Copco Food Storage Containers

Start with the size, not the lid

Most pantry mistakes happen when a container is picked by looks and the bag of flour doesn't fit. Here is what the three canister sizes in the catalog take.

• 2.74 qt — a full 5-pound bag of flour, sugar or rice, in the clear cabinet canister with a locking lid.
• 2.8 qt — the same shelf of staples in the Food and Organization shape, which is built to stand side by side with its siblings.
• 4.75 qt — the tallest canister: family-size cereal, oats, bulk pasta, dry pet food.

At the last check the 4.75-quart cereal canister was $25.99 and the 2.74-quart canister $12.99.

Two ways a lid closes

Flip-top with a double gasket

The 4.75-quart cereal canister closes with a single press on a double gasket. The flip-top opens with one hand, so you pour straight into a bowl instead of lifting the top off.

Locking and airtight lids

The 2.74-quart cabinet canister slides shut and locks, and its base sits on the canister below — that is what lets a stack stand in a deep cabinet without leaning. The 2.8-quart Food and Organization container uses an airtight lid tight enough for a container that travels in a bag.

Silicone bags instead of a rigid box

Three silicone bags sit alongside the canisters: a small one at 16.9 ounces, a medium at 33.8 ounces, and a set that pairs the two. They are food-grade silicone with a closure that holds liquids, and they bend to fit a drawer, a lunch bag or a backpack where a box would not go.

The bags are listed as freezer and dishwasher safe on the top rack, and they can be hand washed. Use them for freezing fruit, reheating a portion or packing lunch; keep the canisters for the shelf.

Keeping dry goods fresh and visible

Clear walls and lids show the contents and how much is left before you open anything. That's how a half-used bag of rice stops turning into a second one.

The cereal canister and the Food and Organization container are BPA-free, food-safe plastic. To keep flour and cereal fresh, close the gasket or the lock fully, keep the containers away from the stove, and use the oldest first. Dry the gasket before closing, or moisture gets sealed in with the rice.

Where containers end and bins begin

A food storage container keeps its contents sealed; a bin keeps things grouped. For fridge bins, can bins and bag organizers, see storage bins. For jars of cumin and paprika, the tiered racks in cabinet and spice organizers work better than another canister.