Pantry Organization: The Secret Way To Easy Cooking!
I always know when it is time to re-organize the pantry- things begin to go missing. You know those laundry mysteries? Two socks go in the dryer but only one comes out, never to return again? Well the same phenomenon occurs in the pantry. I call the phenomenon pantry elves, but what it really is, is frustrating!
A few months ago, I knew it was time, because I bought a new bottle of balsamic vinegar, put it in the balsamic vinegar spot that was empty and looked a few inches over and there was a half full bottle of the same exact balsamic vinegar. Same thing with the confectioner’ s sugar – something I must say was rarely used in my kitchen, except for now, I have joined that pesky group known as the Daring Bakers, and sugar, flour, baking powder and things that got used once a year started getting used once per month! But now there were doubles of everything – old containers I forgot where there, sitting right next to new containers of the same stuff. So now, my small pantry had even less space because I was repeat buying things I couldn’t see in my dis-organized pantry!
The moral of the story is keep your pantry organized and cooking will be much easier.
Top Three Benefits of Having an Organized Pantry:
1) You save loads of money by not repeat buying
2) You can actually reach into your pantry and find what you need without moving stuff all around, creating even more chaos
3) Things , like little bottles of vanilla extract don’t get tucked in with a bag of brown sugar that you pull out of the pantry and then have vanilla extract and broken glass everywhere-keeping your toes and the toes of all the people you love safe!
Top 5 Tips For How To Organize Your Pantry:
1) First you have to take everything OUT of the pantry. If you miss this vital step, there will be consequences later- like that sneaky bottle of vanilla extract.
2) Check the dates on all your items. If its time has passed get rid of it and then think about whether or not you need to replace it -how often do you use it? Can you get a smaller amount next time?
3) Place all the items that are close to their expiration date up front so that you remember them and eat them before they expire.
4) Combine boxes and bags. If you have two boxes of confectioner’s sugar, put them in one box. If they don’t fit this way, use a canister or jar and label it. This way you can make more room for other things.
5) Place like items together. My pantry is organized in this fashion: favorite cookbooks together (the gazillion others are in boxes in the garage), baking stuff together, canned goods together, staples together, grains together, vinegars, oils and spices together, snacks together.
What are your tips for pantry organization?
Sylvia - October 5, 2007 at 9:38 am
Nice tips Jenn,you made me laugh,is so common in my laundry miss socks. I call that, when those things happens ,missing in action ,or miss in the Bermuda triangle.
Figs Olives Wine - October 5, 2007 at 2:16 pm
Looks like an utterly satisfying project. Congratulations!
Katiez - October 5, 2007 at 3:40 pm
Mon mari built a ‘giant spice rack’ for me…looks just like a spice rack but goes floor to (almost) ceiling and is one container deep so nothing can hide. Very handy…
Adriana - October 5, 2007 at 4:22 pm
Excellent post Jenn!
I’m agree with your tips… and now I remember, I will must reorganize my pantry… hehe!
sognatrice - October 5, 2007 at 4:48 pm
You have excellent tips, and I can’t wait until we’re in our new house and actually have room for a pantry-like space. Right now I have a pathetic two cupboards that are organized as best as possible…but somehow my vanilla always gets pushed around! Good thing it’s in a plastic bottle 😉
Lisa - October 5, 2007 at 5:08 pm
My husband and I talk about doing this all the time, because we run into the SAME problem! We are going to make a list of all the food in our pantry and as we use it, mark it off. That way we’ll always know what we have on hand, what we’re running low on, etc.
My husband has everything organized by food group and expiration date, but I still lose some things.
kat - October 5, 2007 at 7:01 pm
Thanks for sharing your tips, very helpful! I am so jealous of your pantry, it is huge!
DaviMack - October 5, 2007 at 8:05 pm
Yes – I, also, am truly jealous of the size of that pantry! But I’d also agree that reorganizing is critical, particularly when you end up having shifting volumes of things. Around Winter, for example, when things shift towards sweet breads and away from Summer’s food. Then the raisins & dried fruits need to be more accessible, and the salsa & garbanzo beans (for hummus) need to take a back seat.
Misslionheart♥ - October 6, 2007 at 6:34 am
I’m clearing, cleaning and re-organising my cupboards right now. I tend to hold on to almost empty items ‘just in case’ but today, I’m being ruthless.
Chef is doing the shopping in the morning and the fridge needs a makeover, too. He’s the main organiser in this kitchen! And God help me if anything is out of date in there…
I’d *kill* for a pantry like that!
The Leftover Queen - October 6, 2007 at 12:10 pm
Hi Sylvia! Yes, it is kind of like the Bermuda Triangle! You are the funny one!
Hi Amanda, Yes, I love re-organizing things. It really is such a great feeling
Wow Katie! That sounds like a truely awesome spice rack!
Thanks Adriana! Get to it!
