The holidays are just around the corner. If you are hosting family and friends that means a lot of cooking and baking is going to be happening in your kitchen. Digging around in your pantry looking for items you know you have in there somewhere, wastes so much time. It slows you down and makes cooking those big meals a real chore. Taking the time now before the holidays hit to get your pantry organized will not only save you valuable time, but money as well. And who doesn’t love saving money?
You will want to set aside a couple days to tackle a project this size. Just realize that everything will be a hot mess for a couple days before it gets better. But in the end it will all be worth it, I promise! Before you do anything, take a good hard look at how your pantry is currently set up and identify those areas that aren’t working for you. I bet you are struggling with some of the very same issues as I am. Too much stuff, not enough room, can’t find what you need when you need it, cans and boxes falling over as you search for things, items piled up willy-nilly, expired foods, inadequate ugly storage, and just an overall, unorganized, messy looking pantry.
Canned Goods
One area that never works for me is how my canned items are stored. I have to move stacks and stacks of cans out of the way to see what’s in the back. Not being able to easily see and access what I have on hand results in expired items, duplicate purchases, and the inefficient use of space that makes finding what I need a chore.
- Purchase racks for canned food storage.
Baking supplies
While I have all my baking supplies in one general area it’s unattractive and messy looking. The utilitarian cardboard box filled with baking supplies, holds too much and is very heavy and cumbersome to move.
- Purchase air tight clear containers to store baking supplies.
Condiments
Condiments are shoved into a dark corner making it difficult to find what I need. I often buy duplicates because I can’t find needed items. I need to organize like items together; separate open bottles from unopened bottles and use the oldest items first.
- Purchase Lazy Susan for condiments.
Non-Pantry Storage
Identify items that can be stored in other areas of the house. Items like laundry detergent can be moved to a cabinet in the laundry room Dish soap can be stored under the kitchen sink. Moving non-pantry items to alternative storage areas will free up space in your pantry for food items. If you have the space in your home, try to store items where you will be using them.
- Remove non-pantry items.
- Need better onion storage.
- Get items off the floor.
- Use space more efficiently.
Dry Goods Pasta/Rice/Beans
Excess bags and boxes of pasta, bags of beans and rice are shoved into a dark corner and not easy to access. It’s hard to see what I already have on hand.
- Purchase additional storage containers for pasta, rice and beans.
Once you’ve identified problematic areas it’s time to completely empty out every single item from your pantry. I set everything out on my dining room table.
Group like items together, all the condiments, mayo, mustard and ketchup together, all the canned items together, all the crackers, chips, baking items, pasta, rice, and beans. Check the expiration dates on each package and get rid of any items that have expired.
Categories:
- Canned goods
- Condiments
- Baking supplies; flour, sugar, chocolate chips, etc.
- Spices
- Coffee, tea, drinks
- Dry goods; pasta, rice beans
- Snacks; chips, nuts, crackers
- Boxed foods; cereal, cake mixes, brownie mixes
Don’t beat yourself up when you come across expired items. You are getting your pantry organized so that it won’t happen again in the future. Yes it’s hard to toss out food, but let it be the motivation to keep your pantry organized in the future. Instead of just shoving items into the pantry willy-nilly after you go shopping, take a few minutes to put items where they belong. It will save you loads of time in the long run. If you can commit to doing this, you will easily maintain an organized pantry and you may never have to overhaul your pantry ever again.
Once your pantry is empty, clean the empty shelves. If it’s been several years and you have the time, now would be the perfect time to paint your pantry. It’s amazing what a coat of paint can do! Your pantry will feel brand new with a coat of paint to freshen it up.
Once you have grouped all your pantry items into categories you can easily see what you have on hand. Now that you know what you need it’s time to purchase containers, storage racks and baskets too organize your food items.
Storage Solutions:
A Lazy Susan makes it easy to find the condiments you need and keeps everything within easy reach.
Clear storage containers make it easy to identify what you have on hand and allows you to easily see when you are running low on staples.
Airtight Food Storage Containers with Lids 4PCS Set 3.2L
Pasta Storage Containers Spaghetti Box Set, 2.4L
Clear, self adhesive business card sleeves, hold labels in place on your containers. Just slide in a piece of paper.
Cut out the name on packages and slip them into the sleeves. It’s easy to change out the labels when you change what you’re storing in a container. This makes this labeling system endlessly customizable and every inexpensive.
Large Food Storage Containers 5.2L / 176oz
Self-adhesive Clear Plastic Sticky Label Holders
Cut out the cooking instructions from bags and boxes and drop them in your containers so you know how to cook the items in the future.
Under shelf storage racks like this one make great use of unused space between shelves. They are typically used to hold rolls of aluminum foil, wax paper, or plastic wrap. Also great for storing onions that need good air circulation to extend their shelf life and prevent them from spoiling.
2 Pack – SimpleHouseware Under Shelf Basket, Bronze
Did you know: To extend the shelf life of potatoes and onions, never store them next to each other. Onions produce high levels of ethylene gas and will cause potatoes to spoil faster.
I have to confess my favorite storage solution are the two metal racks I purchased to organize my canned goods. Oldest cans in the front with the newer cans at the back. This ensures I use the oldest cans first. As you remove a can, the cans behind it roll forward. I love how neat and tidy it looks, and no more cans falling on my feet and smashing my toes while I’m rooting around looking for something in the very back.
Simple Houseware Stackable Can Rack Organizer, Bronze
TIP: Be sure to measure shelves to make sure the containers and storage racks you purchase will fit in your space.
My son caught me standing in my pantry the other night. He asked me what I was doing? Just admiring my neatly organized pantry closet. The holidays will be just a little less stressful this year now that I know what I have on hand and I can easily get my hands on what I need. You still have this weekend to tackle organizing your pantry before switching into Thanksgiving mode. Go on…you can do this!!! You will be so happy you did!
A big shout out to my bestie Veronica and the great 2022 bull weevil infestation she conquered. Her pantry overhaul was so beautiful it provided the inspiration I needed to finally get my own pantry organized.
Are you going to tackle organizing your pantry before the holidays?
Be sure to snap a pic and tag it #naturewayblog I love, love, love hearing from my readers! Please, don’t forget to leave a comment and a review below, and tag me on INSTAGRAM, FACEBOOK, or TWITTER!
May I ask a small favor? If you enjoyed this blogpost would you be so kind and like the page? Just click the “like” button down at the very bottom, at the end of the post. It lets me know what you are enjoying the most. It also helps me focus my attention on creating content that will be most meaningful and beneficial to you, my readers. And don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE so you never miss out on all the latest that’s happening here at Nature Way. Thank you and God bless!
Our hope comes from God. May He fill you with joy and peace because of your trust in Him. May your hope grow stronger by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Romans 15:13
Remember…Jesus ❤️’s you!