Follow these pantry organizing tips to make grocery shopping and meal prep a breeze.
Organizing the pantry is no small feat, and, once organized, it requires cooperation from everyone in your house to maintain order. To help you get started, we listed 10 crucial steps for organizing the kitchen pantry the right way. Plus, shop must-have products to keep it from getting cluttered.
Brittney Gazaway
1. Start With a Clean Slate
Empty your entire pantry, and thoroughly clean it before you begin the organization process. Toss anything that’s expired or not frequently used. Starting fresh will help keep things organized longer.
2. Take Inventory
After clearing out old items, you can easily see what’s left to organize which will help you from purchasing unnecessary storage containers. Make a list of your pantry staples and update it regularly. When it’s time to go grocery shopping, take your list with you.
3. Categorize
Place like items together. A lazy Susan makes it easy to keep oils, snacks or baking essentials in one place. By doing this, you will be able to quickly find what you need.
Photo By: Brittney Gazaway
4. Use Containers
Store food in baskets and bins to save space. Odd-shaped packages and bags fit easier in storage containers. Clear plastic or glass canisters with sealed lids are ideal for storing decanted dry foods.
Photo By: Brittney Gazaway
5. Label
Label bins, containers and shelves so every member of your household knows where items are located. Use a Bluetooth label maker for quick labeling or chalkboard labels so you can easily change the writing.
Print labels directly from your smartphone with this Bluetooth-enabled label maker. The app provides templates you can choose from or you can design your own using a variety of fonts, symbols and frames. You can also customize the color by buying different tapes.
6. Utilize Doors
If you have doors on your pantry, hang organizers over them to free up shelf space. Canned goods, spices, oils and jars are usually good fits for these types of organizers.
7. Make a Kid-Friendly Spot
Fill a bottom shelf with snacks so kids can put away their own groceries and easily grab a snack on their own. Visibility and labeling are key so kids can help keep up the organization method by knowing where items are stored.
8. Use Extra Wall Space
If you have it, wall space can be a game-changer for organizing a pantry. Hooks can hold non-food items like aprons, brooms and reusable shopping bags. You can use a bag dispenser to hold grocery bags and keep them within reach.
9. Add Shelf Liners
Shelf liners prevent food from falling through wire shelving and boxes from tipping over. Liners also keep baskets and containers from slipping off pantry shelves.
10. Keep It Up
Your pantry can get disorganized after time. Always put items back in their appropriate spot, and get the whole family on board by keeping food accessible and visible. Twice a month make sure everything is clean and in its place so you don’t have to spend hours organizing it again.
article by hgtv.com