Jackie in NE Posted February 20, 2009 Share Posted February 20, 2009 With six of us in the family, and making almost everything from scratch.... we go through a LOT of flour, rice, beans, sugar, oats, etc. I just hate the bags that flour comes in. They're so messy and inefficient. I have some canisters on the counter-top, but they hardly hold anything, and I'm constantly refilling them. I've thought of buying some big rubbermaid containers, but that seems inefficient as far as carrying them from the pantry to the work area every time I want to use them. How do YOU store these things? And please, if you have some nifty storage device, please tell me where it can be purchased.... Thanks, Jackie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnnetteB Posted February 20, 2009 Share Posted February 20, 2009 We fill large plastic, glass, and metal canisters with flour, rice, etc. and then use packing tape to seal the original bags closed until they are needed for refills. Otherwise, we would risk bugs in the flour or attracting mice. We store buckwheat in the freezer in a ziploc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ria Posted February 20, 2009 Share Posted February 20, 2009 I have something like this for flour, sugar, and brown sugar: http://www.amazon.com/Oxo-Square-4-Quart-Storage-Container/dp/B000UHYB9E/ref=sr_1_8?ie=UTF8&s=home-garden&qid=1235163474&sr=1-8 Unopened bags of sugar and flour are in a pantry in the basement, wrapped in plastic bags. For dried beans, I use quart or gallon sized mason jars. Ria Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FlockOfSillies Posted February 20, 2009 Share Posted February 20, 2009 Smart & Final or Costco/Sam's have restaurant-size containers and supplies. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KatieJ Posted February 20, 2009 Share Posted February 20, 2009 I have several really large Tupperware containers. Some inherited from my MIL, some are the newer ones. I love having the modular stuff. I have one shelft and it holds sugar, flour, brown sugar, powder sugar, and oatmeal all in fairly large containers. They stack and take up less room that way. What doesn't fit in the Tupperware, I store in the freezer. I think somedays I have more spices and flour than I do meat! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KS_ Posted February 20, 2009 Share Posted February 20, 2009 I buy 4 or 5-gallon plastic buckets from the bakery dept at my grocery store for my bulk storage. They're usually very inexpensive (I think I paid $1 for the last one) and have worked very well for me for the last 15 years. When dh was working at a hotel/restaurant, he was able to get me some buckets that are square, instead of round, and those are fantastic for taking up less room, but I've only got a couple of them . . . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TraceyS/FL Posted February 20, 2009 Share Posted February 20, 2009 Right now just in those XXL Ziploc bags. I need other containers, but buying stuff for "me" to store food isn't high on the STBXHs list :glare: I also have a decent selection of Tupperware's pantry stuff - but the 25# bags of flour aren't working in them. The stuff i've bought at Sam's isn't as airtight as i'd like, and Costco has really gotten out of the restaurant supply biz these days. I could go for a Smart and Final trip - but they aren't in FL. HMPH. LOL, i need a replacement here in ORlando! I'd like the King Arthur flour containers or the ones that were posted that are liners for regular cheap 5gal buckets (i have that link somewhere... it was posted here). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sweetTN Posted February 21, 2009 Share Posted February 21, 2009 I buy 4 or 5-gallon plastic buckets from the bakery dept at my grocery store for my bulk storage. They're usually very inexpensive (I think I paid $1 for the last one) and have worked very well for me for the last 15 years. When dh was working at a hotel/restaurant, he was able to get me some buckets that are square, instead of round, and those are fantastic for taking up less room, but I've only got a couple of them . . . I'd try a different store. All the stores in our area just give them away. We usually pick up 3-5 buckets just by asking. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mamaof2andtwins Posted February 21, 2009 Share Posted February 21, 2009 My Pantry This is how I do my bulk storage. Jennie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reya Posted February 21, 2009 Share Posted February 21, 2009 Big rubbermaid containers. :-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joannqn Posted February 21, 2009 Share Posted February 21, 2009 (edited) I have a tiny nook off my kitchen that I converted to a pantry by adding cheap Ikea shelving. It looks like the after photo for a Tupperware add. I have probably $400 of Modular Mates by Tupperware in there that holds everything...various types of pasta, flours, sugars, baking powder, baking salt, salt, corn starch, beans, etc. I also have 8 gallon size glass jars. ETA: I was sure glad we had everything in Tupperware when we found a mouse in the pantry. Wiped down the outside of the containers and the food was all safe. Edited February 21, 2009 by joannqn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LaxMom Posted February 21, 2009 Share Posted February 21, 2009 For flours and sugar, I use the big Tupperware containers with the pouring flap... They hold 5lbs of flour. For things I use in smaller quantities, I use mason jars (generally quarts, but some 1/2 gallon). Anything that is not currently being used, I put up in appropriate quantities for the working containers - so 5lbs flour, etc - in Foodsaver bags. We buy just about everything in bulk and developed pantry moths so I'm very fastidious about this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ElizabethB Posted February 21, 2009 Share Posted February 21, 2009 Do you have any Mormon friends? They supposedly have good bulk food sources and solutions. