Joseph Joseph Nest Lock Airtight Leakproof Food Containers, 10-Piece Set, Multi-Colour (81098)

Joseph Joseph Nest Lock 10-Piece Review: Latched Leftover Containers That Pack Into One Box

Leftovers are where van fridge organisation usually falls apart. Plates with foil slide, mismatched tubs don't stack, and a drawer of empty containers takes as much space as a drawer of full ones. The Joseph Joseph Nest Lock 10-piece set answers the space half of that problem with a simple trick: five rectangular containers in graduated sizes that nest inside each other when empty, with lids that snap together into one pile. It answers the van half with lids that lock rather than press on.

It's a different tool from the Sistema KLIP IT PLUS 3.35L set already on this site, which is three identical large boxes for dry goods. The Nest Lock is a mixed-size set aimed at fridge leftovers, prepped ingredients and small pantry items, which is the job our storage guide's fridge section gives to "rigid lidded containers".

What the Amazon link sells: the Joseph Joseph Nest Lock Airtight Leakproof Food Containers, 10-Piece Set, ASIN B07G92P81W, Joseph Joseph model and SKU 81098, the multi-colour version. Ten pieces means five containers and five lids. Other Nest Lock 10-piece listings are single-colour versions under other numbers, such as 81108 in sky blue, which Amazon lists with the same five sizes. The size-coded lid colours are what this multi-colour version adds.

This review is research-based. VanLifeKitchens doesn't test products hands-on. The specs below come from Joseph Joseph's US product page and the Amazon listing we link to. Where a figure is our own conversion or estimate, we say so.

Choose this if:

• You want a set of mixed sizes for leftovers, prepped vegetables, sauces and snacks, with lids that lock shut.
• Storage space is tight and you want the empty set to take up the space of one container.
• You want to match lids to boxes at a glance in a dim van. The multi-colour lids are coded by size.

Skip this if:

• You mainly want bulk dry-goods storage. Three of one large size, such as the Sistema KLIP IT PLUS 3.35L, fills a drawer more evenly.
• You want glass or stainless steel rather than plastic.
• You need containers you can put in an oven. Joseph Joseph says these aren't suitable for ovens or grills.

What you get

Five rectangular containers, each with a matching lid, in these capacities (Joseph Joseph and Amazon listing):

Joseph Joseph describes the lids as "airtight, leakproof and stackable", with "snap-together lids" and colour-coded bases. The listing photo shows latch tabs on two opposite sides of each lid. When the containers are empty, each one sits inside the next size up, and the lids clip together so they don't scatter through a drawer.

Specifications and sources

Joseph Joseph's page doesn't name the plastic used, and it notes the product contains chemicals listed under California AB 1200, with a separate disclosure. The Amazon listing gives the nested set as 7.75 x 9.5 x 6.5 inches, which is the same box measured in a different order.

Care rules from Joseph Joseph:

• Freezer, microwave and dishwasher safe, top rack only.
• In the microwave, take the lid off and lay it loosely on top. Don't close it.
• Avoid overheating foods high in oil, fat or sugar, or with strong colourings, in the microwave.
• Not suitable for ovens or under grills.

Why locking lids and nesting both matter in a van

Locking lids. A press-on lid holds by friction. In a van, containers get shaken, tipped and squeezed by whatever sits next to them, and friction lids are the ones that let go. Lids that latch with tabs are a mechanical closure, so a jolt or a sideways squeeze is less likely to open them. That doesn't make any plastic container crash-proof, and Joseph Joseph publishes no drop test or test method for "leakproof", so treat it as the maker's design claim. For soups and sauces, keep the box upright and in a tray or a fridge basket as a second line of defence.

Nesting. Van storage is usually lost to empty containers. A set that nests packs its whole volume, 227 fl oz or about 6.7 litres if you add the five capacities together by our count, into a stack about the size of the largest box. On a trip where you cook less, that space goes back to other things. Joseph Joseph's nested measurement of 9.75 x 6.5 x 8 inches is the number to check against the cabinet or drawer where the empties will live.

The stop van kitchen rattles guide explains why grouping small items into containers with latching lids is one of the most effective noise fixes, and why containers still need to sit in something that can't slide.

How it fits a van or camp kitchen

In a 12V chest fridge. Rectangular boxes use a chest fridge's floor better than round tubs, and the size spread lets you fill gaps: the 63 or 101 fl oz box for a batch of chilli or chopped vegetables, the 8 and 18 fl oz boxes for herbs, garlic, sauces and cut lemons. Check your fridge's internal height first. Many 35 to 45 litre chest fridges have a raised step over the compressor, which limits where taller boxes fit. Joseph Joseph doesn't publish individual container heights, so measure the largest box against the shallowest part of your fridge after it arrives. Our what size 12V fridge guide and the 12V fridges complete guide show typical internal layouts.

Heavy at the bottom, soft on top. The storage guide's fridge rules apply: heavier, full containers low in the basket, small soft items on top where you can see them. Smaller locked boxes also keep fragile items such as berries and herbs from getting crushed when the fridge contents shift on a bumpy road.

