#HTE

Kitchen Organizing: Managing the Leftovers

When I work with people to help organize their kitchens, they often report problems in dealing with food storage containers. The cartoons you see with containers tumbling out of cabinets can be pretty close to the truth. I’ve written about leftover storage before, but I’m now seeing more interesting designs.

Sometimes end users keep a bunch of containers because they haven’t found any they really like. The Clip & Close containers from Emsa, available in glass or plastic, are nicely designed to meet all the basic needs people describe. They stack, they are truly leak-proof (rather than leak-resistant), and the lids are pretty easy to open and close. They can be used in the freezer, microwave and dishwasher—and the glass ones can be used in the oven. They even have a 30-year guarantee!

Emsa explains that its containers work so well because the seal and lid are firmly attached to each other, with no gap between them.

But other end users have some specific challenges, such as what to do with the lids. If you store them on the containers, you use a lot of space. If you don’t, the lids can create a mess. Rubbermaid addresses this with its Easy Find Lids, which snap together and also snap onto the bottom of the containers they go with. The one drawback: Not all end users will want plastic storage containers.

The Smart Spin System (and similar products such as the one from Handy Gourmet) provide containers and a rack to store them in. All the containers take the same size lid, which makes things simple. This is a nice compact storage solution, except the end user is stuck with the container sizes provided, and some purchasers say they wish there were larger ones. (There are many complaints from purchasers about the quality of the Handy Gourmet product, but the design is still interesting.) 

YouCopia’s StoraStack comes in two versions: one for cabinets and one for drawers. This one does not come with containers; rather, it’s designed to fit a number of common nested storage containers with snap-on lids, including those from Ziplock and Glad. End users who prefer those specific containers might find this a handy way to keep them organized. But some will find sliding the lids into the slots to be a bit too fiddly. (No product works for everyone.)

Storing the containers with the lids on them doesn’t require much space when the containers are collapsible. These collapsible bowls from Aladdin get praised by purchasers for the screw-on lids; they are easy to attach and remove, and they stay securely in place. (With many other collapsible containers, end users complain about the lids popping off.) 

Another concern some end users have is keeping track of what’s being stored, so things get used before they go bad. Sure, you can just label the container, but many people don’t; keeping labels and pens around (and using them) is too bothersome. The DaysAgo digital day counter is an alternative; it attaches to a container using either a suction or magnetic base, and reminds the end user when the spaghetti sauce jar was opened or when the leftovers got put away. End users who like gadgets might use this when they’d never use ordinary labels. And they can use the DaysAgo with any storage containers they already have.

Joseph Joseph has recently come out with Dial, its stackable food storage containers with dateable lids. There are no separate gadget to attach to the containers, so there’s nothing to interfere with stacking the containers as could happen if a DaysAgo counter was placed on a lid. The display also looks easier to read than the one on the DaysAgo. 

The end user can choose to display either the date stored or the use-by date; as long as one or the other is used consistently, there shouldn’t be any confusion. The dial used to set the date moves with a simple finger touch, so no hand strength or special dexterity is needed. One drawback: The lids are not microwave safe, although the bases are. 

Yet another way to track freshness would be with Cuisinart’s SmarTrack containers and app, which involves scanning a QR code and selecting the appropriate food type from the app. The end user can then get a reminder when the food is about to go bad; the app can also track the container’s location. There’s an Android and an iOS version of the app.

This product will appeal to some end users, I’m sure, but it’s way too much effort for the people I know and work with. 

End users who use the microwave a lot might like the Wrap Bowl, designed by Kanae Tsukamoto; the silicone lid has a plug designed to let condensation and steam be released. (Of course, other lidded containers can be used if the lid isn’t on so tight that steam can’t escape, so this may not be a huge advantage.) The lid stretches over a ceramic bowl, so it’s a good alternative to glass containers for those end users who prefer not to use plastics for food storage. One disadvantage: Since it’s not transparent, the end user will either need to remember what’s stored inside or attach some sort of label to the bowl.

Glasslock now has containers with handles. That’s not a feature I’ve ever heard anyone ask for, but it probably makes it easier to transport larger containers, which can get heavy. However, while most purchasers are happy, some have reported problems with the handles breaking; a review that says “works great except for the handle” isn’t very encouraging.