Organizing the Pantry

When it comes to home organizing, every family has different needs and solutions; I share what works for me, encouraging to try different methods until finding what really works within your lifestyle. Warning! Organizing can become a fun hobby, that saves money.

When raising my children, I kept the pantry and refrigerator overstocked because I didn’t have time for grocery-shopping during the week. Now, with only my husband and I at home, less is more. Buying big quantities to save money we ended-up wasting food; so we decided to keep both pantry and refrigerator understocked, keeping track of expiration dates and buying what we really need for the week.

I organize the pantry from left to right, placing newer items to the left and consuming what is to the right (many find easier, placing older items in front and newer in back). Place items frequently used at eye level, within easy reach and open boxes (pasta, cereals, flours, rice, etc.) in plastic containers.

 

 

Top shelf: cereals and dry goods such as tortillas, potatoes chips and other salty snacks.	Flours, Crackers, nuts
Second shelf: canned goods such as evaporated milk, fruits, peanut butter, Nutella and other sweet snacks	Chocolate, sweet preserves, sugar, honey, teas and coffee, dry fruits, Baking goods
Third shelf: canned soups and vegetables, oils, vinegar, canned tuna and other canned goods	Miscellaneous cooking goods: Rice, beans, Pastas, etc.
Bottom shelf: Paper good and heavy items	Big bottles and heavy bags

 

One can spend hundreds of dollars on fancy containers, there are innumerable ideas for storage in the internet, but what is really needed is see-though plastic containers that keep bugs out and prolong shelf life of goods. I use zip locks and recycle big containers with tight lids. For labeling keep a roll of masking tape and sharpie in the pantry.

Organizing all areas of the home can be a creative and fun hobby, much like keeping a scrap book, while saving money.