which size food storage container to buy?

[sf]

Trying to buy new flour and sugar containers, but stymied by their
labels. Flour and sugar come in weight, but the containers come in
volume and there is no indication about which size would be
appropriate for 4 pounds of sugar or flour. Which size container do
you use to hold that amount?

http://www.clickclack.com/space-cubes-c-1_16.html

--
Food is an important part of a balanced diet.

[Dave Smith]

On 2013-12-18 11:21 AM, sf wrote:
> Trying to buy new flour and sugar containers, but stymied by their
> labels. Flour and sugar come in weight, but the containers come in
> volume and there is no indication about which size would be
> appropriate for 4 pounds of sugar or flour. Which size container do
> you use to hold that amount?
>

Think metric. There are lots of reasons that it makes sense. A liter of
water weighs on kilogram. If something is somewhere close to the density
of water you can easily figure out the volume for a given weight. Sugar
is fairly heavy. A kilo of sugar will need at least a one litre container.


You can use the same approach in Imperial, but it is going to be a
little more work. If sugar is close to the weight of water you can
approximate that 1 cup is 8 ounces, so two cups is a pound, two pounds
is going to be roughly one quart.

Since most cooking ingredients are lighter that water, go for something
a little larger. Then factor in that you are likely to have something
left over in the bins, so when you replenish your supplies you are going
to have to have enough room for the leftovers and the new one.


BTW... for large bins, go to a restaurant supply store.

.

[Dave Smith]

On 2013-12-18 11:21 AM, sf wrote:

> Trying to buy new flour and sugar containers, but stymied by their
> labels. Flour and sugar come in weight, but the containers come in
> volume and there is no indication about which size would be
> appropriate for 4 pounds of sugar or flour. Which size container do
> you use to hold that amount?
>

[Reggie]

"Dave Smith" <adavid...@sympatico.ca> wrote in message
news:anksu.770$5K4...@fx07.iad...

aren't most cooking ingredients a bit heavier (denser) than water? But your
approach is the way I do things.

I thought sugar and flour comes in 5 pound bags - not 4 pounds. Or, I buy
the 25 pound sacks and use buckets.

[Cindy Hamilton]

In article <4ng3b9ttqs56qlhp7...@4ax.com>,

sf <sf.u...@gmail.com> wrote:
>Trying to buy new flour and sugar containers, but stymied by their
>labels. Flour and sugar come in weight, but the containers come in
>volume and there is no indication about which size would be
>appropriate for 4 pounds of sugar or flour. Which size container do
>you use to hold that amount?

Google "how many cups in four pounds of flour".

Four pounds of flour is 15 cups.
Four pounds of sugar is 11.25 cups.

Additional google of "convert 15 cups to liters" will reveal what size
of Space Cube you need.

Do you buy your flour in bulk? It's usually sold in 5-pound bags.

Cindy Hamilton
--

[sf]

On Wed, 18 Dec 2013 11:50:15 -0500, Dave Smith
<adavid...@sympatico.ca> wrote:

> BTW... for large bins, go to a restaurant supply store.

Do you consider four pounds a large amount?

[sf]

On Wed, 18 Dec 2013 17:46:28 GMT, hami...@adi.com (Cindy Hamilton)
wrote:

> In article <4ng3b9ttqs56qlhp7...@4ax.com>,
> sf <sf.u...@gmail.com> wrote:
> >Trying to buy new flour and sugar containers, but stymied by their
> >labels. Flour and sugar come in weight, but the containers come in
> >volume and there is no indication about which size would be
> >appropriate for 4 pounds of sugar or flour. Which size container do
> >you use to hold that amount?
>
> Google "how many cups in four pounds of flour".
>
> Four pounds of flour is 15 cups.
> Four pounds of sugar is 11.25 cups.
>
> Additional google of "convert 15 cups to liters" will reveal what size
> of Space Cube you need.

Thanks. I did Google and it wasn't very helpful. One hit supplied a
range, but nothing made a direct conversion and that's why I wondered
what size people here use. I see enough discussions here about people
buying new containers that it seemed like *someone* might be able to
give direct answer to a simple question.

