Your pantry is one of the most important areas in your home. A well-organized pantry will make a significant difference in how easily you prepare your meals, the freshness of your food and the overall cleanliness of your home. Without proper organization, a pantry becomes the breeding spot for common household pests because there are plenty of places to hide, and there is a lot of food to feed these pests. You all know I make goals for myself each month. One of my goals this month was to organize my pantry and food storage cabinets so I thought it was perfect timing to share some tips for arranging and organizing your pantry.
Group similar items
It will be easier to get items in your pantry if you group similar ones. For instance, have the spices in one spot, jars of butter with cooking oils in another, snacks in another section and pasta in another. You can go a step further and subdivide the sections based on the frequency of the products’ use such that you place the items you use most, like spices, within easy reach. Even so, remember that some items should not be stored in the same spot because they hasten each other’s spoiling or have strong smells that other products might absorb. For example, garlic and onions hasten the spoiling of potatoes, whereas flour might absorb the strong smell of cumin when stored next to it.
Start a ‘first in first out’ approach
You will restock your pantry from time to time to ensure you do not run out of essential items. Ensure you move the older items to the front of your pantry shelves and place the newer ones at the back. This way, you will use the items that are closer to their expiration dates first. A ‘first in first out’ approach saves you the cash you would lose when you throw out expired unused products. Moreover, it keeps your pantry pest-free because there are no products that stay in the same position for so long. You may want to invest in an organizational system that helps with this, especially for canned items to make it easier.
Unbox items
You can get more storage space in your pantry if you get rid of the bulky packaging that your products will often come in. Get some of the attractive pantry jars or bins now available in most stores for the storage of your items. Other than the aesthetics and extra space, emptying dry foods into clean air-tight containers reduces their risk of pest infestation and increases the product’s longevity. Some of the original product packaging materials harbor pests so an air tight container is much cleaner and more sanitary. It looks much better, too!
Label your storage containers
A lot of pantry items look similar, and it is easy to reach for the wrong one when you are in a hurry. Label your containers so that you are sure of what is stored in them at all times. Furthermore, consider getting easily changeable labels to indicate the expiration dates of the stored items. This is because it is easy to forget the expiration date of a product once you discard the manufacturer’s packaging. I recommend chalk labels that you can apply and then relabel as needed.
Invest in storage baskets
Some pantry items like snacks cannot perfectly fit in clear storage jars and look disorganized when stored in their original packages. The best choice for these items lies in storage baskets. The items are filled in labelled storage baskets and neatly put away. The baskets can then be placed on the vertical wall space above your pantry shelves and others on the floor below your shelves. Items that you do not use often are ideally stored in the baskets on high shelves, while those that your kids need are stored in the baskets on low shelves.
Dedicate one shelf for the storage of electric appliances
Electric appliances that you do not use often, like blenders, mixers and rice cookers, can take up some valuable kitchen counter space. To avoid this, store them in the pantry. Instead of simply placing the appliances between your supplies, have a separate shelf for them. As a bonus, you can even have an electrical outlet in your pantry so that you can use the electrical appliances without moving them if possible.
Bottom Line
With the tips above, you can now start organizing your pantry to maximize the space while easing your access to stored items. Though you will bask in the exceptional look and after-glow of your organized pantry for months, these will not last forever. It is essential to periodically clean the storage baskets, jars and shelves in your pantry. This keeps the room looking squeaky clean and gets rid of lingering smells and the possibility of a pest infestation. Common pantry pests include cockroaches, ants, weevils, grain beetles and fruit flies. Getting rid of these pests may require a professional pest removal service, so preventing a pest infestation with good pantry organization is a prudent option for saving on this additional expense.
