Most of us have one. That cupboard in our kitchen that contains all our Tupperware and assorted food storage containers. Chances are, it might be a hot mess right now. If it’s not, then you probably don’t need any of the following tips. But if you find yourself with containers of all shapes and sizes along with 42 lids and only 7 that match, then I hope this article will help you get your food storage containers a bit more organized.
Here are some tips to organize Tupperware and food storage containers.
Tip 1: Sort through all of your containers.
Yep, I said it. All of them. Every last one. Any kind of plastic or glass container that is used to store food should be a part of this process. Once you have them all spread out on your table, take the time to match up the lids.
You will more than likely find you have more lids than containers or more containers than lids. I swear, they must end up at the same place as the missing socks! Don’t forget to grab any that are in the dishwasher, and make sure the ones in the fridge all have lids as well. (My husband is famous for just throwing some saran wrap on top of containers.)
Tip 2: Get rid of any “extras” that aren’t a part of a matching set.
I know it is tempting to save the extra lids or containers that don’t have a match in the hope that the lid or container will magically appear out of nowhere. This rarely happens. And these “extras” usually just end up taking up room in your cupboards.
Rather than throw them into the garbage, try to recycle them if you can. Or you can also save containers for future projects. They can be used for water containers for kid art projects, or paint containers when you just need to do a little brush work. Kids can also use them as water scoopers in the bathtub, or sand molds at the beach.
If you do end up saving them, put them in a different area so they don’t get mixed back in with the rest of the containers and lids.
Bonus tip: When you are buying storage containers, make sure they are dishwasher safe. Not all plastic is, and you can easily end up with warped lids or warped containers that are no longer usable. Perhaps you have made this mistake already, as I have!
Tip 3: Slim down your collection.
It’s not uncommon to end up with way more containers than you actually need. If your cupboard is packed to the brim and different size containers aren’t easily accessible when you need them, then maybe it is time to get rid of some to make your space more user friendly!
You can donate those containers that are still in good shape or throw them into your next garage sale! Or another idea is to use them to store things other than food, like craft supplies, office supplies, paint, etc.
Tip 4: Decide how you want to store your containers.
This really depends on the amount of space you have for storage. If you have a lot of space, one option is to store them with the lids on. That way you always know if a lid or container is missing from the set. This also makes it quick and easy to grab what you need without having to search through your lid collection.
If you don’t have a lot of space, then you will probably need to stack them and store the lids separately. Try to stick to the same brand and style of container when purchasing new storage containers. They stack together so much easier in the cupboard and the fridge, saving you space in both.
If you have several different kinds, you will just need to experiment with what fits together best. If you want to get super organized and have a little extra to spend, you can always decide to start fresh with a new set that easily stacks together. That can make a big difference if you don’t have a lot of storage space. There are so many different options to choose from and you can find sets that will comfortably fit into the space you have available.
For lid storage, you can use a larger plastic container to store them on their side, so they aren’t loose everywhere in your cupboard. Or you can also buy lid organizers from home goods places like Bed, Bath, and Beyond or Amazon.
Tip 5: Decide where you want to store your containers.
Maybe you want to store the plastic containers in one cupboard and glass containers in another cupboard. Or perhaps it is easier to store them all together in a larger cupboard. It might be easiest to store them in a lower cabinet that is easier to access.
And don’t be afraid to think outside of the box. When my kids were babies and toddlers, I stored all my plastic storage containers in the lazy susan cabinet in my kitchen. The spinning feature made it super easy to find what I needed quickly. I also would much rather my kids get into some plastic Tupperware than heavy cans or boxes of food they could spill all over the floor.
Bonus tip: When you are storing leftovers, put a piece of making tape on top of the lid or use a dry erase marker to mark the date when you placed those leftovers in the fridge. This will help you remember when you cooked a certain food and if it is still good to eat. I have thrown out so much food just because I can’t remember when it was made, and I didn’t want to risk getting sick. This one little tip has helped us waste a lot less food.
I hope this article has given you some ideas for getting your Tupperware and food container sets organized! If you ever figure out where those missing lids end up, please let us all know! 😉