Ibili Lunch Away XL 3 litre glass food container for soups and stocks

The Ibili Lunch Away XL food storage container is a square container made of 3 litre borosilicate glass, designed for storing soups, stocks and purées in quantity. It measures 19.5 x 19.5 cm across and 11 cm high according to Ibili's catalogue (reference 754833), and closes with a plastic lid with four clip closures and a silicone seal. The glass withstands –40 °C to +450 °C, so the same container can go in the freezer, the fridge, the microwave, the oven and the dishwasher. It is the largest in the Lunch Away range that we sell: the next size down holds 1.6 litres.

What a 3 litre food container is for

Three litres is about 10 servings of soup or cream soup of 300 ml. It is the size you need when you batch-cook for the whole week: the broth from a cocido (a Spanish chickpea and meat stew), a puchero, a cream of pumpkin soup, a gazpacho or a salmorejo (both chilled tomato soups) to last several days, a bean or lentil stew or homemade tomato sauce. It is also handy for marinating a large joint of meat, leaving dough to prove in the fridge or taking a salad to a family meal.

Being square with tall sides, it makes better use of the fridge shelf than a saucepan, and because it is transparent you can see what is inside and how much is left without opening it.

Why glass rather than plastic

Glass food containers stand up very well to both high and low temperatures. They do not contain the chemicals typical of many plastics, and nothing transfers into the food when you reheat it in the microwave, as happens with low-quality plastic containers. What is more, glass does not pick up colour or smells: tomato, paprika or curry will not stain it, something you will appreciate from the very first time you store a stock or a stew in it.

It is very easy to clean. Thanks to its material it washes up easily by hand, or it can go in the dishwasher. The trade-off is weight: glass is heavier than plastic and, filled with 3 litres of stock, the container weighs over 4 kg, so it is best always to lift it with both hands.

How to use it in the freezer, microwave and oven

• Freezer: let the stock or soup cool before storing it and do not fill the container to the brim. Liquids expand as they freeze; leave 2 or 3 cm of space below the lid and there is no problem.
• Microwave and oven: always remove the lid. It is the glass that withstands up to 450 °C, not the plastic lid or its seal.
• Sudden temperature changes: borosilicate copes with changes in temperature much better than ordinary glass. Even so, to be on the safe side, do not put it down straight from the oven on a wet or very cold surface.
• Carrying: the lid seals airtight with its four clips, but with 3 litres of liquid inside always carry it flat and check that all four closures have clicked shut.
• Cleaning the lid: wash the silicone seal and its groove carefully, as that is where bits of stock collect, and dry the lid thoroughly before closing the container to put it away.

Other Lunch Away glass food containers

If 3 litres seems too much, the same Ibili range comes in smaller sizes with the same glass and the same type of lid: the Lunch Away square glass container (450, 750 and 1,000 ml), the rectangular glass container (from 400 to 1,600 ml), the round glass containers (370, 610 and 800 ml), the tall round container of 800 ml, handy for a single serving of soup, and the rectangular container with two compartments for keeping a starter and a main course apart. If you would prefer a set, have a look at the pack of 3 round glass containers. You will find every model in the food storage containers category and the rest of the Gipuzkoa manufacturer's catalogue on the Ibili brand page.

Frequently asked questions about the Ibili XL glass food container

What is its capacity and what are its dimensions?

It has a capacity of 3 litres. According to Ibili's catalogue it measures 19.5 x 19.5 cm across and 11 cm high.

Can it go in the oven and the microwave?

Yes, the borosilicate glass container withstands up to 450 °C. The lid must always be removed, both in the oven and in the microwave.

Can I freeze stock in it?

Yes, the glass withstands down to –40 °C. Let the stock cool first and do not fill it right up: with 2 or 3 cm of space the liquid has room to expand as it freezes.

Is the lid airtight?

Yes. It has a silicone seal all the way round and four clip closures, one on each side. With liquids, carry it flat and make sure all four closures are properly fastened.

Is it dishwasher safe?

Yes, it is dishwasher safe. The glass does not absorb smells or get stained by tomato or spices.

How many servings of soup does it hold?

About 10 servings of 300 ml. If you are looking for a container for a single serving of soup, the tall round 800 ml container from the same Lunch Away range is more suitable.