What do you store your staple foods in?

[Tjej]

I would really like something better than the bags to store my flour and sugar (etc.) in (it just ends up messy and cumbersome - I buy big bags).

The only thing I've been able to come up with is a large lidded tub, but that is plastic and I'd like to avoid plastic (although plastic in the lid could be okay if that's what's available).

So what do you use?

Tjej

[number572]

Glass jars with screw top lids. I reuse honey/spaghetti sauce/nut butter/etc jars. I like to let them soak to remove the labels & wash the lids really well if they carry odor (a drop of tea tree and lemon juice & a bowl of hot water & let them sit for a half hour). The jars work great & the contents are easy to see.

edit - babyfood/smaller product jars work well for spices.

Yeeaaaahhh... if by "large" amounts you buy 25-50 lbs of something like tbone, I would NOT suggest using the jars I recommended! Can you imagine 50 lbs of flour stored in nutbutter jars?! My post may or may not be helpful to you!

[tbone_kneegrabber]

I use gallon size glass jars with lid (the kind that pickles or sweet peppers come in at sandwich shops).

I trash pick them out of the corner store's recycling!

We buy grains and beans and such in 25lb-50lb bags and then we store the overflow in their original bags in a rubbermaid tote.

[KristyDi]

I've been transitioning to glass jars as I find and can afford them. I've gptten several Le Parfait and Arc jars at the thrift store ranging in size from .5 liter to 4 liter. I store things like coffee, brown sugar, cornmeal, grits and ground flax seed in them. I think I've gotten most of them for $2-$3. I've replaced the rubber rings w/ new ones from amazon.

I just found large (7.5 quart) jars at Garden Ridge for $10 each for the flour and sugar I keep on my counter. I do buy flour and sugar in bulk and store it in 4 gallon plastic icing tubs gotten for free from the grocery store bakery. I'm still looking for something non plastic both big enough and affordable enough.

[ollyoxenfree]

I once had a variety of large glass jars. Some were Mason style with rubber rings, others just had simple screw-top lids. I find the rubber rings get yucky after a while. The only disadvantage compared to plastic is that glass is heavier - a problem only if you have flimsy shelving.

I ditched most of them during one long-distance move, when I had to get rid of all foodstuffs anyway, and we were trying to minimize weight/volume for shipping. I've been looking for replacements. We have limited cupboard space, so for right now, I'm tolerating the original paper packaging because I can pile them into a smaller area. It's a pain though, because I can never find anything. Some day I will have a lovely pantry with lots of organized shelving, and rows of glass jars.

[ShadowMoon]

I use glass jars with screw top lids or those similar to the Le Parfait jars mentioned up thread.

[Tjej]

7.5L might be big enough to satisfy me, but no Garden ridge stores nearby. I was mostly thinking huge - I buy a 20KG bag of flour and want to keep it in something. But maybe I just need to let that go and only keep a few liters on the counter and refill from the bag. That would make a lot more sense, wouldn't it? I'm just lazy and the idea of dumping once is nicer for me.

I will check the local thrift shops for something - I did a while ago but came up empty handed - but maybe I'm just dreaming too big!

Tjej

[GatheringApples]

I looked around and could not find anything that wasn't plastic. So, I just use the big bag inside a big Rubbermaid bin. At least the flour isn't touching the plastic I figure.

[Tjej]

That's true. Hmmm... Now to figure out how to organize it all...

Tjej

[velochic]

Hermetically sealed jars like the Le Parfait above. Meijer has the Italian version when I can't find them at yard sales.

[mumm]

Originally Posted by tbone_kneegrabber

I use gallon size glass jars with lid (the kind that pickles or sweet peppers come in at sandwich shops).

We buy grains and beans and such in 25lb-50lb bags and then we store the overflow in their original bags in a rubbermaid tote.

Gallon glass jars in the kitchen for flours, etc (and goldfish crackers) and then I leave the rest in the original bag in a closed closet dedicated to food storage in the basement.

I use old jelly, sauce, pb etc jars for things like yeast, small amounts of cornmeal, nut flours, etc that I keep in the fridge.

Very cheap if you buy those items anyway and if you aren't too proud to scoop the big ones out of recycling bins!

[Gingercat]

IKEA has some nice big glass jars (with glass lids) perfect for storing staples in bulk; and cheap too!

IKEA glass jars

[mamadelbosque]

I store everyday quantities in mason jars - quart & half gallons depending on what it is (ie beans/rice/salt/sugar/etc are in quarts, various flours are in half gallons).

For my beans/grains/etc that I buy in 25-50# bags, I have 4 gallon ball jars. Honestly though, if I was starting over, I'd just buy 5 gallon food-grade buckets and gamma seal lids... I've had a couple of the glass lids break on me, and apparently its not possible to buy replacements. Which is a real bummer, lemme tell you what!!

[ParisApril]

I use gallon sized glass pickle jars that my MIL has been bringing me from the retirement home she works at. A 30lb bag of flour fits into 4 1/2 jars. I like them because I keep one in the pantry and store the rest in the cool basement. I know that bugs cannot get in because of the glass.

I also use 2 cup size glass nut butter and mason jars for leftovers and freezing.

[KristyDi]

Originally Posted by Gingercat

IKEA has some nice big glass jars (with glass lids) perfect for storing staples in bulk; and cheap too!

IKEA glass jars

I forgot about the IKEA ones. I actually have some of those too.

If those huge ball jars had different lids I'd be all over them, but I bought a 2 gallon one to fill with goodies for MIL one Christmas and the lid was a huge PITA. I could easily see it getting broken if you used it often.

[Tjej]

No fair linking to 4 gallon jars that are unavailable!

I do have some small IKEA ones, and they are good. Hmm...

Tjej

[caiesmommy]

I've actually had a lot of luck at Value village for glass kitchen jars. And I also use the huge pickle jars. I have been known to use those big popcorn tins after a family friend gave us nasty flavored popcorn for xmas lol.