Alexei Volkov
Plastic food storage containers are a necessity in most kitchens, but they can quickly become a cluttered mess. Keeping them organised can be a challenge, especially since they come in various shapes and sizes and typically consist of two pieces: the container and its lid. This makes them tricky to stack neatly and often results in a disorganised cabinet or drawer. However, with some simple hacks, you can maximise your storage space and ensure these containers are always easy to access.
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What You'll Learn
Use baskets to organise containers and lids
Using baskets to organise your plastic food storage containers and lids is a great way to keep your kitchen tidy and easily accessible. It is a practical solution, especially if you have limited drawer space in your kitchen.
Firstly, you should assess your collection of plastic food storage containers and lids. Match lids with containers, identify lids that don't fit any containers, and containers without lids. You may also want to recycle any containers that are cracked, cloudy, or scratched, as these could allow harmful chemicals to leech into your food. Once you have determined the containers and lids you want to keep, you can decide how best to store them using baskets.
Baskets are a great way to store your plastic food containers and lids as they are versatile and can accommodate a wide variety of shapes and sizes. They also come in various sizes, shapes, and materials, so you can find ones that fit your space, whether it's a wide pantry shelf or a small cabinet. You can choose from plastic baskets, bamboo baskets, or decorative woven, fabric, or metal baskets to match your home decor. Clear plastic baskets are a good option if you want to easily see the contents, but you can also add labels to opaque baskets to identify what's inside.
When using baskets to organise your containers and lids, you can store them in several ways. You can nest the containers and lids together in larger baskets, maximising space. Alternatively, you can store the containers and lids separately in different baskets. For example, you could use a desktop mail sorter in a pull-out drawer to organise lids in the small compartments, while stacking the containers by size towards the front of the cabinet. You could also use wall-mounted file holders inside cabinet doors to store lids, ensuring they are always within reach.
By using baskets to organise your plastic food storage containers and lids, you can create a neat and functional space in your kitchen.
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Stack containers by size
Stacking containers by size is a great way to organise plastic food storage containers. This method is especially useful if you have a lot of containers in different shapes and sizes, which can make it difficult to find organisers that fit everything perfectly.
Firstly, clear out the space where you plan to store your containers. This will help you to assess how much space you have and visualise how your containers might fit. Next, sort through your containers, matching lids with containers. Look out for any lids that don't fit, containers without lids, and any containers that are cracked, cloudy or scratched. Recycle any containers that are damaged, as these may allow harmful chemicals to leech into food.
Now you have your collection of containers, decide how best to store them. If you have a lot of containers, you could store small, medium and large containers separately in larger plastic bins. Alternatively, you could nest containers together, maximising space by only taking up room for the largest-sized container. Stacking containers by size will also help you to make the most of your space, particularly if you are storing containers in a fridge or freezer. Square or rectangular containers will maximise space in these appliances, while round containers are good for liquids.
If you are storing your containers in a cabinet, you could use a desktop mail sorter in a pull-out drawer to make the most of the space. Stack the containers by size towards the front of the cabinet, with the lids stored separately in a bin or wall-mounted file holder.
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Store lids separately
Keeping lids separate from their containers is a great way to organise your plastic food storage containers. This method gives you more space to stack and store the containers according to size or shape, and it makes it much easier to find the lid you need.
One way to do this is to use a simple wooden panel as a divider between the containers and lids. Stack same-sized and shaped containers for easy access. You can also divide your drawer vertically into thirds with adjustable drawer dividers, and organise it in a way that fits your containers best. For example, you could have one third for lids and the other two-thirds for containers.
If you store your plastic containers in a large cupboard, you could use baskets to organise the lids. For example, you could have one basket for round lids and another for square and rectangular lids. Alternatively, you could use shelf inserts to divide the shelves and create more storage space.
If you prefer to store your containers in a drawer, there are a few options for keeping the lids separate. One is to use tension rods to create compartments within the drawer. Another is to use a desktop mail sorter, which has small, slender compartments. You could also use a roll-up dish drying rack, which you can unroll across the top of your drawer or a bin to give your lids neat sections to slide into.
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Label containers and storage areas
Labelling is a great way to keep your plastic food storage containers organised. It ensures that everyone in your household knows where to find things and where to put them back.
You can use labels to indicate the size of containers and lids, for example, 'small', 'medium', and 'large'. You can also label by shape, for instance, 'round', 'square', or 'rectangular'. If you have a large collection of plastic food storage containers, you might want to consider labelling by category, such as 'lunch containers' or 'leftovers'. If you have a large household, you could even assign each person their own category, with a different colour for each family member.
If you don't want to use labels, you can still use a labelling system by using masking tape. Put a small piece of masking tape on the bottom of each container and take it off once you've used it. After a couple of weeks, you'll be able to see which containers you haven't used and can get rid of them.
You can also label the storage areas themselves. If you're using boxes or baskets within a drawer to contain lids, you can label each basket with the corresponding size or shape of the lids inside. For example, you might have one basket for round lids and another for square lids. This makes it easy to find what you're looking for and keeps everything organised.
Finally, don't forget that labels can be useful for more than just location identification. You can use them to organise by content or person, or write short descriptions and dates directly on the containers. This can be especially helpful for keeping track of leftovers in the fridge, so you don't forget about that meatloaf at the back of the fridge!
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Only keep what you need
Keeping only what you need is a great way to start organising your plastic food storage containers. It is a common problem to hold on to every plastic container, but this can lead to a cluttered and disorganised kitchen.
The first step is to decide how many containers you actually need. A good rule of thumb is to keep only the required number of containers that you need to store one week's worth of leftovers. This will ensure you have a functional and practical number of containers, without the excess.
Next, you need to go through your collection and match lids with containers. Look for lids that don't fit any containers and containers without lids. You may also come across containers that are cracked, cloudy, or scratched. These containers should be recycled or repurposed for a function other than food storage. Damaged containers can allow harmful chemicals from the plastic to leech into food.
After you have determined which containers to keep, you can decide how best to store them. For example, you may want to store small, medium, and large containers separately in larger plastic bins, nested as much as possible to maximise space. Alternatively, you could store containers together in a nested fashion, with lids stored separately in a bin.
Finally, when adding new containers to your collection, try to avoid purchasing containers that don't match the rest. This will help to avoid an overflow of containers and keep your collection organised and manageable.
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Frequently asked questions
If you have a small kitchen, consider using baskets to organise your plastic food storage containers. Baskets can accommodate a wide variety of containers and lids, and can be placed on shelves or in cabinets. Alternatively, you could use stackable containers to save space.
It is recommended to keep lids with their corresponding containers. You can stack the containers by size and use a desktop mail sorter or a bin to store the lids in a pullout drawer. You could also use tension rods to create compartments in a small drawer, or hang a wall-mount file holder inside a cabinet door to store lids.
A household only needs one or two sets of leftover containers, depending on the size of the family. Keep only the required number of containers that you need to store one week's worth of leftovers.
