Food storage revisited. I have got to get rid of Tupperware Death Valley!...

[Phentex]

Here's what I have. Some really nice Tupperware pieces that no one but me knows how to use. I also have some formerly nice Tupperware pieces that need to die because certain unmentionable people used them in the microwave. I also have various Gladware/Ziploc purchased for something specific but ended up in TDV for nonspecific reasons. The lids to all of these pieces are a mess. Either they don't fit, are hiding or have gone missing. A former lover of Tupperware, I actually know the color of the lid that goes on each piece I own. However, unmentionables have tried to force said lids on incorrect pieces and now some of them don't fit. Press and Seal works fine but unmentionable seems to be annoyed with having to use it.

I struggle with placement issues so an unmentionable person is usually the one who organizes TDV from time to time. But now he is really frustrated by not being able to locate lids. The cabinet is large and dark (60's house with those creepy dark corner under-the-counter cabinets.)

I need a complete overhaul.

The things I must keep are:

the cake cover, my large Thatsabowl, the salad spinner, the deviled egg carrier, the lunch carriers

Those things I do use but not all the time so they can live in the dark corner.

Then I just need containers for everyday leftovers. Maybe something large for soups, but overall just pieces for miscellaneous.

Costco has a set of Snapware on sale right now. Should I box everything up, buy the new set (which supposedly has interchangeable lids) and wait and see if I miss anything before I donate the box (minus the dead pieces)????

What do you use?

[cbayer]

1. I am finding that those relatively inexpensive "disposable" containers are my best bet.

They last and last and last, and I don't care if something happens to one that means I need to toss it.

They nest as well as anything else. They don't seem to stain or soak up flavors/odors/grease like the non-disposable ones either.

[Phentex]

2. That's what some of the reviews about Snapware have said...

I guess I need to let go of my "good" Tupperware, lol. :)

[Lugnut]

16. Arrrgghhh!

Not the Tupperware! I still have a yellow square round from the late 70s that's my favorite piece and is still in good shape. We had several travel trailers that spanned a period of about 15 years and those square rounds were a perfect fit for the small fridge. To this day I opt for square containers that fit better in my always over crowded refrigerator than rounds and Tupperware still works the best.

[Phentex]

24. I have it for dry storage...

I like the squares that stack and those still work well in my pantry.

I HAD some nice bowls but they have been nuked.

[kurtzapril4]

10. One Day I got sick of all the mis-matched

containers and lids, and threw them all out. The local food store has those glad microwave friendly disposable containers on sale for most of the time. Like 2 packages for $5. I make sure I use the same brand every time. I usually get 2 of each size, in three distinct shapes, so there's no confusing one lid for another/one container for another. It ends the problem of lids not matching, etc.

[cbayer]

18. Exactly - and I think I save money in the long run.

Added bonus - if you want to send leftovers home with a dinner guest or just give something you made to someone, you don't need the container back.

Another bonus - if you need something for putting the dirty pieces from something you are working on in to keep them in one place, but they are greasy and would ruin a container - who cares?

:hi:

[supernova]

3. I'm in the same boat

I have little storage area for one. The downside of a 50s galley kitchen. I have various sized free range lids that don't match bottoms or each other. I also have mismatched mixing bowls , different sizes, some with handles, some without. All of this means that NOTHING FITS IN THE CABINET and you get a plastic avalanche everytime you open the door.

:x( :P

I love snapware, but it is expensive. I think I will get it for storing staples though, like flour, sugar, cereal, rice, those kinds of things. The "temp" ware at the grocery store is good for storing leftovers in the fridge though. I wouldn't do it for long term freezer storage. You get freezer burn. The best thing for that is the sealing systems if you can afford it.

One of those organizing shows several years ago that I watched the org expert said a couple of things about organizing pantries:

1) Get everything clear so that you can see what you have at a glance. No use having containers you can't see what's in them. And yes, label everything.

2) Get square or rectangular. They nest more easily and stack better next to each other.

[Phentex]

6. free range, lol, I like that term...

and I know the sound of that avalanche!

