Dry Food Storage

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Started 2 years ago by elledee
Latest reply from Loren
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elledee
Member

Ugh, we have an issue here. I have a very small kitchen...there is exactly 1 and 1/2 cabinets for dry food. Over the fridge, I try to store pasta, cereal, chips, etc. Next to that is an over-counter cabinet, and that holds all the baking supplies, canned/boxed goods, and dry food. By dry food, I mean stuff you buy in bulk (rice, beans, lentils, dried fruit, etc.)

I use these ingredients all the time. I don't buy HUGE supplies, but more than enough for one meal. I can't just leave them in the plastic bags all stacked up, but I'm really struggling to find the best way to store these. I have white rice, brown rice, wild rice, navy beans, pinto beans, black beans, 16-bean mix, raisins, cranberries, apricots, red lentils, brown lentils, orzo, plus some baking supplies such as brown sugar, coconut, oatmeal (rolled and steel cut) and then the gluten-free husband's hot cereal (two kinds), etc. etc.

I have some tupperware modular mates that work well for some of my basics...is it worth the price to literally fill my cabinets with these? Any other ideas for this kind of storage?

Posted 2 years ago #
Sky
Member

If you have storage containers all the same size, they will stack better and I find rectangular ones work best. My favorites are Click-Clack containers. They lock really well and stack.

I do think they are worth the investment to keep everything organized and easy to find.

Posted 2 years ago #
Laetitia in Australia
Member

We love Tupperware. We used to have off-brand stuff but it either started releasing a gas, so had that "plastic" smell, or became brittle or didn't seal as well. For us it's been worth the investment as we have consistent containers that stack well.

Posted 2 years ago #
Bobbi
Member

My mother used Tupperware to keep the bugs out of the flour. I wouldn't know how to organize my kitchen without it, in spite of it's price. I bought most of my collection in the 70's and still use them. Avoid colors if you can - out of date in a few years. (You are probably too young to remember the avocado green, tangerine and gold must-haves.) Find a dealer close to you and get what you can afford one month at a time. She might work with you without having a party.

My daughter doesn't like plastic anything and uses quart canning jars for beans. It's a pretty display if you have some open shelves. Be sure to label the white powders, regardless of the container. It's easy to forget which is baking soda and which is corn starch!

Posted 2 years ago #
elledee
Member

I like the jar idea for beans...maybe I will see if I can pick up some quarts (I only have pints for my canning).

I may bite the bullet for powders/rice on more tupperware. I have some super oval modular mates that fit perfectly in my deep cabinets.

I remember the dated stuff...my favorite "traveling salad" tupperware (potlucks, etc.) is an avocado green one I got from my mom. wouldn't trade it for anything!

Posted 2 years ago #
Glenda
Member

Do a search at apartment therapy on Pantry--I've been looking through their forums too and they have lots of pictures and discussions. I think your problem is space more than how to organize these dry foods. Maybe you could get a bakers rack or some shelves to hold some of this, perhaps in glass or Tupperware containers, or even put opened packages in some of the Ziploc containers you can get at the supermarket.

And maybe you have a bit of space available in your freezer? My aunt says it's best to put flour and cornmeal and spices in the freezer to keep bugs from getting in and if there are already any bugs or their eggs in when you buy them, if they're frozen they can't multiply. I'm going to try that as soon as I get my freezer organized.

Posted 2 years ago #
Laetitia in Australia
Member

Weevils come pre-packed in your flour. Freeze your flour for 48 hours before putting it in an air-tight container.

The other thing about Tupperware is that you are paying for the lifetime guarantee - something dies and you haven't mistreated it, they replace it.

Posted 2 years ago #
Lilliane P
Member

I haven't had weevils in a long time, since I read to put a dried chili in the flour jar. This works with rice, too. End of bug problem. I have quart mason jars on my windowsills, am fortunate to have two bay windows the kitchen. They do look nice.

I also dry a lot of herbs that I grow and have them in jars also and some in supermarket storage containers.

Posted 2 years ago #
Laetitia in Australia
Member

Liliane P - does the chilli impart any flavour to the flour? And do you have to change the chilli when you refill the container?

Posted 2 years ago #
Loren
Member

We store all our stuff in glass containers, mostly recycled pickle jars and things. This won't apply to everyone, but our cabinets don't go to the ceiling so we store the big bulk gallon jars of flour and sugar on the tops of the cabinets (I just have to grab a kitchen chair to get them down).
The things we use on a regular basis (but not very much of) like sugar, we keep a smaller jar of in a regular cabinet with a couple cups in it that we refill every couple weeks. If we need more than a couple tablespoons (like baking cookies) we pull down the bigger jar.

Posted 2 years ago #

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