Scooping in Style! Bulk Bin Scoops at Home

We've recently started coveting the scoops in the bulk storage bins at our local grocery. They fit in our hand so nicely, they're easy to maneuver in the bin, and they scoop without spilling! We can think of several ways we could use them in our own kitchen. Do you use scoops at home?

Actually, the first thing that came to mind was using scoops in place of prep bowls. The scoops we're thinking of have a flat bottom that would make it easy to scoop up all the stray ingredients from the cutting board and transfer them to the cooking pot.

We could also use scoops for our own bulk storage. A lot of times, it would be easier and less messy to measure things like flour or rice from a scoop instead of reaching down into our storage container with a measuring cup. Scoops are also a handy tool for grabbing ice out of the freezer drawer or getting a handful of granola from its container for a snack.

Here are a few sources for scoops:

• Cast Aluminum Scoops from Sur la Table, $2.50 - $4.50 - These have the flat bottoms we're thinking of, though we'd idealy like larger sizes
• Aluminum Scoops from Sur la Table, $5.95 - $7.95 - These are larger, but have a rounded bottom
• Clear Plastic Scoops from KitchenWorks, $1.59 - Plastic is a little less aesthetically pleasing than metal, but it's lighter and might be easier to use.
• Aluminum and Plastic Scoops from Chef Depot, $7.99 - $35.99 - Lots of sizes to choose from! (Scroll to the bottom of the page)

Do you think these could be a useful kitchen tool?

(Image: Garrett Wade)

Comments (10)

I keep my flours and sugars in small bins at home and having small scoops (mine are plastic) makes it so much easier to scoop them into measuring cups. I can't remember where I bought mine, though, so thank for these links! Now I can go get new ones for my other bulk grains.

I also have two large scoops (purchased at the pet store - expensive!) for our dog and cat food. So handy - I don't know what I'd do with out them.

Yes! I keep small aluminum or plastic scoops in all of my bulk-food bins (flours, sugars, rices, oats). My boyfriend was skeptical at first--"do we really need one for each bin?"--but now he's a small-scoop fan.

I'm not sure why a scoop would work better than a regular prep bowl. I usually just use my knife or a pastry cutter to scoop things off the cutting board. More details?

Try Tractor Supply Co. or someplace that caters farmers. They would carry larger sizes, cheaper than a kitchen or even pet store.

Ha! I only wish I had enough space to hold the size containers that would warrant the use of scoops. One day, I will have the biggest pantry known to man, with shelves stretching up to God himself.

http://www.abreadaday.com

When I was a kid we would go to Nebraska with our entire family over the holidays. Since there were so many people we made homemade trail mix and put it in a bucket. We had a scoop just like that to get the trail mix out and scoop it into our bowl. Oh how I miss that!

no use for the large scoops. But, small scoops would be great for my flour, rice, and sugar.....

I picked up several of these scoops at my local restraunt supply store a year or two ago to keep in my flour and sugar bins. I think I bought all 12oz sizes. Additionally I think having several sizes of "dishers" is helpful as well.

I use a nice plastic scoop for dog food - but other than that, i hesitate to buy bulk due to all those posts about maggots and stuff. *Shiver*

I'm using aluminum scoops of all sizes and for everything, from large (for flour) over medium (sugar, rice, oats etc.) to small (cocoa) and tiny (salt). I got them from a restaurant supply store too. They all have a flat bottom.

But best of all are two really huge ones with a capacity of around 2.5 liters (may be even more). These I keep in the garden where I store grid and sand. They must be canteen kitchen supply.

I love scoops like this. Like Molly, I've gotten them at restaurant supply stores. I'm guessing there is something like that in most metro areas, but I specifically know of Cash'n'Carry (in Seattle, probably other areas too) and Janitorial & Restaurant Supply (in the Provo/Orem area).