Hi Sognatrice! Yes, it is always best to have more space, but sometimes the challenge of making it all fit in a tighter space is very satisfying. When are you moving?
That is a really good tip Lisa. I like it. I will have to think about doing that too.
Hi Kat! Yeah, it is a nice size.
Hi DaviMack. That is true, there are winter and summer pantries, but it is a good idea to switch things around – back to front. Very good tip!
Hi Misslionheart! I always am ruthless when it comes to getting rid of stuff. It is such a part of who I am – although I think that is the only part that is ruthless!
Anali - October 6, 2007 at 12:30 pm
I’m so jealous of your pantry! I’ve always wanted one, but just have cabinets. Maybe one day! ; ) Great organizing ideas. I do tend to re-stock for the seasons. I keep a running list of things that I’m getting ready to run out of, so I tend to be okay. I’m always so happy when I think I ran out of something, but then I look and realized that I bought it on sale. That just makes my day!
Andaliman - October 6, 2007 at 1:34 pm
Wow what a nice pantry. We’re just done to unpack all my kitchen stuffs and now I’m confused to put all my spices. We decided to make a half space in our storage room as my pantry 😀
Delina - October 6, 2007 at 2:52 pm
I want a pantry like that too! It looks like a great space saving way to keep things. I should organise my cupboards… tomorrow tomorrow.
Cynthia - October 7, 2007 at 9:48 am
Very useful post, Jenn and we’ve all been there – disorganized pantry blues.
Meg Wolff - October 7, 2007 at 3:27 pm
Yes, nice job organizing! Fall is a good time to do this.
The Leftover Queen - October 7, 2007 at 4:04 pm
Hi Anali! Well cupboards work just as well as pantries for storing all your dry goods. Sometimes I like cabinets better because then you can designate better!
Andaliman! Well now is the perfect time to organize the way you really want to!
Hi Delina, Yes, pantry organizing is very useful but also quite fun – you feel very accomplished afterall!
Hi Cynthia! Oh yeah, you know we have all been there.
Hi Meg! Thanks! Yes, there is something about fall and nesting.
maninas: food matters - October 8, 2007 at 8:07 am
You’ve been reading my mind… My pantry so needs organising… It’s a complete mess, and I have no idea where things are anymore… Just had a discussion with hubby about it recently, who gets frustrated with all the mess, and who thinks I have to many spices… I defended my spice collection viciously, but decided to concede on a few points: use up ingredients, and then get some more of others, rather than stocking up on 10 types of grain and cereals… sigh… i love my couscous, my quinoa, my 3, no 4 types of rice… But, seriously, thanks for the tips. This post made me go into my kitchen and sort things out! I like the idea of putting at the front things that will go off soon. Logical really, but a great tip! Thanks!
ps. I wrote about the Foodie Blogroll on my blog. Sorry life’s been very hectic all summer, and I’ve been away for most of it.
Cris - October 8, 2007 at 3:05 pm
Great tips Jen. Like your spice rack, I almost bought one when I was in the US, then I thought I would pick it up later, then I forgot… Your panty only made me feel homesick, hehe. 🙂
The Leftover Queen - October 9, 2007 at 7:23 am
Hi Maninas! I am glad this post helped you. I kno who you feel, I have a TON of spices. I would not be who I am without my spices, you know?! So I totally feel you on that one – I get out of it, by telling myself, if I use up the old stuff, I can get new spices I haven’t had before, try some stuff out. That always gets me where I need to go.
Hi Cris! Thanks! Oh, next time you are here you should get one…or maybe you could build one. That would be a fun project! How good are you with a hammer? 😉
Adriana - October 9, 2007 at 3:27 pm
Listo!!!!
Done!! This morning my pantry have a new face! hehe!!
The Leftover Queen - October 9, 2007 at 10:10 pm
Yay! Way to go Adriana!
Wendy - October 10, 2007 at 3:43 am
You put me to shame, Jen. My cupboards are notoriously disorganised. Mysteriously they seem to be far better organised after a visit from my mother… 😉
The Leftover Queen - October 10, 2007 at 7:04 am
That is too funny Wendy!
Windy - October 10, 2007 at 10:23 am
My house is not big so I don’t have a big pantry like yours. But I think it is good because I could limit myself to buy the things I need only. Also, it’s easlier to keep track of things.
The Leftover Queen - October 11, 2007 at 7:07 am
Hi Windy! It is so funny how everyone thinks my house must be big – it isn’t, but for whatever reason, in Florida every kitchen has a pantry. it’s just one of those things – but it is true a smaller pantry helps clarify what is truely necessary!
Deborah Dowd - October 24, 2007 at 8:21 pm
I am impressed since right now my pantry is a wreck! I have posted about my fridge, but my pantry… that’s another story!
The Leftover Queen - October 25, 2007 at 5:13 pm
Thanks Deborah! Well the fridge is just as important I do believe!