Rows of immaculately placed jars and containers. Homemade jams and jellies lined up like soldiers at attention, with labels facing outward and cleanly written. Condiments on the bottom shelf. Small bins, tubs (all with lids, of course) on the top shelf. Chances are this level of organization isn’t what you find in your pantry. Most of us have a pantry that looks like a cross between a rummage sale and a game of Jenga, food and jars of foodstuffs stacked and arranged with no rhyme or reason. But a little shelf help can change that. With these pantry solutions, you can save time, money, and shelf space.
Think Thin
Whether you have a large, walk-in pantry or a cabinet system that moonlights as a pantry, creating vertical space is key to tidying a storage area. Depending on your layout, attempt to use all available floor-to-ceiling space; stackable bins, over-the-door organizers, under-the-cabinet organizers, and customer shelving systems will help you maximize your space.
Airtight Glass Jars and Storage Containers
Before you start to organize the pantry, you need to throw out everything that’s dated back to when dinosaurs roamed the earth. Once that’s done, give the shelves a wipe down and then use airtight glass jars or plastic containers with tight lids to hold dry goods such as flour, sugar, pasta and cereal. Remember: square containers take up less space on the shelves than round ones. Consider arranging the pantry in sections like they do at the grocery store or according to the food you routinely like to make. Either way, you need to develop a system so it’s easy to know where things are.
Label Everything
Sure, it’s tedious and time-consuming, but it’s worth it. No more mistaking salt for sugar, farro for buckwheat, gluten-free pasta for semolina. It’s also good practice to label the date of purchase. This way, you will know what to consume first, which will help cut down on household food waste. Globally, nearly one-third of the food produced for human consumption goes to waste, and that number is expected to double by 2030.
Create A Kid Friendly Zone
If there are kiddos in the house, consider creating a kid-friendly zone on a lower shelf. A bin filled with fruit, granola bars and other healthy snacks (really, who are we kidding here… chips!) makes it easier for children to grab and go. This will also save you time as you won’t have to dig through the cupboards for a “kid snack” when you’re already running late for a playdate or after school activity.
If you’re considering better organizational solutions for your kitchen pantry, a reputable home storage system company like Closet & Storage Concepts Connecticut will be able to provide the design and shelf help you need to get the job done.