Let’s talk about pantries!

Many of us did a bit of stocking up earlier this spring when grocery stores experienced a supply chain hiccup. We are in no way shaming anyone for preparing as best they could with groceries and supplies, however we are suggesting that it may be time to do a little clearing out and taking inventory of what we have in our pantries. This is a great time of year to get a handle on this space, in preparation for the holidays.

Here’s a little guide to organize your pantry.

Empty it out. 

• Toss all expired items (don't be embarrassed of what "vintage" items you may find!)

• Sort items into categories of similar items

• If you have multiples, combine partially used open boxes of food

• Set aside any unneeded canned goods or non-perishables to donate to a local food bank or canned food drive

Sort into categories that work for you. 

• Group by Meal: breakfast, lunch, snack, dinner, desserts. This can especially empower little ones to utilize the pantry storage systems and to take ownership of their own snacks or lunches.
  OR

• Group by Type: grains, canned veggies, snacks, etc. This will allow you to create “zones” in your pantry so whether you are baking or grilling, you know exactly where those items are.

Contain it all.

• Baskets, bins or containers. There are so many options. As always, we encourage you to use what you have and be practical. Function is more important than appearance.

• Clear jars add visibility to how much of each item you have on hand (and are typically much prettier than the package the items came in)

• Vary sizes to fit each shelf space or specific item. Measure before you buy! Go in with a plan, it’ll eliminate wasted time returning items that don’t fit.

• Personal preference: clear, all uniform containers, mix of different styles. There is no “one size fits all” approach to pantries, so go with your gut & instinct on style decisions.

• Use vertical space by incorporating stack-able/multi-level storage (Two Tier Lazy Susan) 
  Wire baskets allow fruit & veggies to aerate (Decorative Wire Basket)

Here are a few more containers we love

Clear
OXO Food Storage Container Set // Multi-Purpose Bins

Plastic
White Nordic Storage Baskets // Plastic Storage Basket Set (set of 6) // White Storage Baskets (set of 12)

Baskets
Natural Baskets (3 pack) // Storage Bins with Handles

Put it back in an intentionally neat way. 

• Proximity: Gather items you use together to save you time from searching to find what you need.

• Accessibility: Store items on lower shelves that you want the little ones to have access to, and likewise, store items that you want to keep out of reach on higher shelves.

• Prioritize: Don’t use the prime real estate of eye level shelves with rarely used items, put those at the very top or bottom of your pantry space.

• Frequency: Use eye level shelves for your go-to pantry staples and store them in containers that are easy to get in and out of.

Some pantry inspiration

Tips for keeping your pantry organized.

• Keep an on going grocery list! Designate a place for a list visible to everyone, so when an item runs out - you put it on the list right then.

• Use solid bottom containers for items that could spill— It makes clean up easier, in case of a mess.

• Label your containers if it helps make sure everything stays in it’s place. There are a range of options: editable and permanent.

• Make it a point to refresh your pantry each month. Assess how your organization is working or where it could be improved. Do a quick purge and expiration date check, so excess doesn’t build up over time.

• Quarterly, wipe out each container to remove the crumbs that accumulate.

Does your pantry overwhelm you?
We’d be happy to help get your pantry organized.

See more organizing blogs