How to Organize Tupperware and Food Storage Containers

If you’ve ever stared into a cabinet full of mismatched lids and wobbly stacks of containers and wondered if there is a better way to organize your Tupperware and food storage containers without losing your mind, you’re not alone. It’s amazing how quickly that cabinet or drawer can turn into a messy black hole, but I have a solution!

We’ve done a lot of DIY kitchen remodels over the years, and usually, I do things in the “aesthetic” order. I make it pretty first, with backsplash, hardware, and styling, and then months later, I circle back to figure out organization. For our latest fixer-upper, I flipped the script. I’m prioritizing smart storage before the pretty finishes, so this kitchen actually works for our family right away.

That’s how this custom cabinet came to be. Instead of leaving a big empty box under the counter, I built a vertical organizer for cutting boards on one side and a pull-out drawer system for our glass food storage containers and lids on the other. It looks custom because it is, and it finally solves that chaotic Tupperware cabinet problem for good.

Choose the Right Cabinet for Organizing Tupperware

When you’re trying to organize your kitchen, the biggest game-changer is storing things close to where you actually use them. Simple idea, huge impact. This cabinet sits right next to the fridge, so it’s the perfect spot for organizing all of our Tupperware-style food storage containers.

Step 1: Plan the Layout Inside the Cabinet

A big empty cabinet is one of the worst places for trying to organize smaller items like Tupperware food storage containers, so I turned it into two zones instead: vertical storage for cutting boards on the right and a custom pull-out organizer for containers and lids on the left.

Once the right side was set, I turned my attention to building my Tupperware organization on the left.

Step 2: Measure and Mark for Your Drawer Slides

First, I measured the space I was working with, checking width, depth, and height so this insert would be a snug fit. I also decided how much room I wanted above each pull-out shelf, planning for the heavier glass containers on the bottom and the lids on top.

With those measurements in hand, I used both my table saw and miter saw to cut 1/2 inch plywood to the sizes that I needed. Then, I marked the position for my two shelves directly onto the plywood side panels.

Step 3: Attach the Slides to the Side Panels

I laid the tall side pieces of plywood flat on the floor and used my drill to mount the cabinet half of each drawer slide. I lined the slides up with my marks, checked that both sides matched, and screwed them into place.

Step 4: Build the Tupperware Organizer Insert

Once the slides were attached, it was time to assemble the box. My go-to method for basic cabinet boxes is simple and strong:

• Wood glue anywhere two edges touch
• Brad nails to pin it together while the glue sets
• Screws to reinforce the joints long term

The brad nailer is perfect for this stage because it lets you hold pieces in place and tack them together one-handed. After the box is pinned together, I go back with screws for extra strength.

The real MVP is the wood glue. Once it has a chance to dry, the whole box feels solid and sturdy, which is exactly what you want when you are loading it up and organizing glass containers and Tupperware.

Step 5: Fit the Tupperware Organizer in the Cabinet

With the box assembled, I slid it into the cabinet next to the vertical cutting board insert. It fit nice and snug, so there was no need to attach it to the cabinet itself. If you want extra security, you can tie the two inserts together by running a couple of screws through each side where they meet, or even screw the insert into the cabinet box itself. It’s up to you.

Step 6: Build Simple Pull-Out Shelves for Containers and Lids

For the shelves, I cut 3/4 inch plywood to fit the width and depth of the box. These are simple flat pull-out trays. I attached the other half of the drawer slides to the sides of each plywood shelf so they could ride on the slides already mounted inside the box.

Step 8: Load Your Organized Tupperware Containers

These pull-out shelves are so strong, I loaded them up. The top shelf holds a bamboo box full of lids, sorted by size and color. The bottom shelf has neat stacks of all my glass food storage containers.

My Best Tip for Keeping Tupperware Organized

My number one tip for keeping your Tupperware containers organized is to commit to one kind of container.

When you have a random mix of sizes and brands, they do not stack well, and you end up with a pile of extra lids that do not fit anything. When you stick with one style, the containers nest, the lids match, and it is so much easier to keep everything tidy in a drawer or cabinet like this. If you’re in the market for a new set, I love this glass set! Way better than plastic in my opinion.

More DIY Kitchen Storage Projects

If you are on a mission to tame your cabinets, you might also like these projects:

• My vertical cutting board and sheet pan organizer in the same cabinet: DIY Cutting Board and Sheet Pan Organizer for Kitchen Cabinets
• The custom pot and pan storage drawer I built in another base cabinet: DIY Slide-Out Pots and Pans Storage for Cluttered Lower Cabinets

Little upgrades like this may not be as flashy as new backsplash tile, but they are the changes you feel every single day when you are cooking for your family.

That way, when you’re ready to tackle your own “Tupperware cabinet,” you will have all the steps handy.

FAQ: How to Organize Tupperware and Food Storage Containers