Best Kitchen Storage Jars and Containers in Egypt for Rice, Legumes, and Spices

Glass, stainless steel, or plastic?

• Glass: You can see what's inside, it doesn't hold odors, and it washes well. But it's heavy and breaks, so it needs a stable shelf, not too high.
• Stainless steel: Doesn't break, and is opaque so it keeps light away from coffee, tea, and spices. But you won't know the amount from the outside until you open it.
• Plastic and acrylic: Light, cheap, and suitable for large quantities and high shelves, but it scratches and can hold odors over time. Choose the thick one labeled as food-safe on the product page.

The truly airtight lid

It's all about the lid. A lid with a silicone or rubber ring, or a metal clasp pressing on a gasket, is what keeps out moisture and insects. A wooden or bamboo lid without a ring is just for decoration. If the lid has no wood, test it: put a little water in the jar, close it, turn it upside down over the sink, and if it leaks, it's not airtight. The silicone ring is removable, so wash and dry it well before putting it back, because any moisture under it creates an odor.

Sizes: Rice, sugar, lentils, and spices

A rough estimate: a 1-liter jar holds a little less than 1 kilo of rice or sugar, and much less than that for flour and pasta because they take up more volume. For a family that buys by the kilo, 1 to 1.5-liter jars for rice, sugar, lentils, and fava beans are enough. If you buy in a sack, get 2 to 3-liter containers, and keep the rest in a tightly closed bag. Spices need small jars from 100 to 200 ml, because their aroma decreases over time, so buy them in small quantities and renew them.

Weevils and ants in the kitchen

• Weevils usually come with rice, lentils, and flour from the store itself, so inspect the bag before emptying it, and if you see insects or webs, don't mix it with the old batch.
• Many people put the new bag in the freezer for a few days before emptying it into the jar.
• Don't add the new batch onto the old one in the same jar: finish the old one, wash and dry the jar well, then fill it.
• An airtight seal keeps ants away from sugar and honey, and moisture away from salt and spices.
• Keep the jars away from the stove and the window exposed to sunlight, because heat and moisture ruin stored items.

Stickers and organization

Label each jar with its contents and purchase date, especially things that look alike: sugar and salt, flour and starch, cumin and dry coriander. The printed stickers that come with spice sets are useful, and if you don't like them, write with a marker or masking tape. Arrange your shelves: daily items in front and at hand level, and large supplies and heavy jars down low.

Cleaning jars between refills

Wash the jar with hot water and soap, rinse it well, and leave it upside down until it is completely dry inside before filling it, because any drop of water with rice or flour creates lumps and a musty odor. A jar with a strong spice odor like cumin and curry should be washed with water and baking soda, or kept for the same spice afterwards. Wipe wooden lids with a damp cloth only and dry them immediately.

Check before you buy

• Capacity in milliliters for each jar, not the number of pieces, because sometimes the whole set is just small jars.
• Lid type: Does it have a silicone ring or not, and how is it washed?
• Glass usually goes in the dishwasher, while wooden and bamboo lids do not, so read the instructions for each jar.
• Inspect the glass as soon as it arrives and count the pieces, and take a photo of any crack while opening the box.
• Check who the seller is and their ratings, because there are many sets with the same picture and different names.