Welcome to your kitchen’s centre stage, where you keep all your non-perishable stuff – the pantry. This place often gets messy in the hustle and bustle of our modern lives. We rush to grab ingredients, stuff things on crowded shelves, and sometimes forget what’s hidden in the depths. As our schedules get crazier and we have less time in the kitchen, the pantry gets even messier.
But don’t worry, because hidden in this chaos is a way to make things neat, work better, and cook more. This, in turn, can have an even broader impact. It can improve your eating habits and boost your overall health.
Come along as I share pantry organisation tips and help you make your kitchen life simpler, more relaxed and tastier!
Why pantry organisation is a must
- It makes inventory management easier
Once your pantry is neatly organised, all your items become clearly visible. This simplifies inventory management, making it more efficient. You’ll be less likely to run out of essential items or overstock on others.
- Helps reduces waste
Better visibility leads to a reduced chance of items expiring unnoticed. It can help you reduce waste by ensuring you use those ingredients first. Later in this post, I’ll show you a great way to label your foods with expiration dates in plain sight.
- Saves money
Of course, there’s always a financial aspect to consider. A well-organised pantry helps you avoid buying duplicate items. Ultimately, you can save a lot of money!
- Simplifies meal planning
The first step in meal planning is taking inventory of your ingredients. As you already know, organising your pantry makes this step a breeze. You can quickly identify what you have and what you need to purchase.
- Promotes healthier eating habits
With a well-organised pantry, you’ll be more motivated to prepare meals at home. Searching for items in a cluttered pantry is not enjoyable. If this is your first association with cooking a homemade meal, it’s not good. Cooking should be a pleasant experience!
- Maximises available space
Regardless of your kitchen’s spaciousness, it often feels like there could be more room. You may want to add new plates, breakfast bowls, or kitchen equipment, but you’re constrained by space. Organising your pantry neatly can free up a significant amount of space.
Now that you have learned why you should organise your pantry, you might be eager to know how to achieve it.
Steps to organised pantry
The idea of organising your pantry may seem overwhelming, and that’s perfectly understandable. The amount of effort needed may differ based on the current condition of your pantry. But, you can make significant improvements with little time and organisation.
This guide to pantry organisation can be great for all of you whose pantry is packed and cluttered. But, it can also be suitable for those of you whose kitchen pantry is almost empty. It can be a great starting point to stock up your pantry in a smart and efficient way and start cooking more at home.
Step 1: Declutter your pantry
First and foremost, put on some good music. You don’t want to organise your pantry without a lively background beat – it can make the process much more enjoyable!
Once you have your music playing, it’s time to take action. Begin by taking out all the items from your pantry. It will give you a clear overview of the situation. Next, carefully check the labels and dispose of any expired items.
For items that have expired but have been stored correctly (unopened or appropriately sealed), don’t rush to toss them out. Not all expired items necessarily mean they have gone bad. In an upcoming post, I’ll cover expiration dates to help you make informed decisions.
Step 2: Group similar items
Once you’ve decided what stays in your pantry, it’s time to organise similar items into categories, which I call “pantry essentials.” My pantry typically consists of 9 categories:
- OILS & VINEGAR (e.g., olive oil, pumpkin oil, apple cider vinegar)
- SWEETENERS (e.g., honey, maple syrup, sugar)
- GRAINS & PASTA (e.g., barley, oats, spaghetti)
- LEGUMES (e.g., lentils, chickpeas, beans)
- VEGETABLES (e.g., onions, garlic, potatoes)
- SPICES & DRIED HERBS (e.g., salt, pepper, sweet paprika)
- CANS & JARS (e.g., tomato sauce, pickled cucumber, anchovies)
- CONDIMENTS & SAUCES (e.g., mustard, soy sauce)
- BAKING ESSENTIALS (e.g., flour, baking soda, cocoa powder)
If you’d like to explore each of these categories in more detail, I’ve written a dedicated post about my pantry essentials. You will get more ideas about what goes in each of these categories and information on how to store each of them properly.
I chose these categories based on a combination of factors, including the nutritional composition of foods and the different preservation methods. The only category that might seem out of place is “baking essentials.” This category also covers various flours that are not necessarily limited to baking. Still, I like keeping them in the same group since I most often use them together.
