The 7 Best Salad Dressing Containers of 2023 | Tested by The Spruce Eats

Fresh, homemade salad dressing is pretty simple, and it’s so much better than store-bought. When you make your own dressings, you can control the sugar and salt levels, and you’ll always know every ingredient in the dressing—which is important if anyone in the family has allergies. When it comes to making salad dressings, you could certainly whisk the ingredients in a bowl, but that’s not very convenient for serving or storing.

Fortunately, there are a wide variety of salad dressing containers that are designed to make mixing easy. Some are great for daily serving, while others are more attractive for parties and events. And a few containers are just for show, to serve your favorite dressings at the table. Not just for salad dressings, many of these containers are also useful for mixing or serving marinades and sauces as well.

To help you find the best salad dressing containers to accompany your crispy greens and more, we sent top-rated containers to our experienced product tester. Each one was used to make and store vinegarettes and creamy dressings, and then poured out onto salads. Then, the dressing containers were all rated on ease of use, design, size, ease of cleaning, and overall value.

Our Top Picks

Best Overall:

Kolder Salad Dressing Mixing Bottle at Amazon

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Best with Internal Mixer:

Whiskware Salad Dressing Shaker with BlenderBall at Amazon

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Best for Meal Prep:

Sistema To-Go Collection Dressing Food Storage Containers at Amazon

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Best Small Shaker:

OXO Good Grips Little Salad Dressing Shaker at Amazon

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Best Oil and Vinegar Set:

Zeppoli Royal Oil and Vinegar Bottle Set at Amazon

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Best Serving Cruet:

Anchor Hocking Presence Cruet With Stopper at Amazon

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Best Nostalgic Favorite:

Good Seasons Italian Dressing Mix, 2 Packages with Cruet at Amazon

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4.8

Courtesy of Amazon

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What We Like

Inexpensive
Dressing recipes on the bottle
Tight-fitting lid

What We Don't Like

Narrow bottle opening

If you're looking for a salad dressing container that checks all the boxes, Kolder is a safe bet. With eight classic recipes printed on the side, you can say goodbye to tedious measuring forever. Recipes include caesar, French, Italian, Greek, vinaigrette, balsamic vinaigrette, honey mustard, and Asian—and there's even a "light" version of the bottle.

The 13-ounce bottle is a smart choice to make and store your homemade dressing with its tight-fitting lid that’s easy to screw on and off. During testing, we did note it has no pour spout or flip top, so the flow can be more difficult to control. One quick tip: When pouring dressing over salad greens, twist your wrist at the end to stop the flow from the bottle without spillage. The circular motion of the twist stops the flow of liquid and deposits it back in the bottle, much like the way it does for ending the pour on a wine bottle without dripping.

In our first test, we made the balsamic vinaigrette recipe on the bottle and found the measurement markings alleviated dirtying an extra measuring cup. We noted the vinaigrette was a nice consistency and tasty prepared as directed. Our one negative was the narrow bottle opening required a funnel when adding thicker ingredients like the dijon in the balsamic vinaigrette, or chunky dressings.

Another plus is that the permanent markings on this USA-made bottle won't fade over time. We love how both the top and bottle cleaned up easily in the dishwasher, and the recipe etchings on the bottle were still pristine.

Price at time of publish: $11 for 13-ounce in light

The Spruce Eats / Vicky Wasik

Testing Takeaway

"The lack of pour spout did make a very fast flow when dispensing the dressing, but there was no spillage."

Courtesy of Amazon

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What We Like

Ball whisk promotes thorough blending
Ball is removable for serving and storage
Spout closes automatically

What We Don't Like

Lid should be hand-washed

You can certainly make salad dressing by shaking it in any convenient sealed container, but the Whiskware Salad Dressing Shaker makes the process faster and easier. It includes a round stainless steel wire ball that acts like a whisk right inside the container. Since it’s blended more efficiently, dressings stay emulsified longer. We put this claim to the test by making the same Simple Italian Salad Dressing in the Whiskware and a standard dressing shaker. We found the dressing in the regular container lost emulsification after 17 minutes and began separating while the dressing in the Whiskware remained fully emulsified for an additional 51 minutes.

