Tuesday, January 09, 2007

Using your vintage Tupperware

You all know how I've been picking up Tupperware for quarters at yard sales. I'm obsessed with its retro, domestic appeal. No matter how much I collect, though, it's not doing me any good until I put it to work in my new kitchen. My first step was getting it organized.
I had a few too many canister styles for the pantry. I poured IQF blueberries (leftover from the muffin breakfast) into one for the freezer. The hard plastic sides should protect the berries better than that thin bag.We always have deviled eggs on hand for my husband's low carb snacks. The Tupperware deviled egg keeper (99 cents) is the only airtight container I've found that doesn't smush the filling. Once it's in the refrigerator, you can stack things on top of its flat surface.
I discovered the Tupperware pickle box on vacation. Within the box, the pickles sit on a flat strainer base; lifting the handle pulls the pickles out of their liquid. (Fewer finger germs, though I doubt many could live in pickle juice anyway.) We've been buying Claussen pickles with coupons, then adding fresh cucumber slices to marinate in the pickle box.

While I could probably recycle other containers, the sheer novelty of old Tupperware keeps me motivated in the "homemade kitchen." I suppose that's what Tupperware promised vintage housewives, too.
For a few more Tupperware posts from the archives, see below or click here.

14 comments:

Mom2fur said...

The deviled egg holder is cool! Frankly, for what new Tupperware costs, you've got the right idea sticking with 'vintage.'

TheNormalMiddle said...

Now that pickle holder is novelty! :)

Do your devilled eggs keep rather fresh? Mine seem to get gunky after a day or two in the fridge if we don't eat them (the yolk turns bright yellow and weird).

Meredith said...

They do in this container, unlike any other method I've tried, save flattening the filling with saran wrap to keep the air out. My only complaint about this container is that it holds moisture in the bottom of the egg wells. I've been after my husband to drill a teeny tiny hole in the bottom of each well with his Dremel tool, so that condensation can drip down to the bottom tray. We'll see.

Sarah E. said...

We always use the pickle box for storing carrots in the fridge. It makes the carrots nice and crispy and easy to snack on.

Alicia said...

I love your Tupperware collection. I have my Mom's old yellow canisters (not really a pretty shade.) And a friend just commented that hey hadn't seen a sugar scoop like mine in years. :^)

Anonymous said...

It's actually supposed to be a bad idea to keep recycling some kinds of plastic for food storage - Tupperware is fine, though, since that's what it's made for. Something about how things like the ubiquitous Cool Whip and butter containers will start deteriorating and leaching "stuff" into your food because they're not made for long-term reuse.

So, hey - on with Tupperware! I'll probably inherit my mom's vintage eventually - right now, I'll stick with my wedding gift Rubbermaids which are pretty good.

Anonymous said...

I, too, have a large collection of thrifted Tupperware. And I have found that it's worthwhile to store your Tupperware, even if you don't have an immediate use for it.

For example, I had stashed two of those devilled egg containers. (They were about $0.50 apiece at garage sales.) After reading your earlier post, we started using them for inexpensive snacks that even the kids can make.

I also had a large, ugly green Tupperware canister stashed in a difficult-to-reach cupboard. Well, last week I bought a breadmaker at the thrift store. Now that ugly canister holds bread flour.

Goslyn said...

Oh, I need one of those deviled egg containers! Of course, now my pregnant self is craving deviled eggs, and I'm at work and not able to make any. Thanks, Meredith :)

Someone Beautiful said...

I like Tupperware too! I've never bought any new either. Thanks for sharing your pics. I know what you mean by the feeling of enjoying them. :) The one thing I want is the storage tubs for organizing the pantry.

Anonymous said...

One problem with Tupperware freezer containers is that the older ones crackedsometimes. Mostly though it was when frozen they would fall on the floor. Of course Tupperware stands behind their products if it does crack. I have had many that did. They say the newer ones have been designed to with stand the cold better.

MommyLydia said...

OOoh! the devilled egg holder (minus the inserts. I'm not sure I ever had them) and the pickle holder are two of my favorite Tupperware dishes. We use the devilled egg holder for holding Brownies, cookies, and other baked goods.

(But who uses their fingers for pickles? that's what forks are for!)

Ah. My favorite can-be-bought today devilled egg holder is the Pampered Chef Chilzanne version.

Anonymous said...

When my grandmother passed away, we discovered she had TONS of brand new Tupperware. It was all still in the delivery bags with the receipts! So I got quite a few brand new pieces.

I love my deviled eggs holder. It is harvest gold but it is the best!

I also got a set of cannisters in orange(!). Harvest gold and orange are not my colors but since the canisters are just in the cupboard anyway and they work so well, I don't care! :-)

Anonymous said...

Ruth, in about three more years, you'll know who uses fingers to get pickles out of the jar : )

Anonymous said...

I'm desperate for a deviled egg holder.
Doesn't anyone manufacture them nowadays?