Convenience Store: 7 Decluttering Tips for Pantry Success
Make the most of your kitchen by following these tips to increase both the space and functionality of your pantry
Is there anything more frustrating than getting home from the supermarket, having spent $200+ on groceries, and still feeling as though there is nothing to eat? If you’ve been looking for the motivation to clean out the pantry and get it organised, here it is… you’ll save both time and money by putting these tips into practice.
Ask yourself what you would like your pantry to look like, and what would make this area easier to use and more efficient?
2. Stocktake time
At least once a year I recommend doing a full pantry stocktake. This includes taking every single item out of your pantry and placing it on the kitchen bench or dining table.
By taking every single item out you get a full picture of what you have, and have a chance to wipe out all the shelves to avoid ants or weevils from making a home in your pantry.
At least once a year I recommend doing a full pantry stocktake. This includes taking every single item out of your pantry and placing it on the kitchen bench or dining table.
By taking every single item out you get a full picture of what you have, and have a chance to wipe out all the shelves to avoid ants or weevils from making a home in your pantry.
Once you can see what you have, it’s easier to declutter and decide what you’re going to put back into the pantry, and what containers you’re going to need.
3. Best before
In every pantry there will be food items that have gone past their best-before or expiry date. Sometimes it’s because they’re rarely used items, other times we forgot we even had the sweet soy sauce in the back of the cupboard and it has simply expired.
In every pantry there will be food items that have gone past their best-before or expiry date. Sometimes it’s because they’re rarely used items, other times we forgot we even had the sweet soy sauce in the back of the cupboard and it has simply expired.
As well as disposing of anything old, get rid of ingredients you bought but won’t use or didn’t like. By throwing out these items you’ll make space in your pantry, and alleviate the guilt that you’ve got products you haven’t used. I find this often happens with health food items that people buy with great intentions, but don’t actually know how to use.
4. Shelf height
Most pantries have adjustable shelving, but surprisingly almost no-one adjusts the shelves when they first move into a house. We’re always in such a rush to unpack we don’t even think about maximising the space for how we will use the pantry.
The Pros and Cons of 5 Different Pantry Systems
Most pantries have adjustable shelving, but surprisingly almost no-one adjusts the shelves when they first move into a house. We’re always in such a rush to unpack we don’t even think about maximising the space for how we will use the pantry.
The Pros and Cons of 5 Different Pantry Systems
Before you think about putting anything back into the pantry, have a look at the shelf heights and work out how it will work best for you.
Shelving at eye level is premium, so decide what you use the most and place it there for easy access.
Tip: You may also choose to ‘hide’ your treats above eye level, so the first thing you see when you open the pantry isn’t the container of chocolate biscuits.
Shelving at eye level is premium, so decide what you use the most and place it there for easy access.
Tip: You may also choose to ‘hide’ your treats above eye level, so the first thing you see when you open the pantry isn’t the container of chocolate biscuits.
5. Like with like
Keeping similar items together, as with anywhere else in the home, makes finding what you’re after quicker. In the pantry, that means keeping all the baking goods together, all the sauces together and all the cans or jars together in one place.
Keeping similar items together, as with anywhere else in the home, makes finding what you’re after quicker. In the pantry, that means keeping all the baking goods together, all the sauces together and all the cans or jars together in one place.
This also makes shopping easier, because with a quick glance you can see if you have pasta for dinner because the spirals, penne and spaghetti are all kept in the same area.
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Read more storage stories
6. Smart storage
By far the best way to make the smartest use of your pantry is to use clever, consistent storage. Clear-fronted, modular (stackable) containers will give you the best use of your space, regardless of the type of pantry you have. Stick to one brand only so that you can stack and organise your space with ease.
If you’re hesitant to make the investment, consider that it will save you money on groceries because you’ll be able to see at a glance what you have while you’re writing your shopping list, and when you buy good-quality containers, food will last longer in them too.
By far the best way to make the smartest use of your pantry is to use clever, consistent storage. Clear-fronted, modular (stackable) containers will give you the best use of your space, regardless of the type of pantry you have. Stick to one brand only so that you can stack and organise your space with ease.
If you’re hesitant to make the investment, consider that it will save you money on groceries because you’ll be able to see at a glance what you have while you’re writing your shopping list, and when you buy good-quality containers, food will last longer in them too.
Obviously some pantry items don’t need to be emptied into a container; tins, cans and bottles for example. A great way to make keeping like with like easier is to have baskets or tubs for these categories. For instance, in my pantry I have all sauces together in an open basket. I also have a basket for my baking supplies that contains icing pens, sprinkles as well as cupcake wrappers and food dye. When I’m baking I just grab out the basket and I have everything I need.
7. Label it
With any job around the home, it’s the last five per cent that can make the noticeable difference; in the pantry, that’s using labels for your containers. Being able to quickly and easily identify what is in your containers will make life easier, both when cooking (never use sugar instead of salt again) and also when you’re writing your shopping list.
With any job around the home, it’s the last five per cent that can make the noticeable difference; in the pantry, that’s using labels for your containers. Being able to quickly and easily identify what is in your containers will make life easier, both when cooking (never use sugar instead of salt again) and also when you’re writing your shopping list.
Rather than trying to work out what the dregs at the bottom of an empty container are, with labels you know instantly it’s the bicarb soda that you ran out of during the week and need to replace.
So set some time aside and as you follow these simple steps you’ll discover your decluttered and organised pantry is easier to use and saves you money.
So set some time aside and as you follow these simple steps you’ll discover your decluttered and organised pantry is easier to use and saves you money.
Tell us
How have you organised your pantry for maximum convenience? Tell us in the Comments section below. And if you enjoyed this story, don’t forget to like it, bookmark it or share it.
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Browse kitchen pantry ideas for inspiration
How have you organised your pantry for maximum convenience? Tell us in the Comments section below. And if you enjoyed this story, don’t forget to like it, bookmark it or share it.
More
Browse kitchen pantry ideas for inspiration
Kitchens are one of the busiest rooms in our homes and we can become so used to how our pantry looks that we no longer notice the clutter. We don’t notice the half-open bags of chips or packets of flour sitting on top of the flour container. So the first step in any pantry declutter is to stand back and assess the state of your pantry.
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