KITCHEN PANTRY ORGANIZATION IDEAS

This post is about something I love – organization! Organizing the kitchen pantry, to be specific. From spice organizations to donating extra items to your local food pantry, I’ve covered you with a dozen ideas!

Ahhhhhh….I love the start of a fresh new year! It is a time for resolving, assessing your “hits and misses” of the past year, and jumping into brand-new experiences. The possibilities feel endless, and one of my favorite things to do is declutter and tidy my house—especially organizing the pantry. When my home is disheveled, I feel my mind is as well, so cleaning and organizing my living space goes a long way toward helping me live a calmer and less stressful life.

Today, I will focus on organizing that pesky food pantry in dire need of a good pick-me-up (if it’s anything like mine).

THE MANY BENEFITS OF AN ORGANIZED PANTRY

• Items are easier to locate, which saves you time. 
• You’re less likely to re-purchase an item you know you already have, which means you’ll save money and avoid food waste. 
• You’re more likely to choose a healthier food option over a not-so-healthy option if it’s in plain sight. 
• People tend to cook more meals at home (far less expensive than eating out) when we can easily see what ingredients we have on hand. 

So, are you ready to make your New Year’s resolution and start organizing your pantry? Here are some suggestions for a successful endeavor. 

HOW TO ORGANIZE YOUR KITCHEN PANTRY

STEP 1: START WITH A CLEAN SLATE 

Yes, that means what you think it means: remove everything from the pantry first. While this may temporarily clutter other spaces in your home, it will help facilitate cleaning and reorganizing.  

Wipe down the pantry shelves with a good cleaning cloth and cleaner. Since the pantry stores food, you’ll want a cleaner to neutralize food-borne pathogens such as E. coli. Don’t forget to get those dusty corners that haven’t seen the light of day since a year ago. If you have an enormous walk-in pantry, now would also be a good time to mop the floor and wipe the baseboards. Once you scrub and dust your pantry space, you’ll have a clean, bare foundation to start organizing and storing your food.  

STEP 2: TOSS OUT EXPIRED FOOD AND SPICES

This is the longest and most tedious part of the process, but the most important. Review the label on each food item or spice to check for an expiration date. Toss EVERYTHING that has expired (while putting the packaging in the recycling bin if it’s recyclable). If you can’t find an expiration date, it’s best not to consume the food and risk food poisoning, so toss those items out. You might throw out a lot of stuff, so you should have several large trash bags ready during this process.

STEP 3: DONATE EXTRA FOOD

Do you have extra (unexpired) canned soup, pasta, or pet food? Consider donating it to those in need. Contact local food pantries, homeless shelters, and family centers to find the best locations to donate your items. If you’d like to donate in the future, find out what foods are most needed in your area.

STEP 4: PLACE DRY GOODS IN CLEAR GLASS CONTAINERS

Glass jars and containers make your dry goods look prettier on the shelves and are more likely to keep bugs and other yucky things away. I typically use clear glass mason jars (of all sizes), which can be purchased in bulk. You should label each jar using a label maker or stickers and ensure the product’s expiration date is included.

STEP 5: USE BASKETS OR CONTAINER ORGANIZERS 

Instead of leaving snack bars and snacks in boxes that take up much shelf space, dump the goods into a basket or container organizer. This will also make the items easier to find, grab, and go.

Think of your pantry as a grocery store—stock items by category. Examples include sauces and condiments, pasta, cereals, canned vegetables, fruits, soups, snack bars, and bread. This system will make finding items much quicker and easier.

STEP 7: CREATE A KID-FRIENDLY SECTION

When your kids reach the age where they can grab their snacks, a kid-friendly snack section in your pantry (typically shelves towards the bottom that they can quickly get) will be the ultimate time-saver for them and you. This will also allow you to control what kinds of snacks they eat and the amounts, so there are (hopefully) no arguments about them having “nothing to eat.” Your children will also feel like “big kids” when they can get food like this, which will teach them independence.

STEP 8: UTILIZE EMPTY WALL SPACE

Don’t waste valuable empty wall space in the pantry. Use nail-free hooks to hang aprons, dish towels, small brooms, dustpans, or anything that is hangable. You can install small shelving on the wall for more compact food items like spices, coffee, or tea.

STEP 9: KEEP IT REGULARLY MAINTAINED

Organizing your pantry regularly is essential to keep it neat throughout the year. Once a month, check expiration dates on all items and put older items before newer ones to ensure they are used first. This will help avoid waste. It is also a good idea to check the pantry before grocery shopping to see what you already have in stock. Lastly, regular cleaning is a big part of this New Year’s resolution!

Now that your pantry is clean, pristine, and organized, you can start tackling the areas in the rest of your house—a fresh pantry for a fresh new year.