You are getting really crazy at what you see in your pantry. You know the routine- you go and get groceries and put everything in whatever hole it fits, and waste 20 minutes trying to find that one spice you are convinced you just bought. I have done that and let me tell you, it took me years to realize that the most expensive systems were not the backbone of a well organized pantry rather it is working smarter and not harder.
Through thousands of experimentation (and perhaps some small kitchen disasters), I have found 12 ideas that are actually quite genius in terms of simplifying crazy food storage organization to something that makes sense and is actually reasonable. It is not merely cute Pinterest hacks that break after one week but are strategies tested in real environment and used in practical kitchens by real people.
The Lazy Susan Revolution
Have you ever thought why the ingredients of restaurants were reached with such speed? People make use of lazy Susans in every corner and you should as well. The first one I got in my spice cabinet, and now there are one on nearly every pantry shelf.
The magic comes in when you start putting corresponding things together on individual rotating platforms. The others are divided spices in one, oil/vinegar in another and condiments in a third. No longer a wave of bottles when you need to reach to the back to take the vanilla extract.
The very best places to put lazy Susans: 1. Deep corner shelves (where things are never to be seen again) 2. Upper cabinets of most-used things 3. Under-sink placements of cleaning items 4. On shelves in fridge of condiments and sauces
You won@t go back to trusting me again once you go lazy Susan. One can imagine itself as having a personal assisted whose only purpose is to spin things around for you 🙂
Vertical Dividers for Sheet Pans and Cutting Boards
This is what will blow your mind, you can make special dividers with tension rods or some wooden wooden slats to keep flat things vertically. I had accidentally discovered this when I grew bored of there being dominoes being played on my cutting boards whenever I ever opened a cabinet.
What should be used with vertical storage: • Cutting boards in all shapes and sizes • Baking sheets and cookie pans • Serving trays and platters • Pizza stones and large lids
The beauty of this system is you can view all the things together and you can reach one thing without mixing up the other things. No more rumaging through a pile of frying pans in the cupboard to get the correct dimensions of sheet.
| Storage Method | Access Time | Space Efficiency |
|---|---|---|
| Stacked Horizontally | 30+ seconds | 60% |
| Vertical Dividers | 5 seconds | 90% |
The Cereal Dispenser Game-Changer
Not only are cereal dispensers the realm of breakfast anymore. I have them storing dry goods, organizing snacks, and many other uses, and they have made a significant difference in my families relationship with our pantry.
The aspect of being able to control the amount you eat is genius because you cannot put a half a box of crackers in your bowl. And they can keep everything fresh much longer than those paper thin cardboard boxes with the ability to spill out all over the floor.
My containers for cereal dispensers: •_store exactly: Cereal; Granola •_Ok, nuts and mix trail •_certainly crackers; Pretzels • Pasta; rice toppings •dog food ( in different dispenser, naturally!)
The translucent bottles allow you to know when you are getting low, and their seals are air-tight, unlike in most other bottles. FYI, get those with really wide openings at the bottom, girl you will thank me later.
Magnetic Spice Storage Solutions
Your refrigerator side is highly desirable space which is likely to lie idle. Magnetic spice containers I found out about 2 years ago saved me a ton of space in my kitchen cabinets and now I have space to put even more stuff in them.
The trick is to purchase standard containers and to label them. I was a prime example of this since I received a batch of magnetic containers with magnetic lids that did not match at all, and resembled a craft project gone awry.
Choosing the Right Magnetic Containers
Magnetic spice jars are not built alike. You prefer those that have powerful magnets that do not fall down your fridge every time one bangs the door. The transparent tops are critical it should make you be able to see what the inside looks like without the guessing game.
The best of it all? You may have them listed alphabetically, by the type of cuisine, or as your brain wants it. I arrange them in regard to the frequency of their use: daily spices in eye level and special spices higher.
Behind-the-Door Command Centers
Your pantry door or any pantry door at that is prime real estate that people do not use at all. I had made mine more of a command center in that it contains everything I require to make a quick meal plan and preparation.
To get instant storage for lightweight items, you can put narrow shelves, hooks, even an ordinary over-the-door organizer. I put my measuring cups, commonly used spices and even take a little notepad to make a list of groceries there.
“Ideal places to store the door are: • Measuring cups and spoons • Packets of spices you use frequently • Kitchen timers and small gadgets • Cleaning supplies carried in a caddy • Reusable shopping bags
The key to this is to simply make the weight manageable, you do not want the door to be hanging or be failing to close properly. Do as I failed to do, and test them all before you load them to the fullest.
Clear Container Everything Strategy
I would have believed clear jars were only limited to hoarders of excess time. Then I tried them out, and huh, it is a whole new cooking/shopping world when you can see what you have.
Transparency factor is important, as the waste will be gone since you will see that things are running low or are approaching the point where they start to look suspicious. And now everything will seem so much better, even though your system isn t perfect.
Container Sizing Strategy
Not to throw your money away in purchasing every size on the planet. I use three simple sizes, small to store spices and baking staples, medium to put snacks and grains, and big to bulkize such as flour and sugar.
