While few find cleaning an enjoyable hobby, many consider it a chore. So organizing the pantry is no different! Organizing a messy pantry is an involved procedure that involves taking inventory and establishing order, which takes time. It's not rocket science, but it all comes down to planning (and a little elbow grease).
There are a million ways to organize a pantry. Everyone has a different way of organizing things as per their preference, space, and lifestyle. Stumped organizers with no idea of where to start can try these techniques to get them to the pantry of their dreams.
Not All Pantries Are Created Equal
Pantries from every home come in different shapes and sizes. So before devoting an afternoon to decluttering a kitchen space, the organizer needs to determine the kind of pantry they have, asking themselves things like:
- How many things does it holds?
- How many shelves does it have?
- Are the shelves stackable?
The way the pantry is organized should also be observed. If items are cluttered and stacked up against each other, it's time to consider buying containers to keep everything tidy. Also, take a look at some helpful appliances that will bring people closer to the pantry of their dreams.
- Lazy Susan: The lazy susan is excellent for sauce bottles and seasoning jars. They can rotate, so it's easier for someone to see their pantry items.
- Transparent jars: Many people on social media boast about glass jars for pantries. Not only do they look nice, but they can also visually communicate to someone how much of an item they have left. They are also an excellent way to prevent mess and keep moisture (and bugs) out of food. Jars of any sort, whether it's glass or plastic, should be washed thoroughly before use.
- Tight-lid plastic containers: These big plastic containers are great because they can leave moisture out that creeps up in pantries. Additionally, they also can prevent bugs from entering food or item. Usually, these plastic containers store large appliances (or other large items).
- Door Hanger Containers: These containers are great because they maximize space in one's pantry, especially those at the smaller end. Many of these containers have hooks that go through the top portion of the door. Some also have adhesive on their hooks to be stuck onto the door wall without any issue.
Determine the kind of containers that will fit the pantry. It's also a great idea to take measurements of the pantry shelves to assess what type of container will fit into the pantry itself.
Steps To Organize A Messy Pantry
Sorting an unruly pantry should be tackled during a free day, especially during the weekends or on a day off. Secondly, the workspace should be clean, with plenty of counter space for the mountain of half-opened containers one will find while cleaning the pantry.
Once ample time and a clean workspace are available, it's time to organize!
To start off, all items from the pantry should be removed and placed on the workspace. Next, dig through dark corners and nooks to find items hiding in the back of the space.
Then, with a pen and paper pad handy, one should take an inventory of all the items that were pulled out. Take note of the expiry dates and duplicates. Discard goods that have expired or whose containers are damaged. Alternatively, unopened (and unexpired) duplicates should be donated to a local food bank or someone in need. A tip to keep in mind:
- Pantry Tips: Before taking an inventory of each item, scan through the pile and group any duplicates or similar items together.
Using the items on the list, devise a strategy to organize the pantry. Once that's been established, clean the pantry if necessary, clearing out any dust, food particles, and residue. This will eliminate any strange orders emanating from the pantry, and is also a great way to keep out unwanted things like bugs or mold.
Once the pantry is spic and span, items can go back into their pantry abode. Containers introduced to the pantry must be cleaned and dried thoroughly before use.
- Pantry Tips: Having trouble deciding how to organize the pantry? Try these tips:
- Similar items that serve a similar purpose should be grouped in the pantry.
- Frequently used items should be accessible on a pantry shelf.
- All items should be easy to remove from the pantry but quickly go back in its place.
- Avoid overcrowding items to prevent them from toppling each other.
- Make all items visible. Used raised shelves for items placed at the back to encourage one to use these items.
- Items of duplicates and earlier expiry dates should be placed up front and center!
- Label jars with the name of the food item and also its expiry date (this will make it easier for pantry organizing later)
- For safety, heavier items should be placed on the bottom shelves (or on the floor).
- Avoid stacking cans like a skyscraper for safety reasons.
- Keep the inventory of items handy and close to the pantry door.
After a long day's work (and a bit of elbow grease), it's possible for an unruly pantry to be worthy of social media praise. A clean pantry may have taken hours to organize, but it will save people precious time. Home cooks don't have to sift through piles of food to find the ingredient they need. That means more love (and time) can be devoted to whipping up superbly sweet muffins people will love or sampling truffle recipes for any occasion!
