How have I never blogged about plastic food containers before?  These handy and prolific little
items, found in every kitchen EVER.

I taught a Kitchen Organizing class a few weeks ago, and we chatted quite a bit about these storage containers.  We love and hate them at the same time! These containers are handy.  Re-usable.  With a million and one uses.  And  they occasionally drive us crazy.

Can you identify with any of these problems?

• You have way too many containers and lids, they are stashed in every cabinet and drawer, and they occasionally fall out in a heap. And yet…
• When you need a container, it’s difficult to find matching containers and lids.
• When you use your containers in the fridge, its difficult to tell the difference between leftovers in a butter tub and actual butter in a butter tub.
• You worry because you have heard that re-purposing or reheating food in plastic containers can leach chemicals into your foods.
• Your soup or leftovers have leaked in your lunch bag.

Here’s how to fix these problems:

• Pull out all the plastic containers in your kitchen and pair up the bottoms and lids.  Recycle or re-purpose the solo ones.  Do this every couple of months.
• Dedicate one cabinet or one drawer as a home for your containers, and only store them there.
• Buy clear (or mostly clear) containers, so you can easily identify their contents.
• Find a brand you like, and stick with it.
• Choose a few sizes of containers, and stick with just those.  (We have  GladWares small rounds,  round 2-cup containers with screw-on lids, flat squares and a few large ones for our recent homemade ice cream habit!).
• Buy containers that stack, both while in use and when not in use. Most brands offer snap-together lids.
• Keep just a pile or two.   If you find that you never get to the second or third pile of containers, then you probably don’t need the second or third pile of containers.
• Glass storage containers are an option.  Many folks have made the switch.  They
  keep fewer containers overall, but can safely use the glass containers for storage, cooking and reheating.
• If you have too many containers right now, spread the love. Re-purpose them as drawer dividers, send home leftovers with friends, donate them to a class room for craft time, recycle them
• Don’t fall into the “it was free, I guess I’ll keep it” trap.  Deli containers, sherbet bowls, butter tubs or cottage cheese containers (and related items) are not made to last.   Recycle them!

Free up some cabinet space and decrease some stress by paring down your container collection!