I would suggest using what fits those things you have to store....and remember that a lot of bugs come with the package.
Also, bay leaves repel pantry bugs. I don't know how nor why, but those drawers and cupboards that have bayleaves strewn on the shelves have never had any sort of a weevel, moth worm or any other variety of pantry bug. Every year or so I replace them and put new bay leaves in the drawers and shelves....and all's good. But when I have anyone else helping in my kitchen, they invariably say..."Linda, do you know you must have a box of something broken? There's stuff all over!" LOL!
South Florida huh? think of me in January!!
Linda C

I just found these at CostPlus World Market last month and I like them very much. Too fun for all my changing pastas.

I also just saw them at Pier One for almost the same price.

Joe

Here is a link that might be useful: Chalk Talk glass containers

Christy, You mentioned stackable, that's been a tough find for me as they usually don't stack/nest when not in use. What I have found to be most helpful is to use the wasted head room space; I have added an extra shelf in almost all of my cabinets and in the pantry. As you can see in the photo below, had I not added the extra shelves, I would have had a lot of wasted space or I would have had to do a lot of stacking. I then use canisters that have a gasket and click in place.

Another really successful food storage method, although not stackable, is using the hand held FoodSaver jar sealer on all size Mason/Ball jars. Also, I've been reusing Sam's size pickle jars for various flour using the hand held jar sealer. You can seal these

King Arthur's catalog has a variety of sizes of containers,and you can also get them at a real restaurant supply store a lot cheaper. Nicely stackable, very nice comtainers.

Here is a link that might be useful: storage containers

I lost my entire pantry once when I first moved to South Florida. I invested in Tuppeware for most things. I use the cheap cereal storage containers and ziploc bags in addition to that. The tupperware is a little pricey but it lasts forever and it is stackable.

Where so you live in Florida?

If you have regular pest control spraying in your home, that is usually going to help control "pantry pests" - that and air-tight storage containers. Pantry pests can chew through plastic bags, so they aren't a good choice for long-term storage.

If you store dry pet food (even bird seed), you should also place it in an air-tight container. Dry pet food is often a source for pantry pests.

As the unofficial FoodSaver "Queen" (having used them for over 20-years for long-term storage), I have a large variety of FoodSaver storage canisters, as well as vacuum-sealed wide-mouth canning jars of all sizes, filled with all kinds of dry goods.

With the FoodSaver Universal Lids, you can turn nearly any container with a flat rim into a vacuum-sealed canister. I also store hundreds of pounds of grains in 5-pound amounts in FoodSaver bags, and have never had an infestation after 2+ decades of using this method. Using the vacuum-sealing method will also assure longer storage time.

Foods (tea bags, foods I dehydrate at home, beans/seeds/grains, pasta, sugar etc.) I keep in long-term storage in the basement, I vacuum seal these with the FoodSaver jar attachment and vacuum seal canning lids on the canning jars. When those items get moved from storage to the kitchen pantry, I replace the canning lid with a Universal Lid, which is very easy to vacuum-seal and re-open for use. You can also use the plastic screw-lids made for canning jars, if you no longer need a vacuum-sealed jar.

Oxygen-free food storage is the best for freshness and flavor, and preventing pantry pests (they need oxygen to live). I also favor glass storage containers over plastic containers. Fats in foods bond with plastic, especially during long storage in warm temperatures, which is impossible to get out of the container. The oxygen in the container then causes the bonded fat to go rancid, which can affect the flavor of other foods subsequently stored in that container.

-Grainlady

The ones I like best I found at the Container Store. Here is a link to the ones I use for sugar, etc.

Here is a link that might be useful: Container store storage

Thanks everyone :) My "pantry" is more like two kitchen cabinets stacked on top of each other, so the shelves are short like 2 cans stacked on top of each other or a spaghetti box standing up. They are adjustable, but that would also shorten another area. I guess bug spraying might have to be done, I've given my husband the go ahead to spray himself. I just have 2 small children, one is three and the other is 2 months - I really try to avoid poison. I could get away with that better in Maryland, but in S. Florida there are bugs!! Glass storage would certainly be my preference, but again with 2 small children - I can just hear the 'UH-OH'S!' now. Those King Arthurs look nice, and I have also peeked at the Snapware and OXO sets on Amazon. I mention Amazon because I have several GC from there to spend, and having just sold and bought a house in this market - we did lose out. Every little bit counts :) I'll check out that Universal lid and vacuum-sealing, I have no experience with that! Thanks :) Christy

Joanm, I'm in Pembroke Pines, just west of Pines and 75.

There are cannisters on amazon's friday sale today. Check it out.

