Have you even gone to the store and realized you can’t remember if you have ketchup or peanut butter in your pantry? How about looking for ingredients for a recipe and realizing you’re out of a key ingredient, or have 3 or 4 of the same item.
An organized pantry is one of the most crucial aspects of kitchen organizing. Having a properly organized pantry can really make your life a lot less stressful. Not only does an organized pantry make it easier to find ingredients when cooking, it’s also a very useful aide in streamlining your grocery shopping.
So what does a properly organized pantry look like?
No, you don’t need to buy fancy containers or switch everything to Mason jars.
Whether you have a closet style pantry, extended pull out shelves, or use a cupboard for your pantry needs there are a few key aspects to pantry organizing.
Bare It All
The first thing you need to do is completely empty your pantry. Yep! Get EVERYTHING out of it. Use your kitchen counter, table top, or boxes, and get everything out of the pantry.
This first step is crucial. It allows you to check expiration dates (toss anything expired), and wipe down those shelves. They do get dusty – and sometimes sticky. Give them a good wipe down with antibacterial cleaner. I recommend Mrs. Meyers Multi-Surface cleaner. It’s chemical free and contains essential oils with antibacterial properties.
Groupies
Group like items together. Separate the items into categories; baking items, snacks, sauces, dressings, etc… This is a great step because you’ll be to see what you have too much of, and what you need to add to your grocery list.
Make groups that fit your needs. For example, my oldest son, Brock, uses a wheelchair part time. I have shelf that is just about waist high where I keep the peanut butter, bread, his favorite cereal, and a few other items he likes. They’re all things everyone in the house can use, but at a height that’s best for Brock.
Stock it
This is where you can customize the pantry to your needs. I suggest you put your most used items on shelves waist high. It makes it easy to reach in and grab what you need. For example, I do a lot of baking, so my flour, sugar, baking soda, baking powder, powdered sugar, and all my necessary baking ingredients are on one shelf about waist high.
If you have young children, don’t put anything you don’t want them to get into on the lower shelves…like cookies. Kids have a way of helping themselves to a treat when you don’t want them too.
Put less used items on high shelves. I have a few items I only use every once in a while, like marshmallows, Karo Syrup, and extra salad dressings. These items I store up on higher shelves because I don’t need to get to them very often.
Think of your pantry as your personal grocery store. If you notice at the store, most common items are placed closer to eye level. These are the items the store wants you to buy. Less used items are placed up high or down at the bottom.
Boxes vs. Bags
Items that are already in boxes or bottles are fine in their own containers. They stand neatly on shelves, and have an expiration date which is important.
Items that are in bags, like egg noodles, chips, and chocolate chips, or small bottles like extracts can be more difficult to stack. This is where you will want to use baskets, or bins to contain the items. It’s best to keep the bag items in their original bags so you maintain the expiration date, but storing them in larger container together will save you space.
Shelf Space
Shelf space can be a hot ticket item, especially in smaller pantries or cupboards. There are many items on the market to help you maximize your shelf space. I love these shelves from ClosetMaid! They create extra shelf space to help stack can goods, they’re very sturdy, and they’re coated which helps keep them clean, in great condition, and slip proof. They’re free standing so they can be used anywhere.
Another great solution are these under shelf baskets. They add some great additional space that can contain items securely without taking up coveted shelf space. They’re very easy to use. Just slide them onto the bottom of any shelf.
Helping Hand
Keeping the pantry organized will require some helping hands. Show your family where their favorite items are located and be sure to ask their help in keeping it tidy. After all, you’re probably not the only one who’s using it.