Dry Goods Storage

I buy my plastic storage at Christmas Tree Shop. They usually have the box of all different sizes for like 14.99. I bought a huge 100 piece set a few years ago and they are great and I still have them. minus a few missing tops...I have also bought Tupperware but find it to be very expensive so I just buy the generic stuff and it is the same quality.

Make the investment in Tupperware Modular Mates. They are awesome and come in lots of different sizes that stack tightly to each other to maximize space. I bought mine 11 years ago...they are in perfect shape and have paid for themselves 10 fold. I keep sugar, flour, powder soda, baking powder, brown sugar, rice, pasta, lentils, all that ind of stuff in them. They are more expensive than rubbermaid but well worth the cost and your pantry or cabinet will look great. The seals are great so no worries about things going stale. P.S. I do not sell Tupperware, just think this is a great product

With plastic storage, there is always the concern about expense, the harm to the environment, and exactly what type of plastic is used in it. If you can recycle, that is much better. Someone suggested putting recycled jars in the dishwasher to get clean, which is fine, but always remove the labels first (soak in warm water). If you put it through the dishwasher, the label can wash away or disintegrate, but the glue can get stuck in the jets. I used to do this and after a while I noticed the dishes weren't getting clean. Then it cost me a lot to have the appliance repair service clean out each hole in the jets so that the water could get through!

I think it helps to put the cooking time on the side of the container or just tape that part of the box to the lid of the new container. I don't see any reason to transfer pasta from the box to another storage container unless you are displaying things on the counter. Things in bags (rice, lentils and so on) can be easier in a storage container although I just close the bags by rolling the top down and wrapping a rubber band around it. HOwever, with a small child, that may not be childproof enough to keep rice from being scattered all over! That's up to you.

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Hi L.:

I was using plastic (tupperware or rubbermaid) for things like flours, sugars etc. I found that over time (a couple of years) the containers would leave a plastic smell on the food especially flours. I went to using glass. I picked up big jars for my baking needs at Walmart and Ikea. I use my canning jars for beans, rice, popcorn etc. My mom use to buy pickles in bulk and I use those jars for oats.

I still use the rubber maid or tupperware for cereals and noodles especially in the summer with the humidity and to keep the critters out. They also work great for cookies and crackers.

Have a great day!

Jenn

Hi L.,
What a great name Velauriea! there are some great containers that have flip tops and are easy to pour for things like rice.I find it very annoying when things open up on their own although my daughter lily usually has something to do with it she will be two next month.i have a great home based business if your are interested in hearing about there is a discover arbonne call that will give you more info and this may be the right fit for you. i'm listed under mamasource and you can check out my website if you would like..... i give free gifts for listening to the call thanks warmly mother of 14 11 9 today and 23 mths K. D

I would agree that the dollar store containers are great. be sure to buy several of each size = 2 quart, 3 quart, and 4 quart. Just remember containers take up the same amount of space in your cabinet when they are empty as they do full. Tall skinny containers or pitchers are good for cereal and rice. Short wide topped containers or gallon pitchers are great for flour and sugar. I don't use containers for pasta.

Hi there,

I save any glass containers (Jelly jars/instant coffee jars etc), put them in the dishwasher to clean, and then use for storing rice/pasta etc. It's a great way to recycle AND not have to spend any money on storage. And since it's glass, you can freeze them, store them in a cabinet, or microwave to defrost! You can even use the small glass spice containers for things like salad dressing! :)

We use spaghetti sauce jars and glass mason jars (which you can buy in pint, quart, 2-quart and other sizes. You can buy 12 of them at a time for around $15, or less depending on the size. Get the wide-mouth variety, so they're easier to wash. They're attractive, see-through, and avoid the problems posed by plastic: petroleum-based products that have harmful chemicals like bisphenol-A (BPA).

Like someone else said, you can cut off the directions and label and either put it in the jar or tape them to the outside.

Mason jars can also be used for freezer storage, provided you leave enough head room for the contents to expand. And they're totally recyclable! Plus, if you ever get in the mood to can apple-sauce or something else, you'll have your jars ready.

We even drink out of small mason jars. My son drinks out of a half pint size. For snacks, we just screw on the lid and go!

I would recommend trying to get Tupperware if possible. They do sell some Tupperware at Target. It's not cheap, but you get what you pay for - it will last for years and is durable and the lids ALWAYS lock. If what you want is not at Target, try www.tupperware.com for a local rep. They make things especially for storage of rice and cereal.

Hi L.,
I love tupperware also, but the price is prohibitive to our budget. The lock n lock from qvc someone suggested are actually available at price chopper, stop n shop, etc. (may be under a different name?) and they are very reasonably priced. They seal extremely well; I've marinated foods in them and turned them upside down without leaking. Good luck!

Hello there. The best thing you can buy is: Lock & Lock. They are sold on QVC. Here's the webpage for you to take a look. I have this and they are totally airtight. You can immerse the container in water and nothing will get in. I had a bag of flour in one for a year and it was still fresh (I don't use flour that much!). It's worth the cost, trust me. You will have these forever. You can get a nice set for about $18-19 (plus shipping). Go to this webpage: http://www.qvc.com and then type into the search box: Lock & Lock

I find that any container that has a screw on or snap on top works really good for storing dry goods of all kinds (flour, sugars, rice, pastas, etc). You can usually find them at Walmart or even the Family Dollar or other dollar stores for a good price. I even went so far as to get some masking tape to put on it to tell items that look alike apart. It also makes it easier to tell when you are getting low on something so you can put it on your grocery list. Or if you're out of something and you choose to put another item in there, you can take the masking tape off and put another piece on marked with something else. The only thing you want to make sure of is that it has a wide top for putting measuring cups in (if you use the hand held measuring cups) so you can measure stuff out for recipies.

I have had good luck with the glass containers I found at IKEA. They are cheap and sturdy with lids that have rubber gaskets to keep out air. I think they look nice too- so they can sit on the counter sometimes.
I like using glass as I don't have to worry about chemicals leaching into my food or that plastic taste. The glass also lasts forever and doesn't warp or stain the way plastics do.
IKEA has good prices too.
I hope this helps,
S.

I use glass jars with screw on lids. You can find these at Wal-Mart for $3-4 each. I cut part of the package and put it in the jar so I know what was in there and if there are any special directions for preparing it I put those in, too. I haven't invested in one yet, but my mother uses a label maker to label the jars.

TUPPERWARE!

I am a bit biased as this is my business, but I love it. Give me a call, I can tell you about our modular mates line and custom kitchen planning, and I would be happy help you decide what pieces are good for you. I can also help you earn FREE merchandise.

Visit my website and take a look. Tupperware has a lifetime warranty, so yes it is more expensive than the dollar store, but it has an airtight seal and will not crack, peel, or chip.

www.mytupperware.com/KellyMccarthy