Organizing food-storage containers

7 July 2009

In yesterday’s blog post I chronicled the great fun of working with professional organizer Aby Garvey on my pantry. I hinted that organizing the food-storage containers was a bit of a challenge. I’ll tell you the saga now. Don’t worry: it has a happy ending.

In the past, I’ve had a mish-mash of food-storage containers. Mostly round Rubbermaid containers, bought eons ago, that still work well for us. I supplemented with some of the “disposable” Gladware and Ziploc containers, and, like most people, had a mess of lids and containers on my hands. Here are a couple of photos. (Once again, I prove I have no shame.)

I kept the bottoms separated from the tops, and most used containers in the top tier of these two bins.

Somehow chips made their way into the container that was supposed to contain the tops for the food-storage containers.

But then, the good folks at Rubbermaid’s Adventures in Organizing blog offered me a set of their new Easy Find Lids food-storage containers. They asked me to try them out and blog about it. And they even offered me an extra set to give away on my blog (see the bottom of this post for instructions on winning). I agreed, because I knew I needed help. I was definitely drawn to lids that are easy to find!

I was sent a set that contained the standard containers, the Premier, the Lock-its spill-proof containers, and the Produce Saver containers.

These containers have a lot going for them. All four categories boast:

Easy nesting – same-size containers nest easily and they’re easy to pull apart.
Consistent sizing – all the containers in the set could nest into one stack.
Lids that attach to the base and to each other
A limited number of sizes, so that tops and bottoms are interchangeable. Sizes tend to vary in depth, so that one lid can work on both a big or a small container.

So I set out to organize my new containers. I threw away some of the old (especially ones that didn’t have lids!) and came up with a not entirely satisfactory solution. It was certainly an improvement, and I got to rededicate the bin that used to hold lids to chips, which was nice. Here’s a photo:

Getting better, if not fabulous.

I really like the new containers. They’re easy to use, the sizes are convenient, and the quality is excellent. But I found I wasn’t making the effort to attach the lids to the bases. And, to be honest, I found clicking them in a little difficult.

Then Aby came in. She took a look at my containers and suggested we might we able to do with fewer. Barry and I balked at that (though I’m sure she’s right). She mentioned that in her home, she stores these containers with the lids attached to the tops, stacked. My eyebrows shot up. That seemed an inefficient use of space to me.

The food-storage containers were the last thing we organized in the pantry. We ended up storing them exactly where I’d stored them before. But we ditched the unwieldy bins. Aby suggested we just try her idea of putting the lids on the containers and stacking them. I was sure they wouldn’t fit.

But, oh, they fit. And they’re wonderful. There’s absolutely no searching for containers. When I empty the dishwasher, I just put the lids on the containers and stack. It’s the easiest way I’ve ever stored containers, in my 25 years of having a kitchen. Here’s a photo. I’m in love with this.

This makes me happy.

Aby did nest a few, but I ended up stacking them with the lids on and rearranging just a little. It’s really heaven.

Instructions for the giveaway

If you’ve read this far, you deserve a prize. I’m giving away a set of ten Easy Find Lid containers (and ten lids), just like the one I received, courtesy of Rubbermaid. To enter, just leave a comment below. The winner will be selected at random. If you post on Twitter about the giveaway in addition to commenting (be sure to put @janinea in the tweet, so I’ll see it), I’ll put in an extra entry for you. The drawing will be held at noon, U.S. central time, on Sunday, July 12, my brother’s 50th birthday. (Actually his birthday is the 13th, but he lives in Australia, so we’ll do it on the 12th.) I’ll notify the winner via email.

Tagged with: aby garvey, giveaway, kitchen, rubbermaid

Comments

Oh this is such a fun post! I’m so happy you like your newly organized containers. I’d love some new containers to organize. :) Oh, and I just tweeted about it to. :)
Aby

Aby Garvey July 7, 2009 09:33 AM

This is great! I never thought about stacking them with the lids on. I don’t have the room for that, so I came up with a different solution. I use primarily rectangular containers, so they stack, and the lids will stand up neatly in the top open container.

Shannon Wilkinson July 7, 2009 10:19 AM

I’m an organization addict – can never have too many Rubbermaid containers!

corrin July 7, 2009 10:33 AM

Janine, you’ve found one of the best uses for these containers. It’s the fact they can be organized & stored in so many different ways. There really is no right or wrong way to store them.

I’m also glad you got rid of most of the old containers. For me that was probably the 1 thing that made the most difference.

Jim Deitzel July 7, 2009 10:33 AM

Hmm..will have to try this! I’ve heard this works, but I’ve always been wary. Almost everyday I fight with my drawer to close it and to find lids. Thanks for the tip! Happy birthday to your brother! I’m tweeting it @cajunjen.

Jenna July 7, 2009 10:37 AM

Finally finding someone who is as passionate about organizing as I am, happiness is a clean plastics cupboard

sherrie guthrie July 7, 2009 10:38 AM

I too use other professional organizers when I’m stuck or when I just want another way to see something. Thanks for sharing this.

