How do you store plastic food storage boxes??

[janeandmarysmum]

Sorry this is so mundane. We moved just before Christmas and haven't unpacked these yet - because there's nowhere to put them. Our kitchen is smaller than the previous house with fewer cupboards, and they are all full. We could find space for some sort of rack arrangement under or just by a table, and there is a big garage. I do remember how messy the boxes were when I stored them in a cupboard at my previous house though. Thanks for any wisdom.

On top of the microwave in a mess. Drives me mad.

Stuffed into a cupboard so that you risk getting brained by a Tupperware every time you open it

Throw them in a cupboard so as to make a fun game of Jenga when you pull one out. And also spend 15 minutes hunting the corresponding lid.

Yep same as above, I use a lot of them as I batch cook everything and freeze everying so I have tons of the things

Lids fall all over the place, go missing, open the cupboard and then all come out higgledy piggledy slipping and sliding out.

Plus they all go in the dishwasher and look horrible, I could never have anyone see my plastic tubs!

In an even bigger plastic box shoved under the butchers block trolley.

But have a cull first!

I have a fabric drawer combo from ikea that sits in the cupboard. The one that suits the kallax units.
I have kids in one, lots in the others and it’s really effective. Surprisingly deep- I can get kids and pots in one drawer if I need to.

Exactly this. I’m sure someone, somewhere in the world has them sorted, but I also don’t believe that person exists.

Progressively replaced them with Pyrex after losing the will to live trying to find the right lid so now they’re stored in the recycling bin.
😁

That’s seriously impressive storage.

Shoved in the cupboard under the sink, piled up on top of each other, jenga-style.

All inside one another in a drawer.

Lids on in a cupboard.

When did you last use them all? I bet you can bin half of what you have. I have no more than 6 spare at any time now, but also never run out.

I have what I call my 'plastic cupboard'. Basically, you open it and stand well back as all the plastic freezer tubs, jugs and mixing bowls rain down on your head and fall about your feet.

I have to warn anyone who visits (dog sitter, family, guests, random tradesmen) not to open that cupboard without wearing high vis and a hard hat. Oh, and steel capped safety boots.

I think separating into lids and bases is the only way to keep some possibility of order. Bases stacked inside each other as far as possible, lids stored stacked together in a bigger tub / drawer / basket

This here too, lids on at all times, anything else doesn't work here! The kids say 'we have a system' 😂. That means an order has been given.

Lids on the right box in a deep drawer. It has been so much easier since we did this!

You can store your children in a fabric drawer from IKEA?? I'm seriously impressed. I wish someone had told me this 26yrs ago...

I store mine in larger storage boxes!! Sorted by round ones / soup mugs, larger square and rectangular ones and small snack sized ones. I had a big clear out and only kept ones that I used and had good lids. That way I can lift a box out to find the one I want without having to rummage through everything.

The important thing is to stack lids separately to tupperware.
So I have one huge square plastic tub sitting on its lid, inside that I have all my round tupperware stacked in each other in size order next to all the lids stacked together (so you can easily see the right one) then my square and rectangular tupperware stacked in each other next to the big box. I have a wicker basket for all the mini tupperware. It works really well as long as you put them back in the right places quasi religiously.

Lids on doesn't work here as they start smelling awful !!! They have to be put away absolutely bone dry for a lids on system to work, and rarely will all members of the household be conscientious about that. Even if they are dry I think there's a weird plasticky smell if they're stored closed

I stopped using them and bought glass one with plastic lids. Game changer
They don't stain, you can oven cook single portions, fridge or freezer and microwave save
They stack neatly and you just have the lids separate to store

I store mine in a deep pan drawer. Once a year, they are neatly stacked and united with their lids. I then close the drawer. When I reopen the drawer mayhem rules again for the rest of the year.

I would suggest the sensible option is to put them lower down so when they do leap out and hit you they have built up less momentum than if they were in a higher cabinet so it hurts less.

I have all of the lids off mine and stored horizontal in size order at the side. The tubs are all inside of each other, smallest into largest and stacked up. This organisation takes up the least space I find. It is also easier to see the size I need quickly.

In the cupboard with dry food packets (nuts, rice, biscuits) inside. Lids underneath unless packets are open. Then they don't take up much more room than the packets on their own would have.

Ohhhh I'm interested in the glass boxes. I may start to replace my plastic ones. Thanks for all the contributions - you have made me laugh! I think I'm going to have to resort to a big storage box under a table or in the garage.