The Pantry Storage Set That Made Me a Better Baker

Grace Elkus
Updated

I use it every day during the holiday season.

Despite the countless hours a week I spend in the kitchen as a food editor, I have yet to figure out how to keep my own kitchen clean when I make baked goods. Somehow, I always end up with flour on my face and crumbled brown sugar all over the counter.

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Now that holiday baking season has begun (and we’re deep into Valentine’s Day in the test kitchen), I’ve been actively trying to keep the mess at bay. Choosing not to wear black pants on days I’m flouring a rolling pin was a good place to start, but what’s really been game-changing has been my new dry storage set. Specifically, the Rubbermaid 4-Piece Brilliance Dry Storage Set ($40; bedbathandbeyond.com).

Instead of blindly reaching above my tall pantry to grab my “baking basket,” (the only place in my small apartment where I can fit flours, sugars, extracts, etc.), I now have all the essentials in plain sight. I use the largest size for all-purpose flour, the second largest for granulated sugar, the third largest for light brown sugar, and the smallest for rolled oats. I keep the containers stacked on my counter, so they’re in reach whenever I need them. The clean, clear containers feel more like a decorative kitchen addition than they do a storage solution. Plus, they're stain-and-odor-resistant, and dishwasher, microwave, and freezer safe.

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The wide tops allow me to spoon and level flour directly over the container, so that any excess goes right back in, rather than on the counter. Plus, it means no risk of a torn bag of flour, which inevitably leaves a white, dusty trail all over the kitchen. The airtight, leak-proof seal on the lids also keeps brown sugar from turning rock hard. At the end of the day, I feel calmer with the essentials right in front of me, meaning I can spend more time focusing on the recipe and less about the mess I’m making. It’s also fun to rotate out ingredients. I’m thinking of filling the smallest one with turbinado sugar to remind myself to add sparkle and crunch to my Christmas cookies. Come January, I'll use it to pack my salad for lunch.

I'm not alone in my love for this product. Almost 300 reviewers give this style of Rubbermaid container a 4.6/5 stars. Whether you use it like I do for baking or simply to hold pasta or cereal, you'll feel more organized with this set in your kitchen.