Ah, the dreaded kitchen cupboards where there’s almost always an avalanche of Tupperware tops and bottoms every time you open the door!
If you always open the drawer a crack to see if you can blindly reach for a tub to avoid a cascade of plastic containers clattering to the kitchen floor, then read on!
We will be looking at clever ways to organize your Tupperware, so you do not have to deal with the melody of tubs bouncing and dancing all over your kitchen floor! It feels further amplified when you are in a rush and desperately needs a plastic container to store your food in.
So how do we stop this from becoming a regular occurrence? We get organized!
Below are some guidelines to help you organize Tupperware without feeling like you want to chuck the whole lot in the trash!
Time to Declutter!
Before you can organize the dreaded pile of plastic threatening to slip out of the cabinet, it is time to get the whole lot out for inspection. That’s right – absolutely everything. Every lid to every container needs to be on your dining table so you see immediately what needs to be chucked.
Box Them Up
It may sound like we are being counterproductive, but you should go ahead and start putting those lids on top of the correct container. When you have matched them up, you will be able to see the discrepancies in your Tupperware.
Sorting Time
Before we find a home for your vast collection of Tupperware, we should put them together. Once assembled, we can then sort the food storage containers by size and color.
Label Food Contents in Each Container
We recommend that you label food storage containers for the pantry so that you can quickly identify what’s inside.
Chalk-based labels so that once you have emptied the container, you can reuse it for another food group without having to buy more labels or more Tupperware.
Find A Home For Your Food Storage Containers
Create a designated space for your Tupperware, in your kitchen.
If you have a pantry, you may need to reorganize this to accommodate Tupperware. A specific cabinet tucked away is best for the empty containers, especially if you don’t tend to go into it as much as the rest of the kitchen drawers.
Separate the Lids from Plastic Containers
David and conquer the battle of the tubs but ensuring your lids and containers are kept separate. This will help maximize your space.
Coding Your Tupperware Lids and Containers
Color coding your Tupperware can be a great way of matching the lid to the bottom. If you have a set of similar-sized tubs that don’t stack when separated from their counterparts, then using a color-coding system where you can pick any ‘yellow’ lid for a ‘yellow’ bottom saves you time. We’d recommend this system if you have little to no space, and separating tops from the bases is the only option to stack within coded or numbered containers.
Stacking Your Storage Containers
Place smaller Tupperware containers in larger ones so they don’t take up space and your Tupperware drawer will not become congested with containers that fall out every time the cabinet door creaks open.
Lid Storage
There’s no sugar-coating it. Storage lids are just evil. They slide out or disappear when you need them in a hurry. Keeping your lids vertical ensures that it’s out of the way.
A great way to ensuring your vertical lids stay vertical is using tension rods. These are great as they can extend to fit the width of the drawer without having to measure up!
DIY Storage Hacks
Organizing your Tupperware need not be expensive, Nor should you have to run out to buy organizers to help your sanity. Below are just some great ideas to store lids in cereal boxes, dish racks, using drawer and shelf dividers.
Cereal Box
Don’t throw out your cereal box. Cut the corner to resemble a magazine rack and separate lids and becomes a lid organizer and a great storage solution! You can paint it or wrap it up in some wrapping paper to give it a cleaner look. This is great if you are on a budget and you simply won’t get your lids to stop sliding out every time you even so much as look at the Tupperware cabinet!
Plate Rack
Roll up dish drying rack on top of a large and deep-set oven dish. You can post the lids into the gaps in the wire rack, which will keep them upright and in shape and height order.
Drawer Dividers
Dividing your containers into different shapes and sizes will create zones in your pull-out drawer and cabinets. This will help you keep on top of things, especially if your shelf space doesn’t have the height you need to stack vertically.
A pegboard is a great idea if you don’t have dividers, and they can be adjustable.
Shelf Dividers
If your cabinets have an excellent height and are deep, then shelf dividers will help keep the smaller or different shaped containers organized.
Final Thoughts on Tupperware Storage
Is Tupperware a pain in the neck? Yes. Yes, they are! But does it have to be? Nope! Absolutely not.
Stay on top of your organizing. Otherwise, you are left with another mess of mismatched lids. Setting time aside to organize your tubs will save you time in the long run.
You can store your containers with some DIY storage ideas like cereal boxes, tension rods, and pegboards.
Labeling food storage containers using a blackboard-style label with a chalk pen is great to reuse existing containers. You don’t have to find plastic or glass containers – just wipe it off the label and redo it.
Stay on top of your organizing. Otherwise, you are left with another mess of mismatched lids. Setting time aside organize your tubs will save you time in the long run.