>
> Do you buy your flour in bulk?

Not very often.

>It's usually sold in 5-pound bags.

I thought they downsized flour to four pound sacks years ago. I can
only tell you that years ago, an entire sack of flour wouldn't fit
into my current container - but now it does.

[Cindy Hamilton]

In article <2dr3b9h10sv831cqi...@4ax.com>,

sf <sf.u...@gmail.com> wrote:
>On Wed, 18 Dec 2013 17:46:28 GMT, hami...@adi.com (Cindy Hamilton)
>wrote:
>
>> In article <4ng3b9ttqs56qlhp7...@4ax.com>,
>> sf <sf.u...@gmail.com> wrote:
>> >Trying to buy new flour and sugar containers, but stymied by their
>> >labels. Flour and sugar come in weight, but the containers come in
>> >volume and there is no indication about which size would be
>> >appropriate for 4 pounds of sugar or flour. Which size container do
>> >you use to hold that amount?
>>
>> Google "how many cups in four pounds of flour".
>>
>> Four pounds of flour is 15 cups.
>> Four pounds of sugar is 11.25 cups.
>>
>> Additional google of "convert 15 cups to liters" will reveal what size
>> of Space Cube you need.
>
>Thanks. I did Google and it wasn't very helpful. One hit supplied a
>range, but nothing made a direct conversion and that's why I wondered
>what size people here use. I see enough discussions here about people
>buying new containers that it seemed like *someone* might be able to
>give direct answer to a simple question.

15 cups is 3.55 liters.

I've got three different kinds of flour/sugar containers.

For brown sugar, a maybe 15-cup rubbermaid container, something like
this (only the lid doesn't lock):

<http://www.amazon.com/Rubbermaid-FG7K8200CIRED-Lock-Canister-15-Cup/dp/B0041P0EYW/ref=sr_1_2?s=home-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1387395798&sr=1-2&keywords=rubbermaid+canister+square>

I keep brown sugar in its original bag inside the container, so it has
to be kind of tall. It probably would hold 5 pounds of flour

Another maybe 12-cup container like the above for 5 pounds of sugar.

For 5 pounds of flour, one like this:

http://www.bigtray.com/cambro-food-storage-container-rfs4pp-sku-camrfs4pp-c-13400.html

>> Do you buy your flour in bulk?
>
>Not very often.
>
>>It's usually sold in 5-pound bags.
>
>I thought they downsized flour to four pound sacks years ago. I can
>only tell you that years ago, an entire sack of flour wouldn't fit
>into my current container - but now it does.

Huh. I still get flour in 5 pound bags, but sugar comes in either
4 or 5 pound bags. Probably your more urban market wants smaller sizes of
stuff.

Cindy Hamilton
--

[Kalmia]

My sugar goes into one of those clear plastic cubic containers rice et al come in. I also keep some in m,y bread making cupboard, and some in a salt shaker in case I want just a tad e.g. on muffins tops. Then I keep a small jar in the coffee cupboard.

I buy no more than a 2 lb. bag of sugar at a time and it lasts for months. If I do ever buy a fiver, what won't fit in all of the above containers moves to the freezer.

My 5 lb. bags of flour fit into big Rubbermaid squares.

[Dave Smith]

On 2013-12-18 11:21 AM, sf wrote:

> Trying to buy new flour and sugar containers, but stymied by their
> labels. Flour and sugar come in weight, but the containers come in
> volume and there is no indication about which size would be
> appropriate for 4 pounds of sugar or flour. Which size container do
> you use to hold that amount?
>

Think metric. There are lots of reasons that it makes sense. A liter of
water weighs on kilogram. If something is somewhere close to the density
of water you can easily figure out the volume for a given weight. Sugar
is fairly heavy. A kilo of sugar will need at least a one litre container.


You can use the same approach in Imperial, but it is going to be a
little more work. If sugar is close to the weight of water you can
approximate that 1 cup is 8 ounces, so two cups is a pound, two pounds
is going to be roughly one quart.

