Do you shop from the bulk bins? I get nearly half of my shopping list at the bulk bins these days, and I am trying to make this a little more convenient (and greener) by skipping the disposable bags and bringing my own containers. I buy just what I need and no more, and I eliminate a step because I don't have to fill up my jars at home. Only one issue: I need to know what my containers weigh.
For instance, I have this lovely tin from Fortnum & Mason's in London, which my friend brought me several years ago. The chai tea blend is long gone, but I use it now to store black tea from the bulk bins at the co-op. To weigh the tea and pay accurately, though, I need to know what is called the tare weight, or the weight of the empty container. It's a pain to weigh the tin every time I go to the store, so I finally just marked the bottom of the tin with the tare weight. Ta-da! Easy to remember, and very convenient.
I'm doing this to my other glass jars and containers that I store flour and sugar in.
Do you have any other tips or tricks to make shopping at the bulk bins more convenient?
Related: Conscientious Cook: Which Foods to Buy in Bulk
(Images: Faith Durand)
Posted originally from: TheKitchn
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We're not allowed to do this at our local bulk food store. :(
At Whole Foods you just have to give them your containers first and they write the tare weight on top with a piece of tape. Plus they give you a 10c credit.
On that, I write the bulk bin codes and reuse the same containers for the same items.
Sometimes when they're empty it's hard to remember what is in them, so I'll write on it with a Sharpie, which wipes off pretty easily.
My only problem per se, is that if the containers are over a lb (like a mason jar) they have to use a calculator which slows things down.
oh, this is so clever! all my spice jars are identical, so that helps heaps. thanks lots.
How are you weighing them? Postage scale or something?
Awwwwwwwwwww....that F & M tin takes me back to my life in England.
I can't use my own containers at the local store, but what I ended up doing was buying some ziplock bags and using those. Then when I get home I just put the items in to their containers, wash out the ziplock bags and put them away in box until the next time I need to buy bulk items. Not as great as using REAL reusable containers, but I've used the same zip locks over and over, and they are a lot easier to wash and reuse than the flimsy bags they have at the store. You can write right on the bag and you don't need to use a new twist tie each time! :)