You’re in the middle of cooking your signature dish. The pan is hot, the smells are exquisite, and all you need to do is add your favorite spice before the food gets too crispy. You turn to your pantry and…can’t find the spice.
Instead of a quick fix, you’re shifting through things desperately, trying to find that container you swear you saw yesterday. If this scene describes you, it’s time for some pantry organization. Luckily, this is extremely easy to do. Here are some tips for how to organize a pantry to perfection.
10 Simple Pantry Organization Ideas
Learning how to make pantry organization more manageable isn't too complicated. This is one of those
unique cleaning projects you can tackle on your own with the right pantry organization ideas and a little work. Here are ten pantry storage ideas to transform your cluttered pantry into a streamlined storage area!
Embrace the Purge
The first thing to do when organizing a pantry is to embrace the purge and start
decluttering. There is a good chance that there are expired cans of beets and stale bags of chips hidden in the dark corners of your pantry. Like an anthropologist, don’t be afraid to dig deep and uncover those expired items.
Getting rid of waste will help tremendously when organizing a pantry. Additionally, if you find several food items that are still good to eat but you know you just aren’t going to get to them, feel free to donate them to a charity or food bank.
Organizing with Categories
Once you know which foods you’re keeping, begin to categorize them. This means grouping the pastas with grains, veggies with fruits, baking flour with baking soda, and snacks with snacks. This will help cut down your search time for the next meal. Remember, when figuring out how to organize your pantry, it’s not just you. Anyone who uses the pantry should try to keep things neat.
Put a Label On It
Do you really need to label your pantry? Labeling shelves and individual items may seem like overkill, but there are several benefits. Getting into the labeling habit means you can use a variety of storage containers and easily keep track of what's where.
Even when you use clear containers, a label can help identify the contents without straining your eyes. You can use a commercial labeler, peel-off labels, or come up with your own. However you do it, labeling your pantry will take your pantry organization to another level.
Align the Schedules
While you’re organizing your pantry, take a few minutes to decide which items you tend to use the most. Are you a champion baker? Then you might want to store the baking ingredients and tools near the front. Is the weather getting chilly, and you know you’ll be digging into the soups? Move those to the front too. By placing much-needed items up front, you won’t have to knock anything over on the way to the oregano.
Invest in Clear Containers
If you’ve noticed that you collect half-empty cereal boxes or bags of pretzels, one organizing trick is to invest in see-through containers. This way, you’ll always know how much you have left of your food and won’t be tempted to clutter up the pantry with extra boxes. Avoiding double purchases is a great step for keeping your pantry organized, as well as keeping costs low.
Repurpose Containers for Affordable Storage
Clear plastic or glass jars (especially square ones) are an inexpensive and responsible way to store beans, rice, and so much more. Recycling containers you already have is a great way to get creative with pantry organization. You can mix and match colors and sizes to make the most of your space and brighten up your pantry. While clear containers are recommended, grab any container you want and simply slap a label on it!
Put Lazy Susans to Work
Lazy Susans and similar storage solutions that swivel or revolve to reveal additional space are ideal for making the most of your pantry organization. You can get them with single or multiple tiers to take advantage of vertical space, and they're perfect for corners and shelves above eye level. Fill them with cooking oils, vinegar, spices, or any other items you want. Try to organize the storage so similar items are together, and enjoy how easy it is to find exactly what you need.
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Double-Down On Your Storage
Lazy Susans aren't the only pantry organization ideas that can help maximize your storage areas. Shelf risers come in single and multiple level versions, so it's easy to get that just-right-fit wherever you need it. Risers with multiple levels help you make the most of vertical space and give you an unobstructed view of your items. They don't take up any additional space, and they sure make finding that missing bottle of paprika less frustrating.
Don't Forget the Door
One of the best walk-in pantry organization ideas is to use the space on the pantry side of the door. The back of your pantry door is prime real estate for many of the kitchen items you use most, and all you need is a
shoe organizer with clear pockets.
Use the individual storage pockets for canned goods, commonly used jars of sauce, oils, or any other pantry items you want handy. Lower storage areas are the perfect height for kids, so use them to store healthy snacks like fruit or granola bars.
Make a Kid-Friendly Spot
Learning how to organize a pantry can help simplify kitchen time, but it can also give kids another easy way to grab mom-approved snacks. Fill a bottom shelf with water bottles, healthy snacks, cereal, and anything else you're okay giving kids access to. For even more organization, set up bins with separate areas to store similar items. Finally, as always, be sure to label these places to keep things organized.
Once you have an organized pantry, you’re on your way to easier mealtime! If you're on a roll, why not tackle those cluttered cabinets with these
cupboard organization ideas? However, if your kitchen could use a good cleaning too, call us at The Maids. We’re here to offer you supreme
cleaning services so we can make your kitchen—and the rest of your house—sparkle.
Now that you're a pantry organization pro, what's next? Whether you want to know the
best way to clean kitchen cabinets or
how to get out bloodstains, we've got you covered. Check out our extensive library of housekeeping guides and take your housekeeping IQ to the next level.
Whether you're a DIY kind of person or use one of our
popular residential cleaning services, we want you to enjoy a clean home more often. Learn how The Maids can make housekeeping more manageable when you get your
free online estimate today.
