The Only Way You Should Organize Food Storage Containers, According to Tupperware

No matter how good my intentions are, the cabinet under the kitchen island is always a tumbling avalanche of food storage containers and lids. I try my best to get them sorted and stacked and it seems like just days later it’s a haphazard jumble.

There are lots of ways to organize your food storage containers and their lids, depending on how much space you have and the sheer number of items. An expert at Tupperware, who knows a thing or two about organizing, offers the best ideas.

“One handy tip to keep things fresh is to always store containers lid-less. This helps prevent any odors from building up inside the containers,” says Patricia Escudero Fernandez, Global Director Product Innovation & Management for Tupperware.

She suggests nesting smaller containers inside larger ones, then placing all the lids from the largest to the smallest below them. If you have loads of containers, that can create a precarious, swaying tower. That’s when you might want to store lids and containers separately, but in the same area.

“Store the lids by shape and similar sizes together in a vertical position using the walls of your drawer or cabinet as a way to contain them,” Escudero says. “Next to them, nest the containers by shape and size. This will help to keep lids in place.”

Organizers and Special Products

For even more tidiness, you can use a box or dividers to keep the lids upright. You also can buy specially made organizers that keep lids neat. These organizers store lids together vertically. Some are similar to boxes, while others are wall-mounted and can be placed inside the door of the cabinet where you keep your containers.

“They could be a good idea to give some structure to your storage space and keep it organized. But they are not absolutely necessary,” says Escudero. “You can create an organized space following the tips mentioned above and using boxes you already have at home.”

Some companies, including Tupperware, make containers that can be nested together along with their lids. There are also combinations where the lids can be snapped underneath the containers so they can be stacked. 

To make it easier to find the right lid, Tupperware also has some containers and lids that have matching letters on them so you know you’ve made the right combination.

The Best Place To Organize Your Food Storage Containers

Some lucky people have a deep drawer with dividers, designed just for storage containers. If you don’t have this, just dedicate one cabinet or drawer for storage.

“A deep drawer prevents containers from tipping and can make it easy to access the container. Yet shelves, when well organized, can also work perfectly fine,” says Escudero. “In this case put the nested containers that are lower in height in the front and the higher ones behind so you have good visibility to your containers.”