I have two rubbermaid bins on the bottom shelf of my pantry - one for whole wheat and one for all purpose. They are almost big enough to fit a 22 lb bag of flour in .. the remainder goes in another storage tote in one of our storage areas, along with my other baking supplies surplus (extra sugar, salt, oats etc). I have also heard you can freezer flour?
I buy my white flour in 25 pound bags and store them in 22 qt/20L commercial sized bins like these http://food-cart.hubert.com/hubert-food-storage-box.html. One bag of flour fits perfectly in there. I found the bins at our local Cash&Carry United Groceries restaurant supply store. They work really well.
I have however just started using more whole wheat flour and heard large amounts can go rancid before you use them, so I thinking of perhaps getting a wheat grinder....but I don't know yet.
I buy the biggest tupperware containers they have, and stuff them full. Then I keep a normal size Tupperware cannister in my pantry. Easier to pick up. :)
I keep the majority of it in the garage, then a recycled plastic food container (like the ones for animal crackers or soy nuts) in the kitchen cupboard. I empty them and wash them every 3-4 weeks.
We use jars for everything- after throwing away a lot of our bulk stuff last year after bugs got in it- we started using canning jars. I LOVE it! I can easily see everything in the pantry and cabinets, and there are different sizes for whatever you are storing- we use the half gallon size for flours and sugar. I even put chocolate chips right into a jar when I buy them!
I use these IKEA containers http://www.ikea.com/ca/en/catalog/products/90076364, and keep them stored on an open shelf in the kitchen (I have also had them stacked with a small water cooler on too). Love the easy access to flour. I go through a 22lb bag of both whole wheat and unbleached flour every couple months, and have not had a problem with bugs nor has the WW gone rancid.
Sorry if this double posts, tried it once and computer is acting funny.
I just solved the same problem this weekend. I was so excited about it. I went to Smart and Final and got a large tub with lid ($20 plus tax total). Restaraunt quality and air-tight. I just wouldn't trust anything less. I know rubbermaid is good for a lot of things, but this one, not so sure.
I was able to fit a 50lb bag of flour with a bit of shaking it down with only enough let over for 2 ziplock freezer bags (those went to my mother-in-law since I share like that).
Next time I might get 25 pounds, depending on how long this one takes, but at $11 for the bag, it's perfect!
I use the same bins as Jackie from Cash & Carry...I have 5 for the AP flour, sugar, rolled oats, soft wheat berries and hard white berries. I have smaller ones for the kitchen because they're easier to handle, but refill with the larger ones. I've NEVER had buggy flour using them. Excellent storage bins!
I buy flour when it's on sale (so rare, but so exciting) in 5lb bags because I only bake with a certain brand of flour (Gold Medal Unbleached) and I can't find it in large bags. I buy up to 5 bags at a time and put them way back in the freezer. I've never had a problem with any of my baked goods turning out funny or the flour going bad before I could use it. I don't use as much wheat flour as you do, so I can't say that wheat flour would keep as well as white does, but I've had very good luck with storing it (in its own bag) in the freezer.
I store mine in plastic sealable containers - there is a top and part of it pops down to seal off the container. I live in Georgia so we have problems with bugs and have to be really careful about stuff like that - but it's actually neater to store and organize!
We got ours at T.J. Maxx - I would definitely look there (or Marshalls, Ross, etc.) to get ideas!
I store all my stuff in regular rubbermaid canisters. They're my favorite. The only thing I really buy in bulk is bread flour (25lbs at a time!) and I store that in a rolling dog food container! It was the skinnest thing I could find that was also easy to pull over to where I was cooking. It works great!
I use old ice cream buckets for my ww flour, and store it in the freezer (in summer) and the pantry (like a freezer) in the winter. White flour is in a rubbermaid bin in the cupboard and it's never gone bad.
I have two rubbermaid bins on the bottom shelf of my pantry - one for whole wheat and one for all purpose. They are almost big enough to fit a 22 lb bag of flour in .. the remainder goes in another storage tote in one of our storage areas, along with my other baking supplies surplus (extra sugar, salt, oats etc). I have also heard you can freezer flour?
