What Food Containers In Dry Storeroom Must Be Labeled?

An underrated aspect of food storage is how important labels can be. In a dry storeroom, you must label your food containers the right way.

There are four primary container types in dry storerooms. Each of these containers should be labeled appropriately. The four containers include glass, plastic, canned goods, and vacuum-packed bags like Mylar Bags. Labeling these containers ensures you never eat spoiled food and keep everything organized.

When storing food in your dry storeroom, correctly labeling containers is important to remember to ensure you avoid eating spoiled food or running out of food in general. We have listed the four types of containers you must label in your dry storeroom. This guide will also discuss the information you should include on each label too.

Helping families build out reliable dry storerooms for food is something our experienced team has done a lot. One of the most forgotten things is to label your containers properly. In this guide, you will learn about what food containers in your dry storeroom must be labeled.  

What Food Containers In Dry Storerooms Must Be Labeled?

Dry food storage typically consists of four primary types of containers. These are the four most important you should rely on, and all four should be labeled accordingly. By labeling your containers the right way, you ensure that food will be stored longer and nobody in your household will ever accidentally eat spoiled ingredients.

Glass Jars

Glass jars are an excellent option for your dry storeroom. They come in a variety of shapes and sizes to make them easy for storage and can hold many different foods. We highly recommend always labeling all of your glass jars.

The type of label can vary. You can make pre-made labels and attach them to the front of the jar, or you can buy an oil-based market and directly write on the jar for easy visibility.

Some of the best glass jars you can use are Anchor Hocking Mason Jars. They maintain a consistent look in your pantry, and they come with airtight lids for reliable storage.

If you prefer not to write directly on the jar, you can always write your label on the lid instead. Most lids are big enough to include all of the necessary labeling information too.  

Plastic Containers

Plastic containers are reliable and completely safe to use in your dry storeroom. It is best to keep plastic away from sunlight, as we always recommend dry storeroom areas be dark and cool at consistent temperatures.

When your food experiences extreme temperature fluctuations or sunlight, it could cause the food to spoil much quicker. Plastic containers are also easier to label because you can use a marker directly on them or place a premade label anywhere on the container.

We typically always recommend avoiding the sticky labels, though, and using a marker directly on the container. You can use a dry erase marker on plastic and wash it off later if you decide to put something different in this container after consumption.  

Canned Goods

Most people never even consider labeling purchased canned goods. They come with the food type and expiration date, so why bother? However, we think it is important still to include a label for your reference in the future.

This also applies to any foods you canned at home. By adding a label with the date you are storing the food in your dry storeroom, you can track your food better.

We even recommend keeping a spreadsheet or notebook that tracks everything you add or remove. This makes labeling even more important so you can stay on top of everything you have in storage to avoid a future shortage.  

Vacuum Packed and Mylar Bags

If you are including long-term storage in your dry storeroom, vacuum sealing, and Mylar bags are staples to your storage strategy. Both methods can store food for many years and keep your dry foods fresh. But they absolutely must be labeled.

Unlike other containers, they are not typically see-through so you are unaware of the food type inside. This is why labels must include the type of food you stored and the date on which it was stored.

These bags should be labeled on both sides with either a permanent marker or a premade label that is written in dark ink and easily readable. It is also recommended to put the labels on the lower half of the bag to make it easier to read when bags are stacked on shelves.

By double labeling, you can ensure that if one is damaged over many years in storage, you still have another option to know what is in your packaging.  

What Information Should I Include On The Label?

There are five primary components you can and should include on your labels. These requirements are the food type, amount of food, any vital nutritional information, storage date, and expected expiration date.

Not all foods may require every label component. For example, canned food labels are much simpler than the rest, especially if the cans are pre-bought.

However, these components become more important for long-term food storage in containers like vacuum-sealed bags or Mylar bags. This is because once you open these foods, the seal is broken, and you may be forced to consume all of the food before it goes bad.

When writing down the dates on your label, include the following:

• Date food was made
• Use by date
• Date food was put into the dry storeroom

By including all three, you can keep better track of your storage and ensure you never get stuck eating spoiled foods. This is the best way to maintain your dry storeroom effectively while keeping everybody in your home safe.

If you prefer to keep things neater, you can find removable write-off food labels on Amazon. They structure everything you need so you can simply fill in the blanks and place the labels on your containers. These labels are designed to make things easier for you and peel off with ease to avoid staining or ruining any containers.