10 Ways to Take Control of Your Kitchen Pantry
It can be a nightmare, and even a health hazard, but organise your kitchen pantry and life will run that little bit smoother
A friend of mine kept on buying the same items over and over until one day she sorted out her cupboards only to find she owned four jars of sweet paprika, three jars of mixed herbs and had double-ups of countless bags of grains. Her cupboards were such a mess that every time she couldn’t find something, she would go out and buy another one. It’s a familiar ‘first-world problem’ for many of us, but it’s one that’s remedied with a little bit of organisation. So if you’ve ever found any items lurking in the furthest reaches of your pantry that have use-by dates in the previous decade, or you’ve bought things you already have because you can’t see what you’ve got, then it might be time for a big sort out. Here’s how to clean out your pantry and give it more organisation than ever before, so you don’t waste any more time or money.
Browse more kitchen designs for inspiration
Browse more kitchen designs for inspiration
2. Put everything on show
My aforementioned friend, who I can happily report is now saving money and has remained ultra-organised, reckons the key to success is “having everything visible”.
“Before you go shopping, scanning what you have means you won’t double up,” she says. “When I empty my jar of cashew nuts, I can easily see that I have to buy more. I was doubling up because I couldn’t see what I had.”
My aforementioned friend, who I can happily report is now saving money and has remained ultra-organised, reckons the key to success is “having everything visible”.
“Before you go shopping, scanning what you have means you won’t double up,” she says. “When I empty my jar of cashew nuts, I can easily see that I have to buy more. I was doubling up because I couldn’t see what I had.”
One of the first things to do is invest in lots of different sized jars – ones with good, airtight lids – or start saving jars and recycling them, especially large ones. For items, such as flour and other grains, jars are great for keeping out pests, including weevils. And it’s much easier to see ingredients under glass than trying to find them among a million paper and plastic bags
Work out what sizes you need – large jars for big items, such as cereals, pasta, rice and beans, down to smaller jars for items such as nuts. Your jar sizes will also depend, of course, on how much cooking you do from scratch and whether you buy in bulk (which will save you money).
Work out what sizes you need – large jars for big items, such as cereals, pasta, rice and beans, down to smaller jars for items such as nuts. Your jar sizes will also depend, of course, on how much cooking you do from scratch and whether you buy in bulk (which will save you money).
3. Create zones
As obvious as it sounds, keeping like items together will help finding them easier – and it also looks much neater and organised. If you’re in the middle of cooking and you can easily access the olive oil or the right spices, it can make life a lot easier.
So store bottled items, such as oils and vinegars, together; group tins of food together; keep crackers and biscuits in the same spot; and keep condiments and spreads in another section.
If you have a walk-in pantry you can also store large items you may not use regularly, such as blenders, rice cookers, bread makers, so that they’re not cluttering your benchtops. Having said that, if it’s something you’re not using at all, don’t just leave it there – give it away!
As obvious as it sounds, keeping like items together will help finding them easier – and it also looks much neater and organised. If you’re in the middle of cooking and you can easily access the olive oil or the right spices, it can make life a lot easier.
So store bottled items, such as oils and vinegars, together; group tins of food together; keep crackers and biscuits in the same spot; and keep condiments and spreads in another section.
If you have a walk-in pantry you can also store large items you may not use regularly, such as blenders, rice cookers, bread makers, so that they’re not cluttering your benchtops. Having said that, if it’s something you’re not using at all, don’t just leave it there – give it away!
4. Label it
Spices can easily become messy and cluttered, but the ones in the photo above have been stored in what look like old baby food or jam jars and then neatly labelled. If you use a lot of spices buying them in bulk and storing them this way is far more economical than buying smaller individual bottles each time.
I have a tendency to collect many different types of rice – sushi, basmati, jasmine, arborio – according to what cuisine I happen to be into at the time. Until recently I kept them all in their bags in a big tub – this just didn’t work and instead created a mess of bags with bits of rice all over the place. Now I am trying to keep them in labelled jars so I can see what I have and know what to shop for.
More: 10 Storage Ideas for Your Herbs and Spices
Spices can easily become messy and cluttered, but the ones in the photo above have been stored in what look like old baby food or jam jars and then neatly labelled. If you use a lot of spices buying them in bulk and storing them this way is far more economical than buying smaller individual bottles each time.
I have a tendency to collect many different types of rice – sushi, basmati, jasmine, arborio – according to what cuisine I happen to be into at the time. Until recently I kept them all in their bags in a big tub – this just didn’t work and instead created a mess of bags with bits of rice all over the place. Now I am trying to keep them in labelled jars so I can see what I have and know what to shop for.
More: 10 Storage Ideas for Your Herbs and Spices
5. Keep it cool
If possible, store food in as cool a spot as possible, but not damp. Away from the oven will help keep things stay cooler. Behind closed doors will keep them cooler still.
If possible, store food in as cool a spot as possible, but not damp. Away from the oven will help keep things stay cooler. Behind closed doors will keep them cooler still.
