Pantry organization

[Franci]

I know on google there are tons of tips on pantry organization but I'm more interested in your advice.

I have a decent size pantry, I know I need some racks to sort cutting boards and baking trays. Some stackable bins http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001P5NJFW/ref=gno_cart_title_1?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=A2NVEKMQTGKOW8

to organize tools and jars. I have tons of glass jars, all the same, that I use to store open ingredients. I have some bigger bins bought from King Arthur's flour for storing flour, sugar.

Do you mind sharing your favorite products to organize your pantry and any useful tip?

Thanks!

[thatchairlady]

My "pantry" for canned goods and other non-perishable stuff consists of 2 metal shelving units in my attached garage. Periodically, have to do a reorganization. Not a stickler over dates on cans, but sometimes end up with a LOT of one item. When nice tomato products are on sale, I'll stock up... I use them a LOT, so they move. Not a big fan of canned soup, but like a few of the Progresso varieties... have to curb myself from buying when they're on sale!?! I never pass up the "good" tuna... imported in olive oil.

If you've EVER found evidence of an unwanted VISITOR in your kitchen or pantry, you KNOW you just CAN'T store stuff in boxes & bags, especially if your pantry isn't right in your kitchen. Once found a case of over-sized canning jars at a yards sale (something like 1.5 quarts, maybe). They're perfect for bag/box stuff like rice, small pasta, etc.

My kitchen isn't TEENY, but not great storage space. Lower cabinets have a USELESS shelf in each one, about halfway toward the back... LOST space underneath, imo. Found a rectangular, plastic basket that holds cutting boards nicely. My 4 bakiing sheets sit propped up along side of counter on floor... no better place than I can think of.

My challenge is plastic storage containers?? If a container doesn't have a lid (or vice versa), it goes in recycle bin. Beside storing left-overs, most common use for me is for taking lunch to work... usually something to microwave. Once a container shows signs that something got too hot... it gets recycled.

[YvetteMT]

Reviving this in hopes of ideas. 

My pantry isn't bad but Id like better organization. All our non perishables are kept there and while the cans and jars are fine, things like granola bars, trail mix, are not.  I usually open a box and toss it on the shelf in stacks of other opened boxes. (His and hers granola bars etc).

Standard wire shelving so nothing with little feet that would fall thru the open space. And i really don't want wasted space behind the containers. 

(The spice collection also needs tackling but that's a far bigger project)

[FauxPas]

2 hours ago, YvetteMT said:

My pantry isn't bad but Id like better organization.

 

Could you share a photo of your pantry so we can get an idea of size and layout perhaps? Do you have a door to the pantry (would any over-the-door storage options work in addition to your shelving)? 

 

It's easy to put different bins or storage containers on the wire shelving but tricky to know how you categorize your contents. 

 

I use some of these IKEA bins (they come in two sizes) in my pantry and kitchen cupboards. I use the smaller ones for coffee pods, spices and seasoning mixes, cat treats. The larger ones I use for onions, potatoes (some of these are stored in the cooler garage) or various kitchen items. 

 

Edited yesterday at 05:58 PM by FauxPas (log)

[FauxPas]

In a previous home we owned in Tucson, we had a door to the pantry and I got an over-the-door storage unit from The Container Store. I was always amazed how many spices I could store here and it was a great solution for me as they tended to get lost on the pantry shelves. 

 

The shelving sizes were variable so it was quite flexible. 

 

 

 

 

[Smithy]

4 hours ago, FauxPas said:

In a previous home we owned in Tucson, we had a door to the pantry and I got an over-the-door storage unit from The Container Store. I was always amazed how many spices I could store here and it was a great solution for me as they tended to get lost on the pantry shelves. 

 

The shelving sizes were variable so it was quite flexible. 

 

 

 

 

 

My parents got one of those when they moved off the ranch and into an apartment. It served them very well. My sister and I were amazed at how much it held -- especially when it was time to clear out the apartment!

[YvetteMT]

20.5 deep shelf with 14.5 height. 

 

Just the section Im wanting to fix with the snack stuff- mainly granola bars,  fruit snacks etc, the single serve, grab and go type stuff (behind that blue bag of chips are 3 different types granola bars, 2 fruit snack type things)

 

no"real' door- 2 bifold doors

 

 

[Smithy]

Aside from the fact that I have little to no "snack" or single-service stuff in my pantry, yours looks much like mine -- right down to the Minnesota wild rice. Sorry, I can't help!

