Having a well-organized pantry makes cooking easier and more enjoyable. Here are a few simple tips to keep your pantry clean and easy to use.
Discard
At least twice a year, go through and get rid of anything that hasn't been used in months or hasn't been opened at all. Don't let items sit and collect dust. Donate unopened nonperishable food items, and throw away anything else you don't plan to use within the next 2 months. This will reduce clutter and free up space for more storage.
Use Space Wisely
Stacks can waste space. Invest in some inexpensive organizational devices that can help save space and make items more visible and accessible.
Tiered shelves will allow you to store twice as many cans and boxes by lifting them up in rows. Underhanging racks can provide even more space beneath built-in shelves.
A door organizer offers extra storage in a space that is usually wasted. Narrow racks can hold items like spices, cans and paper towels.
Install a Lazy Susans in a deep shelf to help provide easier access to items that would otherwise be difficult to reach.
Keep Cans With Cans
If you make it a habit to keep canned foods together, crackers together, pastas together, etc, your pantry will always look organized. This also helps when it comes to meal planning. A quick glance in the right area will allow you to see what supplies you have and what you may need.
Canisters
Take advantage of the space-saving features that canisters offer. Instead of keeping coffee in the bulky packaging, store it in a suitable container with an airtight lid. You can do the same thing with other regularly used staples like tea bags, pastas and cereals. You may even find canisters attractive enough to display on your kitchen counter.
Lighting
Pantries are generally deep and dark. Install simple battery-operated lights, like Tough Lights, to stick back shelves. These will provide enough light to see clearly and encourage you to use all available space. In addition, a lighted pantry automatically looks more organized. You won’t have to sift through cans and boxes to find what you need.
Labeling
Purchase sticky labels and hand-write them, or invest in a label creator to have a more clean look. Assign categories to different shelves and areas. Have simple labels like “canned veggies”, “boxed dinners”, “drink mixes”, “crackers”, etc.
- Canned Vegetables
- Drink Mixes
- Jell-O & Pudding
- Chips & Crackers
This will make putting the groceries away much easier and faster, and will ensure you keep your pantry clean and organized all the time.
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