You can remove the ball for serving and storage or leave it in place to quickly shake the dressing again as needed. During testing, we noted the wide mouth of the container made for easy loading of ingredients, and appreciated the clearly marked measurements on the Tritan plastic carafe, alleviating dirtying extra dishes. We also recorded that the seal on the container remained tight with no leakage throughout shaking over three tests.

The spout opens easily with one hand and closes automatically when released, eliminating accidental spills. We also loved the controlled flow of the dressing the pour spout afforded. The lid is best washed by hand so you can get into all the nooks and crannies, but we put both top and bottom through a dishwasher cycle and were impressed that all parts of the container were thoroughly cleaned.

Price at time of publish: $16 in tritan plastic

The Spruce Eats / Vicky Wasik

Testing Takeaway

"The emulsification was speedy and lasted a very long time. At this price point, it is a steal for making your own dressing."

4.8

Courtesy of Amazon

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What We Like

Great for travel
Colored lids help identify different dressings
Can use for condiment and dips

What We Don't Like

Size might be small for some salads

It’s easy to make a salad dressing by the pint—or even by the quart—so it’s a great item to prep ahead to save time later. But when you’re packing a salad to go for lunch, no one wants to bring a large quantity. These 1.18-ounce containers are constructed with firm, durable plastic with color-coded tops that screw on and off easily, according to our tests. They can be tucked right in the salad container to keep the dressing handy while keeping it separate from the greens so they won’t get soggy.

Filling them with lemon vinaigrette or chunky blue cheese was a cinch because of the wide mouth openings—no funnel was required across the four tests we performed. We did note they poured rather quickly when we dispensed the vinaigrette.

These come as an eight-piece set, so there are plenty of containers for the entire week. They also have lids in assorted colors, making it easy to tell which holds the ranch dressing and garlic sauce when it’s time to grab and go. We filled one with dried cranberries, another with sunflower seeds, another with mayonnaise, and another with poppyseed dressing, and then loaded them into a lunchbox upside down to test how securely they sealed. After retrieving the lunchbox from the refrigerator in the morning and throwing it up and down a few times after, we found everything dry and intact inside. Overall, we were impressed with the reliable seal and appreciated the color-coded tops to differentiate what was inside without unpacking the lunchbox.

Not just for dressings or lunches, these are also handy for portioning reward treats for the kiddos or for storing small amounts of everything from homemade spice mixes to paper clips and thumbtacks. The containers were a snap to clean with hot, soapy water and a sponge.

Price at time of publish: $14 for set of 8

The Spruce Eats / Vicky Wasik

Testing Takeaway

"These containers are a bit small unless you are using them exclusively for 1-2 people, but they are convenient for lunches on the go with their super-reliable seals and color-coded tops."

4.4

Courtesy of Amazon

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What We Like

Perfect for small amounts
Leakproof seal for shaking
Wide opening for adding ingredients

What We Don't Like

Not large enough for big dinners

The OXO Good Grips Little Salad Dressing Shaker is a great choice when you want to make just a small amount of dressing. The 1-cup capacity lets you make single servings or just enough salad dressing for the family when you want to avoid leftovers.

This product has a leak-proof seal to shake and pour with confidence, and the wide opening lets you add ingredients with ease. We loved the clearly-marked measurements for both cups and milliliters—and lauded the convenience of not dirtying extra cups for measuring and the ample bottle opening for adding ingredients like lemon zest. Even better, there was no leakage while we vigorously shook the lemon vinaigrette.

For serving, the lever opens easily with one hand and flips back to seal so you can store the dressing in the same container. Though it easily performed these tasks for thinner dressings, when we loaded a chunky blue cheese into the container, the chunks of cheese could not pass the pour spout.

Made from Tritan plastic, it is dishwasher-safe for easy cleaning. We confirmed that all parts, including the angled spout and gasket threads, were completely clean after a run through the dishwasher. One of the standout features of this model is the green, non-slip grip which fits comfortably in hand and stays secure throughout shaking three different salad dressings.

