15 Tips to Organize Your Kitchen Pantry

We have all seen the trend of clear containers take over the Pinterest world. The way the containers stack neatly next to each other or on top of each other offers a very crisp and appealing aesthetic. Not only does it look neat and organized, but it also helps with accessibility. Having clear storage containers help you to see what items are being stored. This helps with seeing how low you are on certain ingredients and being able to find what you are looking for more easily.  

Whether you use clear containers or not, labels are always helpful when organizing your kitchen pantry. Many homeowners assume that labels should be marked with the name of the ingredient that is inside the container. This can be helpful if the container is not clear, but you can also create other organization labels as well. You can label your containers with other things such as the date the product was bought or the expiration date.  

Ever have trouble finding a place to write down your grocery list where you won’t lose it? Why not put up a dry erase board on the back of your pantry door or on one of the walls? That way you can write down notes and add to any grocery lists, right when you notice you are out of something. Another fun option is to paint the walls of your pantry with chalkboard paint. Then, the whole space will be a blank canvas for you to write notes, drawings, lists, and even recipes! 

When it comes to organizing anything, pairing up similar items is key. In your kitchen pantry, these items can be cans, boxes, dishes, etc. Organize all similar shaped items by placing them next to each other, stacking them, or putting them all into the same box or basket. This will maximize space and efficiency, while making the pantry look neat and organized. 

Adding open shelving to your kitchen pantry is a great idea, just make sure to keep it looking clean and organized. Place items that you use often on the shelves to allow for easy grab and go convenience. You can also use open shelving as a unique way to display any cookbooks you use often or might want to showcase. 

We are all probably guilty of still having spices or other cooking ingredients stowed away in our pantry that have expired a long time ago. When organizing your pantry or giving it a refresh, make sure to go through all your ingredients and check the expiration dates. If anything is expired, looks weird, or smells weird, please do us all a favor and throw it out! Make it a habit to go through your pantry at least every other month to make sure all your ingredients stay fresh and up to date. 

Adding open shelving to your kitchen pantry is a great idea, just make sure to keep it looking clean and organized. Place items that you use often on the shelves to allow for easy grab and go convenience. You can also use open shelving as a unique way to display any cookbooks you use often or might want to showcase. 

We’ve all been in the situation where we try to be organized by placing items in a drawer and out of the way. Drawers are great for organizing, however it’s important to make sure the items within the drawer are separated and organized based on their size or category. You can easily do this by implementing drawer separators. They will divide your items within the drawer making it look neat and still being out of the way. 

When you are organizing your kitchen pantry, use the “First In, First Out” method. This means that the items set to expire soon are displayed in front of the rest. This allows for the oldest ingredients to be grabbed first, keeping things in order of freshness. 

When placing ingredients and food items in your storage containers, choose them wisely. Think about what type of product is going in the container. If the ingredient needs to be scooped, the neck of the container should be wide enough to allow you to fit a spoon, scoop, or your hand in the container. If the item should be poured, make sure the container has a small opening or a spout to assist with the pouring.  

Making a spot in your kitchen pantry just for the kids, will make your life a whole lot easier. When organizing your kid center, be sure to place it on the lower shelves so it is easily reachable. Then place kid-friendly snacks into a basket or storage container so they can easily grab snacks whenever they want. It might be a good idea to make this a “healthy snack” spot, so they are not sneaking cookies at all hours of the day. 

Lining your pantry shelves can make it look more organized since liners have less of a chance of showing dirt. You can also play with fun designs and colors in your shelf liners to add a pop of color or specific aesthetic to your kitchen pantry.