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How to organise food storage containers

Containers are kitchen essentials — to store leftovers, bring lunch to work or school, or organise your fridge and pantry — but the clutter they cause can be a real nuisance. Get rid of the frustrating mess of mismatched containers and missing lids and check out how you can get them sorted once and for all.

A white-tiled pantry has IVAR shelves of natural pine with full and empty glass jars and plastic containers stored on them.
A white-tiled pantry has IVAR shelves of natural pine with full and empty glass jars and plastic containers stored on them.

How do you declutter food storage containers?

First, take out every item and assess what you already have at home. Get rid of broken or miscoloured containers and the ones that lack a matching lid. Then take some time to identify your habits — they determine how many food storage containers you need. Replenish your stock so that you’ll always have the right solution for every occasion.

  • If you bring packed lunches to work or school, or if weekend picnics are your thing, you’ll benefit from light plastic containers in different sizes, with tight lids.
  • Are you used to preparing a week’s worth of meals to keep in the fridge and reheat? Oven-safe glass containers are ideal for you. Just put the container straight into the oven or microwave oven when it’s time for dinner.
  • Eager to decrease accidental food waste? With transparent containers you’ll always know what you have at home, encouraging you to use the food that you buy. Tight lids make both raw ingredients and leftovers stay fresh for longer.
  • If you like a touch of nature in your kitchen, containers with lids of wood or bamboo can be just what you’re looking for. The aesthetically appealing lids can be used as trivets to protect your table from heat damage.
  • Are you enjoying canned fruits and pickled vegetables from your own garden? Glass jars and bottles will keep them tasty through the winter months.


When you’ve decided what kind of containers you need, it’s time to solve the next big issue — how to organise them when they’re empty.

Several food storage containers of different types are stacked on a worktop, including colourful GARNITYREN bowls with lids.

Prep your kitchen with essential containers

Whether for the pantry, fridge or freezer, there’s a container for every storage need. With plenty to choose from, you can get exactly what you want. Leak-proof and air-tight? We’ve got you covered. Made of glass, metal or plastic? Check. Oven and dishwasher safe? They’re in there. Browse to discover more!

See all food storage containers
See all food storage containers

How do you organise containers in a drawer?

A kitchen drawer is an excellent place for empty food containers, as you get an eagle-eye’s view and will quickly find what you’re looking for. With some practical and affordable accessories, you can get organised in no time:

  • Drawer dividers prevent containers from sliding around and getting disorganised or chipped. The dividers are easy to adapt to the height of the drawer and can be moved around to fit your needs. Here, containers are placed in one compartment and the lids are sorted according to type in the other two.
  • A pegboard is another way to organise the drawer, keeping all items neatly separated and easy to find. The adjustable pegs make it easy to customise the drawer according to content.
  • If you have glass containers, you may want to consider a drawer mat to protect both the kitchenware and the drawer from scratches.

Whether you’re using a drawer divider or a pegboard, it’s best to store the lids vertically. It allows them to airdry if they’re still a little wet after the washing up and you can easily find the one you’re looking for.

A kitchen cabinet has two drawers, one with drawer dividers and one with a pegboard, where containers and lids are stored.
Bye bye clutter!

-20% on IVAR, BROR and OMAR storage systems

-20% IKEA Family discount on our IVAR, BROR, and OMAR storage systems.
Valid from March 16 to March 31, 2026.
Offer also valid for IKEA Business Network members.

Bye bye clutter!

Divide and conquer — turn one drawer into many sections

Pegboards and drawer dividers aren’t the only way to sort containers. If you prefer, you can put the lids in a basket or use a pot lid organiser with customisable length based on your storage needs. With versatile and affordable accessories, the drawer holding your containers will stay blissfully organised.

See all drawer dividers
See all drawer dividers

Container storage in a cabinet

If you want to keep your empty containers, jars and bottles in a cabinet instead, there are clever and budget-friendly solutions you can use to divide the space in an optimal way and maintain a good overview. Forget frustrating games of kitchen Tetris to fit everything in! You’ll thank yourself every time you open the cabinet door and are able to find exactly what you need at once.

  • Shelf inserts of different widths and heights add more usable storage surface in an instant, allowing you to use the entire height of the cabinet without having to stack things on top of each other. That way you won’t have to deal with an avalanche of containers and lids if you want a specific container at the bottom.
  • Wire baskets which can be clipped onto the shelves are perfect for lids and for storing empty water bottles or thermoses that tend to roll around. The beauty with wire baskets is that you can see what’s inside them, even if they’re placed high up in a cabinet. And best of all — both shelf inserts and wire baskets come in different sizes and can be moved around to meet your ever-changing needs.

A white kitchen cabinet with shelves has several kitchen items stored on VARIERA shelf inserts and in PÅLYCKE wire baskets.

Set up your pantry

A kitchen pantry, or a larder, is a great place for storing bulkier items that take up a lot of space, or things that you only use occasionally or seasonally. If you’re an avid gardener who like to preserve fruits and veggies for the colder time of the year, you’ll need a lot of space for the full jars and bottles from last season. And as you empty them, one by one, you’ll need to find a safe and clean place to store them until the next harvest.

  • Start with a robust wooden shelfing unit. Choose a solution with adjustable shelves that can be moved and adapted to suit your needs. Add as many units as you need (and have space for).
  • Sturdy bottle racks protect both the full and empty bottles from falling over and getting scratches. They also give a great overview so that you know how many bottles are full and how many are empty.
  • Large plastic containers with lids allow you to keep all your glass jars in one place, neatly sorted and protected from dust and dirt. They come in different sizes and are usually stackable.
  • Smaller jars and other little items find a designated place in wire baskets that you can attach to a shelf and easily move around — they’re out of the way, but easy to find when you need them.
  • Shelf inserts help you divide the taller pantry shelves, so that you can fit more things in without having to stack them.

IVAR shelves of pine are standing in a white-tiled pantry and they have glass jars and plastic containers stored on them.

Turn one shelf into two and maximise storage

Small kitchen? Stop wasting valuable cabinet space. You can do magic in your kitchen with small means, at affordable prices. Drawer dividers and storage accessories allow you to use the entire height of your kitchen cabinets, and with all things in their designated places, you’ll easily find what you need.