Some foodstuffs can be kept in sealable containers (like Rubbermaid, Tupperware, etc.). These include rice, brown sugar, potato flakes, dry skim milk powder, and our homemade hot chocolate mix.

We store white granulated sugar and Bisquick in larger containers like those shown at left, except we pour the foodstuffs directly in the clean containers (instead of keeping the bags inside).

Cereals should also be kept as airtight as possible to keep from going stale or absorbing moisture. This includes hot cereals (grits, Cream of Wheat, quick cook oats, etc.) and cold cereals. Malt-O-Meal^® cereals come in their own sealable bags, which makes closing very convenient.

Food-grade sealable plastic bags are good for food storage for other types of non-perishable dry foods like popcorn, sunflower kernels, nuts, dry beans and dry peas. We store saltine type crackers in their original plastic sleeves and use a twist tie to close sleeves that we have previously opened.

Pasta can generally be kept in original boxes. Spices can be kept in their original containers although some may be prone to clumping (especially garlic powder and onion powder).

It is very helpful if food storage containers:

• do not have much slope to their sides (especially the large ones, for maximum storage space within);
• have the same or nearly the same dimensions so that they can be stored near each other; and
• can be stacked neatly one on top of the other or next to each other.

It is also helpful if

• empty containers can nest inside each other and
• loose lids will snap onto each other (instead of just being loose).

We chose to buy the Rubbermaid food storage set shown at right and it was one of the best sets of food storage containers we have ever bought. The lids snap onto the bottom of the bowls when empty and nest together perfectly when placed together.

Not only that, but we experimented to see how airtight the lidded bowls were. After "burping" the air out of the container with its lid, we submerged it in the icy cold water in our ice chest. After having been there a number of hours, we noticed no leakage whatsoever. Very nice!

We finally hit upon a food storage solution that worked well consistently for raw eggs: using a medium-sized lidded storage bin and cloth dishcloths for cushioning.

We could stand about 9 eggs on top of a dish towel on the bottom layer, stand another 9 eggs on top of a second dish towel on the second layer (alternating them on top of the first layer) and lay the remaining 6 eggs (of the two dozen purchased) on top of a third dish towel, wrapping it over to prevent breakage from the lid.

There are occasions when baking when it is more convenient to use a starch-based egg substitute instead of an actual raw egg. For times like this, we have used Ener-G Egg Replacer, as shown at right, which requires no refrigeration. (Caution: this product is not to be substituted when the main ingredient in the dish is eggs.)

We purchased our box of egg replacement powder at a local health food store.

Disclaimer: We do not use this product in waffles or pancakes as our food has "stuck like mad" on our waffle iron or electric skillet.

We have tried numerous methods of storing fresh fruits and vegetables in our truck.

See here a photo of fresh vegetables we tried storing in an old shoe organizer on the back wall. It didn't work very well for a number of reasons, primarily because larger vegetables like lettuce and cauliflower couldn't fit in the sleeves. The lettuce shown here are smaller heads and the cauliflower cut up.

Also, we found that besides bananas, onions and potatoes, the majority of fresh fruits and vegetables need to be kept cool or cold.

Tomatoes, green peppers and cucumbers tend to go to mush pretty quickly if stored in plastic bags, even Green Bags and even if stored in a cool place.

Before Vicki joined Mike in the truck in 2009, he typically carried 6 gallons of water with him for drinking and cooking. When Vicki joined him, we increased the number of gallons of water that we took with us. (It increased even more when we started making our own ice.)

We noticed that the gallon-sized containers that water is sold in at many American grocery stores are flimsy indeed. So, we "invested" in sturdier jugs, such as those which are used for storing apple juice. 

It must be noted that all containers like these must be thoroughly cleaned prior to repurposing. 

After changing jugs, we didn't have to worry about the integrity of the plastic when we refilled them at water vending machines.

Money saving tip: Some people prefer to buy new off-brand plastic food storage containers from discount stores. Others prefer to buy pre-owned units at thrift or re-sale stores. If you opt for the pre-owned versions, just make sure that the bowls and lids fit each other.

Occasionally, you can find coupons for name brand plastic food storage containers in the Sunday newspaper. There are also online coupon sites where you may be able to find them.

There are differences in thicknesses of resealable plastic bags. "Freezer" bags have thicker walls than regular storage bags. Some bags have double seals which help prevent leaks of air or liquids.

Foods should be rotated and consumed according to age as there is a definite shelf-life to even non-perishable foods. Fresh foods should be eaten in a timely manner so as to prevent spoiling (and waste).

Some people are concerned about the ability to use storage containers in a number of settings such as refrigerator, freezer and microwave oven. Be aware that in some settings, plastic may not hold up well or may release chemicals into the food stored within. If this is a concern of yours, perhaps you should consider storing your food in other types of containers such as glass.

Beware of storing any kind of acidic food like tomatoes in a metal container.

We list food storage containers and bags on our free download named Shopping List.