My New "Power" Rack

[Kaido]

Yeah baby!

Ultimate convenience - two metal wire racks, top half for perishable supplies in easy-access containers, bottom half for cooking tools (George Foreman grill, electric steamer, Wok, etc.). I love plastic containers because they're airtight and have easy access (large lids or pour spouts). I'm storing whole grains - brown rice and whole wheat flour, dry cereal, whole-wheat pasta, protein powder, natural peanut butter, steel-cut oatmeal, canned tuna and chicken, rice milk, condiments, rice cakes, etc.

Underneath I also have an electric deli slicer and a FoodSaver vacuum-sealing machine, so I can slice meats (big savings for sandwiches!) and store them without freezer burn. The FoodSaver is also a beast for storing pre-cooked meals, so I can grill chicken or fish, cook up some brown rice, and steam my veggies, then make my own "TV dinners" and toss them in the freezer (you can get FoodSavers cheap on eBay, they're like Bowflexes - people use them once then they sit forever!).

It only takes me about 20 minutes in the morning to cook all 6 meals for the entire day. I have a tiny kitchen and only a small handful of cabinets, so the wire racks and plastic containers were essential for giving me quick and easy access to my cooking tools and supplies. At night before bed, I get out whatever tools and dry supplies I'm going to use, that way when I wake up I can start cooking right away. If you're like me and are kind of dozy when you first wake up and aren't ready to eat breakfast or exercise for the first little bit, then this is a good time do to the cooking. Cooking is easy even when you're groggy if you have everything ready to go like this! The actual cooking part is mostly automatic thanks to the George Foreman grill, electric veggie steamer, and rice cooker.

I store Tupperware containers in the cabinets. A pair of the round ones with dividers plus some of those little Smart Spin one-lid-fits-all plastic containers can handle the day's meals easily, so it's nice and compact and easy to carry. It also makes cleanup a snap because I can just rinse them out or throw them in the dishwasher when I get home. The plastic containers are also nice because I can store a couple month's worth of food so that I don't have to shop as much. Really the only fresh stuff I get now are some tomatoes & a head of lettuce, so it's a quick trip into the grocery store once a week, plus a shopping trip to Sam's Club to stock up every couple months.

Just thought I'd share :thumbsup:

 

[ubercaffeinated]

i love the utility, and anal retentive organization. i definitely approve.

 

[VCIDJ]

soy protein?

 

[Kaido]

Originally posted by: VCIDJ
soy protein?

dairy allergy = no whey

 

[SKC]

that is awesome.. and beginning to inspire me to do something similar. More pics please?

Also - using the foodsaver,do you just throw all the food (veggies, meats, etc.) in the bag and seal it?

 

[Kaido]

Originally posted by: SKC
that is awesome.. and beginning to inspire me to do something similar. More pics please?

Also - using the foodsaver,do you just throw all the food (veggies, meats, etc.) in the bag and seal it?

That's pretty much it - just a pair of sturdy wire racks with a lot of plastic containers and appliances. I am a big fan of using appliances - they really make my life a lot easier! I use a few different types of containers...I like plastic containers because they prevent spills, they're easy to close, they pour consistently, they keep out bugs, and they keep food fresher longer. Plus they're transparent so you can see how much is left, and some of them are air-tight! Here is what I use:

1. Buddeez "Bag In Cereal" Dispenser: I've been trying to cut cereal out of my diet in favor of non-boxed stuff, but I do keep Cheerios on hand for a quick emergency meal. These are handy for stuff like pasta, cereal, oatmeal, and baked potato chips. Just rip the bag open, pour inside, and push the lid down. No fuss and no access for bugs! Amazon link

2. Click-Clack "Michael Graves" Edition Container: These are no longer made and I haven't found any real good substitutes yet. Basically it's like a bucket with an air-tight lid. There are regular Click-Clack containers, but I really liked the Michael Graves collection models because of the hinge design - it was a butterfly hinge that was really easy and effortless to operate. I want more but I'm still looking for an equivalent replacement. These are good for things that you need to scoop to measure, like whole-wheat flour or brown rice. The mouth on top is extra-wide so you can easily fit your hand and a measuring cup inside with no fuss. I hate using the paper bags that flour comes in because it always makes a mess.

3. Smart Spin containers: Yes, these are the "As Seen on TV" models. You can pick them up at Target or Walmart for like $15. I have two sets. They come in 3 sizes - small, medium, and tall, plus a crappy spinning tray to put them on. The tray is crappy and cheap plastic, but it does the job and the containers themselves are good. The best part about the Smart Spin containers is that they all have the same size lid, so you never have to go hunting for the correct lid to put on them. I use these for EVERYTHING. If I slice a tomato and have extra, I throw them in one. If I make tuna salad and I have extra, I throw it in one. They're great that way! And you can microwave them, freeze them, refrigerate them, and put them in the dishwasher! Really a very good deal at $15! Amazon link

4. Tupperware meal containers: These are plastic containers too, but they have rubbery lids, which is nice for sealing foods in for your daily meals. They have all kinds of shapes and sizes, I usually use the round plate-sized containers that have 3 ridges inside for dividing food. I can sometimes fit 2 meals in one of those containers. These are nice because they're pretty much spill-proof thanks to the rubbery lids and you can throw them in the dishwasher at night.

I hope I'm not over-explaining this...I mean, it's not rocket science, but I didn't grow up in a very organized household kitchen-wise, so having this level of convenience is a big deal for me :thumbsup: Because of the plastic containers, food supply management is really easy, cooking is really easy, and cleaning up is really easy. Coupled with my appliances (George Foreman grill, electric steamer, etc.), it makes cooking a snap!

For the FoodSaver, it depends. I have a small roll and a wide roll of bags, so I can cut the small rolls into individual-sized wrappers. I like doing small bags when I have time because then I can mix & match the meals for variety. For example, when I grill burgers, I usually do a whole bunch and then freeze them individually so I get a tasty pre-cooked single-server patty ready to heat & eat. Sometimes I do whole meals, where I'll put in say chicken, rice, and broccoli, all pre-cooked, then it's like having a healthy TV dinner, with no preservatives. On the flip side, I do go through a lot of meat & veggies, so for veggies I usually get the 4-pound bags from Sam's Club and then just use the included zipper-seal because it's usually gone within a month anyway.

 

[SKC]

Originally posted by: Kaido

Originally posted by: SKC
that is awesome.. and beginning to inspire me to do something similar. More pics please?

Also - using the foodsaver,do you just throw all the food (veggies, meats, etc.) in the bag and seal it?

I hope I'm not over-explaining this...I mean, it's not rocket science, but I didn't grow up in a very organized household kitchen-wise, so having this level of convenience is a big deal for me :thumbsup: ..

for the organizationally-challenged, like me -- your post is perfect (hence my request for more pics haha). And you linked to Amazon, the official store of my apartment. :thumbsup: to you. THANK YOU!!