Kitchen organization - Do you do this?

[PEPteach]

I've seen this trend on tiktok/youtube and I'm wondering how common it is. These super organized people get home from the grocery store and immediately put everything in a different container, typically clear containers. Everything from produce (which I get) to eggs to juice boxes to bars to cereal has a container of its own. So they are taking everything out of the original packaging and putting it in a new container. I love how organized and clean it looks and it's mesmorizing to watch, but why??? I guess I don't have the desire to spend my time repackaging everything. Do a lot of you do this?


ETA: I would like to do a better job of washing, cutting and storing my produce right away. I often wait until I want to eat it and then I put off eating it because I'm not in the mood or too busy to prepare it.

 

[bookgeek59]

I don't have canisters or containers for every kind of food. That said, I do immediately put flour, sugar, brown sugar, oats, cornmeal, etc. in their containers. Produce gets washed and put in the veggie/fruit drawers, and any bulk meat gets divided up and sealed for the freezer.
I realize that having a container for everything is just what some people prefer because it works for them, but that'd kind of drive me nuts. Watching those videos makes me kind of anxious, honestly.

 

[MathWA]

Bwahaha! I would never do this. I understand why people would repackage flour, etc. to avoid bugs but I don't have these where I live. I am very organized but IMHO doing this for everything seems slightly obsessive. My life is too busy to take time to do this.

 

[choppie70]

I have seen these videos and I think it is ridiculous!

Not only is it a waste of time, but taking food out of cardboard (biodegradable ) containers and putting it into plastic containers just seems like landfill clutter to me. Yes, the containers are reusable, but why? I can get those cardboard containers organized like a Tetris high score game.

The other thing that gets me is that most of these videos show so many processed and junk foods and candy. I watched one video of a woman who was filing up her "under bed snack drawer" with small bags of chips, multiple types of candy, granola bars, pouches of juice etc. My teeth hurt just watching!

 

[PEPteach]

The other thing that gets me is that most of these videos show so many processed and junk foods and candy.

Yes, the ones that get me are the mini-fridge for kids' rooms filled with juice (all repackaged in special bottles), pop, cookies, and candy of all sorts. I enjoy the whole ASMR part of it, and I understand letting kids have a special treat when friends are over, but I don't know that they need a whole mini-fridge of junk in their room.

 

[Ima Teacher]

I put dry goods into different containers because they will attract bugs. I put cereal, chips, crackers, etc. into different containers because it’s crazy humid here and things will get stale fast. Fruits and vegetables get prepared and put into containers so they don’t attract fruit gnats, and I’ll not let them go bad if they’re ready to grab.

 

[choppie70]

I put dry goods into different containers because they will attract bugs

That is totally understandable! There are some things I put into canisters for that reason.

But, in these videos, they take prepackaged, single serve snacks and line them up neatly in a plastic container.

 

[teachnkids]

I only repackage after something is open. I don’t want bugs and it stays fresher, so I keep containers drs for chips, cookies, crackers, cereal.

I’m not interested in repackaging juice and other things! Those videos are annoying. If you don’t like my biggie of tide sitting out in the laundry room go home!

 

[LaFish]

No

Bookgeek and I could be twins. I do the same thing.

 

[NJ Teacher]

Some things I do…

My berries last longer in a plastic container with a paper towel to absorb moisture, the same thing with salad mixes. My dog’s food goes in a lidded canister. Most other products that I have are fine in the original packaging.

 

[sevenplus]

I don't, but I do sometimes take snacky, prepackaged foods (granola bars, fruit leather, etc.) out of their boxes and toss them (not neatly lined up) in a general snack bin.

I do this because it's easier for my younger son to access that way and also because my teenager is the worst for taking the last item and leaving the empty box in the pantry. Then I don't realize we're out of something.

 

[PoohBear]

I think it’s smart to put kids snacks in an easily identifiable, easily accessed bin but I keep thinking most of those containers are a waste of space as the food is used. I do have things that are not used daily (rice,flour, sugar, oats, chocolate chips) in canisters because it keeps them fresh longer.

If you watch the restock TikToks you might enjoy this woman. She does blind reacts and they’re pretty funny.

https://www.tiktok.com/@tiffandcari/video/7101696618226879786?_t=8UaDuvBV3fP&_r=1

 

[Keltikmom]

Kitchen organization

I tried putting all my produce in separate see through containers. Ran out of space in fridge before putting away half the produce.

Now it just goes in in the bag.

 

[anabel12]

The TikTok was funny! What cracks me up about these videos is that the "restocking" is all done with one hand with very long nails!

 

[PEPteach]

I love that video, Poohbear!

Yes, I can see why it can be helpful with certain items or if bugs/freshness could be an issue!

 

[letsgomets]

I want to see

an organizing TikTok with some older person (like me) putting stuff away into older Tupperware containers (like I have). Then maybe I could relate to it. I keep flour and sugar and such in Tupperware - old Tupperware. Like from the 80s and 90s Tupperware. (And it works just fine.)

 

[PoohBear]

restocking" is all done with one hand with very long nails!

There’s an ASMR component to a lot of these restocking videos and the long nails and cap flips are for the clicking noise.

I know way too much about tiktok

 

[Ima Teacher]

But, in these videos, they take prepackaged, single serve snacks and line them up neatly in a plastic container.

Actually, I do that, too. Things like string cheese, juice boxes, balanced break snack packs, pickle pouches, single serve snacks, etc. do get put into clear bins in the fridge or baskets in the pantry because they need to be corralled somehow. Otherwise they take up too much room.

 

[Haley23]

I've seen those videos! While it does look nice, I too am in the camp that it's a waste of time and money (to buy the separate containers). I don't see the point of packaging items that were already packaged.

I would like to do a better job of washing, cutting and storing my produce right away. I often wait until I want to eat it and then I put off eating it because I'm not in the mood or too busy to prepare it.

My mom does this! As soon as she brings grocery bags in, she puts out cookie sheets lined with paper towels, washes everything, dries it on those (because it can mold early if you put it back wet) and then puts it all away- back in the original containers though!

I have to admit there is an added convenience of just being able to grab fruit and things from the fridge, knowing it's already been washed when I'm visiting home. But I'm not willing to put in all of that effort ahead of time in my own house . It feels like less work overall to quickly wash one serving right before I eat it.

 

[MKat]

I'm in the "waste of time and money" camp. I do divide meat into meal sized portions to freeze and try to store produce in way to make it last well. That's enough organizing for me.

I do have canisters for sugar and flour, but don't refill until the next time I bake and the last of the previous batch is gone.