topic Re: How do you store your plastic containers? in Kitchen

How do you store your plastic containers?

house_cat — Mon, 23 May 2016 12:48:41 GMT

I have limited space and have yet to find a solution that allows for easy access.

How do you store your plastic storage containers?

Thank you.

Re: How do you store your plastic containers?

TeezNu — Mon, 23 May 2016 12:59:21 GMT

I use small cardboard boxes to segregate/store the lids. Make sure there is a lid for every container.

Re: How do you store your plastic containers?

TeezNu — Mon, 23 May 2016 13:00:29 GMT

Re: How do you store your plastic containers?

toria — Mon, 23 May 2016 13:28:50 GMT

I store mine pretty much the same why. There is no perfect solution. I also have some packed away in the closet to use during holidays when there may be more containers needed. You can buy sets from lock and lock and maybe other places that fit into one another. The hassle there is to get at the smaller ones you have to take all of thelm apart.

Re: How do you store your plastic containers?

twinkies — Mon, 23 May 2016 14:17:42 GMT

on the ceiling???lol just kidding!

Re: How do you store your plastic containers?

BARBIE100 — Mon, 23 May 2016 14:27:47 GMT

The lids are always a problem, so I store them in a seperate container. It seems to work for me until I find a better solution.

Re: How do you store your plastic containers?

Mominohio — Mon, 23 May 2016 15:15:55 GMT

I'm slowly ridding myself of plastic containers that don't nest inside each other with the lids on. I detest tumbling stacks of odd containers and lids.

I have a couple of sets that don't nest with the lids on, but all the lids are the same size for an entire stack of containers, so they aren't too much of a mess.

Even my glass Pyrex containers have to have some nestablility for me to be keeping them.

I have one cupboard for plastic and glass storage containers not currently in use (the ones that are used for lunches, or small amounts of leftovers etc.) and when it is full (I keep it well organized), I don't purchase anything new in that size range, unless I'm willing to move some of the older ones out of the house.

My bigger Lock and Locks are either in use, or stacked on shelving in the basement until needed for more bulk storage.

I don't know what happens with the rest of you, but I find times where my vast collection is almost entirely in use, then times where I feel over run with empty containers. And it cycles like that sometimes. Those 'over run' times are what has prompted me to switch over to the completely nestable with lids on only lines.

Re: How do you store your plastic containers?

jaxs mom — Mon, 23 May 2016 15:17:13 GMT

I have a big plastic bin that they all go into. I got them out of the cabinets and I'm much happier.

Re: How do you store your plastic containers?

Fressa — Mon, 23 May 2016 15:47:09 GMT

I have one drawer that I use for my containers. I found that if I keep to one shape that I can fit more in the drawer and it's less hassle. Rectangles works for me. Once I started to combine square and bowls it was a mess.

I like baskets and samller size trunks so I have some of the jumbo sizes in those things. I only use those sizes for holiday and seasonal ccoking/baking. I store those in the bottom of my buffet or the shlef in m hall closet.

Re: How do you store your plastic containers?

beckyb1012 — Mon, 23 May 2016 15:57:47 GMT

Nesting with lids underneath the stack the same as your but just not "upside down"

Right now I have quite a few in a big box to take to my son's on Memorial Day since I have come home with so many from his monthly luncheons he cooks for us. My last visit with my leftovers he had to scramble to find good plastic to send with me. So I am clearing it out of my kitchen and even sending extra. I did not realize how much I had accumulated and some were missing lids or just cracked/broken. Trash time.

Re: How do you store your plastic containers?

DiAnne — Mon, 23 May 2016 19:01:20 GMT

Several months ago I took all my plastic containers and matched the lids to them. I decided they all had to fit in one drawer in kitchen or be donated or tossed. I have one drawer of plastic and one drawer of glass containers. In a cupboard in another room I have a few large containers that I freeze homemade chicken and vegetable stock in. I have not missed any of them that I got rid of.

Re: How do you store your plastic containers?

Ibby114 — Mon, 23 May 2016 19:11:36 GMT

My pantry has about 10" of space on one side, probably intended for a vacuum. I installed a hanging shelf organizer (with cloth drawers) that you might use in a bedroom closet. One drawer is for all covers - and 2 drawers are for plastic containers. And the organizer still has 2 more drawers - light bulbs in one, dish & microfiber towels in the other. Hanging this unit was a lifesaver, my smallish kitchen lacks enough storage!!

Re: How do you store your plastic containers?

VanSleepy — Mon, 23 May 2016 19:50:13 GMT

The bowls are stacked in a cabinet, and the lids are in the drawer above it. When I seem to be running low on bowls, I know it's time to clean the refrigerators lol

Re: How do you store your plastic containers?

chickenbutt — Mon, 23 May 2016 20:00:59 GMT

I guess I'm lucky that I have a bazillion cabinets because I have an obscene amount of Lock & Lock.

In recent years I really have cut way back on purchases, though, unless there is one given size of which I want more. I usually snag those on ebay or at Amazon.

Your guess is as good as mine for storage, if you don't have a lot of space.

I have two huge cabinets in my laundry room. Since one is enough for laundry stuff, I designated one of them for L&L overflow.

Or maybe you can put another cabinet - or two - in your garage or something (?).

Re: How do you store your plastic containers?

151949 — Mon, 23 May 2016 22:19:59 GMT

I have 3 sets of the lock and lock ones that store inside themselves with their lids on, and I threw away everything else. They are kinda a Pain in the neck when you are in a hurry but they really do not use up a lot of space and store easily, plus I always know where the lid is.

Re: How do you store your plastic containers?

scotnovel — Mon, 23 May 2016 22:27:42 GMT

I keep them all in a large clear plastic bin that sits on a shelf in my pantry. I don't separate the lids from the containers. They are quite easy to find when I need to use one.

Re: How do you store your plastic containers?

depglass — Mon, 23 May 2016 23:22:24 GMT

1. Buy new house

2. Designate one complete cupboard for Lock and Lock

Re: How do you store your plastic containers?

GCR18 — Tue, 24 May 2016 01:32:23 GMT

I keep the smaller ones in two drawers. The larger ones are stacked in a lower cabinet. I keep the lids on all of them. I tried keeping lids off, but then the lids disappeared. Kinda like the missing sock.

Re: How do you store your plastic containers?

house_cat — Tue, 24 May 2016 12:59:52 GMT

I can see from your responses that this is an issue for a lot of us. I used to keep a huge basket atop my fridge and throw them all in there, but i'm short and the basket was heavy, so I started putting them in a drawer. The drawer doesn't hold that many and as MominOhio said, there are times when I have too many for the drawer and times when it's empty. I do have a shelf in my garage for the bigger ones, but my car is in the garage and I have to be a contortionist to reach some of them. I do love my L&L and probably have more than I need, but I really do use most of them. One of my goals this summer is to find an more efficient way to store them.

Thanks for all the suggestions.

Re: How do you store your plastic containers?

Mominohio — Tue, 24 May 2016 14:22:33 GMT

@Ibby114 wrote:
My pantry has about 10" of space on one side, probably intended for a vacuum. I installed a hanging shelf organizer (with cloth drawers) that you might use in a bedroom closet. One drawer is for all covers - and 2 drawers are for plastic containers. And the organizer still has 2 more drawers - light bulbs in one, dish & microfiber towels in the other. Hanging this unit was a lifesaver, my smallish kitchen lacks enough storage!!

This is an ingenious idea @Ibby114!

I don't have a pantry or closet in or near the kitchen, but if I did, I would be copying this great idea.