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elise1mds Posted February 21, 2009 Share Posted February 21, 2009 I reuse containers. When we purchase ice cream, we buy the big 5-gallon buckets, and when we get done with them, I wash them out. I use those for flour, sugar, soaking laundry, etc. For stuff that would be too heavy for those buckets, we also buy pickles in bulk. When those are gone, I wash (and wash and wash to get the scent out) the huge glass jars. Those are great for beans, pastas, things like that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bright_Future Posted February 21, 2009 Share Posted February 21, 2009 If you are talking about large quantities of flour, rice, etc from places such as Costco or Sams, I use 5 gallon plastic buckets and Gamma Seal Lids from Pleasant Hill Grains. Part of the lid is more permanent on the bucket and then the top screws on and off easily, and it is waterproof. I use these for all my grain storage and stack them on the pantry floor. For smaller quantities like around 10lbs of flour, I use metal sealable cannisters such as this jumbo one. I bought mine at a Pottery Barn Outlet and it is painted white, but the concept is still the same. I don't have any trouble with mine sealing, but I see the some people on Amazon did (may have to go to store and try out). I stack these in the pantry also on shelves. I, too, use some Tupperware-expensive though and other containers left over from ice cream, but the ones above are my go to containers for quantities. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jackie in NE Posted February 21, 2009 Author Share Posted February 21, 2009 Thanks for all the great ideas. I really like the ideas of the ice cream buckets and the 5 gallon buckets from bakeries, etc. I like them because they're cheap:tongue_smilie:. But I'm wondering about the quality of the seal on the lids.... especially on the ice cream containers? Also, my kiddos are in the kitchen a lot, and I really hesitate to store things in mason jars. That looks like a wreck waiting to happen :ohmy:. I would really love to have those nice, stackable, plastic containers. They look so nice and organized. But I'll really have to make that a priority as far as $$ goes. They're pretty pricey! Anything like that out there that isn't quite so expensive? Thanks, Jackie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vida Winter Posted February 21, 2009 Share Posted February 21, 2009 I also use food-grade buckets with Gamma Seals. They will keep food safe and dry - these are in the garage. We have these for rice, wheat berries, flour, beans, and other grains. I replenish as needed to refill my kitchen tupperware containers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quiver0f10 Posted February 21, 2009 Share Posted February 21, 2009 I use 5 gallon food grade buckets that I buy from our food co-op. I am using the lids that come with the buckets, but I want to invest in some gamma seals. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jojomojo Posted February 21, 2009 Share Posted February 21, 2009 ...But I'm wondering about the quality of the seal on the lids.... especially on the ice cream containers? If you can get the 5 gallon buckets from the bakeries, gamma seal lids should fit those just fine. They have a ring that snaps down over the top of a standard bucket, and a lid that screws into the ring. We use a mix of buckets like these and 6 gallon buckets with gamma seal lids. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TeaTotaler Posted February 21, 2009 Share Posted February 21, 2009 I got some 5 gallon buckets (free) from our local bakery, washed them well with a bleach solution, dried them out in the hot sun etc and purchased Gamma seal lids for them. This has worked well for years. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KS_ Posted February 21, 2009 Share Posted February 21, 2009 Thanks for all the great ideas. I really like the ideas of the ice cream buckets and the 5 gallon buckets from bakeries, etc. I like them because they're cheap:tongue_smilie:. But I'm wondering about the quality of the seal on the lids.... especially on the ice cream containers? Some of the buckets I've gotten seal better than others - just depends on the make of the bucket. Some of mine have removable rubber gaskets in the lids and some don't, and actually the lids w/o the gaskets seem to have held up better to being opened and closed than the lids with. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KS_ Posted February 21, 2009 Share Posted February 21, 2009 I'd try a different store. All the stores in our area just give them away. We usually pick up 3-5 buckets just by asking. Guess it depends on where you live - in the 5 different cities (2 states) we've lived, I think the only ones we got for free were the ones when dh worked at the hotel. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mekanamom Posted February 21, 2009 Share Posted February 21, 2009 I use the Snapware containers... they fit very well in my pantry. I have large food-grade containers for flour that I got from Smart and Final. They also fit in the pantry, on the bottom shelf. Oh, and Rubbermaid containers made especially for cereal... easy-pour. Smart and Final had the best prices, followed by Costco and Walmart. Target was uber-expensive. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carol in Cal. Posted February 21, 2009 Share Posted February 21, 2009 I have had mine for 10 years, and they are holding up beautifully. I decant small amounts into pint canning jars for daily use. I used to use canisters for this, but after two attacks of kitchen moths, I decided that screw top lids were my friends. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joannqn Posted February 21, 2009 Share Posted February 21, 2009 I would really love to have those nice, stackable, plastic containers. They look so nice and organized. But I'll really have to make that a priority as far as $$ goes. They're pretty pricey! Anything like that out there that isn't quite so expensive? Thanks, Jackie I took a couple of years building up my Tupperware supply. I held a couple of parties and earned some of them for half price and some for free. I also just bought them through her when they were on sale. My consultant tallies up my purchases over time until I have a "party" and earn more half price and free items. She was a friend before she was my consultant. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Amy loves Bud Posted February 21, 2009 Share Posted February 21, 2009 I read this and then went to do my shopping. I stopped at the bakery and they gladly handed a bucket over to me, no charge. I'll probably just keep asking for one every time I go in. Thanks for the tip! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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