Since most cooking ingredients are lighter that water, go for something
a little larger. Then factor in that you are likely to have something
left over in the bins, so when you replenish your supplies you are going
to have to have enough room for the leftovers and the new one.

BTW... for large bins, go to a restaurant supply store.

.

[Dave Smith]

On 2013-12-18 11:21 AM, sf wrote:

> Trying to buy new flour and sugar containers, but stymied by their
> labels. Flour and sugar come in weight, but the containers come in
> volume and there is no indication about which size would be
> appropriate for 4 pounds of sugar or flour. Which size container do
> you use to hold that amount?
>

[Brooklyn1]

I buy flour and sugar in five pound bags and I store each in a wide
mouth 1 gallon glass jar. I don't see how it matters if there's some
headroom, headroom grows as they're used anyway, and I like to have
some room for the scoops that I leave in the jars. I store all dry
ingredients in glass. They don't need to be decorative as they are
kept out of sight in my pantry. I'm glad I saved lots of glass jars
as so many large jars today are plastic... I must have more than fifty
one quart glass mayo jars. Five pounds of rice fits in a one gallon
jar too. I used to buy pickles in one gallon glass jars and I saved
the empties. I suppose if one can't accumulate large glass jars too
readily simply buy a case of canning jars.
http://www.specialtybottle.com/widemouthcleargallonglassjar128ozwwhitemetallid.aspx
http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/1/3/1-gallon-jars

[Dave Smith]

On 2013-12-18 1:44 PM, sf wrote:
> On Wed, 18 Dec 2013 11:50:15 -0500, Dave Smith
> <adavid...@sympatico.ca> wrote:
>
>> BTW... for large bins, go to a restaurant supply store.
>
> Do you consider four pounds a large amount?
>

Four pounds of what?

I buy AP flour in 10 kg bags because it is so much cheaper per unit to
buy it in larger quantities. I keep that and a 5 kg bag of whole wheat
flour in a 20L bin in the pantry. I have a smaller container that I
transfer it to in order to store it in the kitchen cupboard. That one is
a Tupperware cereal size, about 20 cup, 5 liter.

[Nunya Bidnits]

Reggie <Reg...@wantsnospam.com> wrote:
>
> I thought sugar and flour comes in 5 pound bags - not 4 pounds. Or,
> I buy the 25 pound sacks and use buckets.

This has come up before and as it turned out some manufacturers give
retailers a choice of 4 or 5 pound bags.

MartyB

[Nunya Bidnits]

Brooklyn1 <grave...@verizon.net> wrote:

> I must have more than fifty
> one quart glass mayo jars.

<boggle>

[sf]

On Wed, 18 Dec 2013 16:30:35 -0500, Dave Smith

<adavid...@sympatico.ca> wrote:

> On 2013-12-18 1:44 PM, sf wrote:
> > On Wed, 18 Dec 2013 11:50:15 -0500, Dave Smith
> > <adavid...@sympatico.ca> wrote:
> >
> >> BTW... for large bins, go to a restaurant supply store.
> >
> > Do you consider four pounds a large amount?
> >
>
>
> Four pounds of what?

I said what in the OP.

[Casa Sabrosa]

On 12/18/2013 2:59 PM, Nunya Bidnits wrote:
> some manufacturers give retailers a choice of 4 or 5 pound bags.
>
> MartyB

OK then, Mr. Knows it All...

[Casa Sabrosa]

Shelly has your moonshine collection beat, eh?

[Gary]

sf wrote:
>
> Trying to buy new flour and sugar containers, but stymied by their
> labels. Flour and sugar come in weight, but the containers come in
> volume and there is no indication about which size would be
> appropriate for 4 pounds of sugar or flour. Which size container do
> you use to hold that amount?

Well, here's a specific answer to your specific question.
I've use these two Rubbermaid containers forever (over 30 years)

For sugar - a 12 cup container
For flour - a 21 cup container
Naturally, they both have tight sealing lids.

