You can own the perfect pantry by rearranging the area, whether you have a walk-in or reach-in system. All you have to do is follow our tips and tactics! Read the ultimate guide to pantry organization and make the necessary improvements today!

The Benefits of an Organized Pantry

An organized pantry allows you to meal prep, store food, and clean more efficiently. It also reduces waste, saves time, and decreases frustration. A messy pantry is challenging to navigate and it’s easy to look over food. Items may expire before you use them, which is a waste of money and resources.

Fortunately, a well-organized pantry is simple to navigate for everyone. Since the pantry is a central hub in kitchens and holds dry foods, unrefrigerated beverages, and other necessities, you want a functional space to make life easier.

Not only is an organized pantry visually pleasing but it also encourages you to cook at home. Consider the space as your personal grocery store and create easy access to your food and cooking supplies.

Key Aspects of Organization

Transparency and functionality are the key aspects of organization processes, especially inside pantries. You need a clear view of all your goods, so you must arrange things in a user-friendly manner. For instance, use clear storage bins to see food and categorize shelves to have a place for everything. Doing so allows you to have an organizational structure that lets you quickly arrange goods when it’s time to restock the space. You should be able to instantly locate desired items when you access your pantry.

How To Organize Your Pantry

The pantry is a challenging space to organize for some because it’s easier to cram items in the space and shut the door. However, an “out of sight, out of mind,” approach to organization affects you in the long run. Don’t lose track of goods or let things expire due to a bad organization system. Instead, follow our ultimate guide to pantry organization and achieve your aesthetically functional pantry dreams.

Get a Fresh Start

Pull everything out of your pantry and assess your goods. Toss out expired food items, broken kitchen gadgets, and other unnecessary items. Starting with a clean slate is important because you can gauge available space and think about new arrangements. After all, cluttered pantries are difficult to manage, and you may overutilize one area and underutilize another. It’s best to see all your pantry without anything in it so you can determine your organizational style.

Clean the Pantry

Over time, pantries accumulate water rings and other stains, dust, and other debris. You don’t want to put fresh food items and clean appliances into a dirty space, so clean the pantry after emptying it. Make sure you dust and vacuum cracks, crevices, and areas where crumbs may hide. If you lined your shelves with contact paper, remove the material and clean the original shelf. You can always reline them later.

Furthermore, grab a microfiber cloth and wipe down the walls and shelves using a mixture of warm water and dish detergent. Afterward, wipe it dry. It’s also best to keep the pantry door open just in case there’s excess moisture. You don’t want the space to accumulate mold because it can make you sick and contaminate your food.

Take an Inventory

Since everything is out of your pantry, take inventory of your food. You’ll know what you have, and their quantity, and understand what you need to stock up on. An updated inventory list makes shopping less wasteful as you’ll avoid repeat items.

If you notice goods that are close to expiration dates, make sure you push them toward the front of the pantry. Doing so will encourage you to use those items instead of tossing them out when they eventually spoil.

Create Pantry Zones

. You can group products by category and arrange things to your liking. Here’s an example of pantry zones:

  • Zone one: non-essential things. This section is best for storing foods with long shelf lives that you don’t eat often. You can also place serving trays, napkins, and paper plates on this shelf.
  • Zone two: dry ingredients. You can store dehydrated beans, flour, sugar, powders, oatmeal, and other dry ingredients on this shelf.
  • Zone three: canned goods. Arrange canned goods in rows on an eye-level shelf and consider using a wire rack to maximize space. Avoid stacking cans too high for safety.
  • Zone four: everyday items. Store foods you eat often on this shelf. You can also store essentials like seasonings and non-refrigerated vegetables (e.g., potatoes and garlic).
  • Zone five: liquids. Line your shelf with a spill-proof mat and place cooking oil, vinegar, and pasta sauces in this zone.
  • Zone six: appliances. Keep crockpots, blenders, food processors, and other appliances on these lower shelves for easy access.

Pantry Organization Tactics

Pantry zones give you a clear view of your goods and appliances. Although you can store things on open shelves, many use containers and racks to group similar things together.

Airtight storage containers keep ingredients fresh and let you maximize space because they stack on top of each other. They also prevent insect infestations in dry items like whey products. Expandable wire shelves double your storage and you can safely stack cans on them.

Bins and baskets are also great at separating pantry goods. You can label them to locate specific things, especially if you don’t have clear containers. Lastly, rotating spice racks are perfect for pantries because they hold seasonings in a compact area.

Other Helpful Tips

Install hooks on the pantry walls to store aprons and reusable grocery bags and consider installing wall-mounted dispensers to hold trash bags.

Make a kid-friendly section inside the pantry if you have kids and the space to do so. Fill the bottom shelf with their favorite snacks, juice boxes, cereal, and fruit cups. They’ll have access to food without having to reach high shelves.

Place a whiteboard or chalkboard inside the pantry and write down reminders. For instance, “buy more baked beans,” or “running low on rice” are helpful notes for future grocery trips.

Maintain the Pantry

Follow good practices like putting goods back in their appropriate spot, keeping food accessible and visible, and cleaning the pantry twice a month to ensure everything stays tidy. These initiatives prevent you from spending hours organizing again.

How To Know You Need a New System

Clearing out your pantry and following organization tactics can improve your existing system. However, some pantries need a complete upgrade. You need a new pantry if the interior doesn’t meet your standards, whether you have old shelves or an outdated aesthetic. Luckily, Wood Closet Design’s closet design tool can help you design a new pantry. Updated shelves with beautiful hardware are aesthetically pleasing and practical!