Keep it Air Tight: Food should be transferred into airtight containers like the OXO POP canisters, mason jars, or Stasher bags to extend shelf life.
Decant Packaged Food: Decanting packaged food will help if you’re bothered by “label noise” and inconsistent packaging (bags, boxes, tins, etc)… It’s a little extra work, but the result is totally worth it. Why is it worth it you might ask? For three main reasons:
For Convenience - you no longer need to dig through bags of grains or jars of spices labeled in various ways. Everything is uniform and clearly labeled.
For Continuity - you won’t be bombarded with various brands and their in-your-face labels and everything fits evenly on your shelves. This is ONE of Shannon’s pet peeves (there are many).
For Freshness - have you noticed your brown sugar becomes a brick instantly after opening the package? Most of the time the packages your food comes in does not preserve freshness.
Glass Over Plastic: Recycle mismatched plastic containers and invest in a matching glass set. It’s better for the environment, eliminates bacteria, looks nicer, and it’s safer to use in the microwave!
Pro Tip: If you’re editing your mismatched Tupperwear and you happen to need drawer organizers, try using your mismatched plastic containers. It will save you some money and help to organize another space.
Labels: You know by now we LOVE a label. Jot down the expiration date AND the date the package was opened and attach it to the container. We like to use washi tape for easy removal. Labels help you identify when you’re running low and need to replenish, eliminates wasted time spent looking for items and helps the rest of the household find items without asking.