Dadblast it! Transferring Bulk Foods

[teacup]

I decided to put some kind of ecobag on my bday wish list. In the meantime, I use the store's plasticy goodness to haul home my oatmeal, etc. Then I dutifully transfer my food into my old jars. And pour half of my purchase on the counter and/or floor.

I sometimes can get in the zone and do the whole thing without a (major) spill, but sometimes it's pretty ugly. Would a funnel stop the madness? How do you get foods from the bags (ecobags, too) to the jars?

[frogguruami]

Not knowing what kind of jars you are referring to I am not sure this will work for you...But I have a few flexible cutting boards. They work as cutting boards in a pinch but their main purpose is to help me transfer flours and such into my mixer. Fold them in half and put a rubber band around it and you have a flour shute! You can also roll them into a funnel the same way. They store much easier then funnels too.

[teacup]

I need a new cutting board, too. Hmmm...

I have old spaghetti sauce and salsa jars--that sort of thing. So small mouths.

[Wild Flowers]

I usually put the top half of the bag into the jar and then lift the bag up. The bag will pull out once the jar is full. And that way things like flour and such don't puff up or start to come out of another fold in the bag. Does that make sense?

[dvons]

I usually use a Stainless canning funnel. It has just a wide enough spout for all my bulk purchases.

[srain]

I bring my jars to the store with me and fill 'em up there. Have you asked the store if that's an option?

[teacup]

I had thought about canning them at the store, but between my lack of grace, my 2yo, and a bunch of glass, I don't think I want to try it. I will keep my eyes out for the canning funnel at garage sales (and root through Grandma's cabinets in the meantime).

VnJW: I know what you mean, but I still manage to pull the bag out and spill a lot of food (full can and food still coming from the bag). I tried cutting off a small corner of the bag (like an icing bag) and that was bad. The best luck I have is with the method you mention, though.

Thanks everyone.

[Denvergirlie]

I have two wide mouth funnels I use in canning but normally just use a cheap paper plate as a make shift funnel when transferring my bulk foods into other containers.

[bendmom]

I kinda "pinch" the top part of the bag with my hand when I'm pouring so it's linda like pouring out of a pastry bag.

[annethcz]

Funnels are good. It's easy to make one. Take a plastic jug, and just cut off the top. You can use a milk jug, juce container, etc. I've found that apple juice containers work the best for beans and such- it's got a wider neck and lets just the right number of beans through. I occasionally use a canning funnel, but it doesn't hold as much as a juice funnel does.

Pretty easy fix

[oldgirl,newtricks]

I put the storage jar on a newspaper. Anything that falls around the edge is on the paper, which I just lift and half fold, to pour into the jar. Simple.

[teacup]

Oh, but oldgirl. I am the kind of person who gets pissy if the food doesn't go in, whether I get it all in eventually or not. Freaky, I know.

I am just about finished with a gallon of milk; I'll make a funnel from that. Thanks annethcz!

[teacup]

annethcz: Thanks again for the tip. I am digging my reuse of the old milk jug. My Glad Corn slipped right onto my jars this week. Yahoo! (Doesn't take much to make me happy.)

[momaste]

With the bag still closed, I squish the food over to one side, leaving the bottom corner empty. I snip off a bit with scissors, making the bag itself into a funnel of sorts. I can easily pour into separate containers without spilling.