You’re in the middle of cooking your signature dish. The pan is hot, the smells are exquisite, and all you need to do is add your favorite spice before the food gets too crispy. You turn to your pantry and…can’t find the spice.
Instead of a quick fix, you’re shifting through things desperately, trying to find that container you swear you saw yesterday. If this scene describes you, it’s time for some pantry organization. Luckily, this is extremely easy to do. Here are some tips for how to organize a pantry to perfection.
10 Simple Pantry Organization Ideas
Learning how to make pantry organization more manageable isn't too complicated. This is one of those
unique cleaning projects you can tackle on your own with the right pantry organization ideas and a little work. Here are ten pantry storage ideas to transform your cluttered pantry into a streamlined storage area!
Embrace the Purge
The first thing to do when organizing a pantry is to embrace the purge and start
decluttering. There is a good chance that there are expired cans of beets and stale bags of chips hidden in the dark corners of your pantry. Like an anthropologist, don’t be afraid to dig deep and uncover those expired items.
Getting rid of waste will help tremendously when organizing a pantry. Additionally, if you find several food items that are still good to eat but you know you just aren’t going to get to them, feel free to donate them to a charity or food bank.
Organizing with Categories
Once you know which foods you’re keeping, begin to categorize them. This means grouping the pastas with grains, veggies with fruits, baking flour with baking soda, and snacks with snacks. This will help cut down your search time for the next meal. Remember, when figuring out how to organize your pantry, it’s not just you. Anyone who uses the pantry should try to keep things neat.
Put a Label On It
Do you really need to label your pantry? Labeling shelves and individual items may seem like overkill, but there are several benefits. Getting into the labeling habit means you can use a variety of storage containers and easily keep track of what's where.
Even when you use clear containers, a label can help identify the contents without straining your eyes. You can use a commercial labeler, peel-off labels, or come up with your own. However you do it, labeling your pantry will take your pantry organization to another level.
Align the Schedules
While you’re organizing your pantry, take a few minutes to decide which items you tend to use the most. Are you a champion baker? Then you might want to store the baking ingredients and tools near the front. Is the weather getting chilly, and you know you’ll be digging into the soups? Move those to the front too. By placing much-needed items up front, you won’t have to knock anything over on the way to the oregano.
Invest in Clear Containers
If you’ve noticed that you collect half-empty cereal boxes or bags of pretzels, one organizing trick is to invest in see-through containers. This way, you’ll always know how much you have left of your food and won’t be tempted to clutter up the pantry with extra boxes. Avoiding double purchases is a great step for keeping your pantry organized, as well as keeping costs low.
Repurpose Containers for Affordable Storage
Clear plastic or glass jars (especially square ones) are an inexpensive and responsible way to store beans, rice, and so much more. Recycling containers you already have is a great way to get creative with pantry organization. You can mix and match colors and sizes to make the most of your space and brighten up your pantry. While clear containers are recommended, grab any container you want and simply slap a label on it!
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Put Lazy Susans to Work
Lazy Susans and similar storage solutions that swivel or revolve to reveal additional space are ideal for making the most of your pantry organization. You can get them with single or multiple tiers to take advantage of vertical space, and they're perfect for corners and shelves above eye level. Fill them with cooking oils, vinegar, spices, or any other items you want. Try to organize the storage so similar items are together, and enjoy how easy it is to find exactly what you need.
Double-Down On Your Storage
Lazy Susans aren't the only pantry organization ideas that can help maximize your storage areas. Shelf risers come in single and multiple level versions, so it's easy to get that just-right-fit wherever you need it. Risers with multiple levels help you make the most of vertical space and give you an unobstructed view of your items. They don't take up any additional space, and they sure make finding that missing bottle of paprika less frustrating.
Don't Forget the Door
One of the best walk-in pantry organization ideas is to use the space on the pantry side of the door. The back of your pantry door is prime real estate for many of the kitchen items you use most, and all you need is a
shoe organizer with clear pockets.
Use the individual storage pockets for canned goods, commonly used jars of sauce, oils, or any other pantry items you want handy. Lower storage areas are the perfect height for kids, so use them to store healthy snacks like fruit or granola bars.
Make a Kid-Friendly Spot
Learning how to organize a pantry can help simplify kitchen time, but it can also give kids another easy way to grab mom-approved snacks. Fill a bottom shelf with water bottles, healthy snacks, cereal, and anything else you're okay giving kids access to. For even more organization, set up bins with separate areas to store similar items. Finally, as always, be sure to label these places to keep things organized.
Once you have an organized pantry, you’re on your way to easier mealtime! If you're on a roll, why not tackle those cluttered cabinets with these
cupboard organization ideas? However, if your kitchen could use a good cleaning too, call us at The Maids. We’re here to offer you supreme
cleaning services so we can make your kitchen—and the rest of your house—sparkle.
Now that you're a pantry organization pro, what's next? Whether you want to know the
best way to clean kitchen cabinets or
how to get out bloodstains, we've got you covered. Check out our extensive library of housekeeping guides and take your housekeeping IQ to the next level.
Whether you're a DIY kind of person or use one of our
popular residential cleaning services, we want you to enjoy a clean home more often. Learn how The Maids can make housekeeping more manageable when you get your
free online estimate today.
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