Ideas for Organizing Your Pantry
Ideas for Organizing Your Pantry
It used to be pretty common that items would get shoved to the back of my pantry, only to be found after they had expired. What a waste of food! These ideas for organizing your pantry have come from my simple strategies to keep things neat without spending a lot of time sorting and cleaning. Once you get a good system set up, your pantry will take care of itself.
A number of the products featured on this page, like the spice rack to the left, are ones I actually use in my pantry and kitchen. These are the things that keep me organized. Hopefully one of these ideas for organizing your pantry will help you tidy things up and help you keep your kitchen stress-free!
Featured Image: Organize It All 3-Tier Wall-Mounted Spice Rack, Chrome
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Bring Products to the Front
Deep cabinets or shelves make it easy to lose items in the back of the pantry. How often have you pulled something out of the back of a cabinet, just to realize that it had LONG passed its expiration date?
There are many solutions for taking advantage of that lost space in the back of deep cabinets. My two favorite are lazy susans and slide-out drawers. Both allow you to see the items that are in the back easily, so you won't lose track of what you already have in your pantry.
Determing What Items You Use Most - Give your products homes that are right for their shape and size.
Featured Image: Organize It All Can Rack
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Do you have a ton of canned goods that just end up piled on top of each other? Pick up a can rack! Lots of small spices and jars? A little set of steps will allow you to see them all at once. When you are organizing your pantry, there is no one-size-fits-all solution. Each family has their own favorite foods and ways of cooking. So, look for organization products that fit the items you stock in your pantry.
They make kitchen storage containers in just about every size. You can even find them for those little seasoning packets you get in the baking aisle, or that are the perfect size for your favorite granola bars. So figure out what makes the most sense for your kitchen before spending a fortune on organization.
Schulte Kitchen Wrap Organizer, White
InterDesign Linus 5 by 10-1/2 by 3-1/2-Inch Pack Place, Clear
InterDesign Linus 6 by 11-1/2 by 3-1/2-Inch Pullz 6 Pantry Organizer, Clear
Madesmart 3.6 by 9.6 by 14-1/2 to 25-3/4 Inch Expandable Shelf Organizer
Check the Dates!
A can rotator will come in handy for more than just organization. When you restock your pantry, make sure to put the new purchases in the back, so that you will use the oldest items first. Rotating your stock will ensure that things get used before they expire, saving you money and preventing waste.
Use the Wasted Space
Keep Things Out in the Open
Not all of your food items have to go in your pantry. You can take advantage of decorative jars and racks to keep a few of your most-used items on display in your kitchen. Things like spices and pasta can easily be stored on the container. A few good products will keep them organized and give you an attractive look in your kitchen.
Get More Ideas for Organizing Your Pantry
There's a wealth of knowledge out there. Why try to reinvent the wheel when someone else may have already come up with the perfect pantry organization tips to help you out? Sources like Martha Stewart and Better Homes & Garden are always great resources for organizing your home, although there are plenty of other authors out there with unique tips. Check out this selection of books for some inspiration.
Do you have any great organization ideas that you'd like to share? How do you keep your food tidy?