Hands on Review: Rubbermaid Commercial Products Bus Box! – NSF Rated for Food Contact

I’m a big fan of Rubbermaid’s Commercial’s utility tubs. I literally have a stack of these, in different sizes, for different things around the house, including homebrewing.

I use the 4.625 gallon size to thaw meat, trim, apply rub, carry around cook day tools and more. These are NSF rated and big enough to hold larger cuts of meat. They catch excess rub and drips and make clean up easier. With handles on every side, they’re easy to carry and move. You can also spin it around as you’re trimming or applying rub for easy access.

Hands on Review Rubbermaid Commercial Utility Tubs

A look at the 4.6 gallon tub. These measure approximately 20.4″ x” 15.6″ x 5″

The bottom

A look at the imprints on the bottom

Close up of the Rubbermaid Commercial Products logo

NSF certified logo imprint on the bottom

These are generally available in two sizes (and multiple colors). The 4.6 gallon is on the left the 7 gallon is on the right. I’ve found the 4.6 gallon size to be right sized for BBQ-ing and grilling. The 7 gallon works too, but it’s a bit oversized for BBQ, when it comes to my needs. If you’re doing huge quantities of food, the 7 gallon is worth a look.

Check Current Pricing & Availability:

Rubbermaid Commercial Products FG334900GRAY Standard Bus/Utility Box, 4.625 Gal, Gray
Lid for 4.625 Gallon Tubs – Rubbermaid Commercial Products FG364800GRAY Food Service Bus/Utility Tote Box Lid for 4 5/8 gal, Gray
This is a second listing for this tub. I’ve ordered this one as well and the one I received was identical to the FG334900GRAY linked above – Rubbermaid Commercial 3349 4-5/8-Gallon Capacity, 20″ Length x 15″ Width x 5″ Height, Gray Color, High-Density Polyethylene Bus and Utility Box – affiliate link, note that multiple variations of this product may be available, as such a different version may appear at this link

Larger 7.125 Gallon Size: Rubbermaid Commercial Products FG335100GRAY Standard Bus/Utility Box, 7.125 Gal, Gray – Note that multiple variations of these products may be available, as such a different version may appear at the link

4.3 gallon nested inside a 7 gallon tub

Brisket Cook

This was a 12.72 lb choice brisket. Although this one wasn’t frozen, these tubs are great for thawing out meat. They catch drips and help minimize cross contamination.

Brisket trimmed and ready for rub. These spin around for easy access to meat while trimming and applying rub.

Applying rub. These tubs eliminate one of my biggest frustrations about meat prep… the mess. Previously I used sheet pans that were never quite big enough. Meat juices got everywhere and excess rub got all over the place. The tubs keep this contained. I also feel like a save on rub, because I can rub meat in the bottom of the tub to pickup excess rub.

My BBQ Rub Recipe

Tip: wrap your rub shaker in food wrap when it comes to applying. This allows you to grab it with meaty/contaminated hands. When prep is done, discard the food wrap and

Here’s the brisket trimmed and rubbed.

Ready to go on the smoker

Off the smoker and ready to rest. The tub has been washed prior to re-use. From what I’ve gathered, this is safe up to commercial dishwasher temperatures. That’s 180 degrees. Either way, you’ll want to cool your cook down a bit before placing back in the tub. Another thing you can do is put a towel on the bottom to shield the tub from higher temps.

15.25 lb Prime Brisket

This was a 15.25 lb prime brisket

Here’s the brisket trimmed and rubbed.

St Louis Style Ribs

Some St Louis cut ribs trimmed, membrane removed and ready for rub application.

Rub applied. Tip: I use NItrile gloves when applying rub. Not only can I discard those when done to help prevent cross contamination, they protect my hands from spices. I love delicious smelling hands and all, but that can get to be a bit much. Also, I wear contacts. Even after multiple hand washings I would be able to tell you that this rub has a little bit of spice in it… when it comes time to take contacts out

Another rib cook. Ribs ready to go on the smoker.

Cleanup

The 4.6 gallon size fits nicely in my standard sized dishwasher.

Conclusions

I’ve included pictures from a few cooks in this review, but the fact is, I could include many more. I use these time and time again. They’re versatile and make prep and cook days easier. Less work and cleanup and they help make better use of rub. I can highly recommend these to you.