Oh, I really agree with the tips. CLEAR is the way to go.

Thanks for the review. :)

[The empressof all]

4. Costco glass storage "snap ware"

I have two sets of the Glass storage containers that Costco is currently selling. I love them but they are not perfect. The tops and bottoms are not interchangeable due to the different sizes of the containers. I have have arthritis and I have found that they require a good deal of strength to lock and unlock.

I would still give them a big thumbsup. They go from the fridge to the freezer to the microwave and they just feel cleaner to me than the usual plastic stuff that gets greasy feeling after a few months. You also never have to worry about staining.

I keep a few of the plastic throw away containers for the dog food but otherwise have gone to the glass. :thumbsup:

[Phentex]

7. The set on sale is plastic but I

will look for the glass, too.

:hi:

[Lucinda]

9. I prefer glass or stainless too

I have some plastic now...but don't like them at all.

[Lars39]

5. I've got multiples of two different sized containers.

They aren't the same type of containers, so it makes matching lids and storage really easy. Conformity's the way to go.B-)

[Phentex]

8. Simplicity too!...

I have GOT to do something. It's quite a mess.


:7

[hippywife]

11. I've come to the conclusion

that the plastic is unavoidable, plus I need them to pack Bill's lunch everyday, so I have a few nicer Rubbermaid pieces, some new, some vintage. Other than that it's not unusual to see me packing leftovers or eating cereal in those large yogurt and cottage cheese containers. ;)

I need to weed through my corner lazy susan cabinet and get rid of the things that have no matching lids and the extra lids that have no bowls.

:hi:

[Phentex]

20. I think I'll find some lids...

does the dishwasher EAT them? They have to be somewhere. Probably under something, lol.

[WhiteTara]

12. I hate to keep things in plastic and not just for the BPA

but it always seems to keep smells in. I have the Snapware. I wish I had more. The lid thing is a bit inconvenient, but they work great!

[Phentex]

21. Good to know...

The only times I've had smell issues is when something is kept for a while... like coffee in a Tupperware. The marshmallows leave a smell but these days, the teens don't allow for overnight storage of those!

[beac]

13. I have a nightmare where all the orphaned plastic lids and bottoms

join forces with all the orphaned socks and take over the world. :scared:

[tigereye]

19. that's what would happen in my cabinets!

:rofl:

[Phentex]

22. LOL! You probably didn't see my post in the lounge about pony tail holders...

I buy them and buy them and they go somewhere but they don't return! Where do they go?

As posted above, I think these rogue lids will show up.

[beac]

27. I forgot about the pony tail holders!

Maybe the orphan sock-plastic army is amassing them to use as tiny slingshots when they launch their inevitable attack! :scared:

[Warpy]

14. Sure, get the stuff from Costco

I'm guessing the Tupperware dates from before the Flood, so you're due for a new set of something or other, and Costco doesn't make you go to a stupid party to buy it.

I use recycled jars for dry goods, glass or plastic half gallon to gallon jars. For wet stuff, I leave it in a stainless bowl with a plastic wrap cover. Most of the stuff I store is dry. My wheat flour has been in a giant sized Rumford baking powder can from a bakery. It's been a bulletproof canister, kept the flour free of miller moths when I had an outbreak. I need to give that stuff away, probably to my next door neighbor. Sniff, it's King Arthur flour.

I don't often freeze dinners these days, but I used to keep them on plates with plastic covers for short freezer storage or foil covers for longer storage. I did have plastic supermarket containers with lids when I was brown bagging to work, but those days are over and those containers were recycled years ago. The thrift shop was glad to get 'em.

[Phentex]

23. Hey! It's "vintage"...

:P

I can't figure out why unmentionables would think it ok to put Tupperware in a microwave??? Yes, I have a few pieces that are meant for the microwave but I rarely did that.

They don't touch the Tupperware I use for dry storage thank goodness.

[grasswire]

15. I miss some of my old Tupperware.

I used to have a round flat one that perfectly held a batch of oatmeal cookies.