Oxo Good Grips POP Storage Containers (5 1/2 quart)
http://www.amazon.com/Oxo-Square-2-Quart-Storage-Container/dp/B000VJ4560/ref=br_lf_m_548166_2_24_img?ie=UTF8&s=kitchen&pf_rd_p=486699371&pf_rd_s=center-5&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_i=548166&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=0ANMH4F743X2V1J4H566

and
Oxo Good Grips POP Rectangle 3-2/5-Quart Storage Container

http://www.amazon.com/Oxo-Rectangle-5-Quart-Storage-Container/dp/B000VJ08RK/ref=br_lf_m_548166_3_25_ttl?ie=UTF8&s=kitchen&pf_rd_p=486699371&pf_rd_s=center-5&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_i=548166&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=0CY6ZDCMR05XMCBS94FH

Personally I have glass containers from Dollar General with screw on lids in two different sizes, as well as Tupperware. I also use jars with lids that other foods come in, as well as other plastic containers that food came in. Basically, I use a lot of "free" containers.

Moni

Moni

To catch the stragglers I use Safer Brand's Pantry Pest traps, available at Home Depot for way less than the linked page shows.

Also, I too am a P-touch labeler fanatic! I love that they go through the dishwasher, unscathed.

Here is a link that might be useful: Safer Brands' Pantry Pest trap

Christy, I have square Tupperware for flour and sugar, and square Lock N Lock containers for things I use less, like rye flour and cornmeal.

Items like rice, barley, quinoa, couscous, nuts, chocolate chips, whatever, all go into those antique blue canning jars with screw on lids because I'm always spilling half a bag of lentils or something similar. I should label them, I suppose.....

I also put bay leaves in the pantry, I've heard varying theories on whether they work but they seem to do a pretty good job for me.

Annie

I also use lock n lock. I got mine from QVC. Go to their web site and do a search for them. They have so many different sets depending on your needs. Target??? might carry them too.

These are not see thru containers like glass, but you can get a pretty good idea of what is stored inside. They seal with silicone seals and stack nicely. whether used in pantries, freezers or fridges.

I love using them in my coolers, nothing leaks inside as the cooler ice melts.

I have seen glass containers that have these lock n lock seal tops at kitchen stores. I may ask for some of them for Christmas.

They say you can also microwave in them. I don't. I only use glass in my microwave.

I should probably mention that my infestation most likely came from the supermarket, not the Fl climate. You probably won't need to protect all those things on your list once you get comfortable living here. I was very paranoid when I first moved here but that went away pretty quickly. Now I catch critters and set them free if they happen to get in the house. For stuff like cookies and pop tarts you can start with the large ziplocs until you feel brave enough to not seal them up.

Unfortunately the bugs were here before we were. Like many homes for sale, this one was not lived in for several months and the bugs made it their own. I've already had sugar ants enter a few boxes, and would just rather invest in a decent food storage system now, instead of wasting a lot of plastic bags. I appreciate the ideas :) Christy

I'd recommend, whatever containers you choose, you start with just a few. Especially if you're considering square containers. I find that square containers, for some reason, don't always seal well enough to keep out little things like weevils--they can crawl right through the 'seal' if it's straight-sided. So 'audition' whatever you think will work best for you, just to make sure it's going to do the job, before you invest a lot of $$$ in it.

Personally, I like the heavier deli containers (available at the local bar/restaurant supply store for about .10-.15 each!) or heavy duty ziplock bags. Those items seem to do the trick for me, are reuseable, and aren't overly expensive.

About the only thing I worry about is flour. I put that in the freezer for a day then you can put it into a storage container and store in the frig. or in the pantry.
For sugar ants, go to HD and buy a product called "taro". You'll find that if you have your outside sprayed you won't get bugs in the house.

I use Tupperware and love it.

Because I play with so many different ethnic cuisines, I have LOTS of ingredients, in many different quantities. I also have a preference for screw top lids, ever since a truly horrible experience with cockroaches in my early twenties.

For years, I have used Classico spaghetti sauce as one of my few "convenience" foods, and save all the jars. These do great for all the legumes, seeds, nuts, spices, grains, candies, and the flours and sugars I don't buy in large quantities.

For my flours, grains and sugars I buy in greater bulk, I've got large, plastic screw top containers. Also, I buy my olive oil in a large plastic container with a narrow mouth with a pour spout and find those containers to be great for things like corn meal, couscous, and some tiny grains like millet or quinoa.

I like to reuse things, and the thrifty side of me just rebels at the idea of spending a lot of money on containers to store foods in and then throwing away a lot of containers I BUY food in!

I don't really label things...I just know what they are, but I suppose it would be a nightmare for anyone trying to cook in my kitchen.

I use TW also. Here is a hint for those that also use TW and you want a quick fix for labeling: dry-erase markers work great on the see-thru pane on the ends of the TW containers and then you just erase when you need to change the contents of the container. The TW containers are "Modular Mates" and are usually at a good discount in January.

Sugar ants:

Since I don't like spraying anywhere, anyhow - AnnT once told me to make a slurry of 1 part EACH boric acid (Home Depot under ant control, read the labels, cheap stuff), powdered or baker's sugar, and water. Usually 1/2 tsp each works for me. I put it on a sheet of aluminum foil near the trails - the ants eat it up, take it home to the queen, and next day they are gone. I do find repeat customers but I think those may be other nests following the old trails. They are usually dispatched the same way. Heck, when the slurry on my strip dries out, I just rewet it with a few drops of water and its loaded and ready to go again.

All those super-organized and labeled pantries are giving me a complex. Now I need clear stackable containers too :-/