6. Height matters
As hot air rises, the coolest part of the pantry will be that closest to the floor. This is a good place to store items that will benefit from cool, dark spaces, but don’t need to be in the fridge – potatoes, apples, spreads. If you don’t have draws or shelves, buy or re-use baskets or purpose-made storage units.
As hot air rises, the coolest part of the pantry will be that closest to the floor. This is a good place to store items that will benefit from cool, dark spaces, but don’t need to be in the fridge – potatoes, apples, spreads. If you don’t have draws or shelves, buy or re-use baskets or purpose-made storage units.
7. Invest in hardware
The walk-in pantry is everyone’s ultimate in kitchen storage, but the fact is you don’t need a walk-in to get organised. Having recently acquired a walk-in pantry, I know that having one can mean the opposite – all that space can just give you room to store extra stuff you don’t really need and that’s easily forgotten.
But with all the pull-out pantries, drawers and special storage hardware now on the market, there are many systems to help us get organised. For example, these pull-out drawers are a neat way of storing bottles.
The walk-in pantry is everyone’s ultimate in kitchen storage, but the fact is you don’t need a walk-in to get organised. Having recently acquired a walk-in pantry, I know that having one can mean the opposite – all that space can just give you room to store extra stuff you don’t really need and that’s easily forgotten.
But with all the pull-out pantries, drawers and special storage hardware now on the market, there are many systems to help us get organised. For example, these pull-out drawers are a neat way of storing bottles.
Having cupboards and drawers with bi-fold doors to keep food and appliances out of sight is a good way to have a dedicated, closable pantry if you don’t have the space for a walk-in.
Or consider installing shelves like these ones in an existing cupboard to create more storage space for items.
More: Hidden Agenda: 15 Cleverly Concealed Kitchen Storage Spaces
More: Hidden Agenda: 15 Cleverly Concealed Kitchen Storage Spaces
8. Store some pantry items nearby
Keep the pantry organised by not storing everything in there. Those items you use regularly and often – such as herbs and spices – may be better off stored close at hand by your cooking zone. This spice rack right next to the cooktop is well organised (alphabetical order works a treat) and easy to access.
Keep the pantry organised by not storing everything in there. Those items you use regularly and often – such as herbs and spices – may be better off stored close at hand by your cooking zone. This spice rack right next to the cooktop is well organised (alphabetical order works a treat) and easy to access.
9. Light it up
If you can’t see your items properly, then chaos will reign. Good lighting will help you see what you have and help keep you more organised. Buy a good bright light or consider adding more lighting if it’s too dark in your pantry.
If you can’t see your items properly, then chaos will reign. Good lighting will help you see what you have and help keep you more organised. Buy a good bright light or consider adding more lighting if it’s too dark in your pantry.
10. Write it down
My friend found some Instant Blackboard at her local toy shop and stuck it up on the back of her pantry door. Now she makes a note of items she has run out of so she doesn’t forget it on the next shopping trip.
Find space in or around the pantry to write lists of things you need. The more organised you are before you go shopping, the more likely you are to buy only what you need and not get extras that you don’t. Meaning you’ll have less stuff to store and you’ll have spent less money.
Improve your kitchen’s functionality with the help of a kitchen designer
TELL US
Do you have a neat and well-organised pantry? And any useful tips for keeping it that way? Please share your ideas in the comments section.
MORE ON ORGANISATION
Stylish Storage: 10 Steps To Planning the Perfect Kitchen Pantry
How To Organise Your Kitchen Cupboards
20 Storage Ideas That Say “Now Why Didn’t I Think of That?
My friend found some Instant Blackboard at her local toy shop and stuck it up on the back of her pantry door. Now she makes a note of items she has run out of so she doesn’t forget it on the next shopping trip.
Find space in or around the pantry to write lists of things you need. The more organised you are before you go shopping, the more likely you are to buy only what you need and not get extras that you don’t. Meaning you’ll have less stuff to store and you’ll have spent less money.
Improve your kitchen’s functionality with the help of a kitchen designer
TELL US
Do you have a neat and well-organised pantry? And any useful tips for keeping it that way? Please share your ideas in the comments section.
MORE ON ORGANISATION
Stylish Storage: 10 Steps To Planning the Perfect Kitchen Pantry
How To Organise Your Kitchen Cupboards
20 Storage Ideas That Say “Now Why Didn’t I Think of That?
If your cupboards are in need of a total overhaul, the first thing to do is to take stock and do a big purge. Take everything out of the pantry, go through every single item and check the labels. While I don’t advocate wasting food, it’s a good idea to cull, throwing out anything you’re never going to use or that’s way out-of-date. This will help you be less wasteful later.
Of course, some things, such as rice and pasta, that are out-of-date by only a few months could be moved to the forefront to be eaten straightaway. Other items, such as spices, aren’t so good once once they’ve been stored for too long.
Many of us buy ingredients, such as nuts, pastes and sauces, called for in one-off recipes we never make again. If you haven’t used something for years, as with clothes de-cluttering, be ruthless at this stage and throw it out or give it away.