Proper storage jar

How to find the right storage jar for your specific dry goods

The right storage jar is the one that fits the food you want to organize and the space you have available. There isn't one jar that is right for everything. If you have flour, pasta, and grains in large quantities, you should look for the large jars. If you have coffee, tea, or nuts in half-open bags, go for the smaller ones. And if you have a kitchen counter or a shelf where the jars will be on display, both the shape and the appearance of the lid will affect how organized it all looks.

Our jars are available in square models from 500 ml up to 2000 ml and in two round sizes of 400 ml and 1500 ml. The lid comes in light wood and darker acacia wood, so you can choose the one that suits your kitchen. Below, we go through how to choose the right size, when square beats round, what the lids mean for your food, and how to make it all work together as one system. You are not the only one standing in the supermarket wondering if there is more pasta at home. That is exactly the doubt the right jar removes.

How to choose the size for flour, pasta, coffee, and spices

The size determines whether the jar gets used or just sits there. A jar that is too small for flour means you are constantly refilling and still have a bag standing next to it. A jar that is too large for coffee means the coffee will go stale before you reach the bottom.

As a rule of thumb, a standard one-kilo bag of flour or a bag of pasta fits well in our Square storage jar with light wooden lid 1800 ml, and if you have large quantities, the jar is also available as a Square storage jar with light wooden lid 2000 ml. For grains, rice, sugar, and oats, the Square storage jar with light wooden lid 1000 ml works well. And for coffee beans, tea, nuts, or smaller portions, the Square storage jar with light wooden lid 500 ml is the size you will use most often.

If you need jars for spices, these jars are too big. Spices are better served in our smaller spice jars, which are made for the exact amount and space a spice drawer or shelf provides.

Square or round

The shape is all about space. Square jars stand side by side without gaps, which is why most people choose them for a cabinet or shelf where space needs to be utilized. You can simply fit more jars into the same depth, and the front creates a clean, unbroken row.

Round jars take up more width, but they are nice to have out on display, and they are easier to reach into with a spoon or your hand because there are no corners where flour or sugar can gather. If you prefer the round look, the jar is available as a Round storage jar with light wooden lid 1500 ml for larger quantities and a Round storage jar with light wooden lid 400 ml for what you use less of. Our full selection of square storage jars is the place to start if you prefer the space-saving solution for your cupboard.

How the wooden lid keeps your dry goods dry and fresh

What determines how long flour and grains last is the seal of the lid. Wooden lids on storage jars typically have a silicone ring on the inside that seals tightly against the glass rim, keeping air and moisture out. It is this seal that keeps dry goods dry and protects against bugs, and it is the reason why the jar keeps food fresher than an open bag with a clip on it.

Always wipe the silicone ring clean when you wash the lid, and let it dry completely before putting the lid back on. The lid itself is not dishwasher-safe like the jar, as the wood needs care to last. The glass itself, however, can be washed without concern and will not be discolored by tomato, turmeric, or coffee, as plastic tends to be over time.

If the seal fails on a jar you have had for years, you do not need to buy an entire new set. We sell replacement parts like the Replacement part 1000 ml square storage jar without lid, so you only replace the part that is broken.

Light wooden lid or acacia

The two lid types do exactly the same thing in practice. The difference is the look. The light wooden lid is neutral and calm, almost disappearing into a bright, Nordic kitchen. Acacia wood has a darker, more vivid grain, and because it is a natural material, no two lids are exactly alike. If you want warmth and contrast, acacia is what you should choose.

Both are available in the same sizes, so you can mix and match as needed. If you want to start with acacia, the jars are available from the Square storage jar with acacia wooden lid 500 ml up to the Square storage jar with acacia wooden lid 2000 ml. The most important advice is to stick to one of the two types throughout the kitchen. It is the uniformity of the lids that provides the calm, cohesive look, not the individual jar.

How to build a complete system instead of buying one jar at a time

A single beautiful jar does not make much of a difference. It is when the whole shelf or cupboard is uniform that you get an overview and the peace of mind that comes with it. Therefore, it is often easier to tackle the entire shelf at once rather than collecting jars a few at a time.

If you want to get started quickly, we have storage jar package solutions where sizes are pre-selected. If you need to outfit an entire pantry or a deep shelf, there is a Large package solution – 20 square storage jars with light wooden lid and the corresponding Large package solution – 20 square storage jars with acacia lid.

You do not have to turn the whole kitchen upside down at once. Start with the one shelf that annoys you the most, often the one with flour, sugar, and grains, and build from there. With just a few simple steps, you make it very hard for clutter to thrive.

How to make the jars easy to identify with labels

Uniform jars have one downside: flour and icing sugar look alike, and two types of grains can be hard to tell apart from a distance. A label solves this. With a label on the front, you can see exactly what is in each jar immediately without removing the lid, and that is the detail that ensures the system lasts in everyday life and not just for the first week.

We have labels in a clean, uniform style that matches the look of the jars. Apply them at the same height on all jars, and the row will look completely calm. If you need inspiration on how to approach this, you can read our guide to labels for dry goods - get organized in jars, drawers, and on shelves.