5 Tips for an Organized Pantry

August 11, 2015

Because you constantly draw from and restock the kitchen pantry, this is one of those storage areas that always seems to be disorganized. It’s also easy to lose track of items stored in the back. Expiration dates come and go and you end up throwing away food you neglected to eat in time. Learn the steps to an organized pantry to revitalize your kitchen and make cooking fun again.  Need some inspiration to get you started? Check out some of the work we’ve done.

Gut It

Start by completely emptying your pantry. Read the labels as you go and save time by immediately throwing away anything expired. Also, make a pile of non-expired canned goods you don’t think your family will ever eat and donate them to the local food bank.

Clean It

The pantry is bare, so now is the perfect time to take a wet rag to the shelves. Wipe out crumbs, scrub away any sticky spots and let the pantry dry completely. This purging and cleaning process not only gives you a clean slate for creating a more organized kitchen pantry, but it also helps keep the bugs away.

Seal and Label Open Items

Some items remain in the pantry even after being opened, including bread, chips, rice and cereal. Assess open items and make sure they’re still fresh. Throw away anything that tastes stale.

Invest in clear, airtight storage containers to transfer open pantry items into. Stick a piece of paper onto each storage container and label it with the day you opened the item and the expiration date. Airtight storage helps food last longer, prevents bugs from invading and reduces waste while making the pantry look cleaner and more organized.

Categorize All Pantry Items

It’s amazing how big your pantry looks when it’s empty and clean, right? Before you even think about restocking the shelves, take time to organize the stash of food and small kitchen appliances you plan to store there. Put them into the following categories:

Food accessed daily
Food accessed less frequently
Kitchen tools used daily
Kitchen tools used less frequently

Restock the Pantry in Categories

Place the items you use every day in the most accessible spots and group them by type. For example, baking supplies should be stored together and breakfast cereal should have a designated spot.

Reserve higher pantry shelving for less frequently used food and kitchen tools. You may need a stepladder to reach these areas, so don’t stick small items up high or you’re bound to forget about them. Stick to your new custom pantry system so you don’t have to gut and reorganize the pantry again in six months.

In the end, an organized pantry looks beautiful, prevents waste and makes cooking dinner less of a chore. Spacemakers is ready to tackle your pantry problem with a custom pantry design perfect for your needs. To start the process, request a free quote today!