Cambro RFSCW12135 Round Storage Container, Clear, 12 Quart

This is probably designed for commercial use; it should last a lifetime in a residential application. I use it mostly for bread making. It’s more than large enough to double any bread recipe I use; it can accommodate the rising of the dough with room to spare and it still fits in the kitchen sink for washing. If you want to get more than one, they will nest together for storage. This is one of the rare purchases as of late that feels as though it is actually worth the price paid, if not more.

I grew up with a parent in the restaurant industry and we regularly had these containers at home for use in the pantry. Wish I had snuck a few out when I moved! These are perfect for storing sugars and flours, as well as dried grains and beans. They stack well if you have the vertical space to do it. The lids are all interchangeable which is a huge bonus. The nice thick plastic makes these things last forever. I also often use them for proofing breads and for doing yeast starters. They're just all around a great container to have in the kitchen.

I think most people buying this probably own “Flour, water, salt, yeast” like me. It’s a solid recommendation from the book and I’m glad I have it. I do have a couple of comments however. First, 12-quarts is really, really big. For bread making I would probably prefer about 8 quarts, but I guess bigger kitchen items usually are better so I’m keeping it. Second is the BPA warning others commented on. Unfortunately life with plastics is not always great. If I was storing something for very long periods of time I might be worried. As I educated myself on BPA and “BPA-free” plastics I learned there simply are no truly harmless options other than glass. BPA-free just means the manufacturers replace BPA with another chemical, which is likely just as bad. Acidic foods will leach out more of these chemicals so I wouldn’t store tomato sauce in this (that would be a lot of sauce!). So, I took a practical look at what I was going to use this tub for (making bread every other week or so) and decided I could handle the “risk.” I like that it is see-through, light weight, durable, and there are lids available for it. The large handles are very nice as well.

Sturdy, easy to clean, I use this every week when making homemade bread.

I bought this item to make "Bread in 5 Minutes a Day," too. Great book! However, when I recieved the Cambro round, I sent it back. It is made of plastic #7, shown inside the recycling symbol on the bottom. Plastic #7 can contain BPA. If you are trying to avoid BPA in food storage items, I would avoid this item. Some states already have laws requiring baby food products be BPA-free and the FDA has medical concerns about it, including potential links to breast and prostate cancer and early onset puberty. Why add more to my home? I would hope Amazon would add the plastic type to this item's product description to inform customers.

I bought this exclusively for making 1000 gram flour (780ml water, 20g salt, 1gm yeast) wet dough bread recipes. If I had room in my cabinets for a 12-quart size, I'd prefer that, but if you don't have lots of room, this size will work perfectly adequately for those recipes that make two loaves. The overnight dough rise comes to within about an inch of the lid, though I have had a rise or two touch the lid. The container and lid are not BPA free, but that doesn't matter for short term use during bread making. The container is wide enough to fold dough with one hand, and perhaps two if needed. The dough releases easily from the bottom and sides when you coax the dough out after the rise. The 6-quart size fits into a small kitchen sink and cleans easily with dish soap and water. I think the container and especially the lid (sold separately) are overpriced for just polycarbonate plastic, but I guess that's what you pay if you want clear polycarbonate so you can see the bubbles in the dough. Overall, I have nothing to complain about, and I judge the container will prove durable in long term use.

This bin is great for the purpose I got it for -- mixing up dough in and letting it proof. However, the lid (made by the same company) does not fit well enough to even close at all. That seems very weird to me. It is the correct lid for this size bin. The same is true of their smaller (6 Qt) bin, which comes WITH the matching lid.

I’m reading a beginner’s sourdough book and it recommended a few basic items that you need to get started. This is one of the first things on that list. It will never be too small for your project. Highly recommended in the reviews.