Do you have trouble finding what you need in your kitchen pantry ? Whether you have a walk-in pantry or a tiny one, the constant adding and removing items makes it hard to keep it organized and under control. You may not realize you are out of an ingredient or food is way past the expiration date with all the clutter. A disorganized pantry also wastes your time and adds unnecessary stress to your life.
While organizing your pantry may be overwhelming, restoring order and efficiency to your food storage is a simple task with the following foolproof tips.
1. Start With a Purge
Empty your pantry and place all of your items on a large table. Throw away any expired items. If you have non-perishable food you don’t expect to use, donate it to a food bank. Repeat the purging every few months.
2. Take Inventory
Once the old or unused items are gone, do an accounting of everything left. Taking inventory helps you decide the type and amount of storage containers you’ll need. Add any missing ingredients to your grocery list.
3. Establish a “First-in, First-Out” System
For multiple items such as beverages or extra cereal boxes, arrange your pantry with older items in front of newer ones.
4. Keep Dry Food in Clear Containers
To keep your pantry looking tidy, place dry foods such as sugar, flour, and pasta in clear, stackable canisters with sealed lids. Using clear containers will help you quickly identify what’s inside and know when you need to buy more. Plus, your food will stay fresh longer and take up less room.
5. Label Everything
Label all baskets, bins, and containers so everyone can locate items when they need them. Besides writing the ingredient’s name, add the bought or expiration date to alert you when something needs to be used or tossed. Make sure all labels are facing outward to ensure visibility.
6. Group Like Ingredients Together
Create zones or groups of similar items in your pantry to streamline your food storage. By organizing similar items together, you can see what ingredients you have, what you need, and where to put new things. For example, you can set up sections for soup, snacks, breakfast foods, and baking necessities.
7. Add a Turntable
Architectural Digest notes that one of the best space-saving items to have on hand is a Lazy Susan. Find what you need without sorting causing disorder.
8. Save Space With Storage
Use baskets, bins, racks, crates, and other storage cartons to save space. Smaller items such as cans can get lost if not places in a can rack or bin. Oddly-shaped items are also easier to store in a crate. For herbs and spices, a spice rack works well. Consider sliding baskets or bins to quickly and easily access your food.
9. Take Advantage of Pantry Doors
If your pantry has doors, use hanging baskets, racks, or organizers to maximize space. Spices, plastic wrap, and aluminum foil are all items to consider storing in that area.
10. Bring in a Rolling Cart
If you have extra floor space, The Spruce recommends storing certain ingredients on a rolling cart. When you are ready to bake, for example, instead of carrying every item out separately, just pull the cart into the kitchen.
11. Avoid Buying Bulk Items
Sales and low prices may tempt you to buy multiple packages, but try to resist and only purchase what you need. Otherwise, the items will take up space and likely expire before you can use them.
12. Don’t Buy Ingredients to Use Once
While trying new recipes is a great way to change up your meals, don’t buy an ingredient you will not use again. It will just take up valuable space in your pantry. Try to find a substitute you often use to determine if leaving the ingredient out is an option. Before purchasing the item, make sure you can use it for something else.
13. Install Drawer Organizers
If you keep bottles or cans in drawers, House Beautiful suggests installing organizers or dividers to keep items all in one place. To keep wine bottles from rattling against each other, use a wine rack.
14. Use Wall Space
Don’t waste extra wall space. Use hooks to hang aprons, reusable shopping bags, and brooms.
15. Create a Kid-Friendly Snack Zone
Instead of having your children search through the pantry (and make a mess), place a basket full of snacks in an easily accessible area such as the floor or a lower cabinet. They’ll be able to quickly grab a snack without ruining your organized pantry or having to reach too high.
16. Reset Your Pantry
Straighten your kitchen pantry and put things back in order daily. If you keep up with the organization, you won’t be so overwhelmed.
17. Get Family Buy-In
The only way to keep your pantry organized and in tip-top shape is to ensure that everyone in the house knows the system you set up. Show kids where they can find their snacks and instruct everyone to look at the labels. Hang a grocery list and a pen on the wall or door of your pantry. If someone uses the last item or notices something is running low, they can add it to the list.
Conclusion
An organized pantry improves your meal preparation and saves you money and time. You no longer need to arrange a search party to find an ingredient, and you reduce the amount of food you waste. Get started now with the easy-to-follow ideas and tips in this article and keep your kitchen pantry clutter-free, streamlined and efficient.