Why not put them to good use? Malt extract containers are sturdy, inexpensive, and like all effective containers, are really good at holding your stuff. Here are a few ideas.
- Store dry malt extract.
- Keep specialty grains organized.
- Vorlauf your first runnings (collect the wort until it runs fairly clear).
- Maintain the homebrewer’s equivalent of a junk drawer (O-rings, disconnects, etc.).
- Organize your freezer of hops by alpha acid or origin.
- Collect the first pint of foam from your kegerator.
- Reserve some brew-day sanitizer for use throughout the week.
- Deliver spent grain to your friends who raise chickens (bonus: free eggs!).
- Float the lid on the grain bed during lautering as a rudimentary sparge water diffuser.
- Serve homebrew to a giant.
Believe it or not, you can even use these pails to store liquid malt extract. Take them with you when you run down to the homebrew store and have your supplier fill your old pails rather than issue you new ones. Many stores will even give you a discount, à la the reusable canvas bags you take to the grocery store.