Who among us has never searched desperately for a lid to a food storage container after you have already put leftovers in it? Yeah, that's what I thought.
Nearly every client's kitchen I have gone into has had an issue with their Tupperware (okay, I know it's not really Tupperware because Tupperware is a brand, but that is how I always refer to my "food storage containers" and it's a lot easier this way, so from here on out we are going with Tupperware or containers. okay?)
Alright, back to organizing your Tupperware. Like I said, this seems to be a nearly universal problem. Unless you are getting rid of all of your existing containers and going to be all sleek (like buying just one fancy brand where the lid fits on all of the sizes and they stack neatly) you may want to keep reading.
My advice on organizing your Tupperware is much like organizing anything else. Let's run through my 5 Organizing Steps:
1. Like with like: Take all your containers out and sort them. All the round ones together, all the square ones and all the rectangular ones. Now make sure every container has a lid.
2. Declutter: all of those random, cracked, stained, stinky containers need to go. The exception to this step is if you have an extra lid that fits another container hold onto it. Put it in a separate place for a bit. Lids tend to crack or get lost and then you can just go to your stock to replace it.
3. Put it Back: Now, for this step it's important that you are realistic about both the space you have to store these containers and the amount of containers you have. Don't try to fit 100 of them into a drawer meant for cutlery. Either pare down the amount you have or find a new home for them in the kitchen. I am lucky enough to have pull-out shelve/drawer things, so that's what I use. When you put the Tupperware back stack all the round ones together from largest to smallest (without the lids), same for the other shapes. Then I store the lids next to them. I love using a pot-lid organizer for this. I just switched to the Variera from IKEA because you have some flexibility with the spacing, but really, any lid organizer will do.
4. Label it: this is usually my 4th step, but it doesn't really apply here. Unless you really want to, there is no need to label it. It's Tupperware, you know what it is.
5. Live with it: Make sure this really works for you. Not every organizing system works for everyone. If it's not working for you try to figure out what isn't working. If you can't, take a picture and send it to me. I'll try to help you out! Don't be afraid to change it up!