need pantry organizing tips

[sparklemom]

I need your tips on organizing a pantry to function efficiently and simply as possible. I need a system in there to simplify things, and I thought you all might have some suggestions. Right now it's just a closet stuffed with stuff...all kinds of boxes and cans and this and that. I'm wondering about using clear plastic containers (though I prefer glass to plastic) to store pasta, for example, instead of all the boxes (I've purchased a good bit in bulk). We have a standard coat closet sized deep narrow pantry.

Thanks!

[kirstenb]

We have something similar to this that we use to organize our spices and it has made a huge difference. We have two because we have so many spices.

All of our flours, sugars, and beans are put into clear plastic bins with the snap and lock lids. We have glass containers with snap and lock lids we use for food so if you don't want plastic I like those a lot.

Anything we buy in bulk we put on special shelves in the garage. That way we don't have 20 cans of tomato sauce taking up space in the pantry. We bring what we need inside and leave all the extra out there.

[SeekingJoy]

I have a deep-closet style pantry that is the width of a single door. I create "drawers" out of plastic bins, grouping like items together. That way I can use the entire space between shelves. Right now, my "drawers" are pasta, rice and beans, spices, snacks, drinks (tea, coffee, etc), tinned fish, can goods, and food storage (foil, ziploc bags, produce bags). Other can goods are stacked and grouped.

The actual food is stored in its can, jar or box, so no plastic touches the food. I have glass containers with lids for bulk flours, oats, sugar, etc. These also sit directly on the shelves.

[StormySar]

We have a walk in pantry, but a lot of these suggestions could probably apply to any pantry.

I use a hanging shoe organizer (the kind with pockets on a rectangle of fabric) to store my corn dishes and pokers, bags from tortillas/bread/etc. that we bought but I usually make (then I use the bags to store homemade stuff), plates for my cookie press, my cookie press, misc. utensils. We got a bunch of free gourmet dog food a couple months ago that came with flavoring packets. i saved those to flavor our dogs usual food when we go back to buying the usual stuff... I'm not sure if they'll eat their usual stuff after this stuff. LOL! but those are stored in there. if you purchase a lot of mixes, you can store the envelopes in there.

I have a hanging shoe organizer - the box type that is one line of rectangle boxes that you stick your shoes in - and use that to store dish rags and towels, misc. tools we use often and misc. stuff I store in the pantry (on top of food, I also store our appliaces/utensils/kitchen dishes that are not used on a daily basis.

I like to keep an inventory of what's in the pantry on a corkboard I have hanging. i like to update it when I shop and update it as I remove thingsto be used. like being thekey word - I don't always keep up with this but wish i would.

My spice rack sits on the wall right next to my stove. We have a ton of spices, so what I have found to be the best solution for us is to use one of those "back of the door" shelving units you can find just about anywhere. They're narrow but wide, white wire shelves that latch on to a white wire support that can be screwed into place. We screw it onto the wall next to the stove and it's perfect.

[lightheart]

I have plastic bins too that I use as drawers in my cabinet for pasta, snacks, drinks. Used to have them for beans but went to jars and labels for them because they kept getting spilled and wasted.

I found a plexigall looking flyer display, think like in a realaty office it is stepped and holds some of my spices.

date and rotate!! go through the stuff you have now and use a marker, masking tape, whatever works to date them

[TeaghansMama]

i use Tupperwear modular mates. I really like them but am sure there are others out there that work just as well. When I first found out about BPA, I researched and found that the modular mates are BPA free. I wish I had all glass or stanless but since I spent so much money onthem, I'm going to continue to use them. I take almost everything out of the package when I bring it home. pasta, cereal, noodles, beans, rice.... everything has it's own labeled container. It helps me a lot to be able to see at a glance what I have, and how much is left.