[FauxPas]

15 hours ago, YvetteMT said:

Just the section Im wanting to fix with the snack stuff- mainly granola bars,  fruit snacks etc, the single serve, grab and go type stuff (behind that blue bag of chips are 3 different types granola bars, 2 fruit snack type things)

 

I'd suggest perusing some of the Container Store pantry stuff. They have some nice clear bins and some of those stack so you can possibly double up on your shelf. 

 

Like these, which come in a range of sizes:

https://www.containerstore.com/s/kitchen/pantry-organizers/plastic-storage-bins-with-handles/12d?productId=11019017

 

Or these, which stack: (BUT WOW, they seem pricey!) 

https://www.containerstore.com/s/kitchen/pantry-organizers/the-home-edit-stacking-pantry-bin/12d?productId=11012911

 

But the smaller size of the bins from IKEA might meet your needs too and I don't think they are too expensive. Here is how I have used the smaller ones, just for examples. 

 

 

 

i think they hold quite a bit but I'm not storing the same type of things, I don't think. 

 

I love that they have handles and a lower edge on one side. You would be able to fit two rows on a shelf but it might be hard to see what is in the back, maybe? There are the larger ones, but I don't know if you want that size. 

 

Even Dollar Stores might have something that works. 

 

Not sure if this is of any use to you!  🙂

 

Edited 3 hours ago by FauxPas
formatting (log)

[YvetteMT]

1 hour ago, Smithy said:

Aside from the fact that I have little to no "snack" or single-service stuff in my pantry, yours looks much like mine -- right down to the Minnesota wild rice. Sorry, I can't help!

Oh I hope yours isn't like mine @Smithy! I get so half-assed about putting stuff away and then it's a flipping disaster and takes hours to put right. 

33 minutes ago, FauxPas said:

 

I'd suggest perusing some of the Container Store pantry stuff. They have some nice clear bins and some of those stack so you can possibly double up on your shelf. 

 

Like these, which come in a range of sizes:

https://www.containerstore.com/s/kitchen/pantry-organizers/plastic-storage-bins-with-handles/12d?productId=11019017

 

Or these, which stack: (BUT WOW, they seem pricey!) 

https://www.containerstore.com/s/kitchen/pantry-organizers/the-home-edit-stacking-pantry-bin/12d?productId=11012911

 

But the smaller size of the bins from IKEA might meet your needs too and I don't think they are too expensive. Here is how I have used the smaller ones, just for examples. 

 

 

 

i think they hold quite a bit but I'm not storing the same type of things, I don't think. 

 

I love that they have handles and a lower edge on one side. You would be able to fit two rows on a shelf but it might be hard to see what is in the back, maybe? There are the larger ones, but I don't know if you want that size. 

 

Even Dollar Stores might have something that works. 

 

 

Not sure if this is of any use to you!  🙂

 

 

 

 

 

Thank you @FauxPas. I like the look of that second link but yowsers they aren't cheap!

I like the small ikea ones you've got too, that might work for something else.  The Container Store has a great pull out/tilted spice rack/drawer that might be my spice solution. 

[Katie Meadow]

The last time we were in Atlanta my daughter asked us to organize her pantry. I have a hard time imagining that anyone who really cook would be happy with someone else doing the organizing, but in the case of my daughter, who is a haphazard cook and super  busy with work and toddler twins I figure anything would help. 

 

Container store prices are high, I agree. For many dry goods the most efficient way to store them is to just buy canning jars by the dozen, in multiple sizes. Most useful tool? a label-maker. If you don't want to use the metal canning lids (and I don't) you can easily buy colorful plastic screw tops that are made to fit them from Amazon and probably other sources. This is a simple way to get misc messy, leaky  bags out of your cabinets. 

[MaryIsobel]

Very good advice about the canning jars. They are also much more effective at keeping out bugs!

[FauxPas]

14 hours ago, YvetteMT said:

Thank you @FauxPas. I like the look of that second link but yowsers they aren't cheap!

I like the small ikea ones you've got too, that might work for something else.  The Container Store has a great pull out/tilted spice rack/drawer that might be my spice solution. 

 

I know, I was kinda shocked at the price on those stacking ones! I bought my Container Store stuff on Black Friday or some day when they were offering 20% off. It still wasn't cheap but I loved the storage I got from the product so it was worth it to me. 

 

But if you think something similar might work, maybe these stacking clear units on Amazon (eG-friendly Amazon.com link) though they don't look very deep. 

 

Which of the spice storage units do you like? I'm thinking about redoing my spice storage a bit.