Ingredient Bins, Food Storage Boxes and Dunnage Racks: Model Guide

Use a mobile ingredient bin for the dry goods you scoop most, a shelf bin for smaller amounts at the station, clear food storage boxes for bulk prep in the walk-in, and a dunnage rack for unopened sacks and cases. Our mobile bins hold 22 or 27 gallons, shelf bins 2 to 11 gallons, and our dunnage racks are rated 1,300 to 1,850 lbs.

Shop the equipment in this article: commercial work tables, wire shelving and ingredient bins. Freight is included on every order.

Every model is listed further down with a link to its product page. The capacities and sizes below come from those pages.

The labeling rule for bins

Under the FDA Food Code (section 3-302.12), adopted in Virginia as 12VAC5-421-480, a working container holding food or ingredients taken out of the original package, such as cooking oil, flour, herbs, salt, spices or sugar, must be identified with the common name of the food. The exception is food that can be readily and unmistakably recognized, such as dry pasta. Flour and sugar look alike, so label every bin. Your local health department has the final say.

Mobile ingredient bins

Model	Capacity	Size from the product page
—	—	—
Mobile bin, 22 gal	about 540 cups	12.9 W x 29.5 D x 29.3 H in.
Mobile bin, 27 gal (IBIN-28)	about 680 cups	16.1 W x 29.5 D x 29.3 H in.

Both have a sliding, drawer style lid, a clear front, a scoop rail and 3 in. casters, and both list NSF. At 29.3 in. tall they are made to roll under a work table, which keeps flour and sugar at the bench where dough is mixed. The product pages ask you to check the height under your table first.

Shelf ingredient bins

Express KitchQuip shelf bins: 6 gal (133 cups) or 11 gal (266 cups), clear lid with one hand access, stackable, NSF.
Thunder Group PLIB002S: 2 gal (40 cups), 11-3/4 x 14-1/2 x 8-5/8 in., flip top lid, scoop included.
Thunder Group PLIB005S: 5 gal (80 cups), 11-3/8 x 23-3/8 x 17 in., flip top lid, scoop included.
Thunder Group PLIB010S: 10 gal (150 cups), 19-1/4 x 23-3/8 x 17 in., clear flip top lid, scoop included.

Shelf bins sit on a shelf or counter near the station. The product pages remind you to measure the shelf height so the lid can open.

Food storage boxes

The Thunder Group PLFB182612PC holds 17 gallons and measures 18 x 26 x 12 in.; the PLFB182615PC holds 22 gallons at 18 x 26 x 15 in. Both are clear polycarbonate on the footprint of a full size sheet pan, for bulk prep, marinating and walk-in storage. The PLFB182615PC page notes that lids are sold separately unless the listing says otherwise.

Dunnage racks

Unopened sacks and cases go on a dunnage rack rather than the floor. Our aluminum racks come in 14 sizes, 8 or 12 in. high, rated for 1,300 to 1,850 lbs by size. The Thunder Group ALDN2036 is 20 x 36 x 12 in. and rated for 1,500 lb. Under the Food Code (section 3-305.11), food is stored at least 6 inches above the floor, with limited exceptions; both rack heights clear that.

Which to use where

Bakery bench and pizza station: a mobile bin under the commercial work tables for flour and sugar.
Prep line: shelf bins for breadcrumbs, rice and spices.
Walk-in: clear food storage boxes for batches and marinating, on wire shelving.
Dry storage room: dunnage racks for sacks and cases, shelving for everything else.

Mistakes to avoid

Topping up a bin with new product on top of old. Empty, clean and dry the bin, then refill, so older product does not sit at the bottom.
Leaving the scoop buried in the product. Use the scoop rail or a holder.
Storing open sacks on the floor next to the bins.
Skipping the label because everyone knows what is in the bin.

Frequently asked questions

What size ingredient bin do I need?

Match it to how much you use between deliveries. A 27 gallon bin holds about 680 cups; a 22 gallon bin about 540.

Do ingredient bins have to be NSF?

Our own Express KitchQuip bins list NSF. Ask your health department what it accepts for food storage containers.

Will a mobile bin fit under my work table?

Our mobile bins are 29.3 in. tall. Measure from the floor to the underside of the table top, and check that an undershelf or crossbar does not block the space.

Is delivery included?

Yes. Freight to the 48 contiguous states is included in the price, and non-powered items have a 14 day return window from delivery.

Next steps

Compare bins in ingredient bins, racks in dunnage racks, and wall and table storage in storage racks.

Every Model We Carry

Each model number below links to its product page with full specs, current price and shipping details.

Thunder Group Models

Express KitchQuip Models

Models in this guide at a glance

The models linked above are listed here with the main points from each product page, so you can compare them side by side before opening the full listings.

Thunder Group ALDN2036 20″ x 36″ x 12″, Heavy-Duty Dunnage Rack, Aluminum, 1,500 lb Capacity, NSF (model ALDN2036)

Brand: Thunder Group
Sold individually.
Thunder Group model ALDN2036.
Freight and liftgate delivery included to the continental United States.

Thunder Group PLFB182612PC 18″ x 26″ x 12″, 17 Gallon Food Storage Box, Clear Color, Polycarbonate, withstand temperature from -40°F up t (model PLFB182612PC)

Brand: Thunder Group
Sold individually.
Thunder Group model PLFB182612PC.
Freight and liftgate delivery included to the continental United States.

Thunder Group PLFB182615PC 18″ x 26″ x 15″, 22 Gallon Food Storage Box, Clear Polycarbonate (model PLFB182615PC)

Brand: Thunder Group
Sold individually.
Thunder Group model PLFB182615PC.
Freight and liftgate delivery included to the continental United States.

Thunder Group PLIB002S 2 Gallon (40 Cups), 11-3/4″ x 14-1/2″ x 8-5/8″ (model PLIB002S)

Brand: Thunder Group

Thunder Group PLIB005S 5 Gallon (80 Cups), 11-3/8″ x 23-3/8″ x 17″ (model PLIB005S)

Brand: Thunder Group

Thunder Group PLIB010S 10 Gallon (150 Cups), 19-1/4″ x 23-3/8″ x 17″ (model PLIB010S)

Brand: Thunder Group

IBIN-28 27 gal Mobile Ingredient Storage Bin – 680 Cup (model IBIN-28)

Brand: Express KitchQuip
27 gal Mobile Ingredient Storage Bin
Holds 680 cups dry goods.
Sliding lid & clear front.

11 gal Shelf Ingredient Bin – 266 Cup Capacity with Lid

Brand: Express KitchQuip
11 gal Shelf Ingredient Bin
Clear Lid: Quick ingredient view.
Durable Build: Strong PC & PP.

Before you order

Measure the space and every doorway on the delivery path, and compare them with the dimensions on each product page.
Check the spec sheet for power, gas or water requirements and match them to what your building has.
Compare capacity with your busiest day rather than your average day.
Read the warranty terms for the brand before you order.

Delivery, warranty and payment

Delivery: delivery within the continental US is included in the price on the product page, and freight orders include liftgate service.
Warranty: each product carries its manufacturer warranty. Terms by brand are on our warranty page.
Financing: lease-to-own financing through Clicklease is offered on items of $500 and up. See how financing works.
Quotes: buying for a business and need a written quote? Call +1-877-558-2253 or use our contact page.

Not sure which model fits?
Call +1-877-558-2253 with your space, power supply and daily volume, and we will help you narrow it down.