I have been looking for new kitchen canisters for the longest time. I'm picky about everything that goes in my kitchen! I previously had some cheap stainless steel canisters that were a pain to keep clean (oh the fingerprints!), and when the seals broke, I tossed them. I've just been keeping my flour, sugar, etc. in random plastic containers in the pantry since then, but I want a countertop set again, and this time I wanted something decorative. This is not an easy thing to find in stores these days! Tons of options online, but I'm not big on buying things I can't touch first. But that seems to be the only option. Still, I'm not loving what I'm seeing. So, the nostalgic person in me started searching Etsy and Ebay, and I found a set that matches one my grandmother used to have that I always loved. I am really tempted to buy it, however, they do not have seals on them. They are just ceramic. I remember my mother's were this way back in the 80s, too. I started doing some research, and I've read that flour should be stored in airtight containers because otherwise it can spoil. I never knew that! I mean, the paper bags it comes in aren't airtight. And I don't remember my mother or grandmother having this issue when I was growing up. Do any of you use non-airtight canisters for your flours and sugars? Thoughts/opinions on the necessity of airtight canisters? I don't want a set that is just decoration; they have to be functional.