topic Lock n lock in Recipes

Lock n lock

Eanerr — Fri, 06 Mar 2026 01:03:07 GMT

I am almost ready to get rid of all of my lock n lock. I love how it seals but it is a pain to wash. I put the containers in the dishwasher. I always take the rubber gasket out and wipe it down. Then I wash the lid. The reason I take the gasket out is because if I wash it in the sink it seems the gasket gets water in it and can't get it out. Anyone else with this conundrum? Opinions?

Re: Lock n lock

timeless — Fri, 06 Mar 2026 01:10:50 GMT

I have many glass L&L and usually wash the lids, with the gaskets inside, on the top rack of my dishwasher.

Unless I can see something has seeped into the crevice, the hot water from the dishwasher cleans fine for me.

Try not to over-think the whole gasket thing.

Re: Lock n lock

sunshine45 — Fri, 06 Mar 2026 01:17:51 GMT

i dont take any gaskets out unless i see an issue.

all of my lock and lock goes into the dishwasher.

Re: Lock n lock

Still Raining — Fri, 06 Mar 2026 01:18:43 GMT

I just put mine in the dishwasher with a stern warning to behave. And they do 🙂 I do leave them open for a day or so to finish drying.

Re: Lock n lock

spent2much — Fri, 06 Mar 2026 02:35:03 GMT

@Eanerr I LOVE my Lock and Locks! They go in the top rack of the dishwasher. I've never taken the gasket out to wash it. I've never seen a necessity to do that. Just before my dishwasher goes into the "dry" cycle, I open the door and keep it propped open about 1" with a small Lock and Lock. I find ALL the dishes dry better when I use this method, instead of letting it do it's own dry cycle, including my L & L's. Best of luck to you. 💖

Re: Lock n lock

Eileen in Virginia — Fri, 06 Mar 2026 02:49:34 GMT

We wash all of our Lock n Locks in the dishwasher with no special handling. We always check to make sure none of the gaskets have come out, but this is rare. Once out of the dishwasher, we let them air dry for a day or two before putting them away. We've never had a problem with mildew using this method.

Re: Lock n lock

coffee drinker — Fri, 06 Mar 2026 08:52:20 GMT

Good post/subject @Eanerr. I was thinking the exact thing this week. I have so many pieces and can't imagine how much they cost. I would replace most of them with glass containers -- not necessarily LnL. The only pieces i would keep are the 3 size pantry pieces. I keep all my dry products -- rice, pasta flour, beans, etc.

Re: Lock n lock

RespectLife — Fri, 06 Mar 2026 13:12:15 GMT

@Eanerr wrote:
I am almost ready to get rid of all of my lock n lock. I love how it seals but it is a pain to wash. I put the containers in the dishwasher. I always take the rubber gasket out and wipe it down. Then I wash the lid. The reason I take the gasket out is because if I wash it in the sink it seems the gasket gets water in it and can't get it out. Anyone else with this conundrum? Opinions?

@Eanerr

One of my 2026 changes (resolutions, LOL) was to Stop fussing over my L&L and hand washing it all!

It was crazy the amount of time I spent hand washing the bottoms And lids!

Simplify for 2026 was my goal....I don't need them piled up in the sink either (I work FT and don't get to them)

I have learned the lids esp get SO much cleaner in the dishwasher than I was doing anyways! I do not remove the gaskets.

I have plenty of L&L, I do not find them to be an expensive purchase since I have always bought the large sets.

So if one ends up funky outta the dishwasher? Out it goes....never has happened yet.

I have plenty more behind it!

Re: Lock n lock

nascarfan — Fri, 06 Mar 2026 13:54:23 GMT

May I suggest you repurpose the containers? I use Lock and Lock for everything but food. I use the pie carriers to store floral candle rings, the bread boxes hold many different sizes of alkaline batteries, cereal boxes are used to hold and distribute ice melt. The larger containers are used to store seasonal decor.

Re: Lock n lock

wagirl — Fri, 06 Mar 2026 14:47:23 GMT

O-M-GOSH-------I have a disturbing amount of L-n-L!!! Where it all came from--I don't know but it has got to go. Have at least 6 large boxes of the stuff--and have no where to put it all. Some are huge square/rectangle pieces--I have been using the bottoms for storing several things in --minus the tops--on my pantry shelves, like vinegars and baking products--I will sort thru them and donate many. I find the square/rec shapes are better use of the small space I have. And even found tupperware from the dinosaur age --A project for this weekend----

Re: Lock n lock

Bonkers1 — Fri, 06 Mar 2026 15:15:27 GMT

In the past I didn't take the gasket out until I saw mold under it from the water seeping in. Now I keep a close eye on it.

Re: Lock n lock

Eileen in Virginia — Sat, 07 Mar 2026 01:14:20 GMT

@nascarfan wrote:
May I suggest you repurpose the containers? I use Lock and Lock for everything but food. I use the pie carriers to store floral candle rings, the bread boxes hold many different sizes of alkaline batteries, cereal boxes are used to hold and distribute ice melt. The larger containers are used to store seasonal decor.

@nascarfan I also repurpose some of my Lock and Locks. I buy 1 pound bags of spices from Amazon and the cereal containers are great for storing the extra spices that I can't store in my kitchen cabinets. We use the bread container as a snack box when we go on road trips. It holds packets of Milano and Lorna Doone cookies, as well as Nutri-Grain bars and peanut butter packets. Their covered glass pie plates are the perfect size for casserole side dishes for our family of three. I use the spice containers to store different-sized bandaids in the medicine cabinet so the humidity doesn't affect them. If we're traveling to a party with a gift. I'll wrap the gift, but put the bow in a cereal bowl. It keeps it intact whether I throw it in a suitcase or a carryall bag.

ETA: I use one of the short canisters to pack my Clarisonic facial exfoliator in my suitcase when traveling. It prevents other items from pressing the Start button.