Price at time of publish: $12 for little salad dressing shaker

The Spruce Eats / Vicky Wasik

Testing Takeaway

"The mouth of the container is plenty wide for any ingredient, including garlic cloves and thick dijon."

4.4

Courtesy of Amazon

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What We Like

Attractive for serving
Secure rubber stoppers
Rack holds both bottles neatly

What We Don't Like

Not for all types of salads

Oil and vinegar is a classic combo for salad dressing. We appreciated the included collapsible funnel for easy, mess-free filling. They’re also handy in the kitchen when you need to dispense oil or vinegar for recipes. The stainless steel rack looks attractive on the table or in the kitchen and makes the bottles easy to carry or pass around at the table.

For testing, we filled the bottles with avocado oil and red wine vinegar. The dual-spout design allowed us to dispense at customized flow levels over four bowls of salad greens without dribbles. We also loved the included rubber stoppers for preserving leftover oil and vinegar, and noted even after holding the bottle upside down for 15 minutes, there was no leakage. The rubber stoppers seal tightly, so you’ll never have drips or spills.

The one negative we found was the tall, slender shape of the bottle made it difficult to clean, even with a normal bottle brush. A tall, thin test tube brush solved the issue and passed through the spouts and gaskets easily.

Price at time of publish: $20 for 2 pack 17oz

The Spruce Eats / Vicky Wasik

Testing Takeaway

"I loved the attractive design of this product; it looked great on my counter and on my table for serving."

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4.2

Courtesy of Amazon

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What We Like

Attractive
Great for more than dressings
Sturdy glass

What We Don't Like

Might need funnel to fill

The sturdy handle and pour spout of a cruet, such as this one from Anchor Hocking, make it easy to dispense the right amount of dressing. The heft of the tempered glass felt durable, and the etching on the stopper made this an attractive choice for a serving vessel on a table. We did report a funnel was necessary for both a thinner vinaigrette and creamy ranch dressing because of the narrow size of the cruet mouth.

Oil and vinegar went in easily and poured at a nice flow over salad greens. The stopper provided a secure seal for storing extra dressing in the refrigerator overnight. It will also come in handy for serving syrups or sauces at the table. We used it to serve warm maple syrup for a pancake breakfast and found it poured well with very little dripping across six plates of flapjack stacks.

Cleaning the bottle was slightly onerous, however—we had to use a small, angled bottle brush to reach the widest parts of the cruet’s body. Despite the extra cleaning tool required, this was a smart choice if you are looking for the best salad dressing container to double as a pretty serving vessel.

Price at time of publish: $50 for case of 6

The Spruce Eats / Vicky Wasik

Testing Takeaway

"When dispensing a lemon vinaigrette on salad greens, I was able to control the flow well because of the wide body, convenient handle, and pour spout."

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4.2

Courtesy of Walmart

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What We Like

Nostalgic look
Includes dressing packets
Wide mouth on bottle for filling

What We Don't Like

Plastic top leaks when shaken

Before salad dressing mixes were ubiquitous, Good Seasons sold its dressings with an iconic bottle that was appealing enough for serving. Today, the brand offers the same deal, although the cruet is a little different. Although there are measurement marks on the side of the bottle, they are not obvious quantities. The “O,” “W,” and “V” correspond to how much oil, vinegar, and water are required to prepare the included Good Seasons dressing packet. We made the Italian dressing twice according to box directions and cruet measurements with consistent, tasty results. When shaking the dressing, some leakage seeped out between the plastic top and cruet, but not much.

We appreciated the sturdy glass cruet with its wide mouth and sloped body, but reported the plastic top seemed flimsy and was difficult to snap on and off. Beyond the included Italian dressings, we filled the bottle with a vinaigrette and a chunky blue cheese dressing. Across four tests, the mouth of the bottle was amply sized to add all ingredients without spillage or the need for a funnel. The flow of the vinaigrette was nice and controlled coming out of the flip-top spout, but the chunky blue cheese could not pass through the hole. This was easily remedied by taking the plastic top off and pouring directly from the container.

While cleaning, we found that a typical bottle brush was too big to fit into the cruet for washing, but a small brush easily passed the mouth and reached the entire glass surface. Without the plastic top on, this cruet was attractive enough to serve maple syrup, sauces, or dressings right at the table.