Use the rectangular ones because they take up space better than the round containers, though they stack fairly easily, especially when full, so only get ones you can actually carry when they are full. I did this once and once ONLY with a tub of rice which needed two people to shift :/
Pull-Out Drawer Systems
This stands to reason as fancy and costly, however, it is possible to make DIY pull-out drawers using plastic storage bins and standard drawer slides available at the hardware store. Less than $60 was what the entire project cost me and what it did was to change my deep pantry shelves.
The dark shelves where food goes to die-you put things all the way back in the shelf and forget they exist until a few years later when you have to go through expired cans. Pull-out drawers drag all things to the front and you can see what you have.
Best items to store in a pull-out drawer: • Canned goods • Root veggies, like spuds and onions on the counter, or extra cleaning supplies, pet food and supplies, or stock of bulk snack items.
It is easy to install as long as you know how to work a drill, and the ease is totally worth the time invested. Playing archaeologist dig at the back of your pantry comes to an end.
Tiered Shelf Inserts
Increasing twice your shelf space without putting more shelves on them? Tiered shelf inserts do that, and they are stupid easy to install. These wire rack systems give a second level to the existing shelves and it is ideal to store shorter items.
Now I put them everywhere- spice cabinets, canned goods, even condiments in the refrigerator. The idea of enlarged metal implies the possibility to observe everything, as well as to receive access to the items on both floors easily.
The ones that you can make adjustments to by adding a couple of dollars are worth it since you can make them to suit your particular items. This, IMO, is one of those upgrades that will compensate itself in functionality in days.
Corner Cabinet Solutions
The corner cabinets are the Bermuda triangle of kitchen storage space-items are placed in them and they are gone forever. I overcame mine at last by a combination of rotating carousels and clever lighting.
The two-floor carousels systems are the most appropriate since you are able to separate items by category. I have baking on the lower shelf and specialty ingredients on the upper. You don;t want to cram them in either; nothing works in a system that is always trying to force things to fit.
| Solution Type | Cost Range | Effectiveness |
|---|---|---|
| Lazy Susan | $20-40 | High |
| Pull-Out System | $80-150 | Very High |
Including an LED light which is powered with a battery was enormous as well. They are dark corner cabinets by default and visibility removes the guesswork in the matter of what youre reaching out to.
Snack Station Organization
It has been revolutionary to establish a special snack station in my family. I also had snacks around the pantry but now I have just one place and I separated everything in terms of person and type.
To store each family member favorite foods I employ clear bins so that they can easily recognize what is in what bin. I also have a section where the shared snack foods are placed. The children will have access to what they desire without having to dig through the rest and I can keep portions and re-stock effectively.
Making It Kid-Friendly
The trick is to do all the items at kid height, and also use containers they can open easily. Those air tight containers are just lovely to an adult, but a six-year-old is not going to fumble with complicated lids when hungry and wants a granola bar.
Seasonal Rotation System
One of the thoughts that comes to mind most people do not consider is rotating the inventory in your pantry according to the seasons and cooking trends. All the commonly used items are put at eye level and seasonal items are moved to upper or lower shelves.
In summer my grilling rubs and my picnic paraphernalia have their own prime real estate status. During winter I relocate the baking supplies and soup ingredients to the most convenient locations. This turns out to be the simple solution, as this seasonal rotation ensures that the objects that you use on a regular basis are readily available.
Summer Hot Topics: • Grill rubs and marinades • Outdoor and picnic entertaining items • Easy-to-cook meal items • Cool drink mixes
Winter needs: • Baking ingredients and holiday ingredients • Soup and stew ingredients • Hot beverage supplies • Comfort food ingredients
Inventory Tracking Made Simple
In the past I would repel any form of an inventory system as it appeared to be work but on a further search I found an easy way of actually saving time. I have a magnetic notepad that I use by the fridge and I write down products once it runs low.
The trick is to make it ridiculously simple the more complicated the system, the less people will use. I am not tracking everything, just stuff that I hate to run out of or that I get into the habit of overpurchasing.
The easy tracking stops those disappointments you get when you are halfway into the cooking process and you discover that you have run out of one crucial ingredient. In addition, it prevents me making a fifth purchase of vanilla extract because I forgot whether I had some.
Bringing Your Pantry Together
The thing is, it does not mean that pantry organization is an Instagram-worthy site that is aesthetically pleasing but useless. It is all about making systems which fit way you actually cook and live. These 12 concepts have not only changed my pantry, but the approach that my entire family takes towards cooking and even meal planning.
The most outstanding thing? It does not mean you have to put everything in place. Begin with the concepts that solve your No. 1 pain points, test how that concept works in your space then start layering solutions on top of the others. Your pantry ought to be designed to meet your needs, and not limit these needs.
Totally remember that what you want is to make your kitchen work in the real life that you live. Then choose the strategies which work just right in your space, at your budget and with your family ways. A pantry that best suits your needs and not a pantry to impress any visitors, stress free is infinitely best. Get out there and categorize- you will be happy you did when you begin to cook!