There is no one standard method for organizing food containers that works for every kitchen and every chef. My mom keeps hers on a shelf in the pantry, my mother-in-law keeps hers in a large cabinet drawer, and my friend throws hers in a basket on the counter. There may even be multiple designated areas in the kitchen. I store my containers in the pantry and several cabinets, which often results in a ton of plastic and Tupperware spilling out while I try to find the elusive container lid. Organizing food containers can sometimes be a challenge. But they are essential, especially for keeping cookies fresh, storing and reheating leftovers, and transporting groceries.
“Most people typically have a variety of furniture pieces of different styles, sizes, and materials, so closets can get cluttered,” says Tara Bremer, founder and owner of House Peace.
Since it can be difficult to keep those precious containers ready after another big meal, we’ve rounded up some pro tips on how to organize these kitchen essentials.
Gather all your food containers on the counter and quickly clean them up. Look at the food containers you always use as needed and save them. Set aside any empty containers that you rarely or never use. “Think about how you prepare and pack your lunch to school or work and evaluate what you need,” says Bremer. If you haven’t used them in a while, you probably won’t use them in the future, and they’re just taking up space. If your plastic food container is showing signs of wear, it may be time to toss it. Consider storing glass containers, which are easier to stack than plastic and keep food fresher.
If a container is missing a lid, it’s obviously useless. Throw it away quickly. This can result in you wasting valuable time going through other things and trying to find a container that will fit a lid. “Toss containers with broken or missing lids, as well as any damage, stains, or damage from microwave use,” Bremer said. It may be time to analyze your current container and replace worn-out parts.
Problems arise when containers are scattered in different places in the kitchen (this is my personal experience), and it is extremely important to collect all the food containers in one place so that you can keep them organized and tidy. Choose a large drawer, cabinet or pantry located near the food preparation area and easily accessible. This way, when you need a container, you can quickly and easily get it.
There are a variety of ways to organize food containers. Consider putting all your lids together and having a lid organizer in your closet. “Put the lids in a storage box and store them vertically, like books on a shelf,” says Bremer. This makes it easier to see and quickly find the lid you need. You can then stack the remaining containers on top of each other to save space. Another method (which I like to use myself) is to wash the lids and containers, pair them up, and then stack them on top of each other. This way, you’ll save yourself the trouble of searching for lids in addition to the containers, since they’re already matched and ready to use.
If you have a few round containers, these may be the best option for storing food, considering that all of your cabinets, shelves, and pantry are rectangular. To make the most of your space, rectangular containers are best in the kitchen. “You can buy a new set of matching containers so that they are all the same shape and stack neatly on top of each other,” explains Bremer. Remember that rectangular containers are easier to store and use space more efficiently than round food containers.