Key to an Organized Pantry...

Whether there are many mouths to feed or just one, an abundance of food or not, most of us have something hiding in the back corner of the pantry that we have forgotten about. The key to avoiding that "Oh yeah!", or worse, is described below.


Group Like Items:
Organizing, in general, requires the grouping of like items. One main element of being able to find what you need when you need it is to store like items together. Having a central location for a category saves you time when meal or snack time comes around. Imagine a grocery store. Just as they divide and group isles, so too should your pantry be grouped. Now, soy sauce may be found with other sauces and condiments or it may be found in the Asian food section. There is no right or wrong way to sort your items. It is a matter of how your brain functions and where you, or the others who also use the space, would look first to find the item of choice. Remember not to over do it! When you get too specific with your sorting, the time it takes to organize, put away or retrieve can take longer therefore becoming frustrating and a possible "system failure."



A few general categories I have found to work well for most of my clients and a few examples of items that may fit into those categories are as follows:


Baked Goods: Flour, Sugar, Cake/Cookie Mixes, Syrups, Chocolate Chips and other items or ingredients primarily used to bake or make Desserts

Beverages: Water, Juice, Soda, Soy Milk, Liqueur, Mixes etc.

Breakfast Foods: Cereal, Oatmeal, Breakfast Bars/Drinks etc.

Candy & Cookies: Any other sweets or snacks may also be grouped successfully in this category.

Chips &Crackers: Self explanatory

Condiments: Including Sauces & Dressings



Fruits: Canned, Dried or Dehydrated (Exception may lie with Comstock type canned fruits as they are primarily used for Baked goods. Feel free to place where you best see fit, as with any item.)

Protein: Canned Meats, Beef Jerky etc.

Soups: Canned, Mixes & Ingredients

Spices: May also include Bread Crumbs, Bullion & Sweeteners

Starches: Pasta, Rice, Potato Mixes & Stuffings

Vegetables: Canned, Bottled or Dried



Overall, keep it simple... whatever will work for you and your family is the way to go.

Dividers either shelves, bins or boxes can help delineate given spaces.

Clear containers give the added benefit of allowing you to see what you have, so you know when an items is low and restocking is needed as well as making it easier to find and put things away. Isn't that the goal?

Make sure to give the entire family a tour and explain to them the benefits of an organized pantry and how they can help keep it that way.

Remember, maintenance is crucial but it's never too late to straighten up, even if you don't have time for an overhaul.