ReplyDeleteI buy my white flour in 25 pound bags and store them in 22 qt/20L commercial sized bins like these http://food-cart.hubert.com/hubert-food-storage-box.html. One bag of flour fits perfectly in there. I found the bins at our local Cash&Carry United Groceries restaurant supply store. They work really well.
ReplyDeleteI have however just started using more whole wheat flour and heard large amounts can go rancid before you use them, so I thinking of perhaps getting a wheat grinder....but I don't know yet.
Hope that helps somewhat. :)
I don't buy in bulk, so can't help you with that kind of quantity. I store mine in Rubbermaid containers that hold over 5 pounds each.
ReplyDeleteI buy the biggest tupperware containers they have, and stuff them full. Then I keep a normal size Tupperware cannister in my pantry. Easier to pick up. :)
ReplyDeleteI bought some large food grade plastic tubs from Gordon Food Service (a local restaurant supply store).
ReplyDeleteI keep the majority of it in the garage, then a recycled plastic food container (like the ones for animal crackers or soy nuts) in the kitchen cupboard. I empty them and wash them every 3-4 weeks.
ReplyDeleteWe use jars for everything- after throwing away a lot of our bulk stuff last year after bugs got in it- we started using canning jars. I LOVE it! I can easily see everything in the pantry and cabinets, and there are different sizes for whatever you are storing- we use the half gallon size for flours and sugar. I even put chocolate chips right into a jar when I buy them!
ReplyDeleteI use these IKEA containers http://www.ikea.com/ca/en/catalog/products/90076364, and keep them stored on an open shelf in the kitchen (I have also had them stacked with a small water cooler on too). Love the easy access to flour. I go through a 22lb bag of both whole wheat and unbleached flour every couple months, and have not had a problem with bugs nor has the WW gone rancid.
ReplyDeleteSorry if this double posts, tried it once and computer is acting funny.
ReplyDeleteI just solved the same problem this weekend. I was so excited about it. I went to Smart and Final and got a large tub with lid ($20 plus tax total). Restaraunt quality and air-tight. I just wouldn't trust anything less. I know rubbermaid is good for a lot of things, but this one, not so sure.
I was able to fit a 50lb bag of flour with a bit of shaking it down with only enough let over for 2 ziplock freezer bags (those went to my mother-in-law since I share like that).
Next time I might get 25 pounds, depending on how long this one takes, but at $11 for the bag, it's perfect!
I'm very excited!
I use the same bins as Jackie from Cash & Carry...I have 5 for the AP flour, sugar, rolled oats, soft wheat berries and hard white berries. I have smaller ones for the kitchen because they're easier to handle, but refill with the larger ones. I've NEVER had buggy flour using them. Excellent storage bins!
ReplyDeletehttp://theprudenthomemaker.com/default.aspx has great articles in her 'pantry' tab that should be a great help! She has such great info to reference.
ReplyDeleteI buy flour when it's on sale (so rare, but so exciting) in 5lb bags because I only bake with a certain brand of flour (Gold Medal Unbleached) and I can't find it in large bags. I buy up to 5 bags at a time and put them way back in the freezer. I've never had a problem with any of my baked goods turning out funny or the flour going bad before I could use it. I don't use as much wheat flour as you do, so I can't say that wheat flour would keep as well as white does, but I've had very good luck with storing it (in its own bag) in the freezer.
ReplyDeleteI store mine in plastic sealable containers - there is a top and part of it pops down to seal off the container. I live in Georgia so we have problems with bugs and have to be really careful about stuff like that - but it's actually neater to store and organize!
ReplyDeleteWe got ours at T.J. Maxx - I would definitely look there (or Marshalls, Ross, etc.) to get ideas!
Containers in my deep freeze.
ReplyDeleteI store all my stuff in regular rubbermaid canisters. They're my favorite. The only thing I really buy in bulk is bread flour (25lbs at a time!) and I store that in a rolling dog food container! It was the skinnest thing I could find that was also easy to pull over to where I was cooking. It works great!
ReplyDeleteYou can always depend on tupperware!
ReplyDeleteI use old ice cream buckets for my ww flour, and store it in the freezer (in summer) and the pantry (like a freezer) in the winter. White flour is in a rubbermaid bin in the cupboard and it's never gone bad.
ReplyDelete