Several years ago, I had a one-hour consultation with a client looking to reorganize her kitchen cabinets. Despite having numerous cabinets, she struggled to find space for her cookware.

Sound familiar? At the center of her kitchen was a small island with two spacious cabinets filled to the brim with mismatched storage containers and lids, all jumbled together. I refer to essential areas of any room as “prime real estate,” and this was no exception. These cabinets would have been the ideal spot for her cookware, conveniently located near her range. I asked her why she chose to exclusively store her containers in this prime location. She explained that she packs meals for her large family daily right at that spot, making it easy to grab a container as needed.

My challenge was to convince her she should move most of her storage containers to another area, leave a small amount of them where they were, and bring in her cookware.

We all rely on storage containers to manage our leftovers, streamline meal prep and pack meals and snacks we bring to work and send with our children to school. Let’s face it, regularly purchasing kosher food, near the workplace where available, takes a toll on our budgets, so having a good selection of storage options is essential.

A reader requested I write a column taking a close look at the various types of food storage containers, focusing on the most common materials: plastic, Pyrex, glass, stainless steel and aluminum. Each material has its pros and cons and I aim to do a wrap-up (pardon the pun) of these varieties.

Plastic

Plastic containers are often people’s first choice, offering a light and leak-proof product. Characteristics of a dependable, high-quality plastic food storage container include: durability, tight-fitting lids to prevent leaks, resistance to odors and stains, and dishwasher safe. Tupperware was once the leading name in plastic containers, so much so that Americans would refer to any storage container as “Tupperware.” I am saddened to report to those of you of a certain age that Tupperware has recently filed for bankruptcy. Here’s some breaking news: two buyers have gotten together to purchase the company. So, there is hope.

Do you ever reach for the plastic food containers you have gotten from your deli counter or the large, sturdy yogurt containers with the lids that snap on tightly? Those can work well but save yourself aggravation by only using those that are durable and when they crack, toss them straight away.

Pyrex

According to Glassbottlemarks.com, a source for information on glass antiques, the origins of Pyrex date back over a century, when the wife of Corning Glass engineer Jessie Littleton asked her husband to bring home samples of glass baking dishes. She enjoyed baking cakes and was looking for a pan that would allow her cakes to come out better. Happily, what he brought her, known as “borosilicate glass,” stood up to the oven’s high temperature without breaking.

This was the beginning of America crushing on Corningware because of the ease of use handling our meals from our refrigerators to our ovens and then straight onto our tables. Not only is it safe to freeze our food in it, but it is also dishwasher safe. In addition, for people who have health concerns regarding plastic leaching into their food, Pyrex has been tested and approved to be safe. Even so, please be aware that some sets of Pyrex containers come with Pyrex covers while other sets come with plastic ones.

Glass

Some people opt for glass containers exclusively, shunning plastic and aluminum pans. Like Pyrex, certain glass containers can transition seamlessly from your freezer to your microwave or oven to your table. Their non-porous surfaces resist absorbing stains and odors. They may have plastic covers which allow for stacking one on top of another; however, users should be wary that if the glass containers fall out of your refrigerator or freezer onto a hard kitchen floor, they may shatter.

Stainless Steel/Aluminum

Stainless steel containers are often preferred for transporting hot foods such as soups and coffee. Brands like Ikea offer a line of stainless steel vacuum flasks and bowls of various sizes with tight seals to keep food hot and prevent leakage. Stainless steel is durable and resistant to corrosion; read this as “resistant to rust.”

During the Yom Tovim, so many of us choose aluminum pans to cook and freeze meals, later thawing them and heating them exactly as they are. It is important to mention that there is some research that suggests that preparing food in aluminum pans could lead to health issues such as Alzheimer’s and kidney disease. Please do your own research and come to your own conclusions.

When purchasing storage containers, check the box for the total number of pieces included. For instance, a 14-piece set typically consists of seven containers and seven lids. Over time, expect to crack containers, misplace lids or treif something up that, in the case of plastic, cannot be kashered. In other words, the count of lids to containers will be in flux. When the count goes off, keeping the orphaned pieces of one set while you bring in a new set could create a mess in your cabinet. As I often tell my clients, to prevent a mess give yourself permission to toss.

With so many choices in our stores and online, it may take a little while for you to identify your favorite storage containers. I like transparent containers that reveal the contents and I look for a smooth lid that has a place for a label noting the contents and the date it was prepared. I also like lids to be different colors to represent meat, dairy and parve. When you select your containers, look for durability and staying power to assure continuity when you shop for replacements.

Speaking of shopping, Black Friday is approaching, a time you can get excellent deals on storage containers.

Let’s return to my client and her prime island real estate. She invited me to see how happy she was after purging and relocating most of her containers to a different location and creating a new home for her cookware in the cabinets under the island. If you want your own happy ending for your home, call me for a 20-minute complimentary phone consultation.

Ellen Smith of iDeclutter, LLC of Central Jersey is a residential organizer and a member of NAPO, the National Association of Productivity and Organizing Professionals. For over 16 years, Ellen has helped people restore order and create calm in their homes and souls. See Ellen’s work on Instagram @ideclutterbyEllen. Contact Ellen for a complimentary phone consultation at [email protected].