How to organize a small pantry
A well-trained pantry is the key to a hassle-free kitchen. This is where all your cooking supplies go to be kept but everyone fails to think about how to get it organized. A small pantry gets cluttered, which isn’t always an easy place to go to find something when you have to rush to make food. But if you’re smart and creative, you can save space in even the tiniest pantries.
In this essay, we’ll teach you how to put together a tiny pantry using the best knowledge, first-hand experience and practical tips to make the most of what you have.
1. Assess Your Space
Before you even start putting things in any pantry, evaluate the available space. Find out how high, wide, and deep your pantry is, and whether it has shelves, drawers, or cabinets. You will know the layout of your pantry so you know how much space you actually have.
In my own kitchen, my pantry is in a little narrow closet about 3 feet wide. It was a vertical space-first strategy when I first began to organise it. It consisted of a pair of adjustable shelves, which I could put at different heights, making the most of the whole vertical space.
Layla Armstrong, as the author of this article and a home management expert, says :
If your pantry is outfitted with adjustable shelving, shimmy the shelves according to how high you store what you most frequently. Canned products, bottles and boxes can all be stacked up so that it makes the most of every square inch.
2. Declutter and Sort Items
And before you think about storage, declutter. Go through everything in your pantry and see what is due for an expiration date. Empty products if they are expired. How many products can get expired quickly in a small pantry. And get rid of the duplicates, you don’t need five open boxes of pasta or four jars of peanut butter.
After you’ve weeded out all the junk, organize your pantry by category. Combine similar products such as grains, spices, canned goods, snacks and baking supplies. This helps not only you to know what you have but it’s also handy when you need it.
Expert Note: Use clear plastic or glass for tiny things, such as rice, pasta, or dried beans. This not only keeps things new but also gives you a visual indication when you’re out of something.
3. Utilize Vertical Space
If you have a small pantry, vertical space is your friend. Storage up in the air is the best way to use the space you have. Begin by hanging more shelves or hooks on the walls of your pantry. Invest in stackable baskets or bins to organize things such as snacks or canned goods and make them easy to reach.
If anything, having a tension rod under a shelf for storing cleaning products, grocery bags or kitchen utensils has been life changing for me. It’s a quick and cheap way to make space on shelves for bigger items.
Tips: Purchase stackable baskets, clear containers or a lazy Susan for things you regularly put in. This is not only a clutter-buster, but it also helps with getting what you need without having to relocate things.
4. Prioritize Accessibility
A second important point of pantry organization is that you should always make it easy to find what you use most. Make sure you have everyday things like oils, spices, flour, sugar at eye level where you can reach for them while you’re cooking. The things you don’t use that often, such as holiday spices or holiday spices, should be stored in a higher or lower cabinet so they don’t occupy prime real estate.
At home, I have a shelf with all the baking supplies I normally use like flour, sugar and chocolate chips and I have cans of beans and tomato sauce up there. So that I can get things quickly when baking, and am not grabbing for cans every time I make dinner.
Expert Tip: Label bins or containers for the things you’re not using very often. You won’t have to search through your pantry for something and you will have a place for everything.
5. Use Storage Solutions
Closets are the new era in storing a small pantry. A pantry that works is not going to require hefty organizers. Baskets, bins, clear containers…you can do a lot with this.
I have bought the pull out drawers for things such as packets of yeast, baking soda, or taco seasoning as a best buy. Such drawers mean I can take out just one area of the pantry and get to everything in it without taking everything out front.
Suggestion: Choose storage that can be stackable, clear bins, or adjustable organizers for different sizes of pantry. Pull out drawer or pantry organizer racks save space if you don’t have many shelves.
6. Label Everything
The smallest detail when it comes to labeling your pantry is this:. This little tip will save you time and headaches later on. Tag your containers, jars and bins with the name of the product and, if needed, the date of expiration. For dried grains, flour or pasta that’s pushed to the back of the pantry, it comes in especially handy.
I also mark my baskets by type (“snacks,” “canned goods,” “breakfast,” and “spices”) so I don’t have to look far to see what I need. Labeling makes sure that everything has a home and that is the foundation of any good organization system.
Expert Tip: Invest in a label maker for professional appearance. If you don’t have one, just masking tape and permanent marker will do.
7. Create a Rotation System
If there’s one thing that you can do to make sure that you don’t waste food, do it: Rotate your pantry. This is especially handy when it comes to products that are on expiration — such as canned food, baking products or even snacks. A first-in, first-out (FIFO) system is simple and works: older items at the back of your pantry, newer ones at the front.
For instance, when I bring home a new package of rice or pasta, I put the old packages at the front so I use them before they’re out of date. It’s this way, my pantry never sits on the shelf, it gets used.
TIP: Invest in adjustable shelves with dividers or bins to keep your things organised and accessible. Your stock rotates so that you never run out of your pantry in the list order you bought it.
FAQ :
- How to rearrange a small pantry?
Start by emptying the pantry completely and cleaning the shelves. Group similar items together, such as canned goods, grains, and snacks. Use clear containers or bins to store smaller items and label them for easy identification. Place frequently used items at eye level and less-used items on higher or lower shelves. - How to maximize a small pantry?
Utilize vertical space with stackable shelves or risers to create additional layers. Install door organizers or hooks for storing spices, snacks, or small jars. Use baskets or bins to group similar items and keep them tidy. Consider adding slim, pull-out organizers to make the most of narrow spaces. - In what order should a pantry be organized?
Organize by category, such as baking supplies, breakfast items, snacks, and canned goods. Place heavier items like jars and cans on lower shelves for stability. Keep everyday items at eye level for easy access. Group rarely used or seasonal items together on higher or less accessible shelves. - How do you stock a small pantry?
Focus on versatile staples like rice, pasta, canned beans, and spices. Avoid overstocking by keeping only what you use regularly. Use airtight containers to store bulk items and prevent waste. Rotate items by placing newer purchases behind older ones to ensure nothing expires.
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