Now, let’s explore why organising my pantry into these categories is something I truly appreciate:
Efficiency: Categorisation allows you to quickly and effortlessly locate the needed items. It not only saves you time and effort when cooking and baking but also reduces stress.
Easy Restocking: Grouping items provides a clear overview of which categories are running low. It simplifies your shopping list and ensures you’re always well-prepared.
Healthier Eating: Building your pantry around these categories lays a good foundation for a varied diet. In addition, it encourages you to make mindful choices and promotes a more balanced and nutritious meal preparation.
Step 3: Place items into suitable containers
To maintain the freshness of your pantry items, storing them properly is crucial.
It’s best to keep unopened items in their original packaging until they are opened.
For most opened items, you can leave them in their original packaging. This applies to items such as oils, sweeteners like honey and maple syrup, spices, or condiments like soy sauce.
Yet, for opened items like grains & pasta, legumes, or some baking essentials, it’s better to transfer them to airtight containers.
This step helps preserve their freshness and prevents moisture or pests from affecting the contents.
IMPORTANT: Also, before transferring your items into airtight containers, make sure they are completely dry. Again, moisture inside the airtight container could promote spoiling.
Why Do I Choose Glass Airtight Containers?
Safety: Glass is a non-toxic material that doesn’t contain harmful chemicals capable of leaching into your food.
Durability: Glass containers are known for their durability and longevity. Plus, they resist staining, odours, and scratches, making them a wise long-term investment.
Visibility: As glass containers are transparent, you can easily see the contents without opening them. That is an excellent feature for streamlining your pantry organisation.
Step 4: Label Your Items
Remember to label your pantry items. Proper labelling can make a significant difference in maintaining an organised pantry. Your label should have:
Name: Include the name of the food on the label. This is especially helpful for items like flour or dried herbs that can look similar and be easily confused.
Expiration Date: Don’t forget to add the expiration date on the label. This serves as a reminder of when a particular item is at its best. It also helps reduce waste by encouraging you to use items with shorter shelf life first.
To label the container, I like to use crape tape instead of label stickers. Compared to label stickers, crape tape can be easily removed from the container.
What if you bought food in bulk?
If you bought an item in bulk, label it with your name and the purchase date. In my post about pantry essentials, I’ve shared the shelf life of items from all categories. This will help you determine better the expiration date of your bulk items.
What else should you label?
Consider labelling your pantry sections with the categories you’ve organised. This simple step can help you stick to the decided order and maintain your pantry’s organisation.
Step 5: Find Suitable Pantry Space
When choosing the optimal place to store your pantry items, consider the following conditions:
- Dark
- Cool
- Dry
- Away from any heat source
As long as your chosen storage space meets these conditions, it can be in the form of drawers, shelves, or any other suitable option.
I prefer drawers as they provide a more transparent overview of items and help me maintain a more organised pantry. But, the choice between shelves and drawers can be influenced by personal preferences and the layout of your pantry.
Step 6: Maintain Your Organised Pantry
In addition to organising your pantry, it’s essential to maintain its order regularly. Here are some tips for keeping your pantry organised:
- Establish a Routine
Make it a habit to check your pantry periodically. You can opt to do this either weekly or monthly, depending on what suits you best. Consider combining this task with your weekly meal planning. While jotting down ideas for the upcoming week’s meals, take a moment to go through your pantry and reorganise as needed.
- Plan According to Availability
Regular pantry checks allow you to plan your diet based on available ingredients. This helps you maximise your time and reduce food waste by using items before expiration.
- Consistency is Key
Like many aspects of organisation, the key to an organised pantry is consistency.
Once you’ve initially organised it, make a conscious effort to maintain the system.
Return items to their designated spots after each use. This simple habit will save you time and reduce stress when cooking or preparing meals.
Investing time and effort into organising your pantry is an investment in a more efficient, cost-effective, and enjoyable kitchen experience. A well-organised pantry makes meal planning easier, minimises food waste, and encourages healthier eating habits.
Remember that the key to maintaining an organised pantry is consistency. As you embark on this journey of pantry organisation, embrace the benefits it brings to your daily life. Happy organising!
In case you are missing inspiration for delicious, nourishing meals, here it is:
Quick and easy red lentil stew
