Lg Plastic Ice Cream containers for ice

**mojo999** · 01-08-2008, 12:05 AM

I save the large plastic containers with lids that ice cream comes in. When empty I wash them and freeze water (leave room to expand) in them in my freezer. They are easy to stack in the freezer. I always have extra ice that can be broken up when unexpected guest show up. Also can use in ice chest when traveling. I sometimes freeze water in smaller margarine bowls to use in ice chest as well. Can just put frozen bowl(s) in ice chest and then add your cans of soda. Be sure to keep lids on bowls so that when melting it isn't messy.
Saves on buying ice and bowls can be used over and over.

**Jskell911** · 01-08-2008, 06:50 AM

Sounds like a great idea, especially for the summer!

**Laurie in Bradenton** · 01-08-2008, 08:06 AM

I use them to freeze bulk items like strawberries and fruit wedges and slices. Love the fact that they stack in my freezer well. Also have used them for organizing my garage shelves. Light blubs in one, work gloves in another, sponges in a third.
Then I forward my extras to my Amish friends and when I visit she gives one back to me full of lard. They use them for all sorts of storage.

Laurie in Bradenton

**PrairieRose** · 01-08-2008, 08:10 AM

I've also used the butter bowls for freezing and using in coolers. They take a lot longer to melt, thus keeping the drinks or whatever cooler longer and don't muck up things in the cooler as bad either.

**northernmom2boys** · 01-08-2008, 08:42 PM

good tips
I am going to start keeping more containers

**faw42077** · 01-08-2008, 08:56 PM

Good tips ladies

**homemaker66** · 01-09-2008, 06:35 AM

I use them to take salads to someones cookout. Then you don't have to worry about not getting your dish back.

**watchingpennies** · 01-12-2008, 10:10 PM

I store pasta sauce in them.

**McD** · 01-12-2008, 10:33 PM

I have seen them used to store crayons, matchbox cars, etc.

My mom used them as a soup pot. Any thing she had leftover, veggies, meats, etc. she would tos in the bucket. It sat in the freezer until it was time to make homemade soup.

**qtkitty** · 01-13-2008, 12:40 AM

I love those Ice Cream buckets!!

I use them to store dough in in the freezer rolls, balled cookie dough, biscuits. i freeze them all on cookie sheets til hard then transfer them into those buckets, keeps them together and stackable!! Plus you can fit a lot of dough in them!!

I do not see why you couldn't also store things like flour, grains, and sugar in them to freeze. You could put containers of spices in one to put in the freezer so small containers wouldn't be in your freezer by themselves. By Freezing grains ect not only do you extend their life ( expecially whole grains), but also you can keep the bugs away from them.

The other thing that comes in handy when storing in your freezer are milk crates!! They stack well and you can use bags or butcher paper to wrap your items in then store them in the milk crate in your freezer.

I also store my homemade soaps in milk crates with one side knotched out so you can reach in and grab the soaps you need instead of moving the crates around. If your looking to store bagged groceries in a closet then you could use the same method to store bags of noodles or odd and end un-stackable items.

**ilovechocolate** · 01-13-2008, 08:34 AM

I have several of these just sitting around not earning their keep. They are going to be getting off their rears and into the freezer!!

**REJB** · 01-13-2008, 11:29 AM

I'm using my ice cream pail to start composting (kitchen scraps). For now I have it under the kitchen sink.

**Kyra_Jimmy_Mom** · 02-17-2008, 10:26 PM

As a teacher here, you can donate them to your child's teacher as well. I love those things for storage of game pieces and just games themselves.

Sorry, gotta plug for me here.

**paperlady** · 06-23-2008, 10:27 PM

I bake homemade breads and use them to store my flour in the pantry. They stack so well! I write on the top with a china marker which flour is in the container.