How should I store Tupperware?

April 8, 2021 6:34 PM

My household has battled our Tupperware storage solution for years. We're not sure why it's so hard to find a product that works. is. Help me find something that won't drive us bananas, with lids flying everywhere.

For various reasons, the preferred spot is this lower half of a cart. Its about 15"*15"*15", maybe a little wiggle room beyond that. We used to dump everything in one box that fit there, but we hated it. Now we have two sets of tray drawers, which feel flimsy and flopsy and insufficient. Is there a portioned container or small system that would fit here and allow is to have some level of organization? Assume we have a mix of container brand and shapes and sizes. We're happy to buy from basically anywhere, and don't want to spend more than say $50 on th

posted by knile to Home & Garden (19 answers total)

For us a game changer was vertical stacking of lids, like files in a filing cabinet. We achieve this by wedging with other tuperware in one big drawer but I've seen various grates. That would make top left more usable.

Bottom left looks like it's the most problematical drawer, could a new home be found for the bulkiest offenders?
posted by freethefeet at 6:44 PM on April 8, 2021

This is not quite an answer to your question, but a few years ago, on a whim, I put lids on all of our empty tupperware and stacked it up in the cabinet we had put it in. To my shock, it took up the same space, more or less. I can't explain it. It's cut down on frustration of matching things in the moment.
posted by lownote at 6:51 PM on April 8, 2021 [11 favorites]

For $50, replace all your containers with matching “disposable” ones. I have the target house brand with about a 4 oz, 12 oz, 3 cup, and 5 cup squares, they stack well in the fridge, you can see what’s inside, they’ve lasted 5+ years.

I also keep wide mouth mason jars (quart, pint, cup) for packing soups in lunches, etc.
posted by momus_window at 6:55 PM on April 8, 2021 [6 favorites]

This is not quite an answer to your question, but a few years ago, on a whim, I put lids on all of our empty tupperware and stacked it up in the cabinet we had put it in. To my shock, it took up the same space, more or less. I can't explain it. It's cut down on frustration of matching things in the moment.

I endorse this -- it's a great solution!
posted by jgirl at 7:45 PM on April 8, 2021 [1 favorite]

Similar to momus_window, for under $40 total, a few years ago we replaced our aging tupperware with the same style of containers we usually receive from takeout: one stack of the black bottom/clear top rectangles via Costco and a stack of short and tall round clear containers for soups and side dishes from the evil A. We now have one cupboard of three uniform stacks. New wild tupper go right in the stack, and on the very rare occasion one needs to go to the great recycling bin in the sky it makes no dent. The fridge is neat and orderly. Best kitchen decision ever.

We do still have a couple of larger remaining tupperware containers for things like salads, which I still have not found a satisfying way to wrangle.
posted by past unusual at 8:25 PM on April 8, 2021 [4 favorites]

I purchased this lid organizer (top left) at a discount store (TJ Maxx or Ross) and I like it because it is adjustable. I have also used a shoebox-sized plastic container to store all of the lids while stacking the containers nearby.
posted by Ochre,Hugh at 8:39 PM on April 8, 2021

If you do decide to replace the tupperware with something else, I've liked the Rubbermaid Easy-Find lid systems where the lids interlock together and can attach to the bottom of the containers as well as the top. You can find a decent set of them for less than $50.
posted by Aleyn at 10:55 PM on April 8, 2021 [3 favorites]

IKEA. Their Tupperware comes in glass/plastic, both use the same lids, the lids and the containers stack. Annoyingly our drawer is a mess anyway since we have a bunch of leftover semi-disposable takeaway ones, but for a while pre pandemic it was perfectly organised!
posted by Jon Mitchell at 12:34 AM on April 9, 2021

I am a big fan of storing the lids ON the containers, as advocated by lownote. I haven't found any other organized way to do it that works.
posted by OmieWise at 2:29 AM on April 9, 2021

Thirding the lids-on-containers recommendation for storing empty containers. Any theoretical space gain from not doing this is rapidly overwhelmed by the disturbance caused by the regular scrabble to find the only lid that actually fits this container properly.

Also seconding the recommendation to rationalize the container collection down to as few different kinds as possible. If you're keeping and re-using takeout containers, make sure all the ones you keep are exactly the same.
posted by flabdablet at 3:11 AM on April 9, 2021

In my opinion, momus_window has your answer. I've been using disposables for several years. I could never go back to stained, ugly Tupperware.
posted by james33 at 7:04 AM on April 9, 2021

I would spend the money on more easily stored containers, rather than a new storage solution.

I recently got one of these Collapse-it lidded bowls in a subscription box and it is a thing of beauty. Collapsible, so it is so easy to store with the lid on or off, and it can go in the OVEN.
posted by pixiecrinkle at 7:55 AM on April 9, 2021 [2 favorites]

I should add, since I haven't been able to replace everything with those yet, my solution is to stack all the containers as compactly as possible, and then I have a basket that hangs from a shelf (like this) that holds all the lids.
posted by pixiecrinkle at 7:57 AM on April 9, 2021

I solved the problem by going for Rubbermaid Easy Find Lid containers. If you take a second to actually click the lids together when storing you don't get the lid avalanche, they last for years and stack great when in use so make the best use of your fridge space, seriously I'm on like year 7 of use of my first set and loved them so much I bought a second larger set. The trick is to get all the same width and get variations in height so they all use the same lid.

If you want to stick with the brand you have then my MIL uses a plate rack to corral her lids. But looking at your photos you have way too many brands, sizes and shapes to make storing them easy.

Also not sure why everyone is having so much problem with tupperware staining, a quick soak in some bleach and water and bam problem solved.
posted by wwax at 8:03 AM on April 9, 2021 [1 favorite]

It's the mismatches that get me. There's a bit of food to-fro between us and the [more] aged in-laws. Periodically, I'll match up the lids and bases in both homes and bring the orphans to the other place and still there are odd lids . . . I think they transubstantiate into socks. To answer the question, so: store the lids in the laundry basket.
posted by BobTheScientist at 9:04 AM on April 9, 2021 [2 favorites]

Best answer: This is what I remember from an excellent book about organizing for ADHD, where the goal is always "as few obstacles as possible"

• store with the lids on
• limit your collection to only what you use frequently (throw out the ones that are annoying to clean or cause fridge problems)
• belongings should conform to storage
• you don't need Every size. Sometimes leftovers will go in a container that is a little too big. That's better than fighting with your collection.

posted by meemzi at 10:28 AM on April 9, 2021 [4 favorites]

@meemzi do you remember the name of the book? I am intrigued!
posted by dotparker at 10:41 AM on April 9, 2021 [2 favorites]

1. Thin it out a little to get the ones that stack and share at least some common lids. If they stack then storing with lids is very wasteful of space.
2. I have two shoe boxes for lids and group like one together. Super quick to put away and not too hard to find the right one.
3. If not immediately obvious, mark on the bottom a code for which lid to use. I like the lock'n'lock brand but the second batch with red lids were not compatible with the first batch with blue lids so all the containers have an "R" on the bottom if they need a red lid.
posted by metahawk at 11:57 AM on April 9, 2021

@dotparker
Organizing Solutions for People with ADHD, 2nd Edition-Revised and Updated: Tips and Tools to Help You Take Charge of Your Life and Get Organized
By Susan Pinsky
posted by meemzi at 11:20 AM on April 13, 2021