Tiny cabinet or walk-in pantry, there is a solution for us all when it comes to organizing & storing our baking ingredients & parchment paper.
For many people the pantry is a catchall for anything that doesn’t go in the fridge. There may be boxes of cereal next to the instant pot, which is next to the ripped open bag of paper towel rolls. Or maybe you store cans of beans in one cupboard, and your baking supplies in another, but both could use some help in organization. Maybe your bag of brown sugar is at risk of becoming a brick from moisture sneaking in.
There are so many ways to get your pantry/dry good storage into a nice-to-look-at, easily perusable, and non-perishable friendly space. And for the holidays when there are items to store and gather for Thanksgiving and Christmas food prep, we want to make it as simple and not-frustrating as possible!
The pantry might be one of the bigger projects to tackle, but don’t be afraid! Not everyone enjoys cleaning and organizing, or the time commitment it can occasionally require to get it all done. But I’d bet big $ that we all fully enjoy seeing and experiencing the results, and feeling the gratification of a job well done. For anyone dreading this project, just remember that it isn’t one you’ll have to do regularly. Once you’re finished with the overhaul, just maintain the system, and all will be well in the pantry domain!
We recommend doing your pantry overhaul prior to heading to the store for all holiday baking and meals supplies, to ensure that you:
- Have adequate space
- Prevent duplication of items unnecessarily
- Think that you have that once of twice a year item stored, but don’t really
- Don’t waste extra time (that you can’t afford to lose), searching for what you need when it’s GO time
Setting the stage
Not for the kid’s A Christmas Carol play, yet, but for starting “The Pantry Project”.
Just as we begin all of our organization overhaul projects, we want to make sure we have all of the tools, supplies, and space we need to clear out, clean up, and put away items in an organized fashion. Here’s what you need:
- Plenty of cleared counter space (a foldable table may also come in handy)
- Garbage bag (or 2 if you’re anticipating a lot of throw-aways)
- Box or tote for donation items
- Vacuum (optional)
- Damp rag(s)
- Label maker or Painter’s tape & Sharpie
- Note taking tool (phone, notepad, etc.)
- Storage containers (baskets, clear storage, jar hangers, moveable shelving, etc)
I don’t know what type of storage I need
There are a few things to consider when you’re deciding how to approach the organization of your pantry. Figuring out what your goals are can help you to determine what type of organizational pieces you need to reach those goals. Some questions to ask yourself may be:
- Do I want/need to put every like item inside of a larger container?
- Do I want to keep items in the containers they come in from the store, or would I prefer them in something refillable & reusable?
- Do I need more shelving?
- Is there some open air space I can use? (Think outside the existing shelf space box)
- Do I really need all new containers for everything, or will helpful gadgets like chip clips be sufficient?
- Do I have an overflowing Tupperware cabinet/drawer that I could relieve, by using some for storing items in the pantry? What about all those Mason jars in the basement?
As you start to evaluate what it is you want and need in your pantry space, your end goal will come into focus. For some of us, we may need to purchase a bunch of new containers or a shelf. For others, maybe it’s just some stackable clear containers for all of those baking ingredients that we need to keep moisture out of and be able to identify clearly. There is a solution for all.
‘Say Cheese’ to your shelves
Not only will it be totally satisfying to see a before and after photo of your pantry, but taking a photo can help you to envision what will work where when you’re at the storage container store, or searching online and deciding what will work in your pantry space.
Pro Tip: Measure your shelf space, width and height, to ensure you are getting enough, but not too many containers or shelves to fit where you need them to. When purchasing storage containers, be sure the dimensions in the description align with the space you’re working with.
We’ve put together some options of ways to store and organize your pantry, that can accommodate most, if not all variety of spaces.
Any one of these alone can help you to transform your pantry from a chaotic mess to a tidy, easily navigable space.
This airtight set can cover an array of storage needs from a small bag of cashews to a bag of flour. These are great for keeping items that absolutely cannot be exposed to moisture, safe, dry, and easily identifiable. Mix and match the size stacking to suit your space limits. *Remember to wash and let completely dry before placing dry items inside. 24hrs in advance of planned use should be sufficient to entirely rid them of moisture.
These are great basket bins for pre-packaged but loose items such as kid’s snacks, soup packages, baking supplies, drink cans, and anything else that needs to be reigned into containment. Add a label to the front to ensure quick identification for pulling items out or replacing them.
No more hiding cans behind cans! Keep your can supply at a reasonable (not overstocked) and visible level by utilizing this 3-Tiered expandable rack. Keep the cans label-out and you’ll always be able to quickly find a can of black beans or pineapple when you want them. This is also a great option for bottles and seltzer cans!
