How to Organize Your Kitchen Pantry

The kitchen pantry is often one of the most disorganized places in the home. Over time, it tends to fill up with a random assortment of food items, rarely used kitchen gadgets, and expired cans lingering on the shelves. Bringing order to the chaos only takes a little time and effort. With some simple organizational techniques, you can transform your pantry into an efficient storage space.

How to Deep Clean Your Pantry

The first step in organizing your pantry is doing a deep clean to clear out expired and unwanted items. Take everything out of the pantry and sort through it. As you do, make sure to:

• Check expiration dates and discard anything past its prime. Don't just shove old items to the back.
• Wipe down shelves to prepare for returning items in an organized way.
• Look for any items you no longer use or want and get rid of them to prevent clutter.
• Group like items together—pasta, baking goods, canned soups, etc. This makes the space easier to navigate.

Taking time to deeply clean clears the clutter and creates space for logical organization.

What Are The Best Storage Solutions for Your Pantry?

A key to an organized pantry is having storage solutions tailored to the categories of items you store. Consider installing:

Shelf Organizers

Evaluate if you need more shelving to fully utilize vertical space. Add adjustable shelves to fit items of various heights. Wire shelves allow visibility. Use shelf dividers to neatly separate categories.

Clear Plastic Bins

Store food types like baking ingredients, canned goods, pasta, etc., in labeled clear bins to keep categories organized. Stacked containers preserve shelf space. Keep heavier items in lower bins.

Spice Storage

Use wall-mounted racks, spinning racks, drawer organizers, or tiered shelves to neatly arrange spices alphabetically. Keep less-used spices in a labeled bin.

Turntables and Risers

Install lazy susans or turntables in corner cabinets to access items in the back. Risers elevate items for visibility. Useful for oils, sauces, and condiments.

Door Storage

Mount slim shelves or mesh bins on cabinet doors to hold small items like spices, medicines, and snacks. Maximize wasted space.

The right storage solutions tailored to your pantry's size and shape will maximize organization.

How To Strategically Arrange Items for Better Storage

With organizing systems installed, arrange items using these tips:

• Keep frequently used ingredients at eye/hand level for quick access.
• Group like items together on shelves—baking goods, canned soups, etc.
• Store taller items on shelves where they won't hit above.
• Keep fruits/veggies separate from dry goods.
• Face labels outward for easy identification.
• Stock shelves neatly in rows; don't just toss items in.

Edit down items as you return them to shelves. Toss expired or duplicate items. Prevent overcrowding.

How To Maintain New Storage Habits

An organized pantry requires adopting new daily habits.

• Put items in designated spots right away; don't just shove them onto a shelf.
• Immediately cross-used items off your inventory list.
• Toss expired foods directly into the trash; don't return them to the shelf.
• When space gets tight, take it as a sign to purge unused items.
• Do a full re-organize and clean-out monthly or quarterly.

Cultivating simple organizational habits prevents your pantry from spiraling into chaos.

Learn More About Organizing Spaces

So, Is Organizing Your Kitchen Pantry Worth It?

Investing time up-front to organize your kitchen pantry pays off with convenience. You'll be able to quickly locate ingredients when cooking, saving time and frustration. An organized pantry prevents buying duplicate items, saving you money. Maintaining order is easier when you have storage solutions tailored to your pantry's size and shape. Just be diligent about adopting new habits that sustain the organization long-term. An organized pantry makes life a little easier.