Select-an-Effort: Food Storage Containers
My brother-in-law says that the only thing better than Chinese food is leftover Chinese food. Do you agree? If so, you probably have a good collection of food storage containers. Plastic and glass food storage containers come in handy, but often they end up mismatched and taking up a lot of space in the kitchen. Today we will work on these items.
Here are some options:
Low Effort
Take a peek into the cabinet or shelf where you keep food storage containers. Remove and dispose of any that are warped, stained, cracked, or otherwise “yucky.”
Medium Effort
To properly organize this group of items, bring all of them to a sorting surface. You may have them in multiple locations, so be sure to gather all of them. Wipe out the drawer or cabinet where you keep them.
The next step is to pair each container with its matching lid. Actually put the lids on to see whether they fit well.
Throw away (or recycle) any containers that are missing their match (e.g., containers with no lids or vice versa), as well as any that you don’t use or no longer want.
Now stack similar containers (the ones that can easily “nest”). Stack the corresponding lids and put them either in or under the containers they match. If you have some tiny containers, you can use one of your larger containers to hold them. Put the lid for this larger container either underneath or behind the stack in your storage area.
Another option is to get a product specifically designed to keep your lids organized.
You may have some extra-large containers that you only pull out when you are cooking for a crowd (e.g., at the holidays or when you host a party). Since you rarely use these, move them to a less prime location, such as up on a high shelf or to the back of a corner cabinet.
This challenge is a classic example of the importance of “living within your space.” While it is wonderful to have containers, it is a burden to have too many. Deciding how much space you can allocate to storing these containers will determine the limit for how many you can keep. If you can’t fit all of your containers in your designated area, you need to let go of a few. It might seem hard, but it is better to get rid of some than to have no breathing room in your cabinet. And remember, you might be able to repurpose a container by using it to hold small objects in a drawer or on a shelf.
High Effort
If you really want to start fresh, the best thing might be to start all over again with a fresh set of containers. Consider a collection that has three sizes (small, medium, and large), and suits your taste. Some people prefer microwavable glass while others like the versatility of plastic. This is a personal choice. Regardless of material, clear is a must!
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When is the last time you reviewed your collection of food storage containers? Could it use a refresh?