A bag of sugar or flour fills these up pretty full from empty, but
leaving a tiny bit of room to start working with. Perfect sizes, imo.

G.

[sf]

Thanks, Gary - much appreciated. :)

[Polly Esther]

"sf" <> wrote
>> > Trying to buy new flour and sugar containers, but stymied by their
>> > labels. Flour and sugar come in weight, but the containers come in
>> > volume and there is no indication about which size would be
>> > appropriate for 4 pounds of sugar or flour. Which size container do
>> > you use to hold that amount?

I have enjoyed having the 4 lb Domino sugar round yellow containers. They
hold enough for sugar, brown sugar, conf. sugar and also there's one here
for powdered cheese. The lids fit snugly and they are easy to pick up
securely. Mine are tastefully labeled via a fat black pen. I honestly don't
know if they were 'free' as compared to a sack of sugar but close enough.
Polly

[Janet Bostwick]

On Wed, 18 Dec 2013 16:14:04 -0500, Brooklyn1
<grave...@verizon.net> wrote:
snip

I used to buy pickles in one gallon glass jars and I saved
>the empties.

snip
me too ;o)
Janet US

[Nancy2]

Sugar is now a 4-pound bag.

N.

[Ed Pawlowski]

On 12/18/2013 1:55 PM, sf wrote:

>> It's usually sold in 5-pound bags.
>
> I thought they downsized flour to four pound sacks years ago. I can
> only tell you that years ago, an entire sack of flour wouldn't fit
> into my current container - but now it does.
>

Must be a regional thing Still 5# here.

[Nunya Bidnits]

It's a grocer thing. Both sizes are available.

[sf]

Call me wrong, it doesn't matter. I sifted the barely used volume of
flour from my old container into my new container and it barely made
half way. Okay! Let's say flour is sold as 5 lbs and what I had was
4.5. There's no way a full 5 lb bag could come close to filling it
up. 'Nuff said. Nobody told me what I needed to know.

Feeling proud now?

[sf]

On Wed, 18 Dec 2013 19:25:50 -0800 (PST), Nancy2
<ellor...@gmail.com> wrote:

> Sugar is now a 4-pound bag.
>

Thank you, at least I was half right. :)

[Casa Sabrosa]

On 12/18/2013 8:38 PM, Nunya Bidnits wrote:
>
> It's a grocer thing. Both sizes are available.

And what size holds Luzer-Q?

[Julie Bove]

"sf" <s...@geemail.com> wrote in message
news:ufu4b99qkojbj87fm...@4ax.com...

I couldn't tell you because I don't buy much flour. I have a box of sweet
rice flour and what is probably a 1 pound bag of regular flour. Both are in
the original packages slipped into larger, cheap plastic containers. I do
have larger bags of whole wheat and whole wheat pastry flour. I just put
big plastic bags over them.

[Dave Smith]

On 2013-12-18 5:37 PM, sf wrote:
>
>>>
>>>> BTW... for large bins, go to a restaurant supply store.
>>>
>>> Do you consider four pounds a large amount?
>>>
>>
>>
>> Four pounds of what?
>
> I said what in the OP.
>

Yes, you said flour and sugar in the OP, but then you asked another
question.... if I consider four pounds to be a lot.? I could not be
sure. I have been married long enough not to expect that an incomplete
question refers to the same subject as an early one. ;-)


FWIW I do not think 4 pounds is a lot of sugar. It is about what I
usually have on hand. If I get down to 2-3 pounds I replenish. I would
consider four pounds of flour to be an absolute minimum. I buy AP flour
in 10 kg bags... 22.5 lb., so my bin has to be at least big enough for
that. I have a smaller one for the kitchen cupboard that holes about 20
cups.

[Dave Smith]

On 2013-12-18 5:37 PM, sf wrote:
>
>>>
>>>> BTW... for large bins, go to a restaurant supply store.
>>>
>>> Do you consider four pounds a large amount?
>>>
>>
>>
>> Four pounds of what?
>
> I said what in the OP.
>