Galley Rebuild - Storage Containers

[Terry Etapa]

I'm converting a salmon troller to a pleasure boat. This winter, I plan on finishing up the galley lockers. I'm interested in ideas on food storage, and sources for food storage containers.

Also, any other tips/hints on galley storage would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Terry

[Weyalan]

Write on top of your canned goods with an indelible marker.
Store your canned goods (and other heavy foods) as low as possible and your light stuff higher up.

[Entlie]

I try not to use round containers. Square or rectangular is most space-saving. I buy the plastic containers at Target with gaskets and lock down lids to store flour and other dry provisions. Add a bay leaf to each, and never had any bugs (it doesn't change the flavor). They have bounced off the pantry shelf and one even landed in the dog's water dish once with no leakage or damage.

We take months of provisions with us, and store canned goods in large plastic boxes with locking lids in an unused berth with the mattress removed and left at home. Boxes are labeled, (Bake Mix, Vegetables, Meat and Fish, Breakfast Stuff, Snack Box, etc.) and we use a boat hook to move them around for easier access. We write our grocery list on a white board in the galley, and every week or 10 days do a "pantry dive" to get things out of the boxes. Goods we are going to use soon goes in the pantry lockers, and the rest stays dry and out of the way in the plastic boxes. The inventory of the boxes is on an excel spread sheet - printed in a three-ring notebook for easy access. I don't keep track of what is used on the spread sheet - too anal, and I can remember it in my head pretty much.

Any boxed provisions (cake mixes, cereals, etc.) toss the box and store the mix in a ziplock bag with the cooking direcctions cut off the box. Most of the time we buy bagged rather than boxed, but still double seal with a ziplock.

Our daughter gave us a small food saver vaccuum packer which we have on board. We use a bigger one at home for things we bring on board in our original provisioning. If we hadn't been practically skunked last cruise in the fishing department, I think the small food saver would have been nice to have. We keep it in an obscure place where not much else will fit.

Entlie

[Terry Etapa]

Has anybody used Vacuvin?

http://www.vacuvin.nl/dining.html

[Pblais]

Has anybody used Vacuvin?

My wife just got some. Too soon to tell how well they work. So far they seem fine for things that just flat out are hard to store like sugar.

SHe also just found some new Tupperware that stores totaly flat when not in use.

[jstevens]

A great source for food storage containers is the Container Store if you've got one in your area.
I've used Vacuvin for years, but only to seal open wine bottles.

John