Last year I found some of those things people used eons ago -- bowl covers. Elasticized 'round the edge, in varied sizes. Colorful, too. They came in a set of about half a dozen at a local Rite-Aid. I really like those for leftovers, cuz no separate container, bowl, lid whatever are required.

Dry stuff like coconut, raisins, brown sugar, rices, etc. all go in ziploc bags, stored in a cart with drawers that goes under the kitchen worktable.

I keep the jars from Better Than Bouillon -- they have a really nice metal lid and are a nice size. I use those for seeds, some spices, etc.

I just have accumulated a bunch of baby food jars (from feeding Gerbers to my ailing senior kitty). I'm happy to have those for spices, too.

That leaves large batch stuff in the fridge -- a whole other problem. I've been thinking about getting some glass refrigerator dishes that can go to microwave. They used to have glass tops. Do they still?

[Phentex]

25. Don't think the lids are glass...

pyrex still makes the glass lids I think but they aren't airtight seals.

The plan is to box up the old stuff and see what I miss. :)

[trud]

17. I bought old glass storage containers with glass tops

via ebay. I avoid the new ones because apparently they're made in Foreign Lands and can explode if taken from the fridge or freezer to the microwave.

[Phentex]

26. I found an old Tupperware Jiffi Sifter on ebay...

I use it only for powdered sugar. The kids love it!

I keep looking at a mix and store bowl. I have one and I use it ALL the time. Do I NEED another one? No. But it would be handy at times.

[Monique1]

28. The only time I buy plastic containers

is when I am planning company and know they will take food home otherwise I buy the mason/kerr canning jars for storage, some of them you can use for freezing.

I am not sure of plastic that is warmed in the microwave - I wonder the amount of chemicals are in plastic.

In the summer here in Az many of the stores stack their bottled water in the sun - you know how hot it gets here. I don't buy that brand after it sits in the sun when it is over 100 outside.

[pipoman]

29. Some of the older Tupperware

pieces are actually collectible. There is a market on eBay...don't throw it out without first checking completed listings to be sure your piece isn't one of the more desirable pieces..

[Phentex]

30. I scanned a little and was shocked to find that

lids all by themselves will sell! I guess people need to replace just a lid from time to time. I also discovered the names of some pieces I have NOT been using such as the rectangular freezer mates.

I realize I use the stacker cookers for defrosting only. I think I tried stack cooking a billion years ago when I didn't really cook. I am embarrassed at what I have that I forgot I had and don't use. :blush:

[Phentex]

31. UPDATE: Took two large boxes and one large trash bag for parts....

I foolishly thought lids would fit in the extra large ziplocs. HA! After filling three of those I switched to a large trash bag. Damn.

On the up side of this experience, I located a part to my steamer that I had been missing plus a pyrex lid which I had really missed. Both of those were on the dark side and I nearly had to crawl in the cabinet to find them.

On the down side, I found way too many sports bottles, way too many disposable containers, a couple of metal mixing bowls that I couldn't find and that I KNOW don't live with the Tupperware, too many large bowls (for popcorn or chips?), Tupperware ice cream container that never fit the boxes, freezer mates that I did not remember buying, lettuce crisper, 7 (SEVEN?!) ice cube trays (leftover from when our ice maker in our OLD refrigerator wasn't working)...I could go on but I am ashamed. I finally stopped looking at the stuff and just shoved it in the box or bag.

I gave the cabinet a quick dusting and brought in the Snapware to rinse out. This was the 38 piece set for 19.99 with a coupon and it is probaly STILL too many pices. My plan is to try it out see what I need.

As I mentioned before, I am keeping my old colanders, egg tray, handled mixing bowls, salad spinner, lunch things and the cake cover. I have two pampered chef microwavable bowls which I do use all the time. I need to now go through the banished pieces and recycle the throwaways (yes, I should have been doing this but it got overwhelming) and then see if I find that I reach for something that isn't there. I think the Snapware covers it all so I can't imagine missing something.

I feel like a plastic hoarder! :scared: