Bulk Up: Top 5 Tips for Storing Bulk Purchases

I just got home from accompanying my husband to Costco. He thought it was so we could spend some time together, and that was nice, but he didn't know that he was being chaperoned. He tends to vastly overbuy! We managed to get out of there with about half what he would typically bring home. At least this time I didn't have to rescue him from being there on a scooter. (See my previous post, "Never Go to Costco on a Scooter.")

It's so easy to get carried away, since the large portions at warehouse stores appeal to our need to have more than enough– to be "stocked up." But our eyes are often bigger than our stomachs –and our storage– especially when it comes to perishable items like produce.

It's also easy to get carried away with the bulk bin barrels in natural foods stores. The bulk bins offer better pricing and selection of many granolas, dry goods, nuts, and candies, some of them hard to find elsewhere. But they don't come with containers that work well in a pantry.

So we are coming home with these gargantuan warehouse packages and also these varying loose amounts of bulk provisions in feeble plastic bags. How do we deal with storing them?

• Warehouse packages are generally made for selling and shipping, not necessarily for storing and dispensing. I believe you should unpack the bulk item into its smallest components for the best and most visible storage. For example, large flats of paper towels can have the outer plastic removed and the individual rolls of paper towels stored more efficiently.
• For flimsy packaging, you can tape the original package instructions on a permanent container with clear packing tape. Here we've used a recycled rice container to hold oatmeal that came in a non-recloseable plastic bag. (Click to enlarge the photo) Texmati rice containers are SO great, by the way!
• Keep a basket of chip clips in the pantry right next to the large chip and cereal bags. For lots of inexpensive chip clips, just buy some strong clothespins at the dollar store. Binder clips also work in a pinch. (Groan…) You can also stick chip clips on the back of your cabinet doors or pantry door with Velcro. (Thanks to my friend Monica for this idea)
• Let the box be its own dispenser. For large boxes of packets like oatmeal, microwave popcorn, or macaroni & cheese mixes, you can simply open the box and cut off the flaps with a box cutter and grab and go. (Click photo to enlarge)
• I am not a believer in buying a big set of matching containers that you intend to transfer everything into, for look's sake more than function. Yes, you can get your pantry to look like a magazine photo with these container sets. But transferring every cracker and marshmallow into containers is not how I would like to spend my time. Don't use special containers if the food will get eaten really quickly, or if the package itself is good enough for keeping the food fresh and pests out.

What are your favorite bulk foods storage tricks? Share in the comments!

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