never stains or retains odors . c

We use pyrex glass containers (with plastic lids.) I try to choose glass over plastic when possible.

I like glass better because its easier to clean.

Rocs, For reasons of purely paranoia, I'm increasing finding myself using either glass or ceramic for storage. I don't know if the frequent roll out of news that various grades of plastics are killing both us and the environment is accurate but I'm finding myself responding more and more to those cautions.

I have some corningware pieces that I purchased at the steuben factory ages ago and those are still going strong - glass bowl and lids, both which oven and even stovetop safe. More recently, I've purchased stackable units of ceramic bowls with the plastic lid rather similar to Allison. Ittala, I do believe they are. I've also bought ittala glass storage units with rubber seal lids as they are the best vacuum sealing units I've seen yet: a la: glass jars for non-refrigerated storage (prices were much less bonkers than they seem to be today, though the units themselves are magnificent).

Anyhow, ittala I suppose for the most part is what I've found. I had no idea C&B had these too - they'd be the logical place to get 'em from but this place is right on my daily beat so it was easy to pick 'em up.

I'm another plasticphobe. Until a couple of years ago I thought of them as inert. Now I go out of my way to avoid them. We have a few from C&B that I didn't see in the link above: They're rectangular, but have a plastic top (still plastic, sigh) with a closeable vent hole in the middle. This must be the vacuum feature mentioned above. I like them a lot. I also save wide-mouthed glass peanut butter jars, etc, for storing pint-sized quantities of food.

Putting hot food into plastic containers releases toxins. Unfortunately, most take-out is done this way. And when our local restaurant/bakery sells soups to go off the shelf, I suspect it's ladled into the plastic container while hot.

I figure everything is going to kill us so why worry about it, but I also rarely microwave so it is just storage and I use the glad or other brand plastic. If I microwave, I have glass or use our glass plates, but sometimes use plastic...

Thanks to all for the recommendations. Very sensible as we're all trying to be in this new year.

Ditto on plastic phobia. I cleared all mine out and use strictly glass. My water bottles use to be Nalgene, now they are stainless steel. I have added a link with info about BPA.

Here is a link that might be useful: Info on BPA in plastic

My issue with plastic did not start with the BPA debate. I drink a lot of water and used to carry a case a time of water in my car. About three years ago, I purchased Whole Food Market brand Electrolyte water (like Smartwater but the Whole Foods brand). The water had a very off taste to it. I took the case back to whole foods and the manager graciously took the item back. She said that it had been a particularly hot summer and when these bottles sit in trailers under the burning sun, the plastic begins to leach and you can taste and smell it.

I was left with a dilemna. I could not use the stainless steel bottles because they are really expensive and I would have to wash them by hand. I drink so much water in the car and I only spend about two hours at home every evening during the week. I would need about 20 of the stainless steel containers for my lifestyle. I purchased some Voss water, which is really expensive but comes in glass bottles and is way cheaper than the stainless bottles. I can wash them in the dishwasher and fill them with my own filtered water:-) I closed my eyes and bought a case of the water and I now have 30 of them and they work wonderfully for me. This was two years ago.
Homepro01

I think glass is better for you and I am trying to go that way, but still like plastic for its portability and ease of storage.

I read an article about this online from the Washington Post and also found a handy little cheat sheet for figuring out which plastics are worse than others. I had a bunch of #7 tupperware, 7's are bad. I replaced this with a set of #5 plastic that I learned about from the Wash. post article. It is KlipIt by Systema. I really like it alot. Very tight seal, frozen items are staying nicely frozen without freezer burn (I've been making large portions of food and freezing a lot since completing the renovation so these new containers are great). I don't microwave in it for the reasons mentioned above about leaching chemicals, but for my purposes it is working out well.

Article on Freezing:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/09/09/AR2008090900034_pf.html

Article on products they tested:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/09/09/AR2008090900041.html

below is a cheat sheet on the plastics, but bear in mind that they say #1 are safe, but as I understand it (and I am certainly not an expert) they are for one time use only (this would be a poland spring bottle, for instance). Also, the containers that butter and other cold items come in shouldn't be reused as they aren't meant for multiple uses and while cold foods don't leach chemicals, hot foods coming in contact can. I used to reuse all of these containers for freezing etc, but now I just put them into the recycling bin.

again, not an expert on this... this is just what my internet research has led me to believe.

Here is a link that might be useful: cheat sheet on plastics