Polycarbonate containers e.g. Cambro, Rubbermaid
Pros;
- can be found at reasonable prices
- clear material for visibility & aesthetically acceptable appearance on kitchen counter
- Break-resistant
- Dishwasher, refrigerator and freezer safe
- Temperature range: -40F to 212F
- Available in a wide range of capacities e.g. Cambros & Rubbermaid are available in 2-22 quart capacities
- Most have capacity markings in imperial and metric
- Stain and odor resistant to most food acids and oils
- space efficiency and light weight
- stackable
- Same lid can fit different capacity containers
- Lower thermal conductivity than metal, therefore water heats slightly faster and consumes slightly less energy than metal containers e.g. pots or pans
- Rectangular or square shapes are more space efficient than round containers, therefore you fit more packages in the same volume
Cons;
- Modest insulative properties
- All polycarbonate products contain minute quantities of BPA, however the BPA content is well below the FDA limits
- Some polycarbonate containers are overpriced in my opinion especially some of the lids
- Not readily available in retail stores though online sources are plentiful
These two Rubbermaid 6 quart containers and lids (
https://goo.gl/FcZ2Y6) from Sam's Club are the best price ($16.78, ~$9.70 in a Minneapolis area Sam's Club where I visited recently) of anything I could find on the Internet and fit 50-75% of what I cook for 2-4 people.
These specific containers are no longer available at Sam's Club based on searching their website.
It is handy to have two containers, one to cook meat at a lower temp and then put a cover over the meat container and cook your vegetables in the other at the higher temperatures, and shorter times, that vegetables generally require (183F+). I have two joules so I can cook in two containers simultaneously so these containers are perfect for cooking less than two hours.
It is easy to cut a hole in the lid (I marked the lid with my Joule foot, then used an X-ACTO knife with an 11 blade) for your Joule to drop through. I cut the hole so it is inside the lid's raised lip and precise in size so my Joule is supported under the clip bracket by the lid and it stays upright without any clips or magnetic means.
I recently went on a ten day family road trip with six people. I took one container, my Joule and a cooler with ~20 6x8" packages of already prepared, vacuum sealed, frozen food. Since I was only reheating the food I could easily fit four packages in the container and the food would be ready in 25-30 minutes. It was a highly effective, and appreciated, setup for family dinners in our hotel rooms when we didn't feel like dining in a restaurant.
