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Mary Chris
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| Posted: Oct 29 2008 at 5:37pm | IP Logged
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What do you all use to store your pantry items??? The flour, sugar you know anything that usually comes in a bag... I store my pantry staples in the bags they come in, but I'm thinking there must be a better way. Of course there is Tupperware Storage.
If you use Tupperware or something like it, why? Do you like it? Does it keep your pantry items fresher longer? What is the best system? And anyone sell Tupperware??
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juststartn
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Mine actually stay in the fridge/freezer. Keeps "stuff" out of them. Plus, if you put it there when you first get it, the cold kills off anything that might have laid eggs in the product.
I keep pasta, flour, sugar, yeast in one or the other. In their original containers (although when I open pasta, I put it in a ziploc bag for future uses).
If I were going to keep my things in the actual cabinet-in-the-kitchen-pantry, I'd opt for metal. If you use large quantities, or have the space, I'd opt for metal. Maybe repurpose some popcorn tins? Get some rustoleum to paint the outside the way you want, maybe apply some decals to them, if you've got a "theme" going in the kitchen..spray on some sealer to keep them from chipping much...
HTH
Rachel
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JodieLyn
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depends on how much you're talking.
in my kitchen, I use the gallon pickle jars as canisters.. one holds a 5lb bag of all purpose flour
but my main storage is 6 gallon food grade plastic storage buckets in the garage and that's where my wheat, rye, popcorn, rice, beans, sugar and oats are.
things I buy in smaller quantity but need to go in the garage pantry go in popcorn tins... like noodles, salt, chocolate chips, dried fruits (raisins mainly)
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Jen L.
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I have some old rectangular metal tins from my mom. The flour and sugar bags fit right in there. I try to remember to put a stick of wrigleys spearmint gum in the flour to prevent weevils. We've never had weevils, but my grandmother and mother always put the gum in and so I do. (Of course the gum may be why I don't have weevils  )
The whole wheat flour we keep in the freezer (after putting the original bag into a ziploc bag)
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Maryan
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I have pretty little white canisters with blue and yellow flowers: one for flour, one for sugar, one for brown sugar, and the last one rotates between tea, rice, etc. I keep the unused in ziplocks in my pantry... but it's very easy to just dip in with my scoopers into my canisters on my counters.
We don't have any spearmint gum in any of my containers... and I hope I don't have weevils either (whatever they may be!!) That made me chuckle Jen. 
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marihalojen
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Mary Chris, what about Mason Jars? So clean and sparkly...
I don't use glass on the boat, of course. We have a clear plastic thing with a twist off lid. I don't know what to call them! They're similar to what large amounts of nuts or trail mix might come in. They fit nice and tightly into the behind the couch storage area. They're kind of like this but didn't come prefilled. 
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Cindy Mac
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MC -
I have started using the Lock & Lock containers. To give you an idea, I put my brown sugar in it probably about 4 months or so ago. Just used it on Monday night - totally soft and granular just like when I bought it.
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PDyer
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JodieLyn wrote:
my main storage is 6 gallon food grade plastic storage buckets in the garage and that's where my wheat, rye, popcorn, rice, beans, sugar and oats are.
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Where would I find food grade plastic storage buckets? My oats and raw sugar are currently in their original very large bags. I haven't had a problem with critters yet, but I should be more protective of the investment, I think.
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Rachel May
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I like the Tupperware because things fit neatly into the pantry without wasted space of round things. I wish I had been more faithful about using them because we recently brought home a bag of pantry pests (plus rice?) recently. 
After multiple times of throwing out things, freezing things, and finding containers for other things to get over that one infestation, I would love to buy more Tupperware to protect what we have from future uninvited guests. Pantry pests--and roaches--can eat through the glue, plastic bag and cardboard of a cracker box, for example, but not Tupperware.
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JodieLyn
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I got mine through walton feed.. mail order. But I was already getting a large order with them. I think I've heard that there are places that are cheaper to get them.
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Jodie, wife to Dave
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Bookswithtea
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You can get 5 gallon storage buckets for free if you have either a Sam's Club or Costco membership. Just ask at the bakery if you can have their used frosting/shortening buckets. They are used to people asking for all sorts of reasons (apparently, gardeners ask too) and are usually happy to give them to you, or to tell you when to come back to get some. Ask for the lids too. Since they originally had food in them, no worries about the plastic being food grade. We've done this in three states across the country and have never been turned down. It might be worth an ask at a regular grocery store if they have an in store bakery, too, but I've never tried that...
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Kristie 4
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I keep a 10 kilogram unbleached flour, a 10 kg whole wheat flour and a 10 kg bag of rice all upright in a large rubbermaid tote in the corner of my kitchen (the bin doubles as a bench for the kids). I keep it all in it's regular bags. The on the top containers would be nicer, and neater, but I have a small kitchen and bake a lot of bread so I think I would be constantly filling them otherwise. I also used to use the food grade buckets and just stack them.
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Carole N.
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Tupperware. I have had them since I set up my own home. They hold about 3 gallons ... one for flour, one for sugar. It keeps the weevils out and freshness in.
Most of my other containers are Tupperware or some sort of plastic Rubbermaid-type. I do have a couple of decorative metal tins for crackers and tea.
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Carole ... in Wales
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4Real Forums : Our Lady's Loom, Larder, and Laundry
Topic: Pantry Storage?????