In the pantry. The medium and small sizes suit coffee, nuts, dried fruit, spices bought in bulk and opened snack bags. For flour, rice and pasta in quantity, a larger dry-goods box such as the Sistema KLIP IT PLUS 3.35L holds more per footprint, and an outer bin such as the IRIS Weathertight 19-Qt keeps a group of boxes from sliding.

Meal prep and leftovers. Cooking once and eating twice saves gas, battery and water in a van. A locked box of leftovers in the fridge is the second meal, and a microwave isn't needed: the boxes go straight from the fridge to a pot. Our one-pot meals guide is a good source of dishes that store well.

Washing up. In a low-water van kitchen, a box that's emptied and scraped straight away is easier to clean than one left for a day. The van dishwashing system guide covers the scrape, wash and rinse routine.

Food safety and odours

• Cool food before sealing it in a 12V fridge. A hot pot sealed in a box and put straight into a small fridge works the compressor hard and warms everything around it.
• Keep raw meat sealed and low in its own container, so drips can't reach ready-to-eat food.
• Dry fully before closing. A damp box closed with its lid on for days can smell. Store empty boxes with the lids off, or nested with the lids clipped together separately.
• Plastic and strong flavours. Like most plastic containers, these can pick up stains and smells from tomato sauce and curry. Joseph Joseph's care advice about strongly coloured foods in the microwave points the same way.

Limitations

• Mixed sizes means fewer large boxes. Only one container holds more than 2 litres.
• Plastic. Light and shatterproof, but it can stain and scratch, and it isn't for ovens or grills.
• No published drop or leak test. "Airtight" and "leakproof" are Joseph Joseph's design descriptions.
• Material not named on Joseph Joseph's page beyond the listing's BPA-free statement.
• No published individual dimensions. Only the nested set size is given, so measure each box before planning a fridge layout around it.
• Nesting only works empty. Full containers stack on their lids but take their full volume.

How it compares on this site

The Sistema boxes are the better pantry workhorse. The Stasher bags squeeze into spaces a rigid box can't but protect nothing from being crushed. The Nest Lock is the most space-efficient choice when containers spend much of their time empty. Our Nest Lock vs Sistema KLIP IT comparison goes through the choice in detail.

Which guides it fits

• Storage complete guide: "rigid lidded containers for leftovers" in the fridge section, and the five-bin system.
• Stop van kitchen rattles: bins and boxes with latching lids.
• 12V fridges complete guide: organising a top-opening fridge.
• Van pantry shelf-stable staples: what to put in the smaller boxes.

Verdict

The Joseph Joseph Nest Lock 10-piece set solves two van problems at once: its lids lock rather than press on, and its five graduated containers nest into one box about 9.75 x 6.5 x 8 inches when empty. Joseph Joseph publishes the capacities, the nested size, clear care rules and a two-year guarantee. It's plastic, only the largest box holds more than 2 litres, and the leak and airtight claims are the maker's design descriptions rather than published tests. As a fridge and leftovers set for a small kitchen, it uses space better than most container sets.

FAQ

What sizes are in the Joseph Joseph Nest Lock 10-piece set? Five containers with lids: 8 fl oz (1 cup), 18 fl oz (2.2 cups), 37 fl oz (4.6 cups), 63 fl oz (7.7 cups) and 101 fl oz (12.5 cups), per Joseph Joseph.

How much space does the set take when empty? Joseph Joseph lists the nested set at 9.75 x 6.5 x 8 inches (24.5 x 16.3 x 20 cm). The lids snap together separately.

Are Nest Lock lids leakproof? Joseph Joseph describes them as airtight and leakproof. It doesn't publish a test method, so keep liquids upright and in a tray or basket while driving.

Can the containers go in the microwave or freezer? Yes. Joseph Joseph says they're freezer, microwave and top-rack dishwasher safe. Take the lid off and lay it loosely on top in the microwave. They aren't suitable for ovens or grills.

Is the Nest Lock better than the Sistema KLIP IT PLUS for a van? They do different jobs. The Nest Lock is a mixed-size set that nests when empty, suited to leftovers and small items. The Sistema pack is three identical 3.35-litre boxes suited to dry goods.

What warranty does it have? Joseph Joseph's product page lists a two-year guarantee.

Sources and verification

• Joseph Joseph US, Nest Lock 10-piece Multicolor Food Container Set product page: SKU 81098, five capacities, nested dimensions, airtight and leakproof description, snap-together lids, care and microwave rules, not oven safe, California AB 1200 note, two-year guarantee. https://us.josephjoseph.com/products/nest-lock-5-piece-leakproof-container-set-multicolour (checked 2026-10-13)
• Amazon product listing for ASIN B07G92P81W, the listing this review links to: title (Nest Lock Airtight Leakproof Food Containers, 10-Piece Set), model 81098, multi-colour, capacities, nested size 7.75 x 9.5 x 6.5 in, BPA free, freezer, microwave and top-rack dishwasher safe, availability (checked 2026-10-13)