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1: Take It All Out!! Empty Out Your Entire Pantry.
– Take note of trends you see as you are working through the pantry. Are you over-buying in some areas? Do the kids need easier access to lunch/school items? Does your family tend to drop and go in certain areas? How can you make it easier for them to put items back where they belong? What zones do you need closer to the kitchen work areas? – TIP: If you notice you have 5 bottles of vitamins that you have on auto-ship, cancel or even pause the subscription until you use those you currently have. The amount of money you save doing this could potentially pay for this entire project alone!
2: Create Zones For Food Items
Just as a grocery store has a baking aisle, your pantry should have key zones for items your family uses on a daily basis. Identify KEY ZONES that work for your family, such as: – A Breakfast Zone – Supplements & Shakes – Kids’ Snacks – Baking – Canned/Jarred Goods – Pasta/Rice – Chips/Bread Once you have the zones determined, then you can determine where the right placement for each one is.
3: Sort Contents
After everything is out of the pantry you can sort contents by type of food or what the item is used for (Ex: Baking.) Gather like items together, such as pasta & rice, oils & sauces, canned & jar goods, snack foods, etc. and put them together as you build “categories” for your pantry. These categories will then fit into your key zones.
As you begin to sort the contents that are now all over your kitchen here are some tips: TIP: Use sticky notes to plan out the shelf space/Category then ultimately the zone! – Infrequently used items & appliances can go up high – Mid-section for every-day use – Are your mornings busy? Create a morning zone that is closest to the kitchen with the easiest access (ours is in a kitchen cabinet instead of our designated pantry space) – Floor baskets or bins can work for back stock (Back stock are the items you have that you do go through more quickly or picked up as a BOGO for example.) I also use a floor basket for my InstaPot as it doesn’t fit on my shelves. – What items do you want close to kitchen work areas? Baking and cooking items often are better placed in an easy to access cabinet.
Once You Sort The Contents Of Your Pantry
Review each category and match it with a zone. Toss out all expired items or things you won’t use, such as the crackers you tried but the kids didn’t like. Also toss/donate items given to you that you won’t use. You’re not obligated to keep anything given to you. TIP: Do you have 12 boxes of pasta? Consider donating excess non-perishable goods that are low cost to replace. NOTE: You should not have bought any products yet! The KEY here is waiting to see what you have first so you aren’t wasting time and MONEY on products that wont fit or that you don’t need.
4: Select Pantry Bins
Pantry Tips: – Decanting is key – emptying the cereal, snack packs, bars, etc. into clear bins helps you manage the supply and also makes it easy for littles to grab & go. (How many times have you picked up an empty box in the pantry?)Decant cereal, baking, bulk items, pasta & rice into air tight containers – it is cleaner, stays fresher longer, easy to see quantity and generally easier to use. It may feel like an extra step after the grocery store but this goes a long way when it comes to function. – Label as many bins and containers as you can! Labels are like a library system for organization. They give everything a home, and tell others where to find & replace items. I must say I wasn’t sure this step was needed but after we labeled everything (using a Circut) it was SUCH a difference! NOW I label everything! Don’t have a Cricut, I use this label maker at home which would work as well (you can buy clear tape!)
Suggested Organizers
Some items to consider for your pantry when it comes to bins: (links to what I used below!) – Turntables are excellent for oils, sauces, vinegars – Packet caddies work well in pantries – Airtight bins/jars/dispensers for cereal, grains, baking – Clear bins of different sizes, depending on items to contain – Larger Baskets for floors – use this for overflow items or even cooking appliances like your InstaPot.