Tackling the Pantry
Ever seen a picture-perfect pantry staged with organic foods in beautifully labeled symmetric mason jars? Did it scare you? With these pictures as inspiration it can be hard to know where to start. Questions might come about like: Where do I get those bins? How do they keep it like that over time? Where do I start? Hopefully, this article will break down the daunting task of an aesthetically pleasing and functional pantry.
Tip 01: Throw Out Expired Food
This is always a great place to start. According to Marie Kondo’s method the best way to begin is pull everything off the shelves. We become blind overtime to those items in the pantry that might be five or ten years old. Once you take everything off the shelves, check the expiration dates and throw away what doesn’t pass the test. Also make sure to check your spices as well because they expire just like everything else.
Tip 02: Outline Practical Function
While Pinterest may fuel your desire for a mason jar style pantry, make sure that the method you choose for organization matches your lifestyle. If you are not going to put in the effort each week by pulling items out of their packages and into their respective jars, don’t go for that method. Also make sure when you are putting everything back (after decluttering) to take inventory of the food you already have, to avoid buying duplicates.
Sustainability Tip*: If you are looking to use mason jars or resealable containers in your pantry, grocery stores like wholefoods and Wegman’s allow you to fill them up (in store) with dry goods like beans, nuts, rice etc. This will lessen your plastic use and help the environment!
Tip 03: Set Shelves/Areas
Dedicating a shelf in your pantry for different categories of food will allow the space to function with ease. Simple things like setting up daily items on eye level shelves or putting kids snacks on a low one will uncomplicate the use of the pantry. Maximize the space you have by putting low-use items on super high shelves.
Tip 04: Clean Out
When you are bringing in new products every week organization might become neglected due to busy life. Set a date every few months or even semi annually to reorganize your pantry. Upkeep is going to be the biggest hurdle in your organization journey. Make it a priority to check in with it every now and again.
I hope this article demystified the picture-perfect pantry. Finding organization might be easier than you thought. Making intentional use of your space can alleviate anxiety and allow the process of grocery shopping to be fun. Taking control of small areas in your life can be empowering. Happy organizing!
