Does “organizing” sound like a fun afternoon or more like a punishment?
Whichever side you’re on, organizing those spaces in your home you use multiple times a day can make your life easier (and who doesn’t need that?). Below, we’re sharing tips for organizing your kitchen pantry.
It doesn’t matter if you kitchen has just a couple of shelves or a full walk-in pantry: smart food storage makes the most efficient use of your space and keeps food fresher for longer. Plus, having a clean space (that doesn’t stress you out every time you open the door) makes it more enjoyable to grab the ingredients for your nutrition program and get cooking.
1. Give it a good clean.
If it’s been a while since you last cleaned your pantry, who knows what may be lurking in the dark corners… A clean slate is just what you need to help your pantry feel refreshed again.
Go through everything in your pantry and throw out any expired, stale food. Consider setting aside food you no longer need to donate to your local food pantry.
Brush out those stray birthday sprinkles and spaghetti noodles and then wipe down the shelves with an all-purpose cleaner. Vacuum and do a quick mop of the floor. Don’t you feel better already?
Now, before you move on, make yourself a reminder to go through every 6 months and tidy up again. This keeps expired foods from piling up and keeps messy shelves in check.
2. Consolidate.
Disorganized pantries can actually cost you money. When you can’t quickly see what you have, you risk overbuying ingredients that go to waste. Any dry goods staples you buy (like brown rice, granola, or flour and sugar) can be consolidated into larger, airtight plastic or glass jars like these).
Getting rid of extra boxes and bags, and replacing it with a sturdier storage solution, makes your pantry look nicer but it keeps things fresher, too. It also prevents those dreaded ” leaking bags” of flour or tipped over boxes of quinoa.
3. Zone out.
Separating your pantry into “zones” makes it easier to find things. Set aside an area for:
- Baking Items (like flour, sugar, baking soda, and other baking mixes)
- Ready-to-Eat Snacks (like granola bars, almonds, beef jerky, and kids’ snacks)
- Canned Goods
- Pastas and Grains
- Sauces/Condiments
- Oils and Vinegars
- Spices
- Miscellaneous (if you store kitchen appliances in your pantry, or need room for paper towels or dog food, separate them from your other food items)
When searching for ingredients, you’ll be able to quickly pinpoint the item you need. Consider placing the things you use most — like ready-to-eat snacks or oils /vinegars in closet reach to keep your daily trips to the pantry efficient.
4. Order up.
Now that you have your zones mapped out, place containers in each area to hold all the items you’ll need. Having all your cans, boxes, and jars in large bins hides clutter and keeps your zones in order even as you restock your shelves week after week.
While trendy acrylic bins like these are wonderful, you don’t have to spend an arm and a leg on fancy bins or containers. This blog post shows how you can find great containers at the dollar store (or around your home).
5. Maximize every inch.
If your pantry is less than spacious, or it’s full of weird nooks and crannies, take some time to think about how you can maximize the space you’ve got. The more space you can use, the easier it will be to see what you have in stock.
Grab some of these under-shelf drawers to make use of more vertical space in your shelves. And, don’t forget about the door. This over-the-door organizer is a great way to add space for things like trash bags, cleaning supplies or your spice collection. If your door has more of a tight squeeze, consider a line of hooks to hang aprons, oven mitts, shopping bags, and more.
6. Take notes.
The finishing touch: add a notepad and pen just inside the pantry. (We’ll explain.) When you empty the cereal or grab the last jar of salsa, make it a habit to jot it down. Then, when it comes time to run to the store, grab the list so you know what to pick up.
In just a couple of hours, your pantry can become a space you aren’t embarrassed of (and maybe even a space you love!). With a clean, organized space, prepping meals for your nutrition program each week is a piece of cake.
Cook Your Way Through the RWL Nutrition Program
A successful nutrition program starts in the kitchen. While pre-ordered meals or restrictive diets may work at first, knowing how to cook yourself healthy, nutritious meals sets you up for long-term weight loss success.