Price at time of publish: $12 for 1 cruet and 2 seasoning packets

The Spruce Eats / Vicky Wasik

Testing Takeaway

"The package explained the conversion to cups which makes it universally useful for other dressings. The packets made the old-time Good Seasons Italian dressing I remembered perfectly."

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Final Verdict

For an all-around good design with salad dressing recipes printed on the side, Kolder Salad Dressing Mixing Bottle is our top choice. For a great meal prep option, go with the Sistema To-Go Collection containers.

How We Tested

Our selected salad dressing containers were tested for hours by our product tester for the most authentic results. We paid close attention to each container's design and ease of use, assessing how well they emulsified and poured out the dressings. The containers were used with both vinegarettes and creamy dressings. We also made careful note of how reliable the seal was–if there was any leakage or spilling during travel. Each salad dressing container was given a rating for ease of use, design, size, ease of cleaning, and overall value.

How We Test Products

What to Look for in Salad Dressing Containers

Ease of Use

Look for a well-designed salad dressing container with convenience features like a wide spout and a dishwasher-safe construction. You may also want to consider other elements, like whether or not the vessel has measurement markings on the side, since this can also greatly add to the ease of use.

Design

Material plays a big role in the design of a salad dressing container. Though glass is often preferable since it doesn’t absorb smells, flavors, or colors, plastic tends to be more durable. But you also want to consider the size of the spout as a design feature. If you tend to make thinner dressings, like vinaigrette, a smaller spout can help you keep control when pouring. On the other hand, if you tend to make thicker dressings, like ranch, you’ll want a wider spout, otherwise the dressing won’t flow properly.

Size

Do you need a container to take with you to work for lunch? If so, you’ll want a smaller salad dressing container—approximately 2 ounces will suffice for a single-serve meal. But if you need a container to make a large batch of dressing to serve with your family’s dinner—or something even larger to keep a big batch of dressing in the fridge for multiple uses—you’ll want a bigger vessel upwards of 8 ounces.

Ease of Cleaning

Typically, dishwasher-safe vessels are most convenient. And, luckily, many salad dressing containers are dishwasher safe. Just keep in mind: Though some containers may be dishwasher safe, many of the lids that come with them may require handwashing.

FAQs

What is the ideal container for salad dressing?

The ideal container for salad dressing is glass, since glass vessels don’t absorb colors, odors, or flavors the same way plastic can. They’re also generally dishwasher safe and easy to wash. Plastic salad dressing containers do have their benefits, though. Plastic containers are more durable and often come with tight-fitting lids, so you can transport dressing without fear it will spill.

How do you transport salad dressing?

Typically, it’s preferable to transport salad dressing in a separate container so that your food doesn’t get soggy before you have a chance to eat it. But, because salad dressing is a liquid, it’s important to use a container with a tight-fitting lid. Generally, these containers are plastic since it’s a more durable material. These types of containers are often on the smaller side—approximately 2 ounces—for more convenient transport.

How many ounces are there in a typical salad dressing container?

Much like bowls or other storage containers, this varies greatly from vessel to vessel. In general, salad dressing containers meant for transport are much smaller—approximately 2 ounces. Salad dressing containers for home use—ones that sit in your fridge for a week or more at a time—are typically much larger. Often, these can range anywhere from 8 to 16 (or more) ounces.

Why Trust The Spruce Eats?

From her basic cooking beginnings making simple salad dressings in a bowl to more complicated dressings using fancy jars or electric blenders, Donna Currie has handled her fair share of vinegar, oil, mayo, and spices and has prepped enough iceberg to sink a ship. She knows her way around a salad bowl as well as salad dressing containers.

Carrie Honaker is a food writer who has made a lot of salad dressings over the years. As a restaurateur and avid home cook, she knows the importance of a tightly-sealed container when shaking a new dressing. She tested all nine of the options on this list, and fell in love with the Whiskware for its fantastic performance emulsifying vinaigrette. Her work has appeared in many publications including Bon Appetit, Allrecipes, and Wine Enthusiast.

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