As mentioned in the previous two parts of this Pre-Holiday Organization Series, Lazy Susan is incredibly useful throughout the kitchen, and beyond. We put her in the The Fridge in Part 1, in the spice space in Part 2, and now she gets to go hang out in the pantry. This is a great option for those bottles of condiments, oils, and vinegars that don’t need to be in the fridge, but can stay comfortable in the dark dry pantry.
We talked about an over-the-door rack in our spice space blog last week. Hanging racks are a great way to use space that would otherwise not be used. Out of the way, and able to store an array of items, this rack can free up a lot of shelf area for either storing other items or just giving things, and you, breathing room in the pantry.
Many of us store a lot in Mason jars. To see the orange lentils next to the red kidney beans is simply a nice visual, on top of them being reliably sealed and easily grabbable. But Mason jars are also susceptible to being hidden behind each other and amongst anywhere. These jar hangers are a great solution to keeping the jars visible, and also freeing up some shelf space for other items.
These easy to install baskets can be nice for light weight items like tin foil and ziploc bags. Just slide it anywhere along the shelf that it won’t get in the way, and slide some items inside for easy grabbing!
Adjustable Steel Wire Shelving
If you’re in the market for additional shelving to make your pantry space more organized and less cluttered, this simple adjustable shelf can be just the ticket. It’s easy to put together, you can adjust the height of each shelf to accommodate what you need to place, and items are visible. This can be a great option too for if you need to store some pantry supplies in another area of the house but need them organized and kept together.
Plan of attack!
Now that you have all the space, cleaning supplies and storage containers you need to tackle the project, plug those earbuds in, turn on an audiobook, podcast, or your favorite motivational tunes, and let’s get started!
1. Unpack the entire pantry. As you’re pulling items out:
- Stage in groups of how you’d like them when they go back into the pantry (like items, commonly-used-together items, frequently used items, kid’s items, mom’s well-deserved but secret treat stash items)
- Separate and place in box or tote any items you simply don’t see yourself using in the near future, so you can donate them to a local shelter or organization that feeds people in need
- Throw away that rancid Crisco! Don’t keep items that are old or bad. Get them gone, and consider it lesson learned. We’ve all been there, many times, so don’t beat yourself up if you need to toss things.
- Make a note of anything that you need for the holidays, that you thought you had hiding in the back but didn’t really.
2. The vacuum is such a versatile household invention, and can be used for more than just floors and cobwebs. Vacuum off the shelves; get that wand into all those tight spots and edges where the rag might not do as thorough of a job. Once you’ve removed all the dust, crumbs and webs, vacuum the bottom surface(i.e. the floor or bottom of cupboard) as well.
Keep the vacuum handy!
We recommend that after you’re done organizing, a final clean-up is a perfect way to put the equivalent of a shiny Christmas bow on the project.
3. Wipe down all the surfaces with a damp rag. You want to clean-up that dark molasses ring from the jar you didn’t wipe off and subsequently some delicious thick syrup dripped down the side onto the shelf.
After clean-up will be the time to do any installations. For example, if you need to put some screws into a shelf for those new jar holders.
Bonus Step: Place the empty organizational tools (baskets, can holders, racks, clear Tupperware, etc.) where you’ve envisioned them to go in the pantry. This can be helpful as you may discover that things might fit better or go with your flow better elsewhere, and you’ll want to do this before they’re full and harder to move. Although, it can be a nice arm workout to shuffle full containers around! That’s why this is a bonus step!
4. If moving away from storing items in their original packaging, this is when you’d want to start emptying those loose items (that bag of quinoa or white sugar) into their new clean and dry reusable containers.
Label containers before placing them in the pantry. That way you won’t confuse the barley with the buckwheat!
5. If you’re using storage bins, racks, Lazy Susan, etc, go ahead and start placing items in/on them, inside the pantry space. As you put things away, consider organizing with these things in mind:
- Like items
- Frequency of use
- Who needs to access it (within kid’s reach?)
- Weight distribution on shelves
- Visibility
Once you’ve decided on what is being stored together, label the larger container if needed for additional visibility.
Maintaining the system
The pantry is a space that can quickly get out of hand. Here are some helpful tips on how to keep it under control and organized for the long-term. You’ve got this!
- When a container is empty, wash it, dry it and set it aside in a visible spot in the pantry for when you have the contents to refill it
- Only buy what you know you need. Your pantry will quickly get over-filled, cluttered, and inevitably lead to more waste if you buy all the all the on-sale non-perishables you’re tempted to grab
- Be sure to place items in their proper place in the pantry when you bring them in
- Keep a notepad and pen nearby for when it’s time to add an item that is running low or needs to be replaced
This article was submitted by Olympia Von Berg. This is part of a series about organizing before the holidays.
Read PART TWO – SPICES
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-Disclaimer- Products listed in this blog are simply recommendations and ideas. We do not earn from the sharing of these product recommendations.