Judy Parkins July 7, 2009 10:53 AM

Rubbermaid is all about organization! And the containers can be used to organize just about anything and used anywhere!

Deborah Carlock July 7, 2009 11:05 AM

My eyebrows shot up too at the idea of storing the containers with the lids on—apparently, we’ve all read the same plasticwear storage Rule Book that declares that to be a no-no. Yet, sure enough, it does make really good sense. And looking at my own shelf o’ storage containers, I can tell it would make finding things a lot easier.

I have a little organizing project ahead of me now… :)

Marissa Bracke July 7, 2009 11:36 AM

Oh, the things we won’t even try because we take for granted that they won’t work… Kudos to you for going past that and trying a solution that “obviously” wouldn’t work, and finding out that it works great! That’s inspiring!

Josiane July 7, 2009 01:05 PM

I send my children into the cupboard to find lids for whatever containers I choose to store in. I know how frustrated I would get.

Lisa Newman July 7, 2009 02:03 PM

You are a brave organizer, to put your own “before and after” photos out in the world – well done! It’s important for our clients to know that we, like everyone else, have a lot of stuff in our lives. The important thing is to recognize the value of getting help and hitting the “reset” button. Like staying fit, staying organized requires maintenance and often benefits from the help of a skilled professional.

I love having just one kind of container, knowing that all lids fit. The day I let go of all the old margarine tubs and miscellaneous containers was a great day. Please enter me in the contest for the Rubbermaid set like yours!

Margaret Lukens July 7, 2009 05:13 PM

Radical! I like it… though what would I do with all my extra time if I’m not searching for matching containers and lids?

AKennedy July 7, 2009 08:12 PM

I’d love to have some new containers, and the 10th is MY birthday!! I am definitely going to try storing containers without bins, with lids snapped on. Anything has to be better than the mess I end up with if someone else empties the dishwasher!!

diane July 8, 2009 09:56 AM

Ahhhh, I could SO use these. Being low income we can’t afford anything but old butter tubs, etc. Plus my tiny apartment has minimal storage and I could use all the help I can get!!

Thanks Janine! :)

Kari
Burien WA.

Kari H-B July 8, 2009 11:07 AM

Love these! Great giveaway!

Kim July 8, 2009 11:40 AM

Wow this is a great idea. Thanks for sharing. Thanks for a chance to win so new containers.

Dottie K July 8, 2009 02:49 PM

unfortunately I don’t think that will work for me – the containers are in a lower cabinet and it would be too difficult to get down to see them. I still use the bins – one for bottoms, one for tops. If I could only get Cliff to remember the childhood game where the smaller doll fit in the larger doll which fit in the larger doll, etc. Then he might be able to put the containers away. But he puts them away so I can’t complain – it just means that every few months I go through and straighten it all out. I have found that I prefer glass containers for food storage and always go to those first but usually end up with plastic too. I find the hardest to store are the larger ones which do end up on a top shelf of the pantry with lids on.

lisa July 8, 2009 03:02 PM

I am a container junkie and am always looking for new ways to store and use them. I’m not so sure about doing with LESS of them, though… you just never know when you need just that size!

Diane July 8, 2009 05:22 PM

You don’t have to put me in the drawing … the shipping alone will kill you. Mostly I’m in shock that Larry is turning 50!!! (By the way, moving was a great forcing function to consolidating those darn plastic containers. I really can live with less.)

Suzanne Gibson July 10, 2009 01:25 PM

I’d love to win this prize—my container collection is a mess.

Barb Szyszkiewicz July 11, 2009 07:06 AM

This has been a giant wart in our closets…I am on this! Love it.

Cheval June 15, 2010 08:08 AM

Thanks for the photos! I’m surprised about keeping the lids on as well…something my mom actually was already doing! please enter me in the drawing!! Becky

rebecca wallace June 21, 2010 09:12 AM

Would it, in the end, be far more economical, not to mention more environmentally friendly, to spend a bit more money on better plastic food storage containers than those disposable ones. The short answer is, yes.

Plastic Food Storage July 16, 2010 03:10 PM

What people do not realize is that there are actually good and bad Plastic Food Storage Containers. Only the best products will keep your food from spoiling the longest.

Plastic Food Storage Containers February 27, 2011 01:16 PM

If you want to make sure that your foods are safe dust, air, and moisture, it would be best to preserve it in airtight storage containers. Moreover, these containers won’t only be great for organizing your food but will also be perfect for your other stuff. :)

Airtight Storage Containers May 26, 2011 03:44 AM

An informative guide to organizing food storage containers! This article provides practical tips to maintain order and efficiency in your kitchen. Helpful resources!

bengalurupackersandmovers February 22, 2024 03:17 AM

Peace of Mind Organizing

Organizing food-storage containers

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