Organizing Your Pantry 6 Easy Steps

Step 1: Empty and Clean Your Pantry

An organized pantry can make all your kitchen chores easier. If your pantry – even a tiny one with little shelf space or wall space – is well planned and laid out, you can meal plan and grocery shop like a boss. Having an organized, well-stocked pantry contributes to peace of mind.

Start off the organization process by cleaning out the pantry and taking inventory of what you have. Throw out anything that is out of date, or food items you no longer use, need, or love. Relocate those hard-to-reach items in the back of your pantry so you won't have to scramble around looking for them.

Step 2: Sort and Purge Your Items

Make the most of the space in your kitchen with shelf risers, racks, lazy susans, and drawer pull-outs that maximize the space you do have. Keep the most frequently used foods in a cupboard in the kitchen, and store other foods in another space, like the basement or garage. It’s actually fairly easy to organize a pantry on a budget because most pantry foods already come in stackable packaging. Cans, boxes, and even cartons can all be stacked and lined up in nice neat rows.

You can use plastic bins from the dollar store or cheap mason jars as spice holders if money is tight for organizers. The best way to organize foods in a pantry is however it works for you while keeping frequently used items within easy reach. You also want to store like with like. So all cereal together, snacks together etc.

Step 3: Create a Designated Home for Everything

Use baskets or other containers for corralling things like spices or packets of seasoning so they don’t spread all over the cupboard. Make sure you label your baskets and bins so you can easily identify the items inside at a glance.

Add additional storage by adding small shelves or hooks over the top of the door. Cover up stained or well-used pantry shelves with contact paper. Group general food staples by type (veggies, fruits, soups) and arrange them in rows on the shelf; use stair-step shelves to put the back row of cans in view.

Step 4: Utilize Pantry Containers

Clear glass or plastic jars can be used for storage in open shelving or glass-front cabinets to cut down on visual chaos. Racks for aluminum foil and plastic wrap as well as bins and baskets can be used to wrangle small items in your pantry space. Decant into clear containers so you can see what you have before buying new. Keep track of expiration dates, either by labeling or writing the date on the container.

Buy organizing systems, such as baskets and turntables to maximize space. Store lunch items, utensils, napkins, and bags together to make packing easier; place them in a basket with handles so you can grab everything at once during busy mornings.

Step 5: Label Everything

Label each zone keeps the sections straight. Always label your containers. Anticipate your food-related problems and emergencies by stocking fast-fix appetizers, napkins, toothpicks, and trays in baskets on a top shelf. Use pantry shelf risers to stack ingredients on top of each other in an organized fashion.

Step 6: Maintain Your Pantry

After grocery shopping, put a week's worth of dinner fixings front and center in sturdy mesh bins with labels attached to the recipe. Keep your categories simple. Identify food and cooking categories that suit your lifestyle and designate an area for each. The most often-used zones should be in easy reach. Zoning your pantry can reduce meal preparation time and help you see what food you have.

Conclusion

Organize Your Pantry For Maximum Efficiency

Organizing your pantry is essential for any kitchen, as it keeps pests at bay and reduces food waste. A lot of us only get around to it when in the mood for "spring cleaning" or a few times a year. By giving your pantry a regular clear-out (once a month or so), you make cooking and cleaning a little simpler year-round.

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