We all have that one shelf in the pantry. You know the one: half-used pasta packages lined up, a flour bag spewing its contents in the form of powdery goodness all around, and the brown sugar that transforms from being sweet to hard enough to shatter glass.
A pantry organization project is about more than just looks; it is about waste. When you can’t see it, you buy it because you aren’t sure if you already own it. When your bags aren’t closed, food becomes rancid (or even infested).
Although glass jars have gained many fans, they tend to be rather heavy and slippery. It’s for this reason why many professional organizers have turned to Rubbermaid Brilliance food storage containers when it comes to storing dry foods in their households.
Below is the guide that will help analyze how to turn your pantries into efficient systems.
The “Air-Tight” Truth: Why It Matters
The primary reason to decant your dry goods isn’t just to make it look like an Instagram photo. It is chemistry.
- Humidity Control: The Rubbermaid Brilliance comes equipped with a 100% airtight silicone seal. This is important when storing hygroscopic ingredients such as brown sugar or dried fruits, as they absorb moisture and lump.
- Pantry Pest Barrier: If you have ever tried to control pantry moths (weevils), you recognize that these pests can easily drill through cardboard and thin plastic bags. The only effective protection is a hard plastic and locked top.
Sizing Guide: What Fits Where
One thing that is most frustrating when shopping for storage containers online is trying to determine if your groceries will indeed fit into the containers that you are ordering. We calculated that for you below for Rubbermaid Brilliance Pantry Containers:
1. The 16-Cup Container (The Workhorse)
This is the tall, rectangular one.
- What fits: It holds a standard 5lb bag of Flour or Sugar.
- Note: You need to aerate the flour by tapping the bag on the countertop to accommodate the exact 5lbs of it. You can also use it to hold bulk packs of rice or breakfast cereal.
2. The 12-Cup Container
- What it is for: Designed for regular boxes of cereal, large pretzel bags, or 3lbs of pasta (spaghetti, penne).
- Why it is preferred: It is slightly shorter and thus easier to pack on bookshelves.
3. The 7.8-Cup Container
- What fits: A standard bag of granola, a bag of coffee beans, or 2lbs of dried beans/lentils.
- Best usage: Things you use on a weekly basis, but don’t buy in enormous quantities.
4. The 3.2-Cup Container
- What might work: Nuts, chocolate chips, baking soda, or specialty grains such as quinoa.
The “Tetris” Effect: Stacking
The brilliance of the Brilliance series lies in its modular design. These containers not only stack but also lock.
The edges are slightly elevated, so the container on top will rest firmly inside the edge of the container below it. This way, you will be able to make use of the space inside the pantry. A mess of partially empty bags will no longer be on the shelf floor, but instead, you will be able to stack nutrient towers.
The Downsides: Honest Feedback
There’s no such thing as the perfect product. Two things you might want to think about before buying the whole line include:
- Static Cling: As these products are manufactured using Tritan plastic material, there may be a static cling with fine materials like flour or powdered sugar when they are brand new. However, it will soon be gone after the initial washing and use.
- Price Tag: A complete makeover of your pantry using Rubbermaid Brilliance does come with a price tag. This is much costlier than generic storage containers found at dollar stores. Its longevity, or lack of cracking when it is bumped, is often worth it, though.
Step-by-Step Makeover
Ready to organize? Don’t just use Random sizes. Follow this protocol:
- Empty and Audit: Get all the groceries and take it all out. Examine the expiration dates. Throw away the stale crackers.
- Group by Category: Bake sale items need to be categorized together, as do picnic items.
- Measure Your Stock: Check your regular buying. Are you buying 2lb rice or 10lb rice? Buy the pack that suits your buying habit, not the other way around.
- Label Everything: While the containers are clear, the similarity between the white flour and the mix is spot on. A cheap label maker and/or chalk-marking pens can solve this problem. Label the containers and the pro tip is to date the mix on the bottom.
These containers are lighter than glass containers
If you’re fed up with having to send moldy food to the trash and want your pantry to be as functional as a commercially equipped kitchen, Rubbermaid Brilliance Storage Containers are the way to go. These containers are lighter than glass containers, tighter-sealing than general-brand containers, and finally put the “where do I stick this 5lb bag of flour?” question to rest.
[…] glass. Both will go together perfectly. This raises the question: Is it worth shelling out for the glass meal prep containers when the high-tech plastic Tritan’s advanced technology isn’t just good for a lifetime but half […]
[…] read more: Pantry Makeover: Organizing Dry Goods with Rubbermaid Brilliance Canisters […]