The pantry is arguably the most important (and loved) cupboard in your home. With multiple hands reaching for snacks and ingredients throughout the week, it’s no surprise that it can pretty quickly become a chaotic mess. Before you know it, cans have been pushed to the back (months and possibly years past their used-by date), the bread is starting to grow mould, and that after-dinner treat you just purchased is nowhere to be seen!

Luckily, we’ve put together some worthwhile tips for how to take control of your pantry space, once and for all.

Start From Scratch

A clean slate is a great starting point for any organisation project. Start by removing all food and extras from your pantry so you have a visual of what you’re working with. Check through the contents giving food a quick once-over, making sure to take note of expiration dates. Dispose of expired food responsibly, and consider donating any in-date food that you no longer need or will use.

Once empty, give all shelves a good wipe with a damp cloth and some spray. Now, you’re ready to organise!

Categorise Your Food

Organise and categorise food in a way that makes sense to you. A great way to do this is by grouping alike foods together. Our Organiser Trays are a perfect option when it comes to dividing and categorising. You can make use of the multiple size options available, using larger trays for high volume foods like cereals and spreads, and smaller trays for loose muesli bars or snacks.

Plus, being transparent and shallow, you can easily see exactly what ingredients you have on hand and what you need to stock up on!

Organisation tip: In case of a late finish at work, consider preparing a tray full of all the ingredients needed for a fend-for-themselves dinner! Your family will thank you for making it super easy to cook with all the necessary ingredients right there in front of them!

Placement Matters!

The location of food in your pantry has a huge impact on what you reach for and what you forget about. When rearranging your pantry, it’s worth considering functionality as well as the type of ingredients you actually want to be reaching for. If you’re constantly reaching for the spices, place them front and centre so you don’t need to go searching. That tin of baked beans you bought in case of an emergency? That one can live on the top shelf.

To avoid potential food waste, place foods with closer expiration dates towards the front and make a conscious effort to continually rotate when stocking up.

Organisation tip: Fill a tray with single serve snacks to make for a great grab-and-go option for when you’re trying to quickly pack those lunch boxes on a Monday morning!

Think Outside the Pantry

We’re all for stocking up on the necessities when they’re on special. Although, this sometimes means pantry space is chewed through quicker than the food itself! Thinking beyond the pantry is a great way to increase food storage space. If you have an extra cupboard or drawer handy, don’t be afraid to use it as a snack drawer. Or, consider creating an aesthetic food storage set-up that you’re happy to have on display!

Organisation tip: Make use of that slither of free bench space next to the toaster to create your own little breakfast buffet. Fill a tray with all your breaky essentials (we suggest coffee) so it’s right there waiting for you the minute you roll out of bed!

Open the doors to your newly organised and completely functional pantry! For more storage tips, tricks and ideas